Part 3 of 4

Silence hung in the night air as the two traveling companions took in this admission. Gabrielle grabbed Xena's shoulder for support as she felt her knees buckle. She landed on her butt with a small thud next to her sister. A shower of hay plumed in the air around her, and settled over the three women. Xena released her hold of Lila's wrists and rocked back onto her feet. She took a seat next to Gabrielle and regarded her seriously for a moment. When the bard's eyes met hers, the giggle fest began.

"Oh gods, Xena. What have we done?"

"We? You're the one who brought up whips!"

"I did... didn't I." Gabrielle started giggling harder, absently picking pieces of hay from various parts of Xena's anatomy.

Lila sat there rubbing her wrists, trying to get the circulation to return to her numb fingers. "Do you mind telling me what's so damn funny? How can you let her treat you like that?"

Gabrielle gulped down the last of her giggles, and dried her eyes with the back of her hand, realizing just what her sister must think of Xena. Leaning over, she cleared a spot on the barn floor of hay and placed the candle between them. Satisfied it was safe, she sat back and scooted closer to her best friend, pulling a large hand to her lap. Gabrielle interlaced their fingers and placed the palm of her free hand securely over this bond. Fortified in the strength that was flowing from Xena she turned to her sister. "Lila. What you overheard was... was all a joke. We were just kidding around with each other. We spend so much of our time around people who think that if they look at Xena the wrong way she'll kill them. If we don't make light of it once in a while it would really get to us. Honest." Gabrielle leaned into Xena, and nestled her head in the crook of her shoulder. She stared at her sister, trying to gauge her response.

Lila was about to concede her mistake when she remembered the bruising on her sister's body. "Well, if she didn't give you that... that..." She pointed accusingly to her sister's chest, unable to give voice to what she had seen. Lila saw the momentary flash of guilt that invaded the warrior's face. 'I knew it.' "How do you explain that one?"

Gabrielle reflexively tightened her grasp of Xena's hand, inadvertently digging her nails into the warrior's flesh. "I... I told you it was too embarrassing for me to speak about."

Xena nudged Gabrielle off her shoulder and turned to meet her eyes. "Embarrassing or not, I think your sister needs an explanation. Don't you?"

"I... ah... I guess you're right." Gabrielle looked down at her lap, studying their hands. 'This isn't exactly the way I pictured this moment. I don't know what I pictured, but not this.' She resigned herself to the task before her, and tried to figure a way to begin.

"We had been visiting the Amazons. They are proud of their skills with weaponry, and whenever we visit it seems it isn't long before I find myself participating in a friendly, informal challenge." Xena looked directly at Lila while she spoke, trying to do that 'Pull your audience into the story thing' that she had seen the bard do so many times. "During the latest challenge, we took turns shooting arrows right and left handed, attempting to split the arrow from our previous shot using the other hand. Well, the Amazon Queen here was feeling a little left out." Xena nodded in Gabrielle's direction.

You could've knocked her over with a feather. Gabrielle sat there in disbelief as she listened to the story unfold before her. 'Xena's telling a story? What's she doing? Where is she going with this?' Gabrielle was glad Xena still had a firm hold of her hand. The physical contact was the only thing that assured her that she was not dreaming. She glanced at her sister, realizing that Lila had been successfully drawn in.

"She's had some practice shooting right handed," continued Xena, "but never left handed. After the challenge was over, she insisted I give her lessons. I tried to talk her out of it. She was still trying to get the knack of doing it right handed. If you don't stand just right," Xena released Gabrielle's hand and demonstrated by twisting to her left and pretending to hold a bow and arrow in her hands, "you uh... get caught." She moved her left hand forward and showed where the trajectory of the releasing string would strike her on the breast. "And your sister, well... she's got a lot up there not to miss." Xena gave Gabrielle an embarrassed grin, and unconsciously sought out her hand.

"And I'm too pig headed to know when to give up," Gabrielle chimed in, finally realizing where the story was going.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Lila, I didn't even tell Xena at first. Not until she noticed me flinch. And then she had to drag it out of me. I just felt like such a fool to have done it to myself."

"Then she never..." Lila glanced quickly at Xena and back at her sister. "She never hurt you?"

"No Lila, NO!" Gabrielle released Xena's hand and gave the warrior a big hug. "She's too busy keeping me out of trouble." She gave Xena one last squeeze and turned to face her sister. "I'm sorry we frightened you. I had no idea we'd be overheard. Next time you get a fool notion in your head, come to me first." Gabrielle scooted forward and gave her sister a hug. "You better get back to the house before mother wakes and finds us both gone. I'll be along in a little while."

Lila began to leave when she stopped and turned to Xena. "I'm sorry. I almost killed you."

"Apology accepted. And Lila. Correction. You almost got yourself killed." Lila turned and silently left, realizing just how lucky she really was.

"So, what brings you out here in the middle of the night?" Xena stood and began to shake the hay from her bedroll which had been rather unceremoniously trampled on. She laid it out again and reclined her tall form onto it. Gabrielle finished brushing hay from her body, bent over, blew out the candle and joined her.

"I couldn't sleep without you," she sheepishly admitted, as she snuggled up to the warrior.

"Funny. I was having the same problem." Xena wrapped her arms and legs around the small form and rolled onto her back, bringing Gabrielle with her.

"Ummm." Gabrielle settled herself into a comfortable spot atop Xena. Her head was nestled under Xena's chin, and she could hear and feel the slow steady breathing coming from under her. The long muscular arms which held her secure were amazingly soft and warm against her skin. "I could stay like this forever," she murmured into the soft skin of Xena's upper arm.

"Don't you have to get back before Lila begins to worry?"

"In a bit. In a bit." Gabrielle reached behind herself and found the edge of the blanket. She gave a tug and pulled it up over them before settling back down into her favorite spot.

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Part 13

Lila turned to the soft sound of approaching footsteps. "Where have you been all night? You had me worried sick." Gabrielle and Xena hesitated at the entrance to the bedroom before entering. "And look at you. You're dripping all over the place." Lila rushed to the trunk at the foot of her bed and removed two towels, tossing one to each woman. "Here. I don't know about you, but where I come from, we usually take our clothes off before we take a bath."

"Funny, very funny," scowled Gabrielle. "It's coming down in buckets out there." She lifted her foot to Xena, who held it against her thigh as she worked to loosen the laces and slip it off. "We didn't get two feet out of the barn before we were drenched." Gabrielle lifted her other foot to her friend, who successfully removed it from its soaked leather confines.

"You were there the whole night?" she asked Gabrielle, who had moved behind Xena and was toweling her friend's hair dry. Gabrielle paused as Xena removed her drenched tunic and proceeded to dry her back as her friend toweled herself off up front. "I... uh... I was waiting up for you," Lila continued, as she found herself staring at the warrior. Xena was never one to be shy about her body, and didn't give a second thought about getting undressed in front of Lila. Even in the gray stark light that found its way into the room from the storm outside, Xena was breathtaking. Though the warrior's leathers didn't leave much to the imagination, Lila was stunned by her natural beauty. 'Gods, she could have any man she wanted.' Lila thought about what it would be like to be able to pick and choose to her heart's desire. 'I wonder why she's content to travel with my sister?' Lila pictured herself married to a handsome young king, and living in a fairy tale castle in a far off land. She quickly snapped out of her reverie, embarrassed at her childish dreams.

Lila watched as Gabrielle, who had shirked off her skirt and halter, was busily drying her arms. "I hadn't planned on staying out all night," she lied to her sister. She turned her back to Xena, who began to vigorously towel her long tresses dry. "We had been talking, and I guess I fell asleep." Xena was drying off the bard's back when she inadvertently (on purpose) passed her hand over a rather sensitive spot on her friend's waist. "YEOW!" exclaimed Gabrielle, as she jumped at the unexpected tickle from the warrior. She swung her right hand back and connected a backhand blow to the playful warrior's stomach.

"Oomph." Xena doubled over in mock pain as she spun her wet towel into a tight spiral and let it snap, catching Gabrielle squarely on her butt.

"Xena!" the bard cried, as she bent to scoop up her discarded wet towel. Even though they were evenly armed, Gabrielle soon found herself outmatched. Xena advanced, and she found herself in retreat. Gabrielle used her last line of defense when she felt her sister behind her. She spun her shocked sister in front of her, and cowered behind her, using her as a shield. "You wouldn't dare hit my sister!" Gabrielle triumphantly proclaimed, knowing she had won.

"I wouldn't, would I?" the warrior slowly drawled, as her eyes narrowed to slits, and a feral smile spread across her face. She bent over until she was eye to eye with Lila, and grinned as she spun the towel into a tighter spiral.

"Xena?" gasped a horrified Lila, as the sight of the approaching naked warrior filled her eyes.

Xena stopped a few feet from her intended victim, and held the towel in both hands in front of her. Letting go with her right hand, she snapped the towel to her left, while taking a step in that direction. Gabrielle instinctively moved in the other direction and was caught off guard by the warrior's trick move. Xena had used the step to allow herself to pivot in front of Lila and end up on her right side, directly in front of the now exposed bard. Xena seized her and began to tickle her unmercifully, as the bard laughed and cried for her to stop as she fell to the floor trying to get away.

"Stop!... Xena!... No!... I can't!... Xena!... Please!..." Gabrielle could barely see straight, as tears ran down her face. She had her hands flailing about over her head in a useless attempt to ward off the warrior's advances. Xena got a few more tickles in before she finally relented. She grasped Gabrielle's hands and pulled her to her feet.

Gabrielle clutched at Xena's forearm for support as she stood bent over, trying to catch her breath. "You... are... *ruthless*," she gasped between lungfuls of air. "I'll get you... back. Somehow. Somewhere." She tilted her head up and caught the bemused smile on Xena's face. "Just you wait."

Lila quietly watched the exchange between them, and felt she was seeing the true relationship between the two friends. 'Maybe she's not so bad after all,' Lila pondered, as she witnessed Xena for the first time with her guard down. 'This must be the person my sister decided to befriend.'

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Hecuba made short work of the breakfast dishes and then informed Gabrielle that she was leaving to go shopping in town.

"Ooo shopping! Wait up while I get my rain cape."

"No, Gabrielle. Lila is coming to help me." Hecuba fastened her cape and gave her young daughter a stern look. "You know very well that whenever the two of you accompanied me shopping, I never got anything done."

Gabrielle thought back to the few times her mother relented and allowed both daughters to go with her. They drove their mother crazy with their futile attempts to see and touch everything. "But mother. I'm not a child anymore."

"I know. And that's why I definitely don't want the both of you along. It was bad enough when you were children to get both of you to obey me at the same time. Now that you are an adult I have no authority over you. Anyway, it wouldn't be proper to leave Xena alone all morning. And I don't think she's the type that would enjoy spending an entire morning shopping."

Xena was about to come to Gabrielle's defense, but the look in Hecuba's eyes made her swallow her words. 'I'm not sure what she's up to, but I think I'll play along for now.'

Hecuba had her mind made up and nothing was going to change it. "While we're gone, maybe you could find the time to change the bed clothes. I realize you're an invited guest, but you're still my daughter. That is, if you still remember how to make a proper bed."

"Mother, I'm quite capable of making a proper bed. You taught me well."

"Oh. I didn't think you had much call for it anymore." Hecuba shot a quick look at Xena, which didn't go unnoticed by Gabrielle.

"Is there -" Xena stopped when all eyes turned to her. She was going to ask if Hecuba wanted something of her, but began having second thoughts about giving the woman an opening to tell her exactly where she'd like Xena to go, or what she'd like her to do when she got there. Not that Xena would have minded the confrontation, but she was doing her best to avoid one for Gabrielle's sake. 'Then again, someone like Hecuba never needed an opening.' "Is there something I can do?"

"Well, there is wood in the barn that needs splitting, if you've got a mind to do a little honest hard work."

"Mother," Lila exclaimed. Xena helps a lot of people now..." Gabrielle was surprised to hear her sister stand up for Xena.

"I've got a mind," responded Xena evenly.

"There's an extra cape to keep you dry and bags for carrying the wood by the back door," Lila explained, as she hurried to catch up to her mother who had already left.

"Aargh!" Gabrielle fumed. "She has a knack of calling me an adult to my face, and still treating me like a child!"

Xena walked over to where Gabrielle still stood by the window, watching her mother and Lila as they headed for town. She wrapped an arm around the front of her friend and rested her chin on the bard's shoulder, watching as the two women disappeared out of sight. "Your mother still sees you as the same person you were before you left. She hasn't had the opportunity to watch you grow and mature over the last two years... like I have."

Gabrielle wrapped her fingers around Xena's hand and gave a soft squeeze. "I guess you're right, but it still hurts."

Xena left to split the wood that was stored in the barn, and Gabrielle headed to her parent's room to make a proper bed.

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Gabrielle was smoothing the last of the wrinkles from Lila's spread when she turned to find Xena relaxing on her bed. "Xena! I just made the bed."

"Mmm. And a mighty fine job you did. Very nice. Very nice." Xena sat with her arms folded comfortably behind her head, leaning up against the headboard. She stretched her long legs and crossed them at her ankles, settling herself comfortably on the fresh bed clothes.

"What do you think you're doing? Now I'll have to do it all over again."

"Oh, I was just wondering what it was like to be you. Your thoughts. Your dreams."

Gabrielle sat on the edge of her sister's bed, careful not to mess it up too much. "You know, I wasn't always so hard to wake up in the morning."

"Oh really," Xena said as her eyebrow raised in response to this piece of information. "I find that a little hard to believe."

Gabrielle continued, unfettered by her friend's lack of belief. "I used to wake up before the sun to have some time to spend with myself before chores. I'd lie there on the bed..." Gabrielle gestured toward Xena with a sweep of her arm, indicating the position the warrior now assumed, "... and dream of visiting far away places. Oh, and this isn't just a bed, it's a magical bed." Xena looked at her with wonderment. "Sometimes it was a wagon with strong sturdy steeds that carried me away in a cloud of dust. And sometimes it was a magical flying machine that soared above the hills and clouds and carried me to distant magical lands." Gabrielle looked down at her hands that were fidgeting in her lap. "Sounds kinda childish, doesn't it. I've never told this to anyone before, not even Lila."

"There's nothing wrong with dreaming. It can give you hope for the future."

"Yeah uh... I guess you're right." Silence fell between the two women as Gabrielle reflected back to a certain day nearly two years ago. "I thought I was going to have to be content to live my life in my dreams. And then I met you. You were everything I needed; an answer to my prayers. I knew that because of you, my dreams could become a reality."

Xena stared straight ahead, unable to face her friend. "Gabrielle, you better remove me from that pedestal before I fall. I didn't make your dreams come true. You did. It was all you. You can do anything you want, if you put your mind to it."

Gabrielle thought about this for a moment. "Anything?"

Xena turned and looked directly at her. "Anything."

Gabrielle sat there and quietly drank in the vision before her. Even in a simple tunic, Xena was exquisite. She rose from Lila's bed and walked to the side of her bed, climbed up and knelt beside Xena, forcing her to look up at her. "I wonder if this bed has any magic left in it?"

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Part 14a

Gabrielle knelt there for what seemed like an eternity, staring into two azure pools of liquid. Trembling slightly, she finally gathered enough courage and hesitantly placed her hands on Xena's shoulders, bent down and gave the startled warrior a soft kiss. Xena wrapped her arms around the bard and pulled her in, returning the kiss. Her body quickly responded to Gabrielle's tender lips, the feel of her breasts lightly brushing hers, the touch of her hands as they caressed the back of her neck... Xena quickly realized where this was leading and brought her hands up between them. "Don't... start something... you don't..."

Gabrielle studied the warrior's face, and was now more certain than ever of what she wanted. She bent forward and reclaimed the warrior's lips. "Xena, sometimes you talk too much," she admonished, as she came up for air. She trailed kisses to Xena's left ear and down her neck to her collar bone, where she nipped at the flesh.

"Gabrielle... Your mother... Lila..." Xena fought to maintain rational thought.

"... will be gone all morning." She grinned at the warrior and playfully licked the tip of her nose. "We have the house to ourselves."

Xena halfheartedly tried to push the advancing bard away. "But what if they come back early?"

"I..." she kissed Xena's right eye, "don't..." she kissed the other, "care." She straddled Xena and looked directly into her eyes. "I love you." Gabrielle leaned forward and brushed a strand of hair out of Xena's eyes and let her hand trail down the warrior's cheek, over her jaw and down her long neck to the top of her chest. At this point she stopped her hand, becoming very self-conscious of the fact that she really didn't know how to love another woman.

'To hell with her family.' Xena took a deep breath and let the air out slowly, trying to reign in her quickly growing passion. She pulled Gabrielle into her arms and kissed her tenderly. Xena took her time with Gabrielle, allowing them to become comfortable with their new intimacy. Both women continued to exchange soft kisses, while their hands slowly continued to explore each other's bodies. Ever so gently, Xena ran the back of her hand down the front of Gabrielle's tunic. When the tips of her fingers lightly brushed over one of the bard's nipples, Gabrielle let out a whimpered moan and pulled Xena's mouth to hers. The warrior returned Gabrielle's passionate kiss, and then gently pushed her away and looked directly into her eyes. She smiled as she reached forward to untie the lace to Gabrielle's tunic.

"No." Gabrielle grasped her hands and firmly pushed them away. She sat up and began to blush as she slowly undid the lace while Xena watched, fixated on the creamy flesh that was beginning to reveal itself to her.

"Oh, yes. Please, Gabrielle. I want... I need... your breasts are so beautiful." Grasping the bottom of the tunic, Gabrielle slowly worked it up over her body. She was surprised that the simple cotton material felt like rough muslin against her now swollen, tender nipples. Their need to be taken drove her, and she quickly freed herself from her tunic and tossed it aside. Gabrielle bent forward and Xena scooted down a little, grasping her with both hands just above her waist and capturing a breast in her mouth.

"Ohhh... Xena!," Gabrielle grabbed the back of the warrior's head and ground her breast into Xena's mouth. "More..."

Gabrielle slid her hips forward and Xena could feel the hot wet trail she left on her thigh. "Mmrumph...so hot... ummm... so wet..." Xena slipped her arms around Gabrielle and pulled her in further, using the bed's headboard to brace herself. She rolled her tongue around the nipple, marveling at how quickly it became hard. Xena slowly pulled the breast out between her teeth and Gabrielle shrieked at the exquisite pain that simple procedure produced. Startled, Xena pushed Gabrielle away, afraid she had been too rough. "Are you OK? I didn't mean to hurt you."

"No Xena, no. You didn't hurt me. I need you... please..." She tried to push herself back into the warrior's mouth, but Xena had a firm hold around her upper ribcage and held her at bay. She leaned forward and placed feather light kisses in the valley of the bard's breasts, and slowly licked her way to the other breast. She flicked the tip of her tongue over it a couple of times, as Gabrielle groaned and tried to push herself into the warrior's mouth. Xena's hands held her back.

"Xena... please!" implored a frustrated bard. She wanted to feel herself inside her lover's mouth, and if she had her way, would have delighted in feeling her nipple on the back of Xena's throat.

"There's plenty of time for that. Like you said, we have all morning," Xena grinned as she returned to the task at hand, and continued to trail light kisses over Gabrielle's chest. Her companion whimpered as she felt shudder after shudder ripple through her unsatisfied flesh. "So sweet..." murmured Xena, as she slowly licked her way up the bard, where she sucked and nipped at the soft flesh of her neck. While never faltering from her ministrations, Xena rolled the young woman to her left and placed her gently on the bed beside her. She gave Gabrielle a quick kiss on the lips, before sitting up and releasing her body from the confines of her tunic.

Gabrielle watched as Xena's large breasts fell free and swayed before her eyes. Xena looked over and followed the bard's gaze to her chest and waved her hand in front of her lover's face, trying to break the spell her bosom held on her. "Gabrielle, snap out of it." Xena grinned at the surprised look on the bard's face when she realized she was caught staring.

"I'm sorry," Gabrielle sheepishly replied. "I guess I still can't get over the fact that this is real. I've dreamed... about us... together. I never thought my dreams would come true."

"I told you, you can do anything you want..."

"...if I put my mind to it."

Xena smiled broadly and bent down placing a soft kiss on Gabrielle's lips. As the kiss deepened, she slowly moved her body over the bard's, until she was completely covering the young woman. A low satisfying groan escaped the warrior's throat as she settled herself onto Gabrielle; the exquisite feel of the bard's naked body under hers.

As Xena's body enveloped her, Gabrielle was overwhelmed by a connection with Xena that was much more than physical. Instead of feeling trapped, she felt free and content. And it was more than physical contentment, it was somehow spiritual. For the first time in her life, she felt whole. Her soul was at peace. She brought her arms around Xena's back, and sliding her left arm down to Xena's hips, pulled the warrior into her. She returned Xena's kisses with a new urgency. Her entire body wanted, no needed, to feel possessed by this woman, who had already captured her heart and soul.

When Xena felt herself being pulled in she gave up trying to hold herself up on her elbows, and allowed her full weight to settle on the bard. She buried her left hand behind Gabrielle's neck and ran her right hand along the length of her love's side, wanting to memorize every inch of her body. When their mouths separated for a much needed moment of breath, Xena whispered, "I love you," over and over, even after Gabrielle reclaimed her mouth.

Many minutes later, Xena relunctantly rolled off Gabrielle and propped herself up on her left elbow. She allowed her gaze to take in all of her love, admiring the beauty of this lovely young woman. She bent over and allowed her lips to lightly graze across the bard's lips, while her right hand slowly explored the soft skin of her neck and left arm. Gabrielle buried her right hand in Xena's hair, twirling the long black mane between her fingers. Xena flicked her tongue across Gabrielle's lips and kissed her with more passion, while her hand worked its way over the bard's stomach and idly played with her belly button. She trailed her hand out to Gabrielle's hip and around back to firmly grasp her cheek and pull her love slightly towards her. Capturing Gabrielle's mouth, she could taste the soft moans as they escaped the bard as her hand worked its way down her outer thigh. Her tongue won entrance to Gabrielle's mouth as her hand caressed the soft skin of her thigh and moved in to separate her legs. Xena felt the bard's body tense and she stopped immediately, removing her hand from Gabrielle. She cupped the bard's face with her well callused hand and stroked her lips with her thumb. "I promise to take it slowly. If you are uncomfortable and you want me to stop at any time, just say the word."

Gabrielle looked confidently into her eyes. "I've never made love to a woman. Before I met the Amazons, I didn't even know two women could make love to each other. I... I still don't know what to expect... but I love you Xena, and I want you. I want you to love me fully."

Xena smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips, reassuring her that everything was going to be OK. She moved her hand back down to Gabrielle's thigh and slowly moved it between her legs. The bard tentatively allowed Xena access and the warrior caressed her friend's inner thigh, being careful to avoid her center. Gabrielle concentrated on Xena's hand as it left trails of burning flesh wherever it passed. Xena bent lower and suckled a breast, as her hand slid up the front of Gabrielle's right thigh and massaged her abdomen. Xena looked up from her feast to intently watch her lover's face as she allowed her hand to slowly move down and come to rest on the bard's center.

Gabrielle jumped a little but quickly recovered herself, smiling into the blue eyes that captured hers. "Ummm..." She caressed Xena's cheek with her hand.

Using the palm of her hand, Xena gently massaged her, allowing her time to adjust to somebody touching her there. She moved her finger to lightly cover Gabrielle's folds and felt how wet she was. "Is that for me?" she asked. Gabrielle gave her a quizzical look as Xena held up her finger and examined the glistening liquid. She moved back up to Gabrielle's head and applied feather light kisses to her face, while at the same time her hand returned to the bard's center and cupped her mound. She captured Gabrielle's mouth and her tongue began a thorough exploration as she slowly moved her middle finger between Gabrielle's hot wet folds and rested it on her love's clitoris. Gabrielle's body stiffened momentarily at this new sensation, before instinctively beginning to move against Xena's finger in a natural rhythm as old as time. Xena quickened her pace as Gabrielle began to thrust faster and faster against the warrior's hand. When Xena could tell that Gabrielle would not last much longer, she backed her off from the edge.

"XENA!" Gabrielle screamed, as she frantically grabbed at the warrior's arm, trying to force it back to her. "Wha -- what are you doing? Please!" she begged, looking bewildered as she tried to comprehend why Xena had stopped.

Xena silently moved her hand back in place, but just as Gabrielle was about to try to pick up from where they left off, the warrior slid her hand down a little further and rested the tip of her middle finger at Gabrielle's opening. She squeezed the bard's clitoris between her thumb and forefinger and then began to massage it with her thumb as she slowly inserted her finger deep inside.

Gabrielle's body arched and she found herself staring wide-eyed at the ceiling of her bedroom. 'My bedroom. I'm in my old bed... in my old room... in my parent's house... and Xena is...' All of Gabrielle's thoughts were swept away as her eyes widened and she gasped at the feeling of having Xena inside her. She never imagined she could feel her love in such an intimate way, filling her, possessing her. "Oh gods, Xena! Where have you been my whole life?" Xena grinned at this last statement, and at the prospect of things to come. Gabrielle's eyes glistened at this newfound revelation of what love with Xena could be like.

At first, Xena rested her finger within Gabrielle and then slowly slid it out and back in, and picked up the rhythm of Gabrielle's body as she began to thrust her hips to meet the warrior's embrace. Xena locked eyes with the bard, and watched intently as the frenzied motions of their connection burst forth and washed over her face. Her climax started as a low, guttural groan, and finally escaped the bard's lips as she screamed Xena's name, her body convulsing uncontrollably as she held the bed clothes in a death grip.

Xena covered Gabrielle with her body and held her close for a long time, keeping her hand between Gabrielle's legs and slowly massaging the aftermaths of her convulsions. She waited patiently as her young friend worked at recovering her composure. When Gabrielle's eyes opened again, the bard was greeted with a delighted twinkle of blue and an "I love you." Xena brought her right hand to her mouth and sensuously licked her fingers clean while gazing at a startled bard. She leaned down and with her tongue fully extended, licked Gabrielle's lips. Gabrielle could taste herself and marveled at the realization that she actually liked it, though none of her bardic skills would allow her to give voice to what it compared to. Gabrielle opened her mouth and captured Xena's tongue, sucking on it and wondering if Xena would taste the same.

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Part 14b

Gabrielle remembered back to the night at the inn, and the fleeting chance she had to have one of Xena's breasts in her mouth. She chuckled to herself, remembering that at the time she had little choice in the matter seeing how she had been thwapped upside the head with it. She realized this was her chance and released Xena's tongue and looked her straight in the... chin. She could feel her throat muscles constricting and a lump forming in the back of her throat. Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. 'Why is this so difficult for me? Why can't I tell her what I want? I'm a bard!' Gabrielle suddenly started to feel very claustrophobic and put her hands on Xena's shoulders trying to push the warrior off her.

Xena saw the look of panic in Gabrielle's eyes and added to that the fact that the bard couldn't look her in the eye. 'Oh gods. What's the matter?' Xena cried to herself. 'I thought she wanted this... wanted me...' The warrior fought the urge to run and instead hurriedly rolled off Gabrielle and tried to give her some space.

"Xena?"

"I'm sorry. I thought you wanted... I'm so sorry." Xena felt her whole world collapsing around her as she realized she had just lost the one true friend she ever had. She sat up and swung her feet to the ground.

"Xena!" Gabrielle's arm shot out and grasped the warrior's upper arm, forcing Xena to turn around and look at her. "Where do you think you're going?" Xena just stared at her. She had no answer to give. Gabrielle slid her hand down Xena's arm and clasped the warrior's hand. "Please. Come back to bed."

Xena saw the love and desire in her friend's eyes and a spark of hope flickered in her heart. "I thought you were having second thoughts... regretted what we -"

"No!" she stated emphatically. "Never." It's just that I..." Gabrielle started to blush deeply. She continued to hold Xena's hand and forced herself to meet her eyes. "Damn Xena. After what we just did; why am I still so embarrassed? She looked intently into her lover's eyes and pulled courage from the love she saw. "I want to make love to you, but I'm not sure how."

A long held breath escaped the warrior as Xena's mind registered the false alarm. She brought the bard's small hand to her lips kissing the palm gently. Xena slowly lay down on her back, giving her friend free access to her body. Gabrielle sat up and marveled at the beautiful woman before her. The bard brushed an errant lock of hair from Xena's face, allowing her hand to linger on the warrior's cheek. "By the gods, you're beautiful." She leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips, before sitting back up to admire her some more. Gabrielle worked at trying to grasp the concept that Xena was all hers, to do with as she pleased. She never saw the warrior in a position of such vulnerability, but when their eyes met, all she saw was the love that Xena held for her, and she was elated.

Placing her hand carefully on Xena's abdomen, she felt the muscles under her fingers ripple with her touch. Gabrielle slowly moved her hand over the soft skin, pausing to study her belly button. She looked to the warrior's face for any signs of disapproval, and was rewarded with a huge smile and a soft chuckle. Gabrielle trailed the back of her left index finger up from Xena's belly button, and could see as well as feel the shudder that her simple touch produced as she hesitantly encircled one of the warrior's large breasts.

Xena let out a ragged moan as she pulled the bard's free hand to her waiting mouth and licked and sucked on each finger with reckless abandon. She moaned into Gabrielle's palm as her friend found the nerve to roll and squeeze the tender nipple of Xena's right breast between her fingers. The warrior arched into the bard's inquisitive ministrations, while placing her hand behind Gabrielle's neck and coaxing her down to take the other breast in her mouth. "Gabrielle... please."

The bard paused as she poised herself above the now swollen and erect nipple and glanced into Xena's face. What she saw was a need that only she could fulfill. She turned back to the breast in question and experimentally touched it with her lips. She licked slowly around the outside of the nipple, and discovered she liked; no, relished the salty taste of Xena's flesh. While never losing track of what she was doing to the other breast, Gabrielle took her right hand and cupped the breast she had been licking, squeezing and kneading it between her fingers. With a firm hold, she brought the nipple up to meet her mouth. The bard raked her teeth over the now hard and puckered flesh and was rewarded for her actions as Xena convulsively arched herself up and used the hand she had behind the bard's head to drive her mouth firmly into her breast.

Gabrielle was soon applying herself fully to the enjoyable task at hand. She filled her mouth with the ripe flesh, struggling to get as much of it as she possibly could past her lips. Forgetting about the other breast, she used both hands to knead and work what little bit of flesh remained beyond her physical limitations to devour. Her eyes sparkled greedily as she realized that she was truly enjoying herself. She almost felt self-conscious that she was doing it more for herself than for Xena, until she stole a glance the warrior's way. Xena's eyes had just about rolled back in their sockets, and her right hand was planted firmly in her mouth while her left still held Gabrielle's head to her chest in a vice grip.

Gabrielle almost regrettably disengaged herself from the breast, until she spied the other neglected twin. "Umm... yummy!" She pounced on it with no hesitation.

"Oh gods," groaned the warrior from around the fist she was gnawing on. "I think I've created a monster!"

"Um hmm. Mmm..." mumbled a very busy bard, as she licked her newfound friend clean before claiming it as her own. She squeezed the breast with both hands, making the erect nipple stand up at attention. Next she flicked her tongue over the tip a few times before baring her teeth and capturing it tightly between her teeth. She bit down roughly, and was surprised to hear the warrior cry out for more. The bard alternated between biting and sucking until she could stand it no longer and attempted to consume the whole thing right there on the spot.

As much as she was enjoying herself, Gabrielle knew there were still new lands to conquer. She reluctantly pulled herself from her repast, confident that they would still be there if she decided to come back and play. She looked inquisitively into Xena's eyes. "Umm... how am I doing?" she quirked, as she licked her lips.

"I uh...uh..." Xena stammered, as she fought to regain control, "... not bad. For your first time."

Gabrielle started to frown until she caught the corner of Xena's mouth twitch and watched as her lip turned up slightly in the first hint of a grin. "Xena!" The bard hauled off and smacked the warrior in the stomach, which was practically useless, since it was like hitting a brick wall.

"Hey!" Xena broke out in laughter. "C'mere. I'll show you how well you've been doing." She wrapped her left hand around Gabrielle's head and pulled her to her waiting mouth, showering her lips, chin and neck with soft kisses. Her right hand sought out the bard's breast as the kisses quickly became deeper and urgent. Xena fought her rising need to flip the bard on her back and ravish her unmercifully, and broke her hold of the sensitive breast and breathed, "Give me your hand." She grasped the back of her friend's hand and placed it on her chest, covering it completely with her right hand.

Xena guided the bard's hand down and together they explored the warrior's body. They moved past her breasts to her abdomen, where Xena slowly moved Gabrielle's hand over each ripple of her taut stomach. She guided their hands to her right hip and around back, where Gabrielle took control and grabbed a handful of butt and began to pliantly knead. She dug her fingers into Xena's muscled backside, pulling the warrior to her and feeling their breasts collide and rub into each other.

The bard wrestled her mouth from the warrior's control and began to sensuously lick her way down Xena's neck. She paused at the small hollow, nipping at the soft flesh. She then proceeded to bite her way across Xena's right collarbone and down her arm as Xena took control of her hand and guided it down her thigh. Gabrielle could feel the well-honed muscle that resided just below the surface as she moved her hand with Xena's.

The warrior leaned over and raked her teeth over Gabrielle's earlobe, bringing the bard's mouth back up to meet hers. Xena's kisses were now more urgent, as she felt the heat from her molten juices scorching her thighs. She manipulated Gabrielle's hand over her thigh to the center of her heat source. Once there, she pushed the small hand against her mound, massaging the ache that was threatening to explode.

The bard tore herself from Xena's devouring mouth and sat up. The warrior used what little reserve she had left and released her grip of her friend's hand, allowing her the freedom to explore for herself. Gabrielle ran her fingers through the thick kinky hair of Xena's center, perplexed at how it contrasted to the hair on top of her head. Xena saw the bard's brows knit together as she worked on this new puzzle. Gabrielle reached over and fondled a lock of Xena's long hair, still continuing to lightly twirl her finger in the warrior's mound. "Xena? They're so different. Why?"

Xena wasn't sure how long she could hold an intelligent conversation with her friend, but knew the inquisitive nature of the bard. "I ah... I really don't know why. Some people are just that way."

Gabrielle pondered the response while still absently playing with Xena's center. "I just can't get over how different it feels."

"I -- hope -- you're having a -- good -- time," Xena said, through gritted teeth. Gabrielle turned and realized that Xena was sweating profusely and her eyes were glazed over. It was then she realized that what she was doing was having a profound effect on the warrior. Gabrielle immediately removed her hand and was surprised at the speed with which the warrior captured it and returned it to her center, trapping it under her hand.

Xena let out a long ragged breath as she implored, "Please. I don't think I can take much more." She moved Gabrielle's hand down between her legs, and the bard was astonished with how wet the warrior was. With Xena's guidance, Gabrielle worked her fingers into the warrior's folds and marveled at the texture and feel of Xena's slick center. Xena guided the bard's finger over her clitoris and her hips involuntarily bucked as she felt the soft skin of her lover's touch brush lightly over her nub. It was such a different feeling from the callused skin of her own fingers that she was used to. Using two fingers, Gabrielle hesitantly began to massage the warrior, eventually becoming bold enough to pinch and squeeze the swollen nub. Xena knew she couldn't take much more of this exquisite torture and needed to feel Gabrielle possess her. "Gabrielle... move your hand down -" Xena pushed the bard's hand further down, and positioned one of her fingers at her opening. "I... need to feel you... inside of me." Gabrielle slowly inserted her finger inside, very apprehensive of what she was doing. A loud moan escaped the warrior's mouth and her hips involuntarily lurched as she realized her young friend was touching the most private part of her body.

"Oh Xena, I'm sorry," Gabrielle cried as she quickly removed her finger. "Did I hurt you?"

"G -- Gab, eh -- everything's fine," Xena stammered as she tried her best to reassure her as she guided the bard's hand back to her need.

"Umm, you're so hot," murmured Gabrielle as she reinserted her finger deep within. She slowly brought her finger up and almost out and pushed it back down, curling the tip and exploring in all directions.

Xena hadn't expected what this naturally inquisitive nature of the bard would do to her, as her breath started to come in short ragged pants. "Gabrielle... put your thumb -- no -- over a little... AHHH!... YES!... right there..." Xena reached down and guided Gabrielle's thumb over her clitoris and the bard began to earnestly massage the now swollen nub as she continued to thrust her finger deep inside the warrior.

Release should have been imminent, but Xena fought it with every fiber of her being. This moment, feeling Gabrielle inside her, was one she had dreamed of for so long. A dream that up until a few days ago, she was certain would never be answered. Should never be answered. She knew she didn't deserve the love of this beautiful woman, but here they were, consummating their love for each other. And there could be no going back. Gabrielle was hers -- freely given, and she to her bard. Xena wanted this moment to last forever.

The tendons and cords of her arms rippled and popped as she dug her clenched fists into the blankets and used her forearms to hold her body aloft. Gabrielle could feel her own need rising anew, and laid her body along the length of the warrior, straddling her left thigh. She thrust her sex again and again against the warrior, keeping time with her strokes deep inside her partner. Xena's head flew back and she found herself staring at the ceiling, the feel of the bard's slick center coating her thigh almost too much to bear. Gabrielle dug the fingers of her free hand into the flesh of the warrior's upper back, and sunk her teeth into the flesh of Xena's left shoulder. She continued to pump her left hand harder and faster, determined to bring her lover over the top.

"Please... another... ," the warrior begged between breathes.

Gabrielle paused in mid-stroke. "I -- don't know what you want," she said frantically, looking at Xena for help.

Xena was no longer able to focus clearly. "Your finger... insert a second finger... PLEASE!"

"Ohhh..." Gabrielle was amazed at how easily Xena's body accepted so much of her. She quickly picked up on the rhythm of the warrior's bucking hips, and met them thrust for thrust as she continued to bury herself inside her love. "I wonder..." While never breaking contact with Xena's enlarged clitoris, Gabrielle brought both finger tips just to the opening of the warrior and deftly added a third before she plunged her hand down as far as it would go.

Xena's entire body thrust itself upward to meet this final assault on her senses. There was no holding back this time. Her body and Gabrielle had finally won out, as she knew they ultimately would. She stiffened as her inner muscles constricted tightly around the bard's fingers, not allowing her to reclaim them. With just a couple more frantic thrusts of her hips, the bard joined her lover. Gabrielle rolled completely on top of Xena's body, holding her close with her free hand and they rode this final wave together as a terrific orgasm rocked Xena to her core.

Xena's body finally went limp, and Gabrielle gently wrapped her arms around her love. Tranquility washed over her. Nothing could have prepared her for what she was feeling. She had known for some time that her feelings for Xena ran much deeper than friend, but she never knew she would be able to express these feelings in such an intimate way. To be able to give herself fully to Xena, and Xena to her.

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Part 15

Xena rose with a start and pulled Gabrielle to her feet. "They're home." Even though the bard had sworn earlier that she didn't care if her family had walked in on them, she dove for her tunic and frantically scrambled to put it on as Xena did the same.

Lila entered the room moments later. "Brie, haven't you finished making the beds yet?" she asked. The blanket, quilt and pillow of Gabrielle's bed were in a heap on the floor, and Xena and Gabrielle were standing on opposite sides of the bed, straightening the sheet.

"Well sure... that is... it was made, but I decided to give Xena a lesson... on making a proper bed." Gabrielle glanced up from the bed to her sister, wondering if she was buying any of it. "Xena asked me what Mother meant by making a proper bed. I thought it would be easier to show her."

Lila glanced at Xena but gave her sister a quizzical look before silently leaving the room. Gabrielle looked to Xena, the same quizzical look mirrored on her face. "Your tunic is on inside-out," Xena whispered.

Gabrielle looked down disbelievingly and shot a look at the door her sister just exited. "Do you think she noticed?"

"Yep."

Continued - Part 4 (Conclusion)