Disclaimer: The characters of Xena and Gabrielle and others mentioned, belong to MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement on their rights are intended.


Subtext Disclaimer: No sex, but as usual there is an implied loving relationship between two consenting adult females. If this bothers you, or you’re under age, or you live somewhere where this type of material is illegal, go away.


Timeline: Plan D lucky number 13.


Shock Factor: 4. Don’t let the tail light fool you.


Note: This story is just because.

Ann, thanks again.


Don’t drink and drive. Always wear your seat belt, or wear you’re helmet.


Send comments to asdease1@gte.net


Enjoy.

The Reason Why

By FlyBigD

Smiling, Gabrielle turned her head, snuggling it under Xena’s chin. "This is nice." Sitting lengthwise on the swing, in between the warrior’s legs, the bard felt the breeze on her face.

"Ummm." Agreeing, the warrior watched the rain drip off the roof of the porch. "It’s a beautiful day." Hugging the bard tighter, she moved her leg sideways, dropping it off the seat of the swing, and used her foot to gently push them back and forth.

Feeling the warmth of Xena’s bare body on her bare back, the bard nodded, then closed her eyes, as she listened to the rain. "I love days like this." Sighing with contentment, Gabrielle pulled the blanket tighter around their bodies.

"Nothing to do, but watch the rain." Closing her eyes, Xena sighed.

"We could go swimming in the pool." Gabrielle suggested as she snuggled closer.

"Nah." Frowning, the warrior shook her head. "I’m happy like this."

Chuckling softly, she opened her eyes, tilting her head back to smile upward. "Are you really happy?"

"Yes." Nodding, Xena opened her eyes and smiled. Pulling her head back, to get a better view of Gabrielle’s face, she winked. "Are you?" Lifting her eyebrows with the question.

"Oh, yea." Smiling, she put her head back in it’s spot. "This ranks right up there with the Nobel Prize and a Pulitzer."

This time the warrior chuckled. "This must be the comfy rainy day award ceremony."

Nodding, Gabrielle closed her eyes again. "You always take first prize."

"I have many skills." Using a voice of authority, Xena felt a laugh against her. "Am I wrong?"

"Oh, no." Shaking her head with a smile. "I’ll give you a signed statement, if you want."

"I thought so." Nodding once in self agreement, she closed her eyes and lowered her head to rest on the bard’s. "Do you know how much I love you?"

"Yes." Snuggling again, Gabrielle raised her head, to kiss Xena’s neck. "It’s a tie for how much I love you." Lowering her head again, she smiled when she felt a kiss on the top of her head.

In the distance, off to the left of the house, something was creeping though the trees and crouched down, when the couple was spotted.

"Bud." T said menacingly, as she popped in behind the tiger. "You even think about bothering them and I’ll skin you’re striped ass."

Dropping his head, Bud played innocent.

"Back to the house, mister." Nudging him with her foot, T pointed toward the cabin. "Move."

Growling low, he got to his feet and gave the couple one last glance, before he trotted away.

Smiling, T shook her head and looked over to the porch. "A god’s work is never done." Chuckling, she followed behind Bud, to make sure he didn’t double back.

"Did you hear something?" Xena asked, opening her eyes to look around.

"No." Yawning her answer, Gabrielle brought one hand out from under the blanket, to rub her nose.

"Hmmm." Frowning, the warrior looked to her left and saw Bud being marched away by T. Chuckling, she closed her eyes again.

"Find something?" Tucking her hand back into warmth, the bard opened her eyes.

"I think Bud was planning an ambush." Leaning her head on the back of the swing with a smug smile.

Grinning happily, Gabrielle closed her eyes. "T spoil his fun?"

"Yep." Nodding, she rubbed the bard’s tummy.

Taking Xena’s hand in hers, the bard brought it to cover her heart. "He’ll never learn."

"Nope." Xena laughed and shook her head.

Thinking of something, Gabrielle opened her eyes and looked up. "Xena?"

"Hmm?" Moving her eyes down to catch a pair of emeralds gazing at her.

"You know what this reminds me of?" Smiling up into twinkling blue.

Frowning, Xena thought a minute then shook her head. "No."

"It reminds me of the first time you kissed me." Sneaking a hand out from under the blanket, Gabrielle traced a finger along a tanned neck.

"Which first time?" Flicking her eyebrows suggestively.

"This one." Sounding disgusted, she turned her head and stared out at the rain.

Hugging Gabrielle tighter, the warrior laughed. "I remember. I remember. We were swinging on my parent’s porch and you were doing your Algebra homework."

"And you kept giving me wet willies." Smirking, she turned her face up again to frown. "You set me up, didn’t you?"

Half a smile appeared on Xena’s face and she nodded. "Yea. I knew if I bugged you enough, you’d try to give me one back."

"I knew it." Huffing, Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "And I fell for it."

"Well I had to do something." Giving her a hug. "I couldn’t very well go off to college unkissed."

That got a chuckle from the bard. "No, I guess not. It would’ve been a travesty." Adding a touch of sarcasm.

"Well, if memory serves, you didn’t complain." Pulling a hand out from under the blanket, she pointed at the essence of feigned innocence. "And you packed quite a punch for thirteen, missy."

"The lips may have been thirteen, but the technique was tried and true." Smirking up at her, Gabrielle pulled her down to prove her point and brought their lips together for a long kiss.

"Ummm." Moaning, Xena smiled. "If you’d done that then, you would’ve gotten us arrested, or caught." Stealing another kiss. "Greg could be stealthy when he really tried."

Shaking her head, the bard sighed. "I always felt sorry for him."

Shrugging, she smiled. "Well, he does have good taste in women."

Gabrielle dropped her head, groaning.

"Must run in the family." Laughing, the warrior ducked her head down and kissed a soft spot behind a tasty ear.

"Too bad we both fell for the same woman." Lifting her head, she cocked it sideways, to give Xena better access.

"Really. It could’ve been a Greek tragedy." Feeling a chuckle against her, she nibbled on the tasty ear lobe.

Pulling her head away, Gabrielle looked up at her. "So what did you finally tell him, anyway?"

"What?" Smirking, Xena kissed her lips. "Still can’t believe that I pulled off a sensitive chat?"

"Actually, yes." Giving a kiss back, the bard laid her head on a warm shoulder.

"Ha! I knew it." Shaking her head, the warrior leaned down and bit a button nose.

Rolling her eyes, Gabrielle pushed her away. "Okay, so you pull off a miracle on the occasion, so what did you tell him?" Giving her a soft poke in the ribs.

"You really want to know?" Lifting her eyebrows in temptation.

Sighing, the bard nodded. "Yes, please. Tell me the story."

"Okay." On the verge of giggling, Xena cleared her throat. "You remember when I came home for your sixteenth birthday?"

"Xena!" Jerking her head upward, Gabrielle glared at her. "That was the first time we made love, how can you ask me if I remember that?"

"Sorry, sorry." Wincing, she coughed a couple of times. "It was just a point of reference."

"Excuse me?" Feeling her cheeks heating up, the bard sat up and glared. "A point of reference?"

Hanging her head, Xena closed her eyes. "No, no, no. That’s not what I meant."

"Xena." Scowling, Gabrielle cupped the warrior’s chin and lifted blue eyes to meet hers. Arching one brow, she snarled. "Is that all it was to you? A reference point?"

"No, no, no. I swear, Gabrielle. I didn’t mean it like it sounded. You know how much that meant to me, what it always means to me, I was only setting a time frame, that’s all. I swear. Would I have gone to all the trouble to make it special if it didn’t mean anything?" Biting her lip, the warrior held her breath.

"Hmmm." Giving Xena’s chin a shove, she let it go, but continued to glare. "Finish the story."

Sighing, Xena let out the breath slowly. Laying her head back, she closed her eyes. "Thank you."

Clearing her throat, Gabrielle waited impatiently.

Sighing again, she opened her eyes. "Okay. It was right before the most wonderful night of my life." Smiling, she brought her head forward. "When the most beautiful woman in the world, turned sixteen and I rode my motorcycle over a thousand miles to be there, just so I could help her blow out the candles and we could exchange the most precious of gifts."

Turning her head, the bard sighed and let a little smile show. "Go on."

"I talked to Brain today." Greg said sadly. "Grace has to stay for make up exams." Slumping in the swing, he pushed it back and forth without much enthusiasm.

"I know." Sighing, Gabrielle nodded. "I talked to her yesterday." Sitting with her legs tucked under her, the bard looked dejected as she felt.

"This is going to be a sucky birthday." Sighing, he continued to push the swing and closed his eyes.

"She said she’d call." Throwing him a bone.

"Whoopee." Twirling one finger, Greg let his hand drop to his lap.

"Grace always does liven up a party, huh?" Resting her chin on her palm, Gabrielle sighed.

"Yea." Nodding, he opened his eyes and looked around. "Maybe it’ll rain and we can cancel."

Rolling her eyes, she turned to her brother. "We’re turning sixteen, Greg. Mom and Dad wouldn’t cancel if a tornado took the house away."

"With us in it." Nodding in resignation.

Closing her eyes, the bard laid her head back and tried not to think about the fact that she was going to turn sixteen in two days and Xena wouldn’t be there. She failed to accomplish this goal, however and groaned. "This just really sucks."

"Are they doing the surprise game this year?" Slumping a little lower in the seat, Greg bumped his head against the back of the swing.

"God, I hope not." Groaning again, Gabrielle shook her head. "I don’t think I could take another round of bobbing for apples."

"I hate apples." Nodding, he turned to look at his twin. "What did you get in yours?"

"That tattoo patch out of the Cracker Jack’s." Sighing. "It turned the inside of the apple into a psychedelic nightmare."

"I remember that." Chuckling, Greg nodded. "It made you look like you’d eaten a box of crayons."

And it made Xena look like she’d kissed a clown. She thought with a smile. "Yea."

"I got that plastic bubble thing." Sticking out his tongue, he shook his head. "I think it still had soap on it."

Laughing, the bard sighed. "Parents. Ya gotta love ‘em." Shaking her head, she lifted it off the back of the swing and looked around. "We have had some interesting parties."

"The Morgan’s throw great parties." Lamenting the fact, Greg stopped pushing the swing.

"Yea. They do." Cracking her neck, Gabrielle sat up straight and frowned. Turning her head from side to side, she heard something, but couldn’t figure out what it was.

"What’s wrong with you?" Staring at her. "You look like one of those dogs on people’s dashboards."

"Shhh." Waving at him, she got out of the swing, as a smile started to spread across her face. "That lying witch."

"Huh?" Sitting up, Greg stretched and stood. "What?"

Turning her head, Gabrielle smiled at him. "What’s the one thing you want most for this birthday?"

"A car." Scratching his arm, he looked at her like she was crazy.

Sighing, she rolled her eyes. "Boys." Muttering, she grabbed him by the shoulders and pointed him facing the far end of the street. "Listen."

Frowning, he sighed and listened. "I don’t hear anything."

Smacking the back of his head, Gabrielle grabbed his head and aimed it. "Try harder."

"Ow." Rubbing his head, he sighed again and listened. "I still don’t . . ." Perking up, he walked to the edge of the porch, then turned to smile at his sister. "Grace!"

"Grace." Nodding, the bard pushed past him and took off in the direction the rumble was coming from. Running as fast as her legs would go, she made for the corner and reached it, just as Xena pulled up to the stop sign, facing them.

Flipping the bike into neutral, Xena quickly pulled off her helmet and put the kickstand down. Jumping off Palomino Heart, she was hit by another blonde half way across the intersection.

Gabrielle leapt into the air and into Xena’s arms. Wrapping her arms around the warrior’s neck, she squeezed hard and buried her face into Xena’s neck. "You made it."

Holding the bard off the ground, the warrior spun around. "Yea and man is my ass sore." Laughing, Xena closed her eyes as she slowed down. "Gods it’s good to see you. I miss you so much."

Feeling tears brimming over her lashes, the bard closed her eyes and smiled. "Me, too."

Giving Gabrielle another tight hug, she released her and lowered her to the ground, then cupped a tear streaked face in her hands. Wiping the tears away with her thumbs, Xena smiled down into green pools of joy. "Gods I’ve missed you."

Wrapping her arms around Xena’s waist, she smiled. "Thank you, Xena."

"The pleasure is all mine, Gabrielle." Closing her eyes, she leaned down and kissed the bard’s forehead. "I love you." Whispering.

"I love you." Sighing, she leaned into the warrior and pulled her close.

Greg stood on the far corner, hands on hips, tapping is foot. Shaking his head, he started to interrupt and even got so far as to step off the curb, before something started nagging in the back of his mind and he backed up onto the sidewalk. Although he couldn’t hear what they were saying, over the rumble of the idling Harley, he could definitely see that they were really happy to see each other. And he meant reeeaaaallllyyyyy happy. Frowning with the thoughts that were going through his mind, Greg scratched the back of his head. "Nah." Shaking his head, he put the thought aside and picked up the love struck brother routine. "Hey! Don’t I get to do the touchy feely thing?" Smiling, he stepped off the sidewalk again and strutted over.

Looking up, Xena rolled her eyes and smiled. "Are you getting shorter?"

Sneering, Greg shook his head. "No."

Laughing, Gabrielle smacked the warrior’s butt. "Grace, be nice. He’s been wasting away, since you’ve been gone."

"Oh, well. If you insist." Sighing heavily, Xena smiled and walked over to him. "One hug and if I feel any wandering hands, you’ll die a slow painful death." Giving him the eye.

Flicking his eyebrows, Greg opened his arm. "Finally."

Stepping into the embrace, the warrior hugged him tight. "Good to see ya, squirt."

Folding her arms across her chest, the bard watched the pure elation on her brother’s face. "Okay. Okay." Waving her hand, as his grip headed south, Gabrielle shook her head. "Let’s get out of the street before we get run over." Walking over to them, she pulled Greg away and gave Xena a push toward Harley. "We’ll meet you at the house."

Nodding, Xena chuckled. "Be there right after I drop off my stuff." Walking backwards across the intersection, she smiled.

Waving, Gabrielle took her brother by the arm, and dragged him back toward their house. "Come on Casanova."

**********

"Grace, it’s so good to have you back." Joyce smiled, handing the warrior a bowl of mashed potatoes.

"Thank you." Taking the bowl, Xena scooped up a glob and put it on her plate, then almost dropped the whole thing, when a hand started rubbing her thigh. Smiling, she turned and handed the bowl to Gabrielle and felt the hand go away. "It’s good to be home."

"How long are you home for?" Karen asked, stuffing a spoonful of carrots in her mouth.

"Until Monday." Reaching for the gravy, she was handed the small bowl by a smiling Greg. "I’ve got to be back by Wednesday." Smirking at him, she took the bowl and poured some of the brown liquid on her potatoes.

"How’s school going?" Sean, Gabrielle’s Dad asked. "Are they giving it to you?" Chuckling.

"Do you mind?" Mom admonished glaring from her end of the table to his. "We’re eating here."

Shrugging, Dad cut his steak.

"How many dead bodies have you had to dissect?" Greg asked and got a glare from his mother.

"One more word about bodies, or body parts and you all can leave the table." Moving her glare around to every smiling face, Mom huffed.

"We haven’t gotten to anything like that yet." Smiling, Xena dipped a piece of steak into the mashed potatoes, then stuffed it in her mouth.

Cutting her steak, Gabrielle rubbed her leg against the warrior’s and saw her jump. Smiling, she glanced up innocently and reached for the carrots. "So how’s campus life?"

Chewing a bit harshly, the warrior turned to her and stuck out her tongue, showing Gabrielle the contents of her mouth, then chewed again. "Fine."

"How’s the roommate?" Chuckling, the bard dropped her napkin. "Drat." Leaning over to pick it up, with ill intentions.

"Allow me." Smiling, Xena pushed her upright, then leaned over and picked up the napkin and placed it in the bard’s lap with a well placed hand to her crotch.

Coughing, Gabrielle smiled. "Thanks."

"You’re welcome." Poking her in the side, she went back to the business of eating and hoped she’d make it through dinner before Gabrielle had her naked.

"Grace." Greg chewed slowly and smiled at her.

"Yeeessss." Turning to look across the table at him, she smiled.

"What’s the worst thing you’ve had to do so far?" Lifting his eyebrows. "Take blood?"

"Gregory Andrew Riley, if you don’t sit there and eat and be quiet, I’m going to disconnect that stereo contraption in your room and throw it out the window." Snapping her fingers, Mom pointed at his plate. "Eat."

"Yes, ma’am." Grumbling to himself, Greg did as he was told, but continued to smile across the table.

Dad laughed and got a glare, so he kept quiet too.

Xena laughed. "I’ve really missed this." Bobbing her head, she dipped another piece of steak and chewed it contentedly.

"And we’ve missed you." Joyce informed her. "It seems rather dull, I must admit, since you’ve been at college."

"Yea." Pointing her fork between the twins, Karen smiled. "Those two have been moping since your tail light disappeared around the corner."

"I have not." Shaking her head, Gabrielle protested.

"Yes you have." Karen reiterated. "You’ve been walking around like a zombie for months."

"Zombies are dead bodies." Greg pointed out and pointed at his sister. "Throw her stereo out the window."

"She said be quiet, you little twerp." Smacking his finger, Karen put one of her carrots in his mashed potatoes.

Rolling her eyes, Mom shook her head. "Grace, if you ever have children, I hope they’re far better mannered than mine."

Gabrielle covered her mouth with one hand and concentrated on her plate.

"Me, too." Nodding, Xena smiled. "But that’s something I’ll think about later." Giving the bard a nudge under the table.

"Good." Nodding, Mom agreed. "Get your education first." Pointing at her with a fork.

"Here, here." Dad put in. "Being a doctor is a fine profession."

"Thanks. I think being a surgeon is what I’m really cut out for." Cutting her steak, she missed the shivers that went around the table.

"Sooooo." Greg smiled seductively. "What did you get me for my birthday, Grace?"

"Marbles." Xena said without hesitation and kept a straight face, while the bard burst into laughter.

Narrowing his eyes, he glared at his twin. "And what did you get Faith?"

"A helmet." Scooping up some carrots, the warrior shoved them in the bard’s gaping mouth. "Chew, Faith. Chew." Patting Gabrielle’s cheek.

Swallowing hard, the bard shook her head. "You are not getting me on that beast, under any circumstances."

Laughing, Greg tucked his thumbs in his arm pits, flapping his arms up and down, and started chuckling. "Baaahk, bahkbahkbahkbahk, baaaahk, bahkbahk."

"You can eat dirt." Gabrielle informed him venomously and poked her fork in his direction.

"All right. All right." Dad said and held up his hands. "Let’s try to not kill each other before dessert, okay?"

Growling, the bard glared at her twin, who was bobbing his head silently.

Xena continued to eat, happily enjoying her food. Oblivious to the trouble she’d caused.

After dinner was survived and dessert was consumed, the warrior and bard went for a walk, knowing they were being followed by Greg. Sticking to open spaces, they enjoyed making it harder for him to stay hidden and eventually ended up at the playground, where they strolled out into the middle of outfield and sat down.

"How long do you think he’ll stay in the bushes?" Leaning back on her arms, Gabrielle stretched out her legs, crossing them at the ankle.

"Until hell freezes over." Smiling, Xena sat cross legged and picked at blades of grass.

"We’re gonna have to do something about him soon, ya know." Glancing around casually, the bard spotted her brother. Looking away, she smiled. "He’s going to be completely heartbroken."

"I’ll talk to him." Looking up, the warrior scooted around, so that her back was to the bushes.

"Xena, I said we need to talk to him. Not for you to torture him." Sighing, Gabrielle shook her head. "Now he’s going to have to sneak all the way around the playground."

"It’s good practice." Pulling up a blade of grass, Xena stuck it in her mouth. "Maybe he’ll become some super spy."

"Maybe he’ll end up covered in scratches." Rolling her eyes, she laid back on the grass. Staring up at the sky, the bard watched the clouds go by, then saw the warrior lay on her side, beside her and turned her head. "It’s going to be so strange having to tell our parents."

"Bout what?" Snapping another blade, she ran it over Gabrielle’s arm.

"Us." Looking back at the sky, she closed her eyes for a moment. "I’ve never had to do that before, while you were around. Normally I was already off on my own, when we found each other." Opening her eyes, Gabrielle turned her head again. "What do you think they’ll say?"

Taking a deep breath, Xena twirled the blade between her fingers and shook her head. "I don’t know. They’ll probably be shocked and it’s inevitable that somebody will faint, but they already like us, so it shouldn’t be that bad."

"Hmm." Chewing the inside of her lip, she sighed. "I think they’ll go berserk."

"Oh, get out." Shaking her head, Xena sat up. "Gabrielle, none of our parent’s ever truly went nuts. They may have disowned us for long periods of time, but they always came around."

"True." She admitted. "But they didn’t know us, I mean the opposing parents, until we were already adults. My parents adore you, Xena. I’m afraid they’re going to blame me for stealing you away from Greg, or twisting your mind or something."

"I’m four and a half years older than you, if anybody’s going to get blamed for contributing to the perversion of a minor, it’s going to be me. And the only person who thinks I’m going to marry Greg, is Greg." Plucking another blade, Xena closed her eyes and thought for a few minutes. "Well, we should tell them together." Nodding, she opened her eyes. "We’ll just get the two sets of parents in the same room and break it to them as best we can." Tossing the piece of grass, she pulled up another one. "If they freak, they freak. It won’t change us." Looking down at the bard. "It won’t change the fact that I love you and always will."

Smiling, Gabrielle moved her hand to rest it on Xena’s knee. "If I told you that you’ve gotten better with age, would you take it the wrong way?"

"Define better?" Smirking, she laid back down beside the bard.

Chuckling, she rolled on her side to lay face to face with the warrior. "Just better." Taking the blade from Xena, Gabrielle put it in her mouth and smiled.

"You know, Gabrielle." Dropping her voice into a lower register. "I think we’re going to have that talk soon."

"Why?" Flicking her eyebrows.

"Because I if you don’t stop fondling me under the dinner table, your parents are going to find out about us in a very dramatic way." Pushing Gabrielle on her back, Xena slid over, putting one arm on the other side of the bard and propping up on the other elbow to gaze down into dark emeralds.

"Is that so." Smiling, Gabrielle’s voice was a little husky from the warrior’s close proximity.

"So." Nodding, the warrior ran her eyes over tantalizing skin and closed her eyes. "I think it’s time we give Greg a break." Puffing her cheeks out with a slow exhale, Xena opened her eyes. "Man this is rough."

"Did you really get me a helmet for my birthday?" Rolling on her side, the bard brought their bodies even closer together.

Staring at sumptuous lips, Xena shook her head. "No."

"Am I going to like what you got me?" Running her tongue over her bottom lip, Gabrielle smiled.

"Gods, I hope so." Closing her eyes, the warrior rolled onto her back, putting some much needed distance between them, which didn’t last long and she groaned after opening her eyes and found those same emeralds very close to her sapphires.

Taking up the warrior’s previous position, Gabrielle smiled down at Xena. "Do you know what it’s like to be sixteen and a virgin?"

"Do you know what it’s like to be twenty one and a virgin?" She asked back, with a chuckle.

"No and I hope I never find out." Smiling, she took Xena’s hand and placed it over her heart. "I don’t think my heart could hold out that long."

Smiling, the warrior closed her eyes and felt the bard’s heart pounding under her hand. Savoring the moment, she eased her hand away and took the bard’s in turn, placing it over her heart and looked up at the face she’d missed for so long.

Tucking her arm under her head, Gabrielle laid down on her side, leaving her hand over the warrior’s heart and closed her eyes. "Do you know how much I’ve missed falling asleep to that every night?"

"Hmmm." Closing her eyes again, Xena ran her finger tips lightly over the back of Gabrielle’s hand. "It’s been a long time since I got to watch you sleep. I love doing that." Turning her head, she opened her eyes and smiled . "That’s why I was so pissed. I never got the chance in the last lifetime."

"So it’s been what? A hundred years since we’ve slept together?" Sliding her hand upward, Gabrielle turned her hand, curling it under the warrior’s chin. Something she did when she slept on Xena’s shoulder.

Nodding, the warrior followed the bard’s hand with hers and continued to run her fingers over Gabrielle’s wrist and forearm. "Give or take a decade or two."

"That’s the longest we’ve ever been apart." Sighing with the thought, Gabrielle opened her eyes. "You should’ve thrown more vases."

Chuckling, Xena opened her eyes and turned her head. "I was eighty six. I was lucky to get off what I did."

"Your aim was still good." Smiling, the bard scooted her head closer. "Michael even noticed."

Shaking her head, the warrior sighed and closed her eyes again.

Watching the tan profile, Gabrielle felt the warrior’s chest rise and fall beneath her hand and suddenly wanted nothing more than to crawl into Xena’s arms and stay there forever. "I love you, Xena."

Smiling, Xena turned her head and opened her eyes. "I love you, Gabrielle."

"Come on. Let’s get back, before Greg ends up in poison oak." Smirking, the bard sat up and pulled the warrior up with her.

"It’s a good thing I’m going to be a doctor. I think he’ll be my most frequent customer." Chuckling, Xena got to her feet and helped the bard up.

"You’re probably right." Taking hold of Xena’s elbow, Gabrielle smiled and started them walking. "I’m just grateful you’re not going to be a Urologist."

As they walked, Xena searched for signs of her Flyboy and kept checking over her shoulder. A little concerned, at first, she let the matter go when Gabrielle started talking about the possibility of another episode of bobbing for apples. After seeing the bard safely to her door, Xena strolled down the sidewalk, feeling very content and was almost to her house when she found Greg leaning against the light post at the end of her driveway. "There you are." Smiling, the warrior jumped across the sidewalk to stand in front of him. "I was wondering what happened to you." Putting her hands on her hips.

Smiling, Greg pushed off the post. "Yea, I kinda got distracted." Staring at the ground, he played with a twig in his hands. "Can I ask you something, Grace?"

"Sure." Raising her eyebrows, she cocked her head and smirked at him.

"I mean, can I ask you something serious? No fun, no jokes, no kidding and if I’m wrong, will you promise not to laugh at me?" Looking up at her, he smiled weakly.

Losing the smirk, Xena nodded. "I promise. Go ahead and ask."

"Will you give me an honest answer?" Studying the twig again.

"Absolutely, Greg. I won’t lie to you, not matter what you ask." Lowering her arms, she bent down and caught his eye. "What’s the question?"

Dropping the twig, Greg scratched his stubbly cheek for a long moment, then looked up. "Are you in love with Faith?" Watching Grace’s expression carefully, he didn’t see any mocking in it, just a little surprise.

Oh shit, she thought. Caught between telling the truth and stalling, she watched his face for a long moment, then decided on the best policy. I hope I have better luck with him, than I did with Hower. Taking a deep breath, Xena let it out slowly and nodded. "Yes, I am."

"Is she in love with you?" Shifting his weight, he leaned against the post again.

Well, at least he didn’t go screaming off to tell his parents, or puke. Sighing in relief, with the thought. "Yes, she is." Holding his eyes, the warrior saw a little sadness show up. "We’ve been that way for a long time, Greg."

Nodding, he sighed. "It’s not weird to you?"

Smiling warmly, Xena shook her head. "I’m going to tell you something and I don’t want you to think that I’m making fun, okay?" I can do sensitive. I can do sensitive.

"Okay." Smiling, he nodded.

Clearing her throat, she let out a long breath, then took a deep one. "When you fall in love. It’s not because of the way someone looks and it’s not because of who they are. It’s stronger than the outside packaging." Kneeling down, she looked up at him. "If you’re really in love. Truly in love, you fall in love with their soul and it doesn’t matter if they happen to be the same sex as you are, because you’re soul doesn’t know the difference. When you meet the person that makes you feel complete and whole, that’s like the other half of your soul, your eyes don’t see anymore. You just feel. That’s why it’s not weird to me. It wouldn’t matter if Faith looked like the wicked witch of the west, because I’m going on how she makes me feel, not the way she looks, or the fact that we’re both female. I just know that I’m in love and the soul that I’m in love with is inside your sister." Tilting her head, she smiled. "Understand?"

Greg folded his arms across his chest and stared down at her. "Have you always liked girls?" Lifting his eyebrows.

"The only person I’ve ever liked, or loved is Faith." Nodding. "So I guess the answer is yes, but I don’t like girls, Greg. Just a girl. Just Faith."

Sighing, he nodded. "Then why did you let me chase you around for so long?"

Standing, Xena lowered her eyes. "Because it made you happy." Looking up, she saw a smile start to play at his face. "And it was always fun to find out what you were going to fly off of next." She added with a soft chuckle.

"I lettered in track this year." Letting the smile free, Greg shook his head. "High jump." Chuckling, he rolled his eyes. "And cross country."

"Well, I knew you’d never be a hurdler." Giving him a gentle shove, Xena mussed his scraggly short blonde hair.

Studying his feet for a minute, he looked up again. "Can I ask you one more question?"

Shaking her head, the warrior smiled. "Go ahead."

"When I’m a senior, will you come back and be my prom date?" Smiling wickedly.

Throwing her head back, Xena laughed out loud. Shaking her head, she brought it back to smile at him. "Greg, I’d love to be your date for the prom on one condition." Putting her hands on her hips.

"What?" Getting suspicious.

"That you have to dance your first dance with Faith." Giving him a wink.

Frowning for a second, he scratched the back of his head, then stuck out his hand with a smile. "If you promise to wear flat shoes, it’s a deal."

Laughing again, the warrior took his hand and shook it. "Deal."

"Thanks, Grace." Reluctantly, Greg let go of her hand and his face saddened for a moment. "I’m gonna miss chasing you around."

"You can still chase me, but don’t expect to catch me." Waving a finger at him. "Flyboy."

Grinning from ear to ear, he laughed and started toward home, then turned around. "And Grace, don’t ever hurt my sister." He said with a serious expression and tone. "I love her just as much as you do and I’d hate to have to kill you, if you did."

Stunned by the warning, Xena nodded. "I’ll never hurt her. I promise."

"Good." Nodding, he smiled and continued walking home.

Sighing, she watched him for a long time, then turned and walked slowly up the sidewalk to her house.

"He threatened you?" Staring wide-eyed, Gabrielle sat up. "Get out of here."

"I swear by every god you know." Crossing her heart, Xena held up her right hand. "He said he’d kill me if I ever hurt you."

"That is just too bizarre." Shaking her head, the bard rolled her eyes. "No wonder he was acting weird."

"What did he do?" Frowning, she leaned back to get a good look at Gabrielle.

"He kissed me on the forehead." Pointing to the area, Gabrielle looked as surprised as the day it happened.

"Get out of here." Shaking her head in disbelief.

"Yea." Nodding as affirmation, she smiled.

"When?" Looking at the bard’s brow, Xena lifted blonde hair to get a good look.

"That night. It must’ve been just after he talked to you." Closing her eyes, Gabrielle sighed.

"What happened?" Rubbing her chin, the warrior pulled the blanket tighter around them.

"He came up to my room and knocked on the door."

"Who is it?" Turning the page in the book she was reading, Gabrielle looked at the door to her bedroom.

"It’s Greg. Can I come in?" Staring at his feet.

Frowning for a second, the bard hopped off the bed, walked over to the door and opened it. "What’s up?"

Looking both ways down the hall, he nodded to her bed. "Can I come in?"

Shrugging, Gabrielle held the door open, then closed it behind her brother when he was inside. "Are you all right?" Giving him the once over, the bard checked for signs of scratches.

"Yea. I’m okay." Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Greg looked around the room and noticed the posters of the latest heart throbs, who were all young and male. "You like those guys?" He asked, turning to his sister.

Glancing at the posters, the bard shrugged. "I like some of their songs." Going back to the bed, she sat down and stared at him, which caused Greg to reinspect the room.

"It’s nice that Grace came back for the party." Avoiding her eyes, he walked to the desk in the corner of the room and rolled a pencil around, as he stared at the 8x10 of Grace. Smiling, he glanced up and saw the cork board filled with snap shots of Faith and Grace together growing up. He also noticed they way they looked at each other in the photos.

"I’m happy about it." Nodding, Gabrielle scratched her forehead. "Greg."

"Yea?" Turning around, he smiled.

"Is there some reason you’re here? Or are you casing the joint?" Smiling at his nervous state.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Greg turned back to look at the pictures. "I had a talk with Grace."

Feeling her forehead wrinkle, she scratched it again. "Okay." Sounding as confused as she was.

"I know you like her." Closing his eyes, he held his breath.

"Of course I like her, she’s my best friend." Sliding further back on the bed, Gabrielle stopped when her back hit the head board.

Rolling his eyes, Greg tried again. "I know you really like her."

Putting her hand over her eyes, she rubbed her face. "Yes, I really like her. What’s your point?"

Turning around, he walked over to the bed and looked down at her. "Faith, I know just how much you like her."

The lights were still off at the bard’s house and she just stared up at him.

Taking her silence for a confirmation, Greg smiled, then leaned over and kissed her forehead. "As long as you’re happy, Faith. That’s all I care about." Smiling, he turned and walked to the door. Opening it, he smiled again. "I’ll see you at the prom." Chuckling, he walked out and closed the door behind him.

Gabrielle continued to stare at the door and touched her forehead, where he kissed her. "He’s snapped. He’s finally snapped. After years of jumping off everything in sight, the head wounds have finally caught up with him."

Laughing, Xena had to hold onto the back of the swing to keep from falling out. "You didn’t get it?"

"No." Shaking her head, Gabrielle chuckled. "I thought he’d just gone crazy. I didn’t know that he found out."

"I wish I could’ve seen what your face looked like." Laying her head back, the warrior closed her eyes and tried to imagine the blank stare. "Somebody should’ve been there with a camera. I would’ve paid good money for that picture."

"Oh shut up." Shoving her elbow into Xena’s ribs, she sighed. "How was I supposed to know that Greg would’ve been that open minded."

"Gabrielle, he wasn’t open minded." Bringing her head back up, Xena shook it. "He just loved you, that’s all."

Groaning, the bard sighed again. "Yea, I guess he did. The little weasel." Folding her arms across her chest. "Snarking my prom date out from under my nose."

Xena chuckled and wrapped her arms and the blanket around them. "You had a good time." Pulling the blonde head to her shoulder, she smiled. "And if it wasn’t for Greg, we may have never gotten away from the party. He saved us from having to bob for apples."

Shaking her head, Gabrielle closed her eyes. "Okay. I forgive him for the prom."

"And." Prompting more sincerity.

"And I’ll send him a thank you note for getting us out of having to bob for apples." Giving in, grudgingly, she rolled her eyes inside the lids.

"Good." Satisfied, Xena hugged her closer. "Just remember, that while he was dunking his head in a tub full of floating fruit, we were discovering the advantages of a pick-up truck."

Smiling, Gabrielle opened her eyes. "You want me to send him a thank you note for losing my virginity?"

"You didn’t lose it, honey. You gave it away." Bringing her head back, Xena looked down at her. "Quite willingly, I might add. If you care to remember the fact that I had to wear my jacket home, zipped up, because you ripped all the buttons off my shirt."

"And if you care to remember, my bra originally came in one piece. Not two." Staring smugly back at twinkling blue eyes. "Do you know what it’s like trying to wear a bra that’s held together with paper clips?"

"How was I supposed to know it unhooked in the front?" Feigning innocence, Xena smiled. "I offered to give you my jacket, but you turned it down." Waving a finger at her.

"Of course, I could bring up my underwear." Nodding heartily, with a smug smile.

Xena clenched her jaw and closed her eyes. "I saw a raccoon take your underwear." She said slowly and very firmly.

"Xena, we were in the middle of an abandoned industrial park. There was no raccoon." Folding her arms across her chest. "And if there were a raccoon, why didn’t it go after the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?" Giving the warrior the ‘I’ve heard this story a thousand times and I still don’t believe it’ look.

Shaking her head, she opened her eyes. "I don’t know. Maybe it had a thing for silk."

"Cotton." Making the correction.

"WhatEVER!" Throwing her hands in the air. "I saw a raccoon take your underwear!"

"Xena, you had your face stuck between my legs half the night, so when exactly did you see this raccoon?" Drumming her fingers on her arm.

"There was a damn raccoon!" Almost growling, Xena glared at her.

Sighing, Gabrielle turned her head, staring out at the rain. "Fine. An urbanized, fashion conscious raccoon took my underwear. It must’ve been hiding in that garage for weeks, just waiting for the right opportunity to snatch a pair of yellow cotton bikini briefs."

"Gabrielle." Her voice low and menacing.

"No. No." Holding up one hand, she refused to turn around. "I believe you." Bringing the hand back to her arm, the bard drummed her fingers again. "I mean, it wouldn’t be the strangest thing that’s ever happened to my undergarments." Letting out a loud sigh.

Laying her head back, Xena let out a long sigh and closed her eyes. "I spent a month on the phone, convincing your father not to give you that stupid VW beetle and get you the truck, which I paid for half of. Then I had to convince my professors to give me the exams a week early, so I could ride a thousand miles, non stop on a Harley to get there on time. Then I had to use up all my favors, to get my goony brothers to give up their weekend picking wild flowers and I stayed up all night sorting through them to get rid of the weeds they’d picked and then spent the next day driving to every flower shop in a fifty mile radius to find jasmine, because it’s your favorite. Then I had to promise to name my first born child after Dad, so he’d let me borrow his car, because I knew you wouldn’t ride the bike. And I spent an entire month’s food allowance to bribe that stupid dj to play ballads all night and ended up having to feed you peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chocolate milk, because I didn’t have any money left, hoping you’d like them. Then I took the mattress off my bed and managed to get it out of the house, unseen, thank the gods I bought the silk sheets a year ahead of time. And then I stole every last candle I could find, knowing how much you love candle light and the only thing you remember about that night is the fact that you lost your underwear." Lifting her head, the warrior sighed again. "Well thank you, Gabrielle. It was real special for me too." Pulling her body up with her arms, Xena slid her leg from around the bard, got off the swing and went inside.

Feeling under an inch high, Gabrielle turned to look at the empty space behind her and felt the sudden chill of the warrior’s absence. Closing her eyes, tears fell down her cheeks and she pulled the blanket around her. Sighing, she hung her head and opened her eyes, remembering all the things Xena had done in their lifetimes to make her feel special and had forgone what she’d wanted, settling for the bard’s happiness over her own. Looking back out at the yard, she saw the two jasmine bushes, that were on either side of the steps, bounce lightly with the rain falling on their leaves. Xena had spent weeks finding them and had brow beaten the builder into extending the roof line of the porch, so they’d have the shade they needed to grow into the beautiful aromatic giants they were. Getting up slowly, she walked to the front door and hesitated before she went inside. Taking a deep breath, she let a thousand apologies run through her head as she turned the knob and stepped in.

Closing the door, she glanced around the living room and again saw the warrior’s handiwork. Everywhere she looked, there were things that Xena had either bought for her, or made. The wooden candle sticks on the dining table had almost cost one of the warrior’s fingers, but she still finished them in time for their third anniversary. Sighing, Gabrielle stared at them. "Xena." Her voice barely audible over the sound of the rain, she waited for a response, half knowing there wouldn’t be one. When the truth became evident, Gabrielle walked to the stairs, hugging the blanket around her and trailing the excess across the hardwood floor. "Xena." Looking up the line of steps, she was met with silence again and started up slowly, feeling the weight of her guilt grow with every step she took. When she reached the top, she walked to their bedroom door, finding it open and poked her head in. "Xena?" Closing her eyes, Gabrielle hung her head again, then lifted it when the sound of rumbling drifted through the sound of the rain. As her brow knitted, she walked to the window that faced the warrior’s garage and saw the bombshell coming out of the door. "Xena!" Wrapping the blanket even tighter around her, she turned for the door and ran down the stairs. Continuing to the front door, Gabrielle opened it just in time to see Xena turn onto the drive, sending mud flying as she disappeared. "Xena!" Stepping out onto the porch, she continued to call after her and went down the steps, out into the rain. Ignoring the muddy ground that clung to her feet and the blanket, Gabrielle ran until the sound of the engine disappeared, then she stopped and stood, looking down the narrow path that led to the highway. "Xena." She said softly, letting the rain cover her tears and felt an overwhelming chill seep into her soul. "I’m sorry."

**********

The warrior rode for hours, letting all the hurt she felt be released as the wind and the rain beat against her body. The t-shirt she wore was soaked before she’d gotten to the highway and was plastered to her body, letting the stinging raindrops pelt her chest and arms. She’d put it on in a hurry and the jeans had barely been buttoned when she heard the front door open. Her shoes were just a memory, as was her jacket and now that her ego had ebbed, she felt their absence and regretted the fact that she’d let her pride override her good sense.

She’d been in such a damn hurry to get as far away from Gabrielle as she could, she’d forgotten the reason why she’d put so much effort into that night; it wasn’t to have her praises sung, or to have her ego stroked. She’d done it for the simplest of reasons which was the basis for almost everything she did. Love. The love that she’d told Greg was inside the person she was trying so hard to run from. The soul that made her complete. Whole. The soul that made her risk eternal damnation and face down TPTB to be with and filled her days with happiness and her nights with ecstasy and was the reason why she took every breath. That made her want to go out of her way and that always gave her joy when she saw the slightest of smiles on Gabrielle’s face. That smile was worth everything she did and as she rode along, that smile played in her mind, making her find a place to turn around and go through the same torture of riding through the rain, just for the slightest of chances that it’d be there when she got home.

**********

Xena slowed to a creep, as she rode around the small circle in front of the house. In the darkness, she saw the light from the headlight pass across Gabrielle’s face and parked the bike at the bottom of the steps. Shutting the engine off, she pulled her helmet up and let her hair fall. Setting the helmet on one of the side mirrors, Xena squished her bare feet into mud, then walked slowly up the steps and over to the swing, where Gabrielle lay sleeping, wrapped up in the damp blanket. Kneeling down, she brushed some damp blonde hair out of the bard’s eyes and smiled at the worried expression, captured in slumber. Staring for a long moment, she sighed and looked around, as the day’s conversation echoed in her mind. Smiling, she stood and gave the bard a final smile, before she stepped back out into the rain, pulled out her pocket knife and started cutting the blooms off of the jasmine bushes.

When her arms were full, she trotted to the side of the house, going in the door opened into the garage and deposited the flowers in the front seat of Gabrielle’s truck. Then she opened the glove box, found a flashlight and went back outside, to run through the mud, pulling up everything that had a hint of color to it and put the collection in the garage as well, taking care to spread them around in a semblance of order, placing bunches here and there. Satisfied, she put the flashlight back in it’s place, then went through the other door, into the house.

Moving as quickly as she could, Xena ran upstairs, stripped out of her soaked clothes and pulled on a dry jogging suit. Chuckling, she ripped the covers off their bed, then the sheets and then pulled the mattress itself off. Turning it on it’s side, she grunted, as she dragged it through the bedroom door, down the stairs and out into the garage, where she tossed it into the back of the bard’s truck with a groan. Going back inside, she ran back up the stairs and rifled through the linen closet, until she found a set of silk sheets, pillowcases and a thick cotton blanket. Tucking them under her arm, she grabbed their pillows off the floor, where they’d fallen, pulled the cases off and replaced them with the silk ones and delivered them to the garage, tossing them on top of the mattress. Jumping in the bed of the truck, she straightened the mattress pushing one end up against the front, near the cab and moved swiftly around it, putting on the sheets, then placed the pillows against the side next to the cab. Jumping back out, she bounded back inside, went into the kitchen, opening cabinets, until she found the jar of peanut butter. Placing it on the counter, she opened the fridg and pulled out a jar of strawberry preserves and a carton of chocolate milk. Setting them beside the peanut butter, she opened the bread box, pulled out the loaf and proceeded to make seven sandwiches, which she wrapped in wax paper and stuffed inside a paper bag, along with the milk. Leaving that on the counter, she began pulling out drawers, until she found several boxes of candles they had in case of emergency. Tossing them in the bag, she took the whole lot into the garage and started setting the candles in strategic places around the dark room.

"Matches." Frowning, Xena went back inside and searched the drawers again, finding matches, then almost burned her finger lighting the candles. Sighing, she took a look around the garage, with it’s now colorful and fragrant flowers dancing in the warm glow from the candles. Smiling, she was about to go back to the porch, when she slapped her forehead. "Music. Damn." Tapping her chin, the warrior decided against the radio, knowing she’d never find an appropriate station, so she diverted from the original plan and went with the stereo inside the house and spent the next half an hour, moving the stereo into the garage, selecting cd’s, putting them in the player and programming it to the tracks she knew Gabrielle loved. Picking up the remote, she stuffed it in the pocket of the jogging pants and went back out onto the porch.

Taking a deep breath, the warrior knelt down beside the swing and carefully lifted the bard into her arms, making sure not to wake Gabrielle and carried her through the house into the garage. Using her height to her advantage, Xena lifted her arms high and bent forward, placing the bard onto the mattress. Climbing gently inside the bed, she pulled off the jogging suit, placing the remote on the wheel well and tossed the clothes on the floor, then pulled the covers back. Flexing her fingers, she slowly pulled the soaked blanket off of Gabrielle and tossed it with the jogging outfit, then covered the bard up and slid under the covers, next to her and waited. Closing her eyes, Xena felt a stirring beside her and put her arms out as the bard crawled onto her, laying her head on her shoulder, tucking her hand under her chin. Smiling, Xena pulled the covers up over them and wrapped her arms around Gabrielle’s shoulders. Laying quietly, she opened her eyes, tilting her head to the side so she could see the worried expression that had been on Gabrielle’s face transform into the peaceful innocence that she loved to look at, which she did for a long time.

**********

Frowning, Gabrielle rubbed her nose and sighed. Opening her eyes, she blinked several times at the dim lighting and rubbed her eyes, when she thought she saw candles. Frowning harder, she lifted her head and moved it slowly around, seeing more candles, then raised up on her elbow and spotted the bunches of wildflowers that were scattered around the garage.

"Hi." Xena whispered, looking up at Gabrielle’s confused face.

Turning her head, the bard’s eyes opened wide when she saw the warrior smiling up at her. "Xena, I . . ." Scowling, Gabrielle started to rattle off all the apologies she’d been dreaming, but was cut short when a pair of tan fingers were placed on her lips.

"If you really want to make me happy, you just have to do one thing." Lowering her hand, she smiled.

"What?" She asked quietly and watched the smile beneath her, which became infectious and she smiled back.

"You just did it." Lifting her hand, the warrior ran her fingers along Gabrielle’s cheek, to disappear amongst blonde hair, then she gently pulled those smiling lips down to hers. Wrapping her other arm around the bard’s back, Xena pulled their bodies together and felt her soul double in size.

As the scent of jasmine filled the bard’s senses, she finally broke away from the lips that were making her heart pound out of her chest and pulled up again, to stare down into blue eyes that were twinkling with mischievousness. Looking up, she scanned her surrounding again, seeing all the things she’d seen that day so long ago. The wild flowers, the candles and the smell of jasmine told her her bushes were probably naked. Smiling, she felt finger tips running up and down the length of her back. "Music?" Glancing down again, she watched Xena’s arm come out from under the covers and reach for the remote. Shaking her head, Gabrielle followed the remote upward, then lifted higher to peek through the windows of the truck and saw a green light come on, on the stereo. Closing her eyes, she let her head hang down as her favorite song began playing softly and her smile stretched from ear to ear.

"Hungry?" Xena asked, watching the smile get bigger.

Sighing, Gabrielle opened her eyes and nodded. "A little."

Turning her head, the warrior grabbed the paper bag and dropped it beside them. Pulling it over, she reached in, fished around and removed a sandwich. Smiling, she handed it to Gabrielle. "I spared no expense."

Taking the sandwich, the bard sat up and unwrapped the wax paper. Holding the bread at eye level, she pulled the top piece up and closed her eyes. "Peanut butter and jelly." Whispering, as the smell of peanut butter mixed with the jasmine.

"Strawberry preserves. We were out of grape jelly." Chuckling, Xena sat up, leaning against the pillows and took the sandwich. Tearing it in half, she handed the bard her share and took a bite of her own. Chewing contentedly, she reached back in the bag and pulled out the carton of chocolate milk. Stuffing the rest of the sandwich in her mouth, she opened the carton and took a mouthful, then handed the carton to the bard. "It’s a little warm." She mumbled through the peanut butter.

"I don’t care if it’s spoiled." Bringing the carton to her lips, Gabrielle downed several large swallows and smiled. "It’s perfect." Closing the top, she set it aside and leaned forward, planting a peanut buttery kiss on Xena’s lips. "Just like you."

"That milk must be spoiled." Licking her lips, the warrior smiled. "It’s giving you delusions."

"No." Shaking her head, the bard spoke very softly. "You are perfect, Xena." Pulling the covers back slowly, Gabrielle slid over and straddled Xena’s lap, encircling the warrior’s neck with her wrists.

Lifting her eyebrows, Xena stared into sensual green orbs. "Gabrielle." She said just as softly as the bard and placed her hands on muscled thighs. "You . . . "

Shaking her head again, Gabrielle put two fingers over the warrior’s lips, as she started to talk. "Listen to me." Keeping her voice low and soft. "I’ve known you for over two thousand years and I’ve loved you for over two thousand years, so don’t try to sit there and tell me that I don’t need to say anything, because I do." Removing her fingers, the bard clasped her hands behind Xena’s neck. "I’ve spent countless lifetimes being amazed at the things you do to make sure that I know you love me. You’ve moved heaven and earth, faced down TPTB, sacrificed your body to protect me and if I can’t even say thank you, for something as simple as this? Then I don’t deserve your love." Sighing, she closed her eyes again. "I know you think you’re the lucky one, Xena, but you’re not." Opening her eyes, she let out another sigh. "I am. I’ve got the most kind, compassionate, caring, wonderful, romantic, funny and loving woman in the world, trying everyday to make my life special."

Lowering her head, the warrior smiled. "You left out aggravating, skilled and sexy." Lifting her eyebrows, she move her eyes up a tad, to see a broad smile.

Rolling her eyes, she shook her head again. "And egotistical, stubborn, dogmatic and oh so very precious." Cupping the warrior’s chin, Gabrielle leaned in give those smiling lips a soft kiss. "And a great kisser." Flicking her eyebrows a couple of times before she sat back and smiled.

Staring at that smile she loved so much, Xena felt her soul swelling. "And that’s the reason why I do what I do."

"What?" Arching one brow, the bard tilted her head.

Bringing one hand around, the warrior ran one finger lightly over full smiling lips. "Just to see you smile." Shifting her eyes upward, Xena let out a long sigh, seeing dark green pools start to shine. "That’s the reason why." Sitting forward, she brought their lips together, to capture that smile with her own.

**********

The End.


Epilogue:


Dear Greg,

I’m sending this a little belated, but I want you to know that I appreciate your sticking up for me and taking my place to bob for apples at our sixteenth birthday party. You’re the best brother I could ever hope

to have and I love you very very much.

Faith
ps. Grace sends her love, but that’s it. Flyboy.



Thanks for reading.


FlyBigD

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