Disclaimer: The characters of Xena and Gabrielle and others mentioned, belong to
MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement on their rights is intended.
Subtext Disclaimer: Its back! Which means that there is a loving sexually explicit
relationship between two consenting adult females. If this bothers you, or youre
under age, or you live somewhere where this type of material is illegal, go away.
Timeline: Plan D #18.
Shock Factor: 3. For the flashbacks.
Note: This for all the people who love flashbacks and have been driving me crazy. You know
who you are, so stop trying to look innocent.
Ann, what can I say, but thanks.
Dont drink and drive. Always wear your seat belt, or helmet.
Send comments to asdease1@gte.net
Enjoy.
Flashbacks
"Xena." Came a muffled whisper, as an arm stretched out from a body to get
the warrior to do something about the problem. "Xena." Unfortunately the arm and
the hand attached to it found nothing, which elicited a muffled groan from the searcher.
Then the hand was joined by its partner in an attempt to crush a blonde head between
a pillow and the mattress. This still didnt solve the problem and eventually the
blonde head lifted, pillow and all, to glare a one-eyed glare at the alarm clock, which
was chirping madly. "Shut up!" Taking the helpless pillow in hand, Gabrielle
pounded the clock until it did as it was commanded, then she fell back on the bed and
resumed her relaxed position, placing the mistreated weapon back over her head.
This drama played out every nine minutes for the next four snooze segments, then the bard
finally got irritated enough to shut it off and sit up in bed, and stare groggily at the
dimly lit room. Slumping forward, her head hit her knees and she stayed that way for
several minutes, while her mind ran through all the reasons why she hated mornings and
thus redetermined the fact that she wasnt a morning person. When the vote was taken,
making the judgment unanimous by default of only needing one vote, she sat up again to
repeat the staring groggily part of her routine. The next step was a long sigh, followed
by several hearty eye rubs then the ultimate demonstration of determination, which
entailed crawling to the edge of the bed, sitting up and cringing as her feet were gently
placed on the chilly hardwood floor. With a grimace etched on her face, she again slumped
forward, but used the momentum of the motion to lift her butt off the mattress and stand.
Achieving a vertical position, Gabrielle swayed a tad as the loving tendrils of sleep
called to her, but being a person of character, she pushed the temptation aside and
stretched. Contorting her body into various natural, and a couple unnatural positions, she
shook off the last remnants of sleep, then shuffled her feet toward the closet. When she
bumped blindly into the door, her eyes opened to begin the next phase, which was finding
something to wear and skipped over the normal fuss and considerations, like color
coordination and went straight for comfort. Pulling out a pair of jeans, she turned to
shuffle to the dresser, where the basic foundations were added to her collection, along
with a t-shirt and a sweatshirt. Arms full, she shuffled back to the bed, laid down her
wares and only made several rude comments on her way into the bathroom to start the shower
running.
Once the sound of running water reached her ears, the porcelain god got a morning
offering, then she made the mistake of actually looking into the mirror. The reflection
that met her puffy eyes was something out of a child's worst nightmare and she quickly
turned away. Rifling her hands through her hair, to get rid of the pillow head
shed seen, Gabrielle yawned a few times then noticed the light fog near the ceiling
and pulled off her pajamas. Opening the shower door, she stuck her hand in, turned the
cold tap a half turn, then stepped inside. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."
Wash, wash, scrub, scrub, lather, rinse, repeat, condition, rinse, shave legs, apply
Band-Aid, towel, towel, squeeze, brush, brush, spit, rinse, spit, whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (blow
dryer), brush hair, need trim, "I give up." Done.
Flipping off the bathroom light, Gabrielle walked to the bed, tossing the towel on the
foot board and got dressed. Then she took a look in the mirror on the dresser and smiled.
"Better." Pulling the knotted sweatshirt sleeves tighter around her waist, she
gave her hair one last pass with her fingers, then headed downstairs. As she traipsed
through the living room, she picked up a black binder off the couch and continued into the
kitchen, where she made a bee-line for the coffee maker. After the machine was loaded and
a dark liquid began filling the glass container, she placed the book on the counter to
stare at it. Sighing, she cracked her neck, then flipped the book open to the page marked
by a pencil sticking out the end. Looking down at the words, she closed her eyes.
"Come on, Gabrielle. This is the last one. You can do this." Sighing again, she
opened her eyes and began reading where shed left off, what seemed like only an hour
before.
The past three months of Gabrielles life had been spent in broken intervals of going
to work at her teaching job during the week days while her evenings and weekends were
filled with studying for the conference, taking care of T, working at the Hub, or
sleeping. Studying, which was usually conducted in conjunction with her other duties
except the sleeping part and that depended on how tired she was, was almost over. The heap
of black books had been read and the last one was more than half-way finished, which was a
good thing, since the conference was only a week away. That fact, along with the knowledge
that life would get somewhat less hectic once the conference was over, was all that was
keeping her going at the moment.
Her body didnt even complain about not getting enough sleep anymore and her stomach
had somehow gotten used to receiving only a marginal amount of a healthy diet, which
mainly consisted of coffee and anything that didnt take more than five minutes to
eat, and her brain was so full of Ungaran history that she started speaking the ancient
language in her sleep. But all this and the thousand other things that were yelling for
her attention were well worth the effort if one healthy, happy baby was going to hang on
for another four months and come into the world.
As she continued to read, her hands unconsciously poured the dark caffeinated liquid into
a cup and she sipped it until the alarm on her watch chimed. At that time, she picked up
the book, walked to the back door and started humming the theme song for the seven dwarfs
from Snow White, which was Ts unamusing idea of a joke. Then she put the pencil back
in the book, closed it and opened the door to step into the Hub. Holding the door open
with her foot, she reached back for her coffee, then let the door close behind her. Taking
another sip of hot beverage, she stayed in the doorway and surveyed the surroundings.
The room was its usual dimly lit self, full of people milling about, while others
sat with there fingers typing madly as their eyes were glued to a monitor. To the
untrained eye, the room could resemble a battle field, with the soldiers running around
looking for something to kill and it even had a general giving the army instructions from
on high. Smiling, Gabrielle leaned against the door jamb and looked up at Xena who was
standing at the console dishing out instructions like the captain of a ship.
"Youre such a natural." Whispering to herself, she continued to watch the
former warlord in action and marveled at the ease with which she kept control of the
goings on.
It hadnt come as a real surprise when shed realized that Xena had taken to the
console like fish to water and shed only been jealous for a month, considering she
herself had to fight off being overwhelmed by the responsibility. Running the console was
not something that should be attempted by the faint of heart, and needless to say,
shed struggled initially to get into a somewhat comfortable routine when she had to
pull her shift. The original plan for the job was that it was going to be left vacant and
Ares was supposed to just use his powers to keep the Hub running. But as time progressed,
he was being called away quite frequently from the Palace to handle emergencies and
eventually she and Xena had taken up the post, to allow the God of War to concentrate on
T. Now, the slot was manned on a more permanent basis, though not 24 hours a day, because
they still required sleep and those pesky other jobs kept them occupied as well. But all
things considered, it was working out pretty good. The Ungara were happy with the
arrangement, although getting used to Xena took some patience on the part of all parties
concerned, since her style was a complete opposite to Ts and the barking of orders
still made a few people jump, but it was working.
The one thing that did blow her away though, was the fact that Xena, who is fluent in
fourteen languages, but cant spell in any of them, was apparently a master of
Ungaran in every form. It is the language the computer programs were written in and
its what is spoken by the Hub personnel and itt the only language that the
warrior can spell in. Of course, Gabrielle had needled T to find out if shed done
some zapping to Xenas brain to make this happen, but the god had denied any
involvement and had been just as surprised as everybody else by the discovery. And so, the
warrior was quite at home at the console, with its seven monitors and adjacent
keyboards and was content with the knowledge that she wasnt a complete spelling
moron.
Chuckling at the thought, the bard leaned her back against the door and smiled, while she
continued to watch the natural at work. As she did so, it brought back memories of lives
gone by, where Xena had used her many skills to overcome challenges and adversities. Most
of those memories included battlefields and saving the general populace from evil, as a
whole, but there were recent memories that included the necessity for her many skills and
her natural ability to lead. The most prevalent of these memories was the year they spent
at Harvard together.
Xena was in her final year of medical school and Gabrielle was a freshman majoring in
Greek history and education. It was a time they had both been waiting for and the chance
to spend quality time together without being under the watchful and sometimes scrutinizing
eyes of their families was both a blessing and a curse. The warrior had several problems
with the living arrangements the college had made; the first being that they werent
living together and the second was that Kristin, the bards roommate, liked to hang
troll dolls around the room which gave Xena the creeps. So shed made Gabrielle put
in a request for transfer and had brow-beaten, bribed and threatened every official in the
decision-making process, to get them assigned to the same room. Now, they didnt have
to worry about getting caught in their sexual escapades, but they also found that the new,
all consuming freedom was not conducive to going to classes, studying or anything else
that required them to get out of bed and ended them up total physical wrecks by the end of
the year. However, until they finally broke down and told their families of their
affections and explained their plans for marriage and the future, it was the best time
they had until they actually got married and moved into the house they lived in now.
"Good thing we already had our majors down pat, otherwise wed have ended up
having to flip burgers for a living." Shaking her head, Gabrielles smile beamed
new light into the roo, as she remembered that fateful year.
"Gabrielle, do you mind?" Slapping the hand that was running up the inside of
her thigh, Xena pushed it away. "Im trying to study here." Placing the
text book on her lap, she hoped it would cease any further intrusions, but discovered her
error, when the hand just went under the book, as the quest continued.
"Gabrielle." Growling, the warrior grabbed a wrist, as it disappeared from sight
and pulled it back out from between her legs. Hanging onto it, she glanced up to see a
grinning, lust-filled, eighteen year old, sexually-charged blonde staring at her with want
in dark green eyes. "No." Shaking her head, she felt the free hand going to work
and grabbed it, before it could do any damage to her resolve to pass her advanced
microbiology class.
Flicking her eyebrows, Gabrielle used her knee to knock the book off the warriors
lap, so she could crawl up to take its place. Her hands still held in check, she
wiggled her butt, to get comfortable and leaned down, placing hungry kisses on a tanned
neckline.
"Gods." Groaning in frustration, Xena laid her head back and stared up at the
ceiling. "Gabrielle Ive got a test tomorrow, I have to study." Letting go
of the bards wrists, she let her arms drop to her sides, which was another mistake,
because those hands immediately went to work at unbuttoning her shirt. This wasnt so
bad and it didnt affect her resolve, however the groping that followed began an
assault on her determination and she mentally fought back for a whole minute, before she
wrapped her arms around Gabrielles waist and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.
Gabrielle, who didnt need to be undressed, due to the fact that she was buck naked,
immediately went to work on removing the shirt entirely, while her lips and tongue tried
to consume their playmates. Using a skill that had been honed for over two thousand years,
she pulled the barrier off with deft speed, tossing it over her shoulder, then removed
Xenas bra to give it the same farewell. As the heat of their skin to skin contact
sent her senses into the stratosphere, she pressed their bodies together and the warrior
up against the headboard when warm strong hands began kneading her butt. Groaning into the
kiss, she wrapped her hands over the top of the headboard and began rocking her hips
slowly. "Xena . . . naked . . . now." Gasping out her request, she continued to
press their bodies and lips together.
Relinquishing their hold on the bards behind, Xenas hands quickly unzipped her
jeans. Lifting her butt off the bed, she slipped the offensive garment down her legs, as
best she could, then kicked them the rest of the way off. The undies met the same fate,
but were easier to get off because they stretched. Then her hands went back to their happy
home and resumed their pleasurable ministrations. Pulling Gabrielle harder onto her lap,
she scooted down a little to let one hand wander further around the curve of a firm butt
until it reached a hot wet spot. Sliding her fingers past the bards opening, she let
them do the walking as they stroked heated folds.
Arching her back, Gabrielle held onto the headboard and brought her butt a little higher
in the air, to press her center against the warriors hand. Rocking slowly, she
finally let go of the wooden structure, when a thumb found her nub and her hips bucked of
their own accord. "Gods!" Moving her hands over Xenas shoulders, she ran
them down to two full breasts and let her thumbs do to the warriors nipples, what
the warrior was doing to her nub. Teasing and kneading, she began to rock harder and moved
her lips down a tanned cheek, to the pulse point where her tongue, teeth and lips
alternated taking turns on the warriors skin, as they moved up and down the side of
Xenas neck.
Laying her head to the side, to give Gabrielle better access, the warrior also began to
rock her hips, thrusting them upward to grind against blonde curls. Bending her knees, she
gained better leverage and started a rolling rocking motion, as she slipped two fingers
into the bards core.
"Oh, gods." Gasping for breath, Gabrielle threw her head back, groaned and
squeezed her eyes shut. Rocking faster, she matched her motion to the warriors
thrusting fingers and felt felt a hand on her lower back that pushed her hips downward,
until the two sets of curls were grinding hard against one another. "Gods, yes!"
Holding the bard in place, Xena began thrusting deeper and harder, alternating the rhythm
between sudden quick bursts of rapid thrusts and a slow steady pace. With each change, she
matched the rhythm of her fingers with her hips and felt the fire between her legs burn
like lava. "Gabrielle! Gabrielle!"
The random thrusting caused her breath to catch with each switch and her lungs burned, as
did her center and she had to bury her head into a strong shoulder to keep from screaming.
"Gods, Xena. Xena. I . . . cant . . . please . . . godsgodsgods. Xena!"
Arching her back, Gabrielle pressed their torsos together and felt the light sheen of
sweat building between them. Lifting her head, to get a breath of air, she clenched her
jaw when the pace changed again. "Oh, gods." Rocking fast, her hips matched her
partners thrust for thrust and shefelt a bead of sweat trickle down her temple.
Opening her eyes, as the pace slowed again, her chest heaved for oxygen and she stared eye
to eye into a pair of flaming baby blues.
Xena continued her slow thrusting and sat up a smidgen to brush their lips together, then
stayed that way, with their lips making the slightest of contact. Smiling into sparkling
green, she slowed the pace even further and pulled out of Gabrielle to add another finger
to the two and watched the bards face contort into a vision of pure passion when the
trio entered her core.
Scowling for an instant, Gabrielles eyes were held prisoner as her jaw dropped open
and closed several times to make no sound what-so-ever. Then, ever so slowly, the pace
picked up and she, again, matched the rhythm Xena was setting. Breaking the visual hold,
her eyes moved down to full lips and she took them in a smoldering breathless kiss.
Pressing the warrior back again, her head moved from side to side as the fiery kiss fueled
the inferno between her legs. "Harder, Xena." Sending out another breathless
request, she felt it fulfilled and the response her body gave it. As her hips bucked
madly, sending her careening toward the edge of reasonable sensibility, she continued to
devour the warriors soul with her lips and her hands left Xenas breasts to
wrap around a strong back, melding their bodies into one.
Pressing down harder on Gabrielles lower back, Xena ground her hips roughly against
the bards and felt the first hints of pulsating in her own sex. "Gods, yes.
Yes." Driving her fingers deep with each thrust, she felt the muscles around them
start to contract and increased the rhythm until her hips started bucking uncontrollably.
Arching her back, her hand moving as the bards hips followed suit and they both went
hurtling toward the sky. "Gabrielle!"
"Xena!" Burying her head, once again, into Xenas shoulder, she bit down on
the skin and muscle at the base of a sweaty neck, while her body jerked of its own
volition. Riding the warrior and the orgasm to its heights, she grabbed the
headboard when she apexed and continued to hang on for a long time, as her body passed
over the peak to begin its slow descent to eventually lay heaving against her
partners heaving body. Then she kissed the bite mark and worked her way up to circle
Xenas jaw and find their mark on parted lips.
Pulling out, Xena wrapped both arms around Gabrielles waist, holding their bodies
together through the kiss, until the their hearts resumed a reasonable beat rate.
Keeping their lips together, Gabrielle reached behind her to push Xenas knees
downward and began sliding backwards. Breaking the kiss, she moved her attentions to parts
further south and used her tongue to trace a line along a collarbone, then a shoulder and
back. Coming back to the bite mark, she smiled and gave it another kiss before her lips
started blazing a trail towards twin peaks. Kneading one breast with her hand, she took
the other in her mouth and began sucking ravenously, while she shifted her hips toward
Xenas knees.
"Oh, shit." Closing her eyes, the warrior grasped the back of Gabrielles
head, tangling her fingers in blonde hair, as her back arched with the first contact.
Hanging her head, she bit her lip when a tongue began teasing her nipple and she moaned
with every tweak the other one got from a thumb and index finger. Reaching behind her
head, she took hold of the headboard with her free hand and arched again. "Gods,
Gabrielle." Growling out the words, she opened her eyes to watch the bards slow
descent down her body, feeling every burning kiss and tingling nip, she followed
Gabrielles progress and spread her legs when nudged, then threw her head back when a
flicking tongue met hot folds. "Oh my god." Now without anything to hold on to,
her other hand gripped the headboard as well. "Ohhhhhhhh, gods." Rocking her
hips, she was slowly being pulled down to lay in a semi upright position, as her knees
were raised to slide on top of Gabrielles shoulders. "Shit, shit, shit."
Smiling, Gabrielle continued to use her tongue to elicit moans, groans and dirty words
from the warrior and had to wrap her arms around powerful thighs, to keep Xenas butt
on the bed. Which became more difficult with her hips rocked harder and she had to tighten
her grip as she slipped the very tip of her tongue into the warriors opening, then
began flicking it lightly over a tasty nub.
"Gods, please let this test be multiple choice!" Gasping each syllable, she
squeezed her eyes shut and swung between wanting the torture to end and praying it never
would.
Arching an eyebrow, the bard kept her eyes on Xenas face when she started sucking on
the nub and was almost knocked unconscious as the warriors hips came off the bed.
Dragging them back down again, she held on and began sucking harder, driving Xena almost
over the edge and herself off the end of the bed, then backed off. Taking her time, she
did this several times, as she tasted the fruits of her labor and dipped her tongue into
their source. Thrusting her tongue in and out, she held it inside, flicking the tip upward
as she brought it slowly back out.
Whimpering softly, Xena dug her nails into the headboard and thrashed her head from side
to side. "Gabrielle, please." Shaking her thighs, she tried to push the bard
away to end the torture, as her hips went into over drive. "Gods, please. No more, no
more, please." Her voice a hoarse whisper, she growled loudly when her begging did no
good. "God!"
Fully aware of the limitations of Xenas endurance level, Gabrielle continued to
tease her and clasped her hands together, over bucking hips to stay put against the force
on her shoulders. When her prisoner stopped begging, she knew it was time to finish and
unclasped her hands to drive three fingers deep into the warrior, while she continued to
tease the folds with tongue, lips and teeth. Thrusting hard and fast, she felt the muscles
around her fingers start to pulsate almost immediately and used her other hand to hang on
through the wild ride.
"Gabrielle! Dont stop dont stop dont stop! Oh gods! Gabrielle!
Goddddddds!" Digging her heels into Gabrielles back, Xena lifted her
uncontrolled hips off the bed and arched her back. As every muscle in her body strained
with the orgasm, her jaw swung open to release an unbridled passionate silence.
Maintaining her bowed position through every jolt of fire coursing through her body, she
began to lower her hips, as they continued to buck sporadically with the last fragments of
pleasure. When her butt touched the covers, her whole body collapsed into a heaving mass
and her legs went limp, releasing the bard from their hold.
Smiling wickedly, Gabrielle pulled her fingers from the warrior and began to kiss her way
back up to parted, panting lips. Bringing them together, she lowered her body, covering
Xenas spread-eagle form and raised up on her elbows to continue depriving her
partner of much needed oxygen.
Next door, the two coeds pulled out their ear plugs and checked to see if the coast
was clear, then they let out a unified sigh and went back to studying. "Greek
majors." Shaking their heads in wonder.
While her lips were being assaulted and she was basically suffocating, Xena regained some
of her motor skills and wrapped her arms around Gabrielles waist, but had to let
them lay limply in place as the exertion of just getting them there depleted her energy
reserves.
Smiling into the kiss, Gabrielle eased up on her intensity, but continued to place small
soft ones on the warrior as she waited for Xenas complete recovery. "I think I
gave you a hickey."
Closing her eyes, she smiled through several kissed before responding. "I think you
left a fresh set of dental records."
Chuckling, the bard raised up more to stare down at a smirking face. "Did I hurt
you?" A little concerned.
Shaking her head slowly, Xena opened her eyes and smiled. "That part of my neck went
numb about fifteen hundred years ago." Smiling bigger, when she got a playful slap on
the arm, she finally got up enough energy to wrap her arms tighter around her favorite
female. "Youre going to be the death of me, you know that?" Stealing a
couple of kisses of her own.
"This, from someone, who two days ago spent almost seven hours ravaging my
body?" Arching an eyebrow, she shook her head. "And made me late for my Lit
class, because I overslept? I dont think so, Ace."
"So I have my moments." Grinning wickedly, she stole several more kissed and
took a tighter hold of the bard, to roll them both over. "And I feel another one of
those moments coming on, right now." Staring down at Gabrielle with a sultry smile,
she felt a knee nudging her and lifted her eyebrows, as she spread her legs to accommodate
the request. "And apparently, Im not the only one whos feeling something
right now."
Wiggling her body under the weight of the warrior, Gabrielle nodded as she got comfortable
and continued to raise her knee until her thigh came in contact with Xenas sex.
Flicking her eyebrows, she increased the pressure and arched her back. "Im
feeling all sorts of things." Running finger tips over a moistened back.
"I wonder if I have enough money to bribe Prof. Averson into letting me make up that
test tomorrow." Rotating her hips, she began to slide her sex against
Gabrielles thigh.
"Youll be there. I promise." Whispering hoarsely, she lifted her head to
press their lips together.
"Okay." Taking her word for it, Xena took the bard as well.
**********
"Miss Morgan!" Prof. Averson said in his low melodic voice. "If you would
care to remain conscious for the rest of class, Id like you to please draw the
diagram for the molecular structure of . . . "
That was all Xena heard before her eyes closed, then her head jerked up and she smiled.
"No problem." Taking a deep breath, she got to her feet, blinking madly and
walked down the tiers of steps to the blackboard. As she passed the podium, she turned to
smile at the professor, who was growling under his breath and stole a glance at his notes,
then smiled again when she finished her journey. Picking up a piece of chalk, her head
bounced off the dark slate, as another quick pass of sleep came her way, then she cleared
her throat and managed to get the entire diagram drawn with only a minimal amount of white
chalk highlighting her dark bangs. "All done." Putting the chalk back in the
tray, she wiped her hands together and strutted back to her seat, where she smiled smugly
and zonked out when he turned to look at what shed drawn.
Half way across campus, Gabrielle was suffering the same fate, but instead of having to
demonstrate her knowledge, she was trying to stay awake, while reciting a particularly
difficult passage of text. The difficulty wasnt in the text itself, but in the fact
that she was talking in her sleep and adding some very sultry passages to an ordinarily
dull piece of Greek literature.
"Miss Riley!" Prof. Calley yelled and smacked his desk with a yard stick.
Snapping her head up, the bard heard the room fill with hushed laughter and smiled
guiltily. "Yes, sir?"
"Unless youve received an X-rated version of the text book, I suggest you try
and refrain from enlightening the entire class to your sexual exploitations."
Growling out the words, he only fueled the laughter.
Dropping her head, Gabrielle shook it slowly as her face caught fire. "Sorry,
sir." Groaning softly, she closed her eyes, which was the wrong thing to do, because
it took approximately two seconds before she was fast asleep.
**********
After the total humiliation of Greek 101, Gabrielle gave serious consideration to
switching her majors, just so she wouldnt have to ever go back to class, but put the
idea aside and managed to stay conscious through her other class, then found her way to
the medical complex to check on how Xena was faring. As her brain moved her body on
autopilot, the destination apparently was the surgical classroom, because thats
where she ended up and took a seat, just as the students were filing in. Propping her chin
on her fist, she stared down at the young man on the gurney, in the middle of the room and
wondered if anybody would notice if she took his place, wishing beyond any sane thought to
be on that table and on the verge of being put to sleep. Sleep, what a foreign concept.
As those thoughts ran through her tired brain, she felt her head slipping off her hand and
jerked upright. Blinking a couple of hundred times, then giving the green orbs a good rub,
she sighed. "Gods, dont let Xena be the one to operate today." Thats
when she spotted the tall brunette in the back of the pack, leaning against the railing,
looking the way Gabrielle felt. Good gods, she thought, shell probably go head first
into his guts if somebody hands her a scalpel right now. Chuckling softly, with the
thought of seeing the warrior snoring inside that poor guys body. Then her ever
aware counterpart turned very blood shot eyes upward and found the source of the
amusement, so she smiled and gave her a little wave.
Waving back, Xena smiled then rubbed her eyes dramatically. Smiling, she was absorbed in
watching Gabrielle and didnt hear what was going on, missing the anesthesia being
administered and what was supposed to be wrong with the patient. Unfortunately, this lack
of concentration on her instructions also got her caught making faces at the bard when her
name was called out and everybody turned to see her with two fingers in her mouth,
stretching it wide with her tongue sticking out. Dropping her hands as fast as humanly
possible, she coughed several times and smiled her best smile. "Hi."
Gabrielle about fell out of her chair laughing and covered her mouth to keep from
deafening the entire room with roaring chuckles.
"Miss Morgan." Dr. Sheffield said with a smile on his face. "If youre
finished with your oral hygiene, could you please step forward to assist in the
assignment."
A path cleared immediately and she took a deep breath as her feet walked the short
distance to the gurney. Smiling enigmatically, she let the breath out slowly and nodded.
"My pleasure."
Rolling his eyes, the doctor motioned for her to move to the other side of the patient and
then for the other students to take their places.
Putting her mask in place, Xena tried to remember what was wrong with the man on the
table, but couldnt to save her soul, so she went on instinct and did a quick
examination with her eyes. Ignoring the nurses, as they prepped the patient, she noticed a
small discolored area on his side. Frowning at it, she cocked her head. Then an eyebrow
went up and she walked over to the patient for a better look. Bending to the left, she
gently moved a nurse that had stepped in her way and lifted the sterile sheeting the woman
had just placed over the spot. In the middle of what looked like a bad bruise the size of
a half dollar, she spotted a dark red bump and held her head near the spot, as she rotated
her body to crouch down.
Curious, Gabrielle leaned forward in her chair, keeping her eyes on the warrior and trying
to see what Xena was doing.
When Dr. Sheffield completed his preparations, he turned to stare at where his student
should have been, then noticed a surgical cap poking just above the patients
ribcage. "Is there a problem Grace?"
Nodding, Xena peeled back the sheeting, messing up the nice rectangle, exposing his
abdomen for the surgery and placed her fingers on the bruise. Closing her eyes, she used
her finger tips to examine the area.
Sighing, the doctor moved to her side of the patient and shook his head. "Weve
addressed that already and it will be administered to, once the class is over."
Speaking just as softly. "Can we continue with the operation?"
"I dont think so." Shaking her head, the warrior closed her eyes, as her
fingers continued to probe gently. "What did you find out on this?"
Frowning, Dr. Sheffield cocked his head and walked around the table to where she stood.
Looking at the bruise, he sighed. "Its a contusion left over from an automobile
accident. According to his chart, he cracked several ribs on this side and thats the
last of the bruises. Hes scheduled for a full set of pictures in post op and then
well see why that bruise hasnt healed."
"It hasnt healed, because theres something stuck in one of his ribs. Feel
this." Xena stepped back, keeping one hand on the wound and pointing.
"There." Taking his hand, she put it on the spot where shed felt the tight
lump. "And whatever it is, has got the area infected. Give it another couple of hours
and his whole side will be inflamed."
"It cant be." Shaking his head, his fingers probed the wound. "I just
examined him this morning and there was no fever." Feeling only a mild warmth, he
took off his latex gloves for a better check. "Damn, it." Scowling, he felt the
heat much better now and the lump.
Gabrielle stood up, as a low murmur started amongst the other students and she walked down
to the railing to get a better look. Moving along the circular mezzanine, she stopped when
the wound came into view.
Crouching down, Sheffield tilted his head to see over his glasses and took a close look at
the bruise. The area that had been nothing more than residual tissue damage, this morning,
was now starting to show signs of redness developing around the bruise. "Well
have to remove this immediately." Turning, he glanced up at his irritating, prize
student. "All right, Grace. You found it, so you get to fix it."
Smiling, the warrior turned to one of the nurses who was standing by with a cart full of
instruments. "Can you roll that over here and find some sort of pan. Were going
to need to drain the infection."
Rolling the cart over, the nurse went in search of the pan.
"There shouldnt be any fluid build up." Coming back to his full height,
the doctor shook his head.
"Wanna bet." Gabrielle whispered, then winced when she turned to look at her.
"Oops." Smiling, she slumped her way back to her seat.
Spotting the blonde in the mezzanine, the good doctor gave her a curious stare then turned
his attention back to the brunette. "I take it that your cheering section is supposed
to count as a second opinion?"
Grinning, Xena nodded. "Dont underestimate the power of Faith."
Sheffield shook his head. "Heaven help the poor soul who does." Smiling, he
waved to the other students. "Change of plan, everybody. It appears that Miss Morgan
has discovered another area that will be the subject of our instruction today."
Several of the students groaned at the news, realizing that the woman of I have many
skills had struck again and that they were probably never going to get to operate on
anybody with her around.
After a good scrub up, the warrior put on gloves and gave the pan to the doctor to hold
under the wound. "Everybody hold your nose." Making a two inch incision through
the bruise, she sliced the bump in half and grabbed the pan away from her instructor, when
a reddish brown fluid started pouring out of the cut. Without missing a beat, Xena began
barking orders to nurses, the doctor and several other students. "Get that pan closer
to the wound and somebody grab some bandages and were gonna need a pump here. Move
people. Move!"
"Damn." Holding the pan closer to the wound, Sheffield cursed under his breath
as the pan began to fill.
Almost immediately, loud groans started echoing off the tiled walls, as a rancid odor
spread through the air and several of the students started moving, when steely blue eyes
cut their way and orders were issued.
"Told ya." Holding her nose, Gabrielle smiled "Thats my girl."
Chuckling, she sat back in the seat, as the room became a human beehive. Knowing the man
on the table was in good hands, she smiled while everybody else ran around and the
commander did her thing. "Youre such a natural."
**********
"Not bad for somebody whod only gotten a half hour of sleep in her microbiology
class." Smiling, Xena had her arm around Gabrielles shoulder and was leaning
heavily on the blonde.
"You think thats a good one? Wait till you hear what I did in my Greek class
today." Patting the firm stomach beside her, Gabrielle shook her head.
"What?" Cocking her eyes downward, the warrior gave her a speculative stare.
"What did you do?"
"I was reciting this passage and dosed off." Feeling the blush coming back, she
closed her eyes.
"Aaaaaand?" Giving the set of slumping shoulders a squeeze of encouragement.
"I started talking in my sleep." Covering her eyes, Gabrielle hung her head.
"And apparently I was describing the reason why we didnt get any sleep last
night."
"What?" Xenas feet stopped moving, as her body went rigid.
Stopping as well, she turned to lean her head against the warriors chest in utter
embarrassment.
Exhausted beyond belief, unable to remember the last time shed closed her eyes and
stunned by the possibilities of what would happen from this outburst, she did the only
thing she could and started laughing.
Groaning, Gabrielle gave her a shove, but kept her head in place. "Dont laugh.
I was mortified."
"Oh, honey." Toning down to a chuckle, Xena wrapped her arms around sagging
shoulders. "Im so sorry." Biting her lip, in an attempt to stop her chest
from shaking, she hugged her tighter. "How many phone numbers did you get?"
"Xena!" Her head snapped up and the bard glared at the smirking face. "It
isnt funny." Slapping her shoulder and pouting a small Gabrielle pout.
"I know. I know. Im sorry, Gabrielle." Seeing the hurt in those adorable
green orbs, she chuckled a couple of times, then sighed. "The big bad bard thing
strikes again."
Nodding, she sighed as well. "Me and my big mouth."
"Mmmmm." Smiling, Xena studied that mouth and wanted to find many exciting uses
for it, but denied herself the pleasure of a kiss and decided that there was a better way
to show her empathy. "Hungry?" Flicking her eyebrows, she saw those sweet lips
curl into a smile. "Fast food, or real food?"
"Real food." Turning around, she let her first passion lead her down the
sidewalk toward her second passion.
**********
Gabrielle did go back to class, although she was way too popular for her own liking and
had to fend off several intrigued classmates, who wanted further details and get a date
with her. Of course, she failed to relay that last bit to the warrior, who wouldve
reduced the class roster with the knowledge and she only gave a repeat performance
once more after a ravaging feast over a holiday weekend. Despite this, she eventually
became the shining star to her classmates for her bardic abilities minus the x-rating and
her knowledge of Greek history was a highly sought after commodity come time for
mid-terms.
Xena continued to demonstrate her prowess in her pursuit of a medical degree and never
failed to prove that her claim to having many skills was justified and
factual. She even received several official acknowledgements for her abilities and was
recommended by Dr. Sheffield for a student exchange program in England. Needless to say,
the warrior respectfully declined with her humblest of apologies and stayed with her
beloved bard, who almost puked at the idea of going back to Britannia.
It was during this time that they began making plans for the inevitable chore of telling
their parents about their relationship, because Xena had decided that after graduation,
she wanted to stay in Cambridge to do her internship at Mass Gen., which wasnt in
the plans her parents had for her. They wanted her to return home and do her internship at
the local hospital, which was the first step to getting her to settle down and get
married. Unfortunately for her parents, the warrior did plan on settling down and getting
married, it just wasnt where they wanted and were probably going to be sent to an
early grave when they found out who she planned on marrying.
So the rest of the year went, with much ravaging, little sleep and a huge amount of
practicing speeches for the dear old Moms and Dads. Then, as the fateful day drew near,
Gabrielle began having second thoughts about letting the cat out of the bag and questioned
her resolve on the matter, though she didnt let the warrior in on this fact and
spent long hours mulling over the ramifications of letting her nerves hold sway over her
heart.
The warrior, in turn knew something was up and tried to cajole the source of the
uneasiness from Gabrielle, but failed with the tiniest bit of irritation. Okay, she went
down in flames and was pissed. So as to not make things worse, she began spending more
time with a certain group of classmates in an attempt to give the bard the space she
needed to figure whatever out for herself and was, unbeknownst to her, failing miserably
again.
"No, no, no." Shaking her head, Xena leaned against the lab table and tapped the
book across from her. "You cant go by that."
"Well, why not?" Jeremy asked in his frustration. "Its here in black
and white, Grace."
"I dont care if its in pink and purple, that book is wrong." Leaning
further over the table, she glared at her lab partner. "Trust me."
"Here we go again." Throwing his hands in the air, he spun around to come back
and sigh. "Youre impossible." Shaking his head, he leaned on the table to
face her.
Xena smiled big. "And, wheres the problem?"
Rolling his eyes, Jeremy hung his head. "I used to think it was my good luck to be
partnered with you, but Im starting to have second thoughts."
"Awe, poor baby." Giving him a pity party, she reached over to lift his chin.
"Is Jeremy having an itty bitty problem with the fact that Im right,
again?"
Staring into those baby blues, he lifted his eyebrows. "Jeremy is having a problem
with the fact that youre an ass hole." Leaning further in, he bumped their
foreheads together, then drew back to smirk. "You shouldve been a proctologist,
Grace. I hear it takes one to know one."
Arching an eyebrow, Xena stood on her tip toes to get her face as close to his as
possible. "If I were a proctologist, Id recommend PreparationH for your
complexion."
Staring into those ever so close baby blues, he glared back. "Grace, if I
werent a gentleman, youd be in trouble right now."
"Oooo. Im quaking in my sneakers." She said unaffected and smiled.
It only took a split second for his hormones to kick in and he responded by overriding his
common sense and kissed those smiling lips. Unfortunately for Jeremy, the kiss was too
brief and his immediate apology for his idiocy was interrupted by a loud bang.
Gabrielle came around the corner at that moment, just like a good green-eyed monster
should and almost shattered the window in the door she slammed open.
Xenas eyes went wide, both from the kiss and the racket and she held up her hands,
shaking her head madly. "Oh shit. Wait, wait, wait." Moving around the table,
she put herself between the blonde freight train and her lab partner. "Faith,
its not what you think."
"Grrrrrrr." Shoving the warrior aside, she kept her eyes on Jeremy and followed
him around the lab, as he tried to make a hasty bewildered retreat.
"Grace! Grace, whats wrong with her?" Grabbing a chair, he put it in her
path and kept back pedaling.
Picking herself up off the floor, the warrior went after Gabrielle. "Faith,
stop."
"Come here, you little weasel." Throwing the chair aside, the bard kept coming.
"Im going to rip out your heart and shove it down your throat." Breaking
into a run, she jumped onto a table, sliding across the surface to close the distance
between them.
"GRACE!" Turning on his heels, Jeremy ran for the door, but was slowed in his
pursuit when something caught his lab coat. Leaning forward, he reached out, trying to
take hold of anything that would stop him from reversing his course.
"Gabrielle! Nooooooo!" In full panic mode, Xena switched to her native tongue,
and lunged over a table, grabbing Gabrielles arm. Stumbling around, she wrapped her
free arm around the bards waist, then leaned back to lift her off the ground.
"Gabrielle, stop. Let him go. It wasnt what you think. Hes sorry."
Tugging on one of the grappling hooks holding her lab partner.
"Ill make him sorry! Im gonna kill him!" Hanging onto the lab coat
with a death grip, she began reeling her little fishy in, despite the fact that her feet
were off the ground.
"Gabrielle, let go." Walking backwards, she pulled Jeremy back as well and began
shaking her green-eyed monster, in an attempt to make her let go. "Gabrielle, I mean
it!" Wrestling against the bard, Xena was starting to lose her own temper.
"Jeremy, for gods sake, just take off your stupid lab coat, you idiot."
Flapping his arms, Jeremy struggled to get the white outer coat off. "Damn it, let
go!" Pulling, shoving, ripping and falling, he finally succeeded in escaping the
blonde fury. Stepping quickly backwards, he stared at her in confusion, but kept a safe
distance. "What the hells wrong with you?" Straightening his shirt.
"Come here." Tossing the coat aside, Gabrielle fought harder to get to him.
"Nobody kisses my gimpfthrsd." Growling at the hand over her mouth, she kicked
backward, trying to gain her freedom, so she could kill Jeremy.
Sidestepping Gabrielles kick, Xena held on to both mouth and waist. "Will you
just get out of here." Growling at the recovering young man. "I cant hold
her like this forever." Dancing around the feet attempting to do her bodily harm.
Throwing his hands up in disgust, he rolled his eyes and made several final adjustments to
his attire. "Shes nuts, Grace and whatever medication shes off of, make
sure you get some will ya?" Grabbing the torn lab coat, Jeremy left in a whirl of
agitation and amazement. "Women!"
Struggling wildly, Gabrielle watched her prey disappear in a fit of fury.
"Gabrielle calm down and stop kicking me!" Hanging onto the bard until the
struggling became more subdued, she finally let the two flailing feet touch the floor when
they stopped trying to break her shins.
Growling under Xenas hand, she stared at the door Jeremy had gone out of. Breathing
heavily through her nose, she was finally allowed to take a huge deep breath, when the
warrior removed her hand. "Xena, Im going to kill that little weasel."
Huffing and puffing, her green eyes peeled the paint off the walls as she turned to glare
upward at her girlfriend. "Why did you let him kiss you?" Turning her anger on
the only person left in the room.
"I didnt let him kiss me. It came out of nowhere." Shaking her head, Xena
held onto Gabrielle by one wrist, just for securitys sake and threw her other hand
in the air.
Yanking her hand free of its bondage, Gabrielle used it to punch the warriors
shoulder. "Is this why youve been leaving me alone? Youve been over here
sucking face with Jeremy, havent you?"
"What?" Confused and dazed, she shook her head even harder. "What are you
talking about? Hes my lab partner, for Zeus sake, Gabrielle. Up until five
minutes ago, the only thing Ive been doing with Jeremy is trying to get him to use
his head for something other than a hat rack and the reason Ive been leaving you
alone is because you wouldnt talk to me."
"Then why was he kissing you when I came in?" Putting her hands on her hips, she
continued to glare upward at the face of innocence.
"Because hes lost his freaking mind!" Opening her eyes wide, Xena held her
arms out. "Hes got a hole in his marbles bag, I dont know? We were
just going over some test formulas and he kissed me." Pointing to the scene of the
crime, which was behind her.
"Xena." Her voice low, with a distinct tone of disbelief, Gabrielle began
tapping her foot.
"Gabrielle, Im serious. I never saw it coming." Sighing, she let her arms
fall limply at her sides. "Honest. You know me better than that." A slight whine
in her voice, the warrior shook her head slowly. "I love you, Gabrielle. You know
that. Id never let that fish face kiss me."
Green eyes rolled and the foot stopped tapping, but the hands stayed on the hips. "If
thats true, then why didnt you knock his block off?"
"You never gave me the chance." Walking over to her lab table, Xena took up her
position. "Here I am, talking away, then the next thing I know, Ive got lips
trying to check my tonsils, then BANG. Incoming green-eyed monster." Giving a short,
yet very dramatic rendition of the chain of events. "I think I bit my tongue when you
came in." Sticking out the injured organ.
Arching an eyebrow, Gabrielle walked over to take hold of the wet exhibit a
and saw a small red area to the left side. "Hmmmm." Releasing the warriors
tongue, she sighed, then wiped her hand on her jeans.
Reeling in the injured party, the kissee put her hands on the bards shoulders.
"You believe me, right?" Lifting her eyebrows in a semi pout.
"Gabrielle." Bending down, she tried to capture green eyes as they disappeared
from view.
Lowering her head, the bard closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she held it for several
seconds before letting it out in a long sigh, along with some of her anger. "Yes, I
believe you Xena." Turning away, she walked a short distance to lean against one of
the black topped tables and fold her arms across her chest. "What now?" Lifting
her eyes, she saw a questioning look returned.
"About what?" Knitting her brow, Xena cocked her head to the side.
"Us, Xena. What do we do now?" Sounding tired and mad, she pushed off the table
to return and stand in front of the confused warrior.
Blinking a couple of times, Xena raised up to her full height. "I dont
understand. Are we supposed to be doing something?"
Gabrielles head flopped back and she closed her eyes. "Xeeeenaaaaa."
"Okay, look." Rolling her eyes, she pulled up a stool and sat down to be face to
face with the bard. "Its obvious that Im missing something here and
before you get all red in the face again, why dont you just tell me whats been
bothering you?" Reaching out, she unfolded two tightly wound arms and ran her hands
down to take Gabrielles hands in hers. "Forget Jeremy for right now and just
talk to me. Somethings been on your mind and youre not happy, I can see that
and I want to fix it, but youve got to tell me what it is, because I cant
figure it out for the life of me."
"Gods." Sighing, she brought her head back to look into expectant, worried eyes.
"This has gotten into such a mess."
"What has?" Hanging onto two warm hands, Xena pulled her closer.
"Whats a mess?"
"Us, here, our parents and the whole graduation thing. Its all coming at us so
fast." Closing her eyes, she felt a gentle squeeze on both hands and smiled.
"Im scared Xena."
"Of what?" Whispering, she smiled back.
"That were going to blow it." Opening her eyes, she shook her head slowly.
"Weve finally gotten these bodies back, thanks to you and were on the
brink of finally being unbelievably happy and I cant shake this gnawing in my gut
that were about to get hit by a bus." Sighing, her face screwed into a scowl.
"Im scared of what will happen when our parents find out and what our
lives are going to be like and whether or not well end up regretting . . . "
Xena dropped Gabrielles hands to wrap her arms around a narrow waist and pull the
woman of her dreams into a gentle, yet passionate kiss. Holding on as the bard resisted,
she kept her lips firmly on her future and relayed her confidence that nothing and no one
would ever be able to keep them from their happiness and that no matter what happened,
shed do everything in her power to keep them together forever. She also relayed the
fact that she thought Gabrielle talked too much, but that was a footnote that got lost
somewhere between a soft moan and checking to see if the bard had acquired any new
fillings in the past 24 hours.
Falling hopelessly into the love encircling her heart and soul, Gabrielle forgot about her
worries and her arguments and Jeremy and everything else that had plagued her waking
moments for the past month. And she was reminded by the kiss, that theyd always
found a way to survive the slings and arrows that the changing times had hurled at them.
They had always overcome the trials set before them and had always been victorious, if not
a little singed in the fray. This is what she felt in the kiss and as always, Xena had
forgone the effort of verbal rhetoric, to cut to the heart of the matter with amazing
accuracy and complete comprehension of what was important. The world may crumble around
them, but they would be safe on the rock of their eternal love.
Dr. Sheffield, having entered the building, just as Jeremy was grumbling his way out had
gotten an earful of the young mans version of what had happened and was now standing
in the doorway of the lab, getting an eyeful of the opposing story. Apparently the young
Mr. Redgrave had gotten his interpretations close to the truth, which was that he was
attacked by Graces crazed friend and thought that shed acted like a jealous
whacko. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, Jeremy had thought
it was because Faith was jealous of time hed spent with his lab partner, therefore
denying the blonde her friends attention. Dr. Sheffield, on the other hand was
becoming very aware that the kiss, mentioned in passing, was the actual source of
Faiths tantrum and that the situation was as far from his own imaginings as they
were from Jeremy getting an A in microbiology. Never the twain shall meet, he
thought and considered the sight before him as he felt his insides turn over in repulsion.
It was about that time that Xenas warrior instincts kicked in and she broke the kiss
to spy her instructor, looking rather uncomfortabe in the doorway. "Oh shit."
Jumping up, she moved in front of Gabrielle, placing the bard safely behind her.
"What?" Still reeling from the kiss, Gabrielle turned to see what the warrior
was staring at. "Oh, gods." Recognizing the bus shed been expecting, her
knees went weak and gave way to send her scrambling for the stool still warm from
Xenas butt.
"Dr. Sheffield, I can explain." Holding up her hands, the warriors brain
went into overdrive. "Its not what it looks like and its not what you
think."
"Really?" His face became a disapproving scowl. "Well unless theyve
invented a more intimate way of checking for tonsillitis, Miss Morgan, Id say you
were kissing her."
"Okay, it is what you think, but I can explain." Moving toward him, she saw her
instructor step back and recognized the signs of that familiar look of disgust. "Just
listen for a minute."
Shaking his head, Sheffield paused in his retreat. "There is no explanation
necessary. Your actions speak for themselves, Grace and whatever you think you could
possibly say to make this acceptable in your mind, will be wasted words. So if youll
excuse me, Ive got several phone calls to make. It will be a shame to lose you this
close to graduation. You had such potential." Turning, he stepped out of the doorway
and made it a few paces before he was accosted and spun around. Sighing he expected to see
the tall brunette with a firm grip on his arm, but instead found the shorter blonde
glaring up at him. "Let go of me, little girl."
"No and dont you ever call me a little girl." Tightening her hold, she
used her lower center of gravity to the max and threw him against the wall. Ramming her
forearm against his chest, she kept him in place, as her blood began to boil.
"Youre gonna listen to me, whether you want to or not."
"Get your hands off me." Growling low, Sheffield tried to push off the wall, but
was shoved back hard.
"Gabrielle." Sighing, Xena made her way down the hall and put her hand on the
bards shoulder. "Its over. Youre not going to change his mind. Look
at him, hes got the look."
"Bullshit." Pushing harder against him, she stuck to English and glanced over
her shoulder to talk directly to the warrior. "Im not going to let this little
worm screw up what weve been working for for so long." Turning her attention
back to the good doctor, she growled.
Shaking her head, the warrior stayed behind Gabrielle and closed her eyes.
"I know what youre thinking, because Ive seen it so many times I
cant even count them all." Glaring up at his face, she stood on her tip toes to
make sure he heard every word. "Ive seen that look of revulsion for I
dont know how long and Im tired of it. Yes, we were kissing and whether your
pea brain can comprehend it, we are also very much in love and Im not going to let
you use that fact to destroy the career of the best doctor this pious-assed institution
has ever seen. Our lifestyle has nothing to do with how proficient we are at our chosen
fields and it most certainly is none of your business. We dont ask you to understand
and we dont ask for your approval and frankly, I dont care if you like it or
not, because it wont change the way we feel, but it will be the biggest mistake of
your life if you let your petty superior attitude ruin the life of the woman I love.
Grace is your pride and joy and youve spent how many years, walking around this
place with your chest puffed out like a proud father? And now that you found out that
shes not the lily white example you set her up as, you immediately want to toss her
aside because she doesnt meet with your moral expectations? Well, thats the
wrong answer, Dr. Sheffield." Giving him a shove, Gabrielle stepped back a pace, but
held him with her eyes. "If it wasnt for my mile-wide jealous streak, that
brought me over here, you wouldve been none the wiser and your precious pride would
still be intact, so stop acting like this changes the facts, because it doesnt.
Grace and I are in love and that will never change and shes still the best doctor
youll ever have the privilege of seeing and if you remember the first rule of being
a doctor, youll walk away from this and keep your mouth shut." Feeling a warm
body against her back, she shook her head and smiled at him sadly. "The most
important rule is to first do no harm, Dr. Sheffield. Its what separates doctors
from the rest of the world and its what makes you know, deep down, that putting your
moral restrictions on someones ability to be a good person and a good doctor and a
benefit to mankind is wrong. Yes, to you were an abomination to everything you hold
sacred, but were not evil and were not reprobates. Were just two people
who live in a time where our love is no longer acceptable. We didnt ask to be this
way and nothing you, or anybody else can say or do, will make us into what you want. Love
doesnt work that way. There are no rules for falling in love and despite what the
world says is right, I know what feels right for me." Sighing, she put her hand over
her heart and felt a strong arm slide around her waist. "In my heart and soul, I love
Grace more than anything else in this world, but thats my problem. Shes
egotistical, dogmatic, selfish, self centered, spoiled, a horrible driver, demanding, a
perfectionist, a natural leader, brave, warm, romantic, compassionate, caring and the best
friend Ive ever had. And she makes me happy. Thats what I see when I look at
her, because I dont have expectations of what she should be. I gave those up a long
time ago and Ive learned to just appreciate everything that she is and be eternally
thankful to whoever sent her my way. Thats where I stand, Dr. Sheffield. Now, you
have to decide where you stand." Giving him a respectful nod, she took the hand
holding her close and walked away, towing the teary-eyed warrior behind her.
Stunned by the monologue, Sheffield stood silent as the pair walked off.
Xena gave him a quick smile, before she was pulled away and began wiping the wetness off
her face. When they turned a corner, she tugged on a warm hand and pulled the bard to a
stop. "Gabrielle."
"What?" Turning around, the bard saw a smile below two tear filled blue eyes.
"Thank you." Leaning down, she gave those naturally talented lips a gentle kiss.
"I love you, you know that?"
"Yea." Nodding, Gabrielle smiled big and gave her a wink. "I know that and
I love you, too. Now come on. Weve got two serious phone calls to make."
"Are you on a roll?" Lifting her eyebrows, the warrior chuckled softly.
"Maybe." Arching an eyebrow, she tilted her head. "Do you have a problem
with that?"
"Ohhhh, noooooo." Shaking her head, Xena brushed her fingers over a soft cheek.
"I just feel sorry for our parents. I dont think they've had the pleasure of
getting an earful from the famous Bard of Poteidaia, when she really gets going."
"Theyll get over it." Pulling the dark haired head closer, Gabrielle put
her lips to the warriors for a long kiss.
"What was that for?" Looking into deep green eyes.
"Thats an apology for getting you into a mess." Sliding her hand from
behind Xenas head, she smiled sadly. "I guess youre not the only one who
courts trouble."
"Dr. Sheffield can kiss my shiny white ass. As long as Ive got you, I
dont care if I have to sell apples on a corner somewhere, Ill be happy."
Stealing another kiss, she wrapped one arm around the bards waist and headed them
for the door. "Have I ever told you that youve got a natural talent for chewing
butt?"
"Youre not the only one with skills, warrior princess." Chuckling, she
felt the hand on her waist moving south. "Xenaaaaa." Reaching behind her, she
grasped the groping wanderer and put it back in a safer spot, then held onto it for good
measure.
Smirking, Xena grabbed a door know in passing and turned it, then pulled Gabrielle quickly
inside the broom closet and closed the door. Standing in total darkness, her lips found
the bards before she could protest and began plying a passionate story of their own.
A couple of hours later, a phone call was made, but it wasnt placed by the bard and
it wasnt to either set of parents. Xena had taken charge of making plans for the
bomb dropping ceremony, once shed ravaged Gabrielles body in the broom closet
and figured out how to unlock the door from the inside and searched for her underwear, to
no avail. Now, she was chatting away with their only ally and started tossing ideas back
and forth with Greg, Gabrielles brother, who was at Yale.
Gabrielle, not to be out done, was scribbling away, taking notes and yanking the phone out
of Xenas hand to yell at her snotty twin, whenever she heard a snide remark come
down the phone lines. She also interrupted constantly, to give her opinion and to argue
over small details.
While this was going on, all thoughts of Dr. Sheffield and their future at Harvard were
pushed to the back of their minds and the pair concentrated on the unenviable task of
telling their parents what Gabrielle had so eloquently told the good doctor.
It was well after sunset before the plan was finalized, with Gregs promise of
back-up and a place to stay, should they find themselves without a home to go to. The
details were still rough and there were three versions. One for if they did get expelled
and one for if they didnt and the third for if only one got expelled, which
satisfied the warriors need for covering the bases. And so the plan was set to drop
the bomb, just after graduation, should that event occur and that they wouldnt let
their parents leave town until they had decided if they were either for or against the
couples announcement. Then, just as they were settling down for bed, confident of
the tentatively made plans, a wrench was thrown into the works when Dr. Sheffield showed
up at their dorm door.
"Ill get it, you just keep writing." Waving the bard back to the bed, Xena
wrapped her robe tightly around her and opened the door. "Yessss, whoa." Feeling
her eyelids stretched to unnatural limits, the warrior stared at her instructor. "Dr.
Sheffield?"
Dropping the pen and pad on her lap, Gabrielle looked up in astonishment.
"May I come in?" Keeping his voice low and even, he gave Grace an embarrassed
expectant look.
"Uhhhhh, sure." Shrugging, Xena opened the door wide enough for him to step
through, then checked the hall for signs of police, or anybody else that might be used to
toss them out. Seeing the usual amount of coed activity, she closed the door.
Bounding off the one and only bed in the room, Gabrielle straightened her robe and smiled.
"Hi." Pointing to one of the chairs. "Would you like to sit down?"
Shaking his head, Sheffields eyes were momentarily glued to the bed, then he turned
away to stare at his student. "Grace, Id like to have a few moments alone, if I
may?"
"Is there somebody outside whos going to try and grab Faith?" Giving him a
steely stare, Xena stood straight as a rod.
"No, Id just like a few minutes to talk to you alone." Taking a deep
breath, he almost smiled.
Treading over to the warrior, Gabrielle took her hand. "Ill be outside."
That said, she gave Xenas hand a squeeze then walked out, closing the door behind
her and pressing her ear firmly against it.
"Okay, were alone." Folding her arms across her chest, Xena tried to
figure out what he was going to say, before he said it, so shed be one step ahead.
Unfortunately, his face was a complete mask and she simply had to wait to hear what he had
to say.
"I dont approve of what and who you are, Grace, but as Faith pointed out, you
are one of the best doctors Ive ever seen." Clasping his hands behind his back,
he stared at her bare feet. "That is why Ive decided to keep the knowledge of
your relationship to myself." Looking up, he met her steady gaze with a resolved one
of his own. "Youll be allowed to finish your education and take the finals,
however, the recommendation I promised you for your internship will not be forthcoming. I
know youll be a great asset to whatever hospital you choose, I just dont want
you in my sight and therefore will not give you a letter for your position at Mass Gen, or
for any other position you apply for. Once you graduate, youre on your own, Grace.
Ill have nothing further to do with you, or Miss Riley. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir." Nodding, Xena whispered her answer. "I understand and thank
you."
"Dont thank me, Grace. Thank your friend. Shes the only reason
youre still on campus and I suspect is the only reason you will find a position
somewhere." Brushing past her, he took the door knob in his hand and paused, to face
her again. "Once you leave this institution, Grace, Id prefer it if you
didnt use my name on any reference material and that you not mention our
acquaintance."
"Yes, sir." Giving him another nod, she watched her favorite instructor walk out
the door and out of her life.
Gabrielle was a discreet distance away when Dr. Sheffield emerged and she waited until
hed gone down the hall before she jogged back into the room. "Were still
in?" Closing the door, she moved to the bed where the warrior was sitting. Taking her
place beside Xena, she tried to see what was going on behind those baby blues.
"Xena?"
"Yea, were still in. I just wont get the job at MGH like I thought."
Chewing the inside of her lip, she stared at the floor as her mind began making changes to
the plan. "Ill have to start sending out applications right away, or else
itll be too late to get in anywhere before next year."
"Well make it, Xena." Taking the warriors hand in hers, Gabrielle
smiled. "Even if we have to go home to find you a job, well make it."
"No!" Shaking her head, the warriors face grew gravely serious.
"Were not going home. Youre staying right here and youre staying at
Harvard. I may have to do some serious commuting, but youre not giving up your
education. You wanted to come here, even before I said it was where I wanted to go and
youre staying, whether or not I ever find a job. End of discussion."
"Okay." Holding up her hand, she smiled. "Okay. I get the point."
"Good." Taking a firm hold of Gabrielles hand, Xena brought their hands to
cover her heart. "Youve got your scholarship, so youll be able to stay
here, but Ill have to move off campus and if Mom and Dad bail, itll get really
tough. Interns dont make a lot of money and Ill probably have to spend most of
my time wherever I can find a job, but Ill be back as often as I can and I . . .
"
Taking hold of a yammering chin, Gabrielle pulled chattering, rambling lips to meet hers
and cut off anymore negative possibilities. Then, ever so slowly, she leaned into Xena,
taking them back to lay on the bed and held the kiss as she covered the warriors
body with her own. Breaking the kiss, she raised up on one elbow to stare down at a
worried face. "Well adjust the plan and well make it."
Frowning, Xena closed her eyes. "I hate it that I wont get to be here with
you."
"You dont know that yet." Tapping a wrinkled nose, she waited for the
warrior to open her eyes before she went on. "You could still get a job at MGH, or
someplace close, but even if you dont we wont shrivel up and die from being
apart. Ive already gone through four years of missing you and if I have to do it
again, I will."
Sighing, she nodded in resignation. "I know."
"And besides." Smiling, Gabrielle ran her finger slowly up the side of
Xenas neck, then repeated the gesture with her lips. "Absence does make the
heart grow fonder."
"Gabrielle, I dont think thats your heart talking." Feeling a hand
slip beneath her robe, she chuckled when it came to rest of her jammie covered breast.
"And my hearts on the other side, just in case youre interested."
Letting her hands do some wandering of their own, she reached down to run them up the back
of Gabrielles thighs, to a firm butt, where they started kneading gently.
"Now whos talking with their libido?" She asked very close to a tasty ear.
Flicking her eyebrows, Xena smiled. "This may be one of my last chances to show you
what youll be missing, before I get shipped off to no mans land."
"And it better be no mans land, Xena." Leaving the earlobe,
Gabrielle gave the warrior a greeneyed glare. "If I find out Jeremy is within fifty
miles of you, Ill kill him."
"Youre so beautiful when youre jealous." Lifting her head, she cut
off a witty retort, while slipping her fingers under the bards undies and planting
her hand solidly on a very hot spot. "Now, what were you saying?" Arching an
amused eyebrow, she began to circle Gabrielles opening with two fingers, while
massaging her nub with a thumb.
Spreading her legs, she began rocking against the warriors hand. "Was I saying
something?" Closing her eyes, she lowered her head to place soft kisses on warm skin
and worked her way over the base of Xenas neck.
"Apparently not. My mistake."
**********
The next two weeks were hell, for both Gabrielle and Xena. Gabrielles problem lay in
the fact that Greg was having to stay at Yale, to make up a final exam and would be there
after theyd scheduled to drop the bomb. So the plans were again rearranged to fit
this adjustment in and the announcement was put off until back-up could arrive During
these trials and tribulations, she also had to study for her finals and pass them with
nothing short of an A to keep her scholarship intact. This was accomplished and she was
free of classes the day before Xena was, so she spent it rearranging their room, because
the bomb targets were due to arrive the following morning.
Xenas problem was Dr. Sheffield, who kept his word and remained silent about their
relationship, but took on a very cold and distant attitude toward the warrior, which made
getting through the final exam a nightmare. Everything she did was second guessed and she
spent more time explaining what she was doing, rather than actually doing what she was
supposed to. But, despite these setbacks, Xena did pass all her classes with honors and
was scheduled to graduate in three days.
Thus the scene was set for the ultimate test of their combined skills in this lifetime and
the busy couple slid under the wire, yet again, by having everything ready for the big
day.
The Rileys arrived first and were given the nickel tour of the dorm, which
theyd had every time they came for a visit and just like normal, Joyce found
something wrong with the room, but was persuaded to let the girls be by Dad, who opted for
the name and location of the best restaurant in town as payment for the lovely tour. He
also paid for everything until the Morgans arrived the next day, then the battle for
monetary distribution ensued and everybody got very tired of watching the two fathers go
head to head over each bill for every little thing. Eventually the Moms stepped in and set
out a plan for equal payment and thus ended the battle, much to everyones delight.
So the few days before graduation were spent touring the local sites and just enjoying the
good weather and each others company.
The nights were spent trying to shove two grown bodies into one or the other of the two
twin beds that now occupied the girls room and usually resulted in them sleeping on
the floor. Unfortunately, this made them a tad cranky and many apologies went around for
bad manners. They also started to pack for the trip home for the summer, but only got half
way through the chore, before they broke down and decided to wait until the storm passed
and theyd see if they actually had a home to go to.
Greg, Gabrielles brother arrived at his original time slot and explained to the
girls that hed begged to take the make-up exam the following week, not out of some
sense of duty to them and their predicament, but because hed be burned at the stake
before hed miss Graces graduation. She was, after all, his first love and even
if he had lost her affections to his sister, he wasnt going to let that stand in his
way of cheering on the woman of his dreams.
Gabrielle found this side note irritating, while Xena found it very endearing and managed
to keep her Flyboy alive, despite the bards wishes to the other extreme. So, for the
umpteenth time, the plan was changed and they went back to the original scheme and were
ready to put the wheels in motion shortly after the graduation ceremony when, it was
hoped, the elation was hoped to dampen the sting of the bomb drop.
"You look beautiful." Smiling, Gabrielle made Xena turn around several times, so
she could get a good look at the crimson gown.
Doing as she was instructed, Xena held out her arms and turned slowly in a circle. "I
like this one better than the purple from high school."
"Its simply marvelous, Grace." Maggie said, with a small tear in her eye.
Being the dutiful husband, Joseph removed his handkerchief from his suit pocket and handed
it to his wife. "Here."
Sniffing, Mom dabbed the corner of her eye, then tucked the white silk cloth in her purse.
"Oh, Mom." Rolling her eyes, the warrior gave her mother a huge hug.
"Im graduating, not falling off the end of the earth."
"Dont patronize your Mother, Grace." Slapping his daughters
shoulder, Dad gave his signal that it was time for his huge hug. Then he took the light of
his life in his arms and almost broke a couple of ribs. "You did good, Grace.
Im proud of you."
"Thank you, Daddy." Smiling big, Xena took the hanky offered by her mother and
sniffed.
"Come on, come on, come on." Brian groaned. "Can we get out of here before
its time for her to retire?"
"Yea." Nodding, Greg, Xenas brother agreed. "Lets get this show
on the road." Putting his hands on his hips.
"All right." Huffing, Dad nodded also. "Well see you after the
ceremony, pumpkin."
"Okay and please dont let them throw the toilet paper theyve got stashed
in their coats." She whispered to her father, who urned to glare at his sons.
"Cough it up." Holding out his hands, he waited for two rolls of soft white
tissue paper to be placed in his possession, then he gave each dark male head a smack.
"You ruin this and Ill drag your dismembered bodies behind the car, all the way
home."
Groaning in unison, the brothers caught looked sad and shuffled a short
distance away.
"Well meet you by the stands." Mom reminded her daughter. "So, no
running off."
"Yes, maam." Smiling, Xena gave her a wink.
"Joseph." Taking his arm, Maggie gave the signal for them to move out, which
entailed walking across the grounds toward the stands and the Rileys, who were
saving their seats.
"Xena." Watching them go, Gabrielle moved closer to the warrior.
"I know, Gabrielle." Taking the bards hand, she gave it a squeeze.
"Its gonna be hard." As her parents disappeared into the crowd, the
warrior smiled. "Its graduation day, in more ways than one."
"Should we synchronize our watches?" Sneaking up behind them, Greg gave his twin
sister a pinch on the butt and almost got his head taken off.
"You little twerp." Swinging hard, she spun in a full circle, due to the miss
and stopped to rub her pained bottom. "When this is all over, Im going to beat
you to a bloody pulp." Glaring at his smirking face, she growled.
"Grrrrrr."
"Okay, you two. Can we call a truce? Its almost time for me to go get in
line." Separating the sparring siblings, Xena shook her head. "Has everybody got
their part down pat?"
Still glaring, Gabrielle nodded. "I keep the parents together and bring them back to
the room."
"While I corral Brian, Greg and Karen over to the coffee shop, for a sugar binge and
give them the news." Smiling big, he flicked his eyebrows at Faith. "That leaves
you and pinhead safe to drop the bomb on the Moms and the Dads."
"That pretty much cover's it." Sighing, the warrior checked her watch. "A
couple more hours and our lives change forever."
"Yep, this is your last chance, Grace." Smiling seductively, Greg tugged on the
sleeve of her gown. "You can still change your mind and go with the more sexy,
intelligent twin." Flicking his eyebrows again.
"Thats it! Youre dead!" Rushing him, Gabrielle got her arm around
his neck before she was pulled off by the warrior.
Laughing, Xena held onto the bard and nodded for Greg to make a discreet exit.
"Gabrielle, would you calm down. Youre gonna wrinkle my gown."
"That little weasel better keep his grubby paws off you." Growling at her
departing brother, the bard huffed a couple of times then calmed down.
"He just does that to get a rise out of you." Letting go, Xena smiled down at
furious green eyes. "He knows who Im in love with." Taking a clenched jaw
in her hand, she leaned down to place a soft kiss on Gabrielles forehead. "Now,
go get your seat, so we can get on with our lives."
Sighing, Gabrielle nodded. "Hes sooooo lucky we need him for this, or else
hed be dead meat."
Xena rolled her eyes and took the bard by the shoulders to turn her around to face the
stands, then gave her a pat on the fanny. "Go. Ill see you after the
ceremony."
Stomping off, the bard searched the crowd for the two families and ignored the smug smile
on her brothers face.
The ceremony went off without a hitch, but was excruciatingly long and by the time Xena
actually got her diploma placed in her hand, her cheering section burst off their seats
with as much enthusiasm about getting to relieve their aching butts as the fact that their
pride and joy was graduating. Then the rest of the class had to move their tassels before
the hats finally flew in the air and everybody got up for one final standing ovation.
Picking up her hat, Xena moved through the crowd with the skill of a hunter on the prowl
and intercepted the two families before they could reach the last step off the stands.
Giving Greg a nod, she smiled and hugged everybody, then suffered through multiple
blinding moments as pictures were taken. Once on their way, she helped Gabrielle convince
their respective parents to come back to the room and watched the Flyboy do his job and
saw the four siblings sneak off. So far, so good, she thought and kept her best happy mask
on.
Gabrielle was thankful that she hadnt eaten yet, because her stomach was doing
somersaults all the way back to the dorm and she only barely managed to keep up with the
conversations going on around her. Once inside the noisy halls, she took the lead up the
three flights of stairs and hoped her sweating would be attributed to the exertion, rather
than nerves. Keeping her eyes focused on the door halfway down the hall, she could feel
blue eyes burning a hole in the back of her head, but she refused to meet the
warriors gaze and instead chose to fight off the choking sensation in her throat. We
can do this. We can do this. Chanting the little mantra in her mind, her hand was shaking
when she opened the door to their room and felt her knees getting weak as she was followed
in by chatting happy parents and one well trained warrior.
"Why dont you have a seat, while I pull this thing off." Smiling, Xena
pointed to the beds and moved to her closet to pull off her gown.
"What is so important, that we have to risk missing our reservations?" Joseph
asked, who was starving for a big juicy steak.
"Oh, hush." Slapping his arm, Maggie grabbed it and pulled him to the bed.
"Youre not going to die."
"I may." Sean mumbled and got pretty much the same treatment from his wife and
was forced to sit and twiddle his thumbs while the girls whispered in the corner.
"Xena, I dont know if I can do this." Her voice barely audible, Gabrielle
helped the warrior off with her gown.
"Dont worry. Ill handle it." Smiling to the two couples, she sighed.
"Ive faced worse situations than this."
"Yea, but you usually had a sword in your hand at the time." Pulling a hanger
out of the closet, she hung the gown on it and put it away. Taking one last deep breath,
she let it out very slowly before she turned around to join Xena on the five steps to
their destiny and crossed the small room.
Four sets of varying colored eyes stared expectantly upward and all four faces smiled in
anticipation.
"Mom, Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Riley." Xena said softly and felt a warm hand take hold
of hers. "Faith and I have something to tell you."
"Well, what is it Grace?" Mom asked, seeing the tension on her daughters
face.
Closing her eyes, the warrior rubbed her forehead.
"You remember all those dreams you had for us, about getting our educations and then
settling down to get married?" Speaking just as softly, Gabrielle smiled.
"Of course." Nodding, Joseph smiled. "Every parent has those dreams for
their children. We want you to be happy."
"Well, your idea of happiness may not fit into our idea of happiness."
Recovering, Xena shook her head.
"Youre dropping out of school." Joyce stated in a none to happy tone.
"No, Mom." Gabrielle replied.
"Youre going to give up medicine?" Maggie tried to guess.
"No, Mom." Xena answered.
"Youre pregnant." Sean growled.
"No, Dad." Sighing, the bard rolled her eyes.
"Youre pregnant." Joseph growled.
"No, Dad." Dropping her head, the warrior shook it slowly.
"Then what?" Joyce asked, starting the next round.
"Were in love and were going to get married." Gabrielle sighed and
waited for the explosion.
"You two never mentioned a boyfriend." Maggie folded her arms across her chest.
"Why havent you brought them home?"
"Because there are no boyfriends, Mom." Xena smiled guiltily. "Were
in love with each other. Faith and I."
Sean stood up and put his hands on his hips. "Youre in love with my
daughter?" Staring at Grace, he felt the blood rushing to his head.
"Yes, sir." Nodding, the warrior braced herself for a physical attack.
"Very much so."
Joseph stood up and mirrored his counterparts stance. "Is this true,
Faith?"
"Yes, sir." Taking a tighter hold of the warriors hand, Gabrielle nodded.
"Weve been in love since we were kids."
"Well, well, well. That explains a lot." Maggie sighed and gave her husband a
knowing smile.
"I thought you were just waiting for Mr. Right to come along." Joyce frowned.
"Well, technically the right person did come along, Mom. It just wasnt a
mister." Smiling, Gabrielle let out a long sigh. "Are you mad?"
"Mad?" Closing her eyes, Joyce bit her lip. "Am I mad? Ive just been
told that my daughter is in love with another woman and she wants to know if Im
mad." Throwing her arms in the air, she opened her eyes to stand and pace around the
room.
"Mom?" Xena asked and saw the look of stunned numbness on her face.
"Grace." Being the last to stand, Maggie shook her head. "Did we do
something wrong in raising you?"
"No, maam." Feeling the first hits from the bomb, the warrior smiled.
"And neither did Faiths parents. Were not the products of any mistake
youve made. We had happy, healthy childhoods and we never wanted for anything and we
never felt abused, or mistreated. This isnt something that you couldve
prevented. For us, its natural and we could never imagine ourselves with anybody
else."
"Well, this just throws the whole day right out the window." Turning his back to
the couple, Sean folded his arms across his chest. "Now, I know what happened to our
children and why they disappeared so fast."
Joseph shook his head. "When I said I wanted you to be happy, I thought I was going
to have to buy you a real car, not this."
"Im sorry, Daddy. We didnt mean to tell you like this, but we felt it was
time." Chewing the inside of her lip, Xena watched her fathers face. "We
did hide it from you, but it was only to keep from hurting you."
"Hurting me?" Growling, he took a step closer to his daughter. "Is that
what you think, Grace? Do you think so little of me, that Id allow my own happiness
to stand in the way of yours?" Pointing to the bard, he kept his eyes on the
warriors. "Hell, Grace. If I was twenty years younger and had never met your
mother, Id be snatching her up."
Gabrielle looked around in confusion. "What does that mean?"
"It means, little one, that despite what you think of us, we are still your parents
and our whole purpose in life is to make sure that weve done everything in our power
to see that our children are happy." Maggie said softly. "We arent hurt,
were stunned and confused."
"Well, not all of us." Joyce came back from her pacing to face her daughter.
"I, for one am not happy and I want some answers." Glaring down at Faith.
"To what?" Staring back, Gabrielle cocked her head. "What do you want to
know, Mom?"
"I want to know how you could do this?" Putting her hands on her hips, her eyes
moved between the two women. "Is this why you wanted to come here? So you could be
with her?"
"Not initially." Shaking her head, the bard smiled. "I wanted to come to
Harvard before she did, because of its history department. Grace was just a
bonus."
"Dont be flippant, young lady. This isnt a game youre playing and I
wont allow you act like it is." Turning to face them, Sean stepped toward his
daughter and reached out to grab her arm, but was intercepted by a former warlord.
"Grace, let go of my hand."
"No." Xena said flatly. "You hurt her and Ill break every bone in
your body." Staring up into his eyes, she saw a flash of something, then she let go,
but held her place.
"Are you threatening him?" Joyce asked, trying to get in front of her husband,
so she could take charge of the questioning. Unfortunately, there was only room for a
piece of paper between the two and neither seemed prepared to give way.
"I dont make threats, Mrs. Riley. I make promises." Her eyes steady, she
saw the flash again and felt her brow wrinkle when he stepped back. Arching an eyebrow,
she started to turn to say something to the bard, but was distracted by the incoming
future mother-in-law.
Sean turned around and went to sit on the bed.
"Hold it." Waving his arms around, Joseph did the intercepting this time.
"Just hold it, before this turns into a donnybrook, okay?"
"Joyce, just calm down." Coming to her husbands aide, Maggie took the
woman by the arm. "Its not the end of the world."
Xena and Gabrielle exchanged a confused look and took several steps back to give the
Morgans room to maneuver. "Whats going on?" Gabrielle whisper.
"Apparently the only person with the real problem is your Mom." Xena whispered
back, over her shoulder. "I dont know what happened to your dad."
And so they stood for ten minutes while one set of parents held off the mother of one and
the father of same one sat quietly, watching the fray with an apparent growing amusement.
Finally, Joyce got a glimpse of her husbands face when she turned to get some much
needed support from him and felt like turning her fury on him, when she saw the smile.
"Have you lost your mind, Sean? What are you laughing at?"
"You." Standing, he started chuckling. "Youre acting just like your
father did when you brought me home and Grace there," pointing to the warrior with
another chuckle, "is me. She had my speech down, word for word, but I actually did
have to break your dads nose to get it through his head that I was in love with you.
Of course, thats why we ended up having to spend every Thanksgiving at the in-laws
until the day he died. Just so we could spar and he could get a chance to knock my block
off." Laughing, he sat back down, because his input was complete.
Glaring at him like he was crazy, Joyce actually growled. "Thats
different."
"No its not." Shaking his head calmly, Sean crossed his legs. "And I,
for one, have no intention of driving home with a broken nose." Smiling, he saw her
face turn beet red. "Yep, thats good old Franklin Gregory Finley, if ever I saw
him." Pointing at his wife.
Maggie and Joseph did the discreet thing and joined the two girls across the room, as
Joyce got wound up.
Xena wrapped her arms around her fathers waist, as he backed up and rested her chin
on his shoulder. "Thank you, Daddy." Kissing his cheek, she smiled.
"Youre welcome, pumpkin." Patting her head gently, he continued to be a
formidable barrier between the mad woman and his daughter and future daughter-in-law.
"Mrs. Morgan?" Gabrielle, who was blocked in by the wall of bodies, tugged on
the womans jacket.
"Yes, Faith?" Turning, she looked down at the worried expression of a serious
face.
"It really doesnt bother you? About Grace and me?" Standing very close to
the warrior, she pressed her back against Xena.
"Faith." Smiling, Maggie shook her head. "Joseph and I have already
discussed this a long time ago. Parents arent always as blind as you think
they are."
"What?" Catching the conversation, Xena turned to stare wideeyed at her mother.
"Grace, were not dummies." Dad whispered over his shoulder. "The only
person you ever showed any interest in at all, was Faith. It doesnt take a brain
surgeon to see love when it smacks you in the face every damn day."
Gabrielle turned to share a shocked look with Xena. "You knew?" The blonde
asked, as her head shot back and forth between the husband and wife.
"We suspected." Nodding, Maggie gave her a wink.
"Daddy?" Moving one arm, Xena wrapped it around her fathers neck.
"How could you let me stand up there like a complete idiot and ask me if I was
pregnant?" Giving his neck a squeeze.
Chuckling, Joseph ignored the ill intent of his daughter. "But you looked so
cute."
"Ooooooo." Tightening her hold, the warrior felt like breaking his nose.
"But you acted like you were surprised." Closing her eyes, Gabrielle shook her
head. "I dont believe it."
"It wasnt a complete act, Faith." Mom said quietly and placed her hand on
the smaller womans shoulder. "We had no idea what you were going to tell us and
even though we suspected you two were an item, I needed to know if it was real. I wanted
to make sure there werent outside influences that drove you to this and so, when
Grace explained, I knew it was real."
"You wanted to make sure that we werent falling into this willy nilly."
Opening her eyes, the bard nodded.
"Precisely." Smiling, Maggie wrapped her arm around the blondes shoulder.
"Faith, I was hoping youd snatch up our Greg and straighten him out, but if
youre that determined to go for the ultimate challenge, all I can say is good luck
and you can call me when she gets grease on the couch. Ive got a great recipe for
stain removal."
"Hey!" Letting go of her father, Xena put her hands on her hips and glared at
her mother. "What do you mean you wanted her to snatch up Greg and I never got grease
on the couch!"
"Oh, shut up Grace." Rolling his eyes, Dad thumped her in the back of the head.
"Weve got bigger fish to fry, because apparently, Joyce is the only one with
the real problem." Folding his arms across his chest, he watched the show and
wondered at Seans contented smile. "Your father seems happy enough."
Frowning, Gabrielle was well aware of her mothers opinion, since her yelling was
bouncing off the walls, but she had no idea what her father was doing and scooted past
Mom, to peek around the wall. Grimacing, she ducked back. "I dont think his
laughing is helping."
"Should we leave them alone?" Dad asked and continued to watch Joyces
little show.
"Where are the Gregs, Brian and Karen?" Putting her hands on her hips, Maggie
finally started doing her motherly bit. "What happened to our children?"
"My Greg took them to the coffee shop to break the news and feed them a lot of
sugar." Smiling guiltily, Gabrielle looked around at her confined space.
"Oh wonderful." Groaning, Joseph closed his eyes. "The boys on a sugar
high, just what I needed."
"Wed better stop by the store to pick up a large spatula to scrape them off the
ceiling ." Nodding, Mom didnt look too happy.
"Sorry." Grimacing, Gabrielle turned to her future wife. "Maybe we should
go get them before its too late?"
"I think we should all go." Xena recommended. "Well leave a note for
your parents with directions." Giving the bard a worried, yet hopeful smile.
"Good idea." Nodding, she peeked out again and dashed for the desk to retrieve
something to write on and with, then ducked back undercover. Turning to the door, she
began to write the note when the door opened and she was shoved behind it.
"Dammit."
"Is the coast clear?" Greg asked, sticking his head in the door and immediately
heard that it was not. "Never mind." Smiling, he tried to close the door, but
was pulled into the room by the Morgans and was soon followed by the other Greg, Brian and
Karen.
When the parade stopped, Gabrielle shoved the door out of her face and glared at her twin.
"Thanks." Tossing the pen and paper, she put her hands on her hips. "What
are you doing here? This isnt part of the plan."
"Well, I dropped the bomb, got three well duhs and decided to come
back here to see if you needed any back up." Smiling, he turned to Grace.
"Im assuming that you already dropped your bomb?" Moving around her
parents, he peeked out to take a look at his. "Nobodys dead?"
"What do you mean, you got three well duhs?" Xena asked, looking at the
faces of her two brothers and Karen. "You didnt know."
"Oh, get over yourself, Grace." Rolling his eyes, Brian sighed.
"Youre not as cleaver as you think you are."
"Yea." The dark headed Greg added. "We knew a long time ago, you twit. We
just thought you were too chicken to tell us."
"Chicken?" Glaring at the second member of the family who was taller than she
was. "Youre calling me chicken?"
Both brothers started flapping their arms. "Chicky, chicky, chicky." Brian
chanted.
"You sure you really want to join that family?" Karen asked quietly, which
wasnt hard considering the volume level in the room was moving steadily toward
deafening.
Gabrielle laughed. "I may not notice the difference."
"Whatever." Rolling her eyes, Karen smiled. "Thanksgivings will never be
the same, but if youre happy, Im happy and were coming to your house.
Im not putting up with this nonsense when I move out."
Joyce, whod almost run out of steam, finally noticed that the population of the room
had increased and turned her attention to her son and acceptable daughter. "Did you
two have anything to do with this?" Stalking toward the crowd.
"We knew, if thats what youre asking." Greg #1 said. "I asked
Grace a long time ago and Karen figured it out on her own." Throwing a thumb over his
shoulder. "I dont see what the big deal is? So theyre different.
Theyve always been strange, now we know why."
Gabrielle gave him a shove in the back. "You little weasel."
"So none of you people have a problem with the fact that our daughters are
perverts?" Putting her hands on her hips, she immediately started back pedaling when
Joseph took several menacing steps toward her.
"Now, you listen to me, Joyce." Growling, he moved to tower over her. "I
dont care if you dont approve, but you call my daughter a pervert again and
shell be down one parent in a heartbeat." Matching the intensity in her eyes
with his own, he stood his ground with the bulk of his size to back him up. "I may
not completely understand it myself, but I dont regret Gracess choice, because
Faith is the nicest, kindest, most respectful, caring person I know other than my wife and
Ill be happy to have her in my family if you dont want her." Pointing his
finger in her face.
"Joseph." Taking her husbands hand, Maggie pulled him back and took his
place. "Joyce, its not as bad as it seems."
"You are all crazy." Throwing her hands in the air, Joyce stormed through the
little crowd and out the door.
Sighing, Sean stood up. "Dont worry. Shell be back when she wants to go
home. Ive got the keys to the car."
"Ill go talk to her." Karen offered and disappeared.
"Does this mean that were not going out to eat?" Brian asked, as his
stomach growled.
"Yea." Nodding, Greg #2 did his brother-stick-together thing. "Im
starving. We didnt get to eat at the coffee shop."
"Leave it to my sons to put everything in perspective." Rolling his eyes, Joseph
shook his head.
Greg #1 laughed and nudged Grace in the shoulder. "Hey, wanna ditch this crowd and go
make out?" Flicking his eyebrows.
"Dream on Fly . . . Faith!" Diving for the bard, she missed in her attempt to
save the Flyboy from harm.
Gabrielles head snapped in his direction, just before she jumped on his back and
began pummeling his head. "I warned you, you little weasel." Wrapping her legs
around his waist, she fought off the hands trying to remove her from her twin.
"Shes mine. Mine. Mine. Mine and you keep your grubby little hands off
her."
"Faith, get off of him." Growling, Xena grabbed the hammer and looked around for
some help. "Dont just stand there."
"Dont look at me. You knew she had green eyes, the day you met her and should I
go into the for better or for worse part now?" Smiling, Maggie went to talk to Sean.
Joseph chuckled and followed his wife over to the beds.
Brian and Greg #2 began rifling through drawers, looking for food.
Greg #1 covered his head, laughed hysterically and spun around to make Faith dizzy.
Next door, the coeds pulled their ear plugs out to do a sound check, then put them back in
and shrugged. "I hate graduation days."
**********
Pushing off the door, Gabrielle smiled with the memories running through her head.
"Oh, yes. Those were definitely the days." Chuckling to herself, she walked over
to the platform and took the stairs slowly. Setting her book and cup aside, the bard
sidled up behind a very occupied warrior and bent over to wrap her arms around her neck,
then placed several soft kisses and nibbles on a tasty earlobe. "Hi."
Sitting up straight, Xena smiled. "Hiyiyiyi." Swiveling around, she wrapped one
arm around Gabrielles waist to pull her into her lap. "Are you here to ravage
me, or relieve me?"
Dangling her legs over the side of the chair, she flicked her eyebrows. "That
depends. Which would you prefer?"
"How many guesses do I get?" Flicking her eyebrows back at her.
"One." Tilting her head, she continued her pursuit of pleasure and began moving
her lips over the other side of the warriors neck.
Closing her eyes, Xena felt her skin tingling. "Gabrielle? Honey? What about the
console?" Cocking her head to one side, she tried to remain focused on the job, which
was becoming very difficult.
Murmuring low, Gabrielle smiled. "Youre in charge. Just tell them theyre
on their own for awhile."
"But . . . were . . . supposed to be . . . responsible adults." Finding
coherent thought escaping her, she held her breath to steady her mind.
"Id rather be consenting adults, right now." Running her tongue over a
sensitive spot behind Xenas ear, she smiled when the warrior jumped out of the
chair.
Putting Gabrielle down, Xena clapped her hands to get everybodys attention.
"Listen up, people." When every face was staring at her, she put her hands on
her hips. "An emergency has come up at home that Gabrielle has just informed me of
and well be gone for a couple of hours, or maybe longer, to handle the situation. So
youre on your own and I dont want to hear a peep out of you guys until we get
back." Giving them a commanding stare, she saw several confused faces and a couple of
smiles, but nobody said anything. "Good." Turning around, she grabbed the
bards hand and proceeded to drag her to the portal. "Hi ho, hi ho, open the
damn door."
Covering her mouth, to stifle the laughter trying to break free, Gabrielle glanced over
her shoulder to give the Ungara a wink.
"Dammit, T." Framing on the wooden barrier, Xena growled. "Open the
door!" Growling low, she was sure she heard a chuckle coming from somewhere and
banged her fist harder. "I hear you laughing, now open this damn door."
Suddenly there was a clicking sound and the door swung open slowly.
"About time, you pregnant brat." Pushing it all the way open, the warrior rushed
through, with bard in tow and slammed it shut, then began a record setting pace up to
their bedroom.
Following happily behind, Gabrielle began removing clothing as they went.
Slamming the bedroom door, Xena was naked in seconds flat and had the bard on the bed, in
a passionate embrace before the echo stopped rattling the windows. "So what brought
this on?" She asked between kisses.
"Harvard." Came a breathless response, as she spread her legs to wrap them
around the warriors waist. "Your last year, my first."
"Our parents?" Moving her kisses lower, she blazed a heated trail over soft
skin.
Shaking her head, Gabrielle smiled. "All this studying." Arching her back, she
began rocking her hips. "I think its made me feel like I did in college."
"God, I love flashbacks."
**********
The End.
Epilogue: Joyce eventually got over her aversion to the couples relationship, with a
lot of stubborn persuasion from her family and when she figured out that she was getting a
doctor in the package. Sean just rode out the storm in his usual calm manner and was happy
when he didnt have to go to the gas station to call the girls anymore.
Maggie and Joseph, despite their initial acceptance, were not amused when they got a bill
from their daughter for traveling expenses so the warrior could commute from Connecticut
every available moment. And they continue to bring up the bill, which they paid, at every
possible instance, especially when Xena complained about having to use her mechanical
expertiese to fix their automobiles for free.
Greg #1, aka Flyboy did find another love at Yale and was forced to discontinue torturing
his twin, when Barbara, his future wife found the flirting unamusing. Needless to say,
Babs has green eyes too.
Brian, who didnt attend Harvard because he refused to follow in the shadow of the
brat, aka his sister, went to Europe to attend Oxford, in pursuit of a degree in Computer
Science and found his wife there. She has brown eyes, which with the combination of his
blue, produced three green-eyed children.
Greg #2 and Karen are still single and you know about the sailboats in the desert thing,
so Ill just skip to Karen, who also lives in the desert and unbeknownst to
everybody, is having a torrid romance with the moron building sailboats for a living.
Apparently the babies of the families took comfort in each others arms and are happy to
keep their secret, even if they have to sleep apart at all family gatherings. The
suffering continues.
Xena and Gabrielle made it through the two remaining years, until the bards
graduation, which was moved up due to sexual frustration and Gabrielles cleping a
lot of her classes to become a junior the next year. They also got married, though it
wasnt legal in any state, and did what they had always done, which was to find a
quiet wooded spot and exchange vows and rings. This was done without fanfare and the
presence of any family member and with only their hearts and their souls as proof of their
union. But that was all they really needed anyway and they followed Xenas parents
when they moved out of their home town and the warrior got a job at the hospital, where
her sexual orientation fell by the wayside in the wake of her abilities as a doctor. Her
skills also gained her notoriety and allowed her to set up the Emergency Surgical Unit,
where she selected Manny, Mary and Jim, because they all had letters of recommendation
from Dr. Sheffield, who, despite his attitude, was the best surgical instructor on the
planet, which Xena knew, because shed trained him in her previous lifetime.
Dad got elected to the School Board and used his influence to get Gabrielle a position at
the local high school, despite the fact that she was barely older than her students.
Gabrielle, in turn, repaid her father-in-law by becoming Teacher of the Year for her first
three years running and only gave him a heart attack once, when she moved away to take the
University job and we all know what happened there.
So now you know the scoop and the rest, as they say, is history. Which will continue to be
played out on a weekly basis for your enjoyment.
Thanks for reading.
FlyBigD