"My patient is worse. I’ve got to go to the hospital. I shouldn’t be long. Will you be okay?"

The warrior nodded, but in truth she wasn’t at all sure.

Gabrielle backed up hesitantly and reached for her keys. Xena struggled to keep from begging her to stay. She couldn’t bear to watch her go and flinched as the door clicked closed, separating them once again.

She took a deep breath. So close. Had she imagined the desire she saw in Gabrielle’s eyes? She wanted it to be real, needed it to be real and in her heart, she knew it was. She had always known, from the very beginning. Fear had kept her from facing it. But now, she could little afford to give in to her doubts. Time was running out.

*****

After hours of emergency surgery, Gabrielle climbed into the car and headed home. The operation had gone badly. She blinked her eyes and tried to put it out of her mind. For the first time that evening, she allowed herself the luxury of thinking about the beautiful woman waiting for her.

There was no denying that she was physically drawn to the woman. Her body came alive with sensation whenever she was near. If the phone had not interrupted them, if...

The intensity of her feelings frightened her. Gabrielle’s mind was filled with questions she had no answers to. Had the desire she saw in the dark-haired woman’s eyes been for her or was she remembering her soul-mate? Was Xena just reacting to the love she had for another? As she wondered about her friend’s feelings, she became anxious. She couldn’t help thinking about what it would be like to kiss her. A wave of guilt washed over her as she thought of Peter. The wedding was less than a week away and she had fallen in love with a patient, a female patient. It was crazy. She knew she should ignore the emotions raging inside her but couldn’t, nothing had ever felt as right or as natural.

Something was happening to her that she didn’t understand. She wasn't sleeping well. Her dreams were filled with images of people and places that seemed eerily real, yet completely foreign. And lately, the images were not isolated to her dreams. Flashes came to her at odd moments throughout the course of the day. Things were slowly coming unraveled. She was losing control over her well ordered life.

As she pulled into the garage, she was certain of only one thing: somehow she had to get her life back on track.

*****

Gabrielle quietly let herself in. A small light illuminated the hallway. She sank down onto the couch and tried to relax her tense muscles. Exhaustion swept over her. She let her eyes close.

Her mind flashed to the warrior swinging her sword. She opened her eyes to dispel the image and saw Xena standing over her. She momentarily struggled to separate fantasy from reality.

The dark-haired woman watched her with concern. "Are you feeling all right?"

Gabrielle blinked and gave her friend a reassuring smile. "I’m fine. Did I wake you?"

"No. I couldn’t sleep. Did everything go okay at the hospital?"

Gabrielle looked away sadly. She released a shuddering breath before speaking. "I... I lost her. Nothing worked. I..." The weight of her emotions became too much. She began to tremble.

Xena sat down beside her and laid her hand lightly on her arm. "I’m sorry."

The warmth of her friend’s touch soothed her.

"I wish I could harden myself, distance myself emotionally. I feel so helpless, sometimes."

"That’s human. You do your best, that’s what counts."

Gabrielle shook her head doubtfully. "Maybe I could do better by my patients if I were more emotionally detached."

"You’ve got it backwards. It’s your empathy that makes you a good doctor."

"You think so?"

Xena nodded. "Where would I be if you hadn’t taken time, if you hadn’t made the extra effort?"

"You would have been fine. I’ve never seen anyone so determined to get well."

"I think I’d be drugged and bound in restraints still, if it hadn’t been for your caring."

"I don’t know." Gabrielle answered wearily.

"I do." She laid her hands gently on the young woman’s shoulders and let her fingers slowly work the tight muscles in her neck. Gabrielle body immediately began to relax.

"God, that feels good."

Xena smiled. Gradually the tension beneath her fingers eased, succumbing to her gentle ministrations. Gabrielle released a sigh of pleasure and closed her eyes. Xena’s hands casually moved outward to her shoulders, continuing the tender massage.

The warrior was completely focused on her efforts, slowly working her way down the young woman’s arms. Her thumbs brushed lightly over the outer curves of the blonde’s breasts. Gabrielle’s body trembled in response. She opened her eyes and quickly glanced at Xena to see if she had noticed.

She had.

If the warrior hadn’t felt Gabrielle’s body react, she could have easily read it in her expression. The need in the young woman’s eyes could not be mistaken.

Without words, they came together, their lips meeting. A tingling sensation radiated through Gabrielle’s core. Her fingers tangled in Xena’s hair, as she pulled her in, deepening the kiss. Her body surged with heat. The young woman moaned as incredible sensations rushed through her. She gasped, breathless, her heart racing. They stopped.

The warrior sat spellbound. The kiss had been everything she remembered and more. She ached from the loss of contact. Her very soul cried out for more. She searched Gabrielle’s eyes for a sign, they sparked with passion, pulling her in. Unsure but unable to resist, she bent forward, her lips lightly brushing the young woman’s brows and cheeks with tender reverence.

Gabrielle guided her once again to her lips. They united in another searing kiss. Her body hummed with energy as Xena pressed against her, every nerve ending awakened. The coarse material of her shirt rubbed against the tips of her nipples. Gabrielle could feel them tighten, becoming hard and erect. A groan escaped her lips as a charge shot to her center. Her sex fluttered with pleasure. Moisture gathered quickly between her legs, anticipating her need.

It was like nothing she had ever experienced, so very different from Peter. Peter... her mind reeled. She gasped, pulling back.

"Stop. I can’t I..."

"What’s wrong?" Xena tried to calm her racing heart.

"I… I..." Unable to trust her own body, Gabrielle held her hands up to put some space between them.

"I... I can’t think. It’s ... it’s too strong, too much..." She stumbled to her feet.

"I... I can’t do this." Her hands were shaking violently. As she tried to still them, her eyes fell to her engagement ring. She curled her fingers tight.

"I... I’m sorry..." Her eyes welled with tears. "I... I’ve got to go." She backed away so quickly that she nearly stumbled. She recovered and rushed out the door without looking back.

Xena’s hopes shattered.

*****

She had pushed too hard, gone too fast, and lost. It felt like she was reliving her mistakes, choosing actions over words. If only she had talked to Gabrielle, told her what was in her heart. Now it was too late. She wondered if Gabrielle would return before she had to leave. The tension was unbearable.

Xena knew she should go now, save her friend further discomfort, but she couldn’t. The thought that she might never see her again was too painful to consider. She bit back her anguish and walked to the window. This was her last day in the future. Tomorrow night the moon would be full. She would have to return.

The cars rushing by on the streets below made her feel out of place and alone. She desperately longed for the quiet stillness of the forest that waited thousands of years away.

*****

Part V

*****

It was nearly dawn when at last she heard the door open and the young woman entered. The warrior stood in place unable to move, waiting for her friend to speak.

Gabrielle cleared her throat nervously.

"I... I’m sorry for leaving. I needed to sort things out. I... I went to see Peter." The pain in her friend’s eyes hastened Xena’s decision.

"Gabrielle, I never meant to hurt you. I shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry." She took a step, intending to leave.

"Wait! Don’t go... Please...." The urgency in the bard’s tone stopped her. All strength left her body.

Tears filled Gabrielle’s eyes as she reached toward the warrior. "I... I’m confused. I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I had what I needed until you..." Her words came in a jumble of emotion. "I... I broke our engagement. I told Peter I couldn’t marry him."

Xena’s heart hammered violently inside her chest. She looked intently at the woman before her, afraid she’d heard her wrong.

"I couldn’t go through with it. I have such strong feelings for you... All I can think of is your hands on me, your mouth..." The warrior felt her need and stepped forward.

Gabrielle raised her hands, terrified the woman’s nearness would strip her of what little control remained.

"Please... I... I don’t know what’s happening to me. I never felt this way..."

Xena stood motionless.

"I... I think I’m having a breakdown." Her hands were trembling and she clutched them tightly to her. "I’ve been having hallucinations. Flashes of you and I in a different place."

The warrior approached her slowly. "Gabrielle, it’s going to be okay. Listen to me... They’re not hallucinations."

"But... you were fighting on a hill... with a sword... I must be losing my mind."

"No. You’re remembering."

"Remembering?"

"Yes." Xena stood nervously beside her.

"I don’t understand." Gabrielle’s eyes revealed her confusion.

She paused, not knowing how to start. "I wanted to explain sooner but I couldn’t think of a way to tell you that wouldn’t make me sound crazy. I wanted to give you a chance to get to know me better. I hoped you might remember me, remember us... together."

"I knew you before?"

"This is going to sound insane. But, please... hear me out. I swear I’m telling the truth."

"I’m listening." Gabrielle looked at her anxiously.

"We were friends over two thousand years ago."

She sagged with disappointment, her disbelief obvious.

Xena pressed on. "I know it’s difficult to believe." Gabrielle shook her head sadly. It was madness.

"Please, think. Can’t you feel the connection between us? Does it feel like we’ve only known each other a few weeks?" The young woman knew she was right about that much at least.

"I’m asking you to listen to your heart."

"You want me to believe that we’re two thousand years old?"

The warrior shook her head in frustration, knowing she sounded like a lunatic. She had no choice but to forge ahead. "I traveled here through a tear in time, a portal to the future."

"If... if that’s true, then how did I get here? And why can’t I remember? Did I come through it too?"

"No" Xena paused not knowing how to go on. "You died over two thousand years ago, but your soul... your essence continued."

Gabrielle looked at her intently, trying to comprehend. "Are you saying I’m reincarnated?"

"Yes."

It was the most farfetched thing she had ever heard, but a part of her needed to hear Xena out.

"If that’s true, then why are you here?"

"I came to find you."

"Why?"

"I... I needed to see you alive, to..." Her voice faltered. Xena took a shuddering breath but was too overcome with emotion to continue. She struggled to find words to help her friend understand.

"I had to find you. You told me once that you would never forget what we shared. I hoped that somewhere deep inside you held the memory of us."

She gently touched the young woman’s cheek. "A part of you is trying to remember. The images… they’re real..."

Her blue eyes welled with tears, and it was in them, that Gabrielle saw the truth. The pieces fell into place.

"The one you loved... it was me."

Xena could only nod. A single tear ran down her cheek.

The confirmation sent a rush of heat through her. Gabrielle’s mind was spinning. She tried to pull the threads together. "We... we were lovers?"

The warrior searched her mind for a way to explain the mistakes she had made. "No." Her eyes were filled with regret. The weight of the truth laid heavy on her heart. "We could have been... we should have been. I should have told you how I felt so that you could make that decision. I... I didn’t believe that you could want me. I... I knew I couldn’t give you the life you deserved." She paused.

Gabrielle’s heart pounded. Her friend’s pain was achingly real.

She longed to hold her. Desire for the warrior coursed through her. The powerful bond between them could not be ignored. Gabrielle was only sure of one thing. She wanted it to be true, all of it.

"And if I believe you?"

"I want you to come back with me."

"Xena I…"

"I know I’m asking you to take a lot on faith."

"I need time… I..."

The warrior took a deep breath. "I’m asking you to follow your heart."

"My life is here. I… I can't just walk away, give up everything I've worked for..."

"I know how much I’m asking. I know how you must feel, but tomorrow evening, when the moon rises, the portal will close forever."

Gabrielle reached out and took her hand. "Let it. Stay. We can make a life together... here."

"I’m sorry. I can’t. My life is there. If I didn’t believe with every fiber of my being that yours was too, I wouldn’t ask this of you."

"Xena, for me the past is only a collection of vague images at best. I don’t remember it."

"But, it's starting to come back."

"If I go with you, will my memory return?"

"I’m not sure." The warrior replied truthfully.

"My life here… it’s all I know."

"You have a life there too. A life with me."

"I... I care for you, I..."

The warrior stepped purposefully toward the young woman, her eyes sparkling.

Gabrielle’s pulse quickened. She could feel the energy radiating off the dark-haired woman. Her skin tingled all over, flooding her body with sensation. It was overpowering. She stumbled back against the wall, unable to look away from the beautiful woman before her.

Slowly Xena met her eyes and forced the words from her lips, words she had kept locked inside far too long.

"I should have spoken my heart, long ago..." The warrior’s voice was filled with emotion. The young woman trembled at the sound. The heat generated by her nearness was staggering.

Xena caressed her cheek, gently urging her to meet her glance. "Gabrielle, from the first moment I laid eyes on you, you’ve been the one. It’s always been you. You mean more to me than anything I know. You’re the one I dream of. You’re the one who holds my heart. You are the other half of my soul. I... I love you... more than I can say."

Her words triggered something deep inside. Feelings locked away for centuries, rolled through her. Gabrielle was awash with emotion. "Then stay. Please…"

"I... I can’t…"

"Why?" Her eyes pleaded. "I… I don’t understand. What’s holding you there?"

The warrior hesitated only a moment. Her friend deserved to know the truth, all of it. "You died in childbirth. You have a daughter."

Gabrielle’s breath caught as images from her dreams flooded her thoughts. Her voice quavered as she spoke. "From my dreams… the child with black hair and green eyes."

"Yes."

She stepped back. The shock settling in. "I... It’s all true, isn’t it?"

Xena took her hands in her own. "Every word. I swear."

"I have a child."

"Yes."

Gabrielle dissolved into tears and fell into the older woman’s arms. The tenderness of their embrace soothed her soul. It was like coming home. Nothing had ever felt so right. In that moment, she knew she had found her life.

She looked up into her friend’s eyes. "You still love me? As I am now?"

"With all my heart. No amount of time will ever change that." Xena’s eyes shone with adoration. Her fingers trembled as she touched the young woman’s tear stained cheeks.

"I will always love you."

The warrior gently brushed the young woman’s cheeks with her hands and bent to kiss her. When their lips met, there was no turning back. Her tongue sought entry, moving slowly, adoringly.

After long moments, Xena broke the kiss and searched the bard’s face. The love she found there left little doubt about what she wanted, what they both had waited for so very long.

"Gabrielle?" The young woman’s eyes answered before her lips formed the word.

"Yes." She took the warrior's hand and guided her toward the bedroom.

Xena followed for only a few steps then stopped. Her muscular arms slid around Gabrielle’s waist and pulled her back against her. The bard’s head fell back onto the warrior’s shoulder and she moaned as she felt the heat of Xena’s body against her.

Slowly, she began unfastening Gabrielle’s jeans. Their bodies rubbed lightly together as each button opened, bringing her closer to her goal. Xena’s breath burned against her skin. All too soon her fingers retreated, leaving the pants loose around her waist.

Without hesitation the strong hands moved upward, gliding across the front of her light cotton shirt. In a ritual of seduction, long fingers slowly unfastening each button. Her wrists rested innocently against the young woman’s breasts, lightly brushing the sensitive flesh. The contact sent shivers of excitement through Gabrielle’s body. She was nearly delirious with pleasure.

At last the blouse yielded, falling open in invitation. Xena slowly peeled back the edges of the material. Slipping her hands inside, she pushed the blouse off her shoulders. Gabrielle shivered as it floated to the ground, exposing her two perfect breasts.

As the cool air hit her nipples, she gasped.

"Beautiful," Xena whispered, her voice husky with desire.

The warrior ran the palms of her hands sensually over the sloping curves, gingerly circling the hard tips. The aroused nipples responded immediately. The bard cried out as she felt them tighten, begging to be caressed and suckled. She trembled in utter bliss.

Xena’s hands slowly moved downward, easing beneath the waist of Gabrielle’s jeans and over the arc of her hips.

Her fingers awakened every nerve as they moved teasingly along the young woman’s thighs. The denim material felt thick and heavy as it slid slowly down the length of her legs, pooling at her feet.

Gabrielle stepped out of them shyly, suddenly keenly aware of the creamy wetness that dampened the crotch of her white silk panties. The thought that soon, Xena would be aware of it too made her shiver.

The warrior slowly turned her companion to face her.

The unmasked desire in the tall woman’s eyes made Gabrielle's entire body weak. She needed Xena… with all her being.

Her hands worked at a feverish pace to rid the warrior of her clothing. Her young body had no patience for the slow seduction and soon, the dark-haired woman stood naked before her. Gabrielle was desperate to explore Xena's body. Her hands wandered needfully over the warrior's heated skin.

Xena smiled and pushed her back lightly against the wall. Her long tapered fingers encircled the young woman’s wrists, stilling her ardent hands. She met Gabrielle's eyes.

"Easy." Her voice was teasing but filled with need. Her eyes shone with desire.

She took a deep breath as she felt the warrior’s fingertips glide across her skin in worship. Each motion, each touch was one of ownership. Without words Xena claimed her, utterly.

One long slim finger slid between Gabrielle's legs, gliding over the damp material. With a light, but deliberate stroke, she swept across her swollen folds. Then, almost imperceptibly she brushed against her entrance, lingering for a brief moment.

Gabrielle's clit pulsed and she moaned loudly. The faint contact left her dizzy, aroused beyond reason. She felt the subtle movement to her core, knew the promise that it held. Xena intended to take her.

The warrior dropped to her knees. Her hands roamed every contour of the young woman’s body: caressing her inner thighs… tracing a path across her hips, then up over her stomach, slowly encircling her breasts. Gabrielle drew in her breath and pulled Xena toward her. She groaned as her heated blood flooded her belly. It was rapture, the urgency overpowering.

With agonizing slowness, Xena pulled the smooth panties down her legs and rose to her full height. She pressed her body against Gabrielle’s, breast to breast, pinning her against the wall. The young woman’s body was ablaze. Her head fell to the side, exposing her neck.

Without hesitation, the warrior’s mouth opened on the sensitive skin, caressing it with her tongue, lightly sucking and nibbling the warm flesh. She gently rocked her body against the bard, then slid a leg between her trembling thighs. Xena thrilled at the heat emanating from her.

Gabrielle’s sex throbbed at the touch. Her breaths came in heavy pants. She had lived for this moment. Her entire being was centered on the feel of Xena’s body, the feel of Xena’s hands.

She was suddenly weightless and realized the warrior was lifting her, sliding her up the wall. She locked her legs around the tall woman’s waist and arched into her taut abdomen. Xena gripped her bottom, cradling her in her hands. The sight of the bard’s face frozen in utter abandon fueled a fire deep inside her. She leaned in to capture young woman’s nipple in her mouth.

"Oh, Xena... Ohhh...." The sound of Gabrielle’s lust-filled voice murmuring her name resonated to her very core. The warrior gasped, releasing her breast. Without pause she carried her to the bedroom and gently lowered her to the bed.

Their eyes locked and Gabrielle knew what it was to be possessed by another. Xena’s gaze pierced her soul. She trembled from the intensity of it. Her lips parted in a moan and the warrior’s tongue entered her mouth, melting into her.

A sweet tension was building throughout the bard’s body. Xena eased back until their lips were barely touching. They were both breathing hard.

Gabrielle felt weak all over. She wanted to take Xena into her very being. She rocked shamelessly beneath the warrior, responding to her every touch. Her body hummed with penned up desire. Her need was palpable. Hot and flushed, the young woman attempted to return her touch, needing to rediscover Xena’s body. She laid claim to every inch with a hunger she never knew she possessed. Her mind reeled with pleasure

The warrior’s desire was absolute, more consuming than anything she had ever experienced. Xena was insatiable, exploring her with knowledgeable fingers, teeth, lips and tongue.

When at last she broke the kiss, the bard was dazed. Her eyes glazed over in passion. Her hands cupped Gabrielle’s firm breasts. The young woman’s nipples, agonizingly hard, throbbed in anticipation.

"So beautiful..." Xena murmured.

Sighing sensually, she closed her wet mouth over the delicate nipple. The sensation was so incredible Gabrielle gasped and reflexively arched into her. Xena sucked softly, drawing the tender flesh into her mouth, then eased back catching the tip between her teeth. The bard cried out, unable to contain her rapture. Her head was thrown back, eyes closed, waiting, wanting to feel herself inside Xena’s mouth, again and again.

But Xena’s lips had moved. Her tongue painted a sizzling trail down her lover’s abdomen to the heart of her need, planting warm, wet kisses. Gabrielle's hips thrust toward her. The warrior smiled.

"Soon, very soon." Xena purred.

She ran her tongue sensually between the folds of the bard’s sex. The delicate touch reverberated to her core. Gabrielle moaned, words failing her. Peter had never touched her in this way. The sensations were incredible. The mere thought of what other pleasures Xena would introduce her to made her sex pulse insistently.

"Mine." She whispered the truth they both implicitly understood. Her sex, her body, her heart, her very soul belong to the warrior and always had.

"Yes..."

Her need was incomparable. She wanted Xena inside her, deep inside, a part of her. An explosive energy was building within her. Gabrielle’s fingers tangled in her dark silky hair, pressing her down.

But, she was no match for Xena’s strength. The warrior held back, eliciting an agonized moan from her young lover. She wanted to prolong the sensations, wanted Gabrielle to ride the wave of raw excitement as long as possible.

"Please..." Gabrielle begged. Her hands urging her to finish.

Xena’s thumbs danced lightly over the sensitive skin of her labia, opening her, like petals of a flower. She lowered her mouth to the young woman’s sex, blowing her warm breath against her moist folds. Sliding her fingers under her lover’s bottom, she lifted Gabrielle’s pink, open sex to her mouth.

"Ohhh... Xena!" She could not contain her ecstasy.

Her nectar was sweeter than ambrosia and the warrior drank it in. Her thirst consumed her. Beneath the soft layers of flesh, Xena could feel her young lover’s sex grow and swell with each caress. Her tongue traced circles around the outer edges, slowly teasing. Gabrielle moaned and parted her knees wider.

She used her thumbs to spread the bard’s inner most folds wide enough to reveal the engorged nub. The warrior paused, holding the delicate pearl between her soft lips. She kissed it gently. Gabrielle moaned and writhed in ecstasy.

Xena began to lick the sensitive flesh, darting over it in a steady rhythm. The bard could not contain her pleasure.

"Oh god don’t stop, please... don’t stop."

Stopping was the farthest thing from Xena’s mind. Her tongue was relentless, bringing Gabrielle higher and higher with each stroke. Slowly, methodically, she increased the pressure.

It was more than Gabrielle could bear. She stiffened as her climax overtook her, her sex contracting wildly. Xena’s lips held the swollen nub. Sucking softly, she pulled the nectar from her in an endless river. Many nights of fantasy paled in comparison to the truth coating her lips. The warrior took her time, drawing the orgasm out, giving her lover the ultimate pleasure for as long as she could. Gabrielle’s climax went on and on. She arched in sweet release, lifting her hips to her lover's mouth. As she plummeted from the dizzying high, her body trembled violently, the orgasm seizing her visibly.

Xena held her firmly. The young woman’s entire body shook as the warrior pushed her beyond all endurance. Gabrielle rode each wave, thrusting against her over and over, until she was too weak to assist. She continued to tremble and spasm despite her exhaustion, as though their lovemaking had left an indelible impression that her body needed to relive again and again. Finally, she crossed the barrier between bliss and sleep, completely spent.

Her physical awakening triggered a flood of memories that took vivid shape in her dreams. Everything was coming back including her marriage to Perdicus.

*****

Xena awoke in the dark, her arms empty. She felt the bed beside her, Gabrielle was gone. She sat up quickly and looked around the room. Her lover was standing at the bedroom window looking out at the stars.

"Are you okay?"

Gabrielle turned to face her, a beautiful smile lighting up her face. "I’m wonderful."

Xena slid out of bed and walked to her side. She bent and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Yes, you are."

Gabrielle let her hands settle on Xena's waist and looked affectionately into her eyes. "I have never felt such love. I'm so happy. I…" She struggled to find a way to describe what she was feeling. "I’ve always been drawn by the stars, always wondered what it would be like to touch them, feel their energy against my skin. Now, I think I know."

"Gabrielle." Xena’s voice was filled with emotion as she drew her into a tender embrace. "Your love has touched me in a way I never knew possible. You have awakened a part of me I never knew existed. The things you make me feel I... I have no words to tell you."

"You don’t need words. I feel it, I see it in your eyes." She took the warrior’s hands in her own. "You have awakened me too. I... I think our love making effected my memory. Things are coming back, amazing things." She smiled happily, her eyes full of wonder. "I can see her in my arms, tiny and perfect."

Xena held her lover at arms length. Her expression serious. "She is the most beautiful child, Gabrielle." The pride in her voice was unmistakable. "And bright, I can sense it. There’s a wisdom in her eyes. The same wisdom I see when I look at you."

The bard touched her cheek lovingly.

"Can you remember anything else?" Xena asked hopefully.

Gabrielle laughed. "You... my dreams were filled with memories of you." She smiled. "My hero, battling evil. I see you doing phenomenal things, so incredible that they seem more like fantasies than memories. Yet somehow I know they're real."

The warrior shook her head and smiled. "Your stories about me always were a bit exaggerated."

"Stories?"

"Yes, you’re a bard, a wonderful storyteller. We traveled together and you recorded our adventures."

"A bard?" It made perfect sense. All the pieces fit.

Xena stroked her hair. "It's all in there, waiting to come out."

Gabrielle looked deeply into her eyes. "God, how I love you. I... I have never felt so alive. This is so right." She took the warrior's hands. "I want to go back."

"Are you sure?" Xena’s expression was serious, her gaze unwavering.

"I’ve never been so sure of anything. I can't imagine my life without you. My place is by your side, with my daughter. I can’t wait to hold her in my arms again. You two are my life, my family."

The warrior paused. "Gabrielle, I can't offer you the wealth and security you have here. I don’t have anything but myself to give."

Gabrielle took the larger hands in her smaller ones. "You're all I need. Please, I want to go home."

Xena held her tightly. "I promise I will love and protect you both to my last breath."

"And I you." Their lips met, softly at first. Gradually the kiss deepened and Gabrielle felt a familiar pulling at her center. She leaned back and smiled seductively. "How would you feel about helping me get a few more memories back?"

Xena grinned and swept her off her feet. Laying her back on the bed, she straddled her thigh. Gabrielle sighed as she felt the warrior’s moist sex, hot against her leg.

Xena’s eyebrows lifted mischievously. She grasped the young woman’s wrists, gently guiding them over her head. One hand lightly held them in place while the other slowly unfastened her robe. She lovingly pulled back the silky material, exposing her lover’s breasts.

Her nipples were hard, ready. The warrior bent to take one in her mouth. Gabrielle’s eyes clouded with desire, but she struggled to speak. "I... I need..."

"Anything." Xena whispered. "Tell me."

"You… I want to make love to you." She released her hands and sat upright Her heart pounded in her chest until she thought it might burst.

"Gabrielle I..."

"Please... I want you so much."

Xena lowered herself into outstretched arms. The bard held her close, gently rolling her over. She could not take her eyes from the warrior, her warrior. Overcome with emotion, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed tenderly at her lover. How many lifetimes had she waited for this moment?

Gabrielle’s lips lovingly brushed the soft skin of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. Before she could recover, they were replaced by the heat of her young lover’s tongue. Xena groaned with pleasure.

Her hand traveled down the warrior’s side, slowly moving over the curve of her hip. Slowly, she ventured further, softly caressing the lips of her sex. Warm and slick, Gabrielle ran her fingers through Xena’s essence.

The warrior moaned, longing to feel Gabrielle inside her.

Gabrielle took the firm nipple into her mouth, sucking it in and out slowly. Her tongue rubbed lightly over the tip, making the nipple quiver. There was no urgency, only gentleness and love in her touch.

The tenderness she exhibited was beyond anything Xena had ever known. The warrior was overcome with emotion.

Shocked to hear the strong woman’s muffled cry, Gabrielle stopped.

"What is it?"

"I... need you...so much. I… I need your love."

"Oh, Xena." Gabrielle voice was choked with emotion. The warrior had opened her heart completely, showing what she believed to be her greatest weakness, what Gabrielle knew to be their greatest strength. She understood that it was infinitely more difficult for Xena to give of herself emotionally than to surrender physically.

"Let me love you."

The warrior looked up into a face so adoring that it took her breath away. All of the barriers she had erected to protect herself throughout her life crumbled. All doubts she had about her worthiness to be loved melted away. The love in the bard’s heart enveloped her, a timeless love, without end. Of all the people in the world Gabrielle could have chosen, she choose her. The bard loved her.

And suddenly, nothing else mattered. Nothing at all. The world receded. There was nothing but Gabrielle.

Their lips met in a tender union that communicated their love more than words ever could. The young woman's essence seemed to penetrate her very being. The warrior’s senses were awash with Gabrielle: her mouth, her tongue, her hands, her sighs. The bard was gentle beyond anything that Xena had ever known.

The warrior moaned deep inside her throat, unable to suppress her desire. The sweet sounds of her own excitement echoed in her mind. She arched against Gabrielle's fingers, urging them inside of her and lifted in invitation as they slid across her wetness. The young woman parted Xena's labia until only a shadow protected the very heart of her.

Tenderly, she lowered her mouth to her lover's center, sampling her sweet flavor, savoring the texture and warmth of her soft, heated flesh. Her lips sealed against the warrior’s sex as she created a steady, gentle suction. She circled the swollen nub with her tongue, closing in slowly , then lightly flicking the hardened tip.

Xena felt the blood raging inside of her, flooding her belly.

The bard pressed one finger just inside the warrior’s opening, experimenting. She thrilled at the velvety softness and gasped as the strong muscles pulled her deeper.

When Gabrielle came inside her, it was as if she caressed her very soul. The young woman moved in and out ever so gently, creating a delicious friction. Each time, her fingers moved deeper, gliding across her sensitized walls with incredible ease. Her movements remained steady and gentle, disregarding Xena’s rising desire. For this was not about passion, but love. The bard’s love for her warrior. Each stroke and every caress spoke of it. Xena gasped as it radiated throughout her body.

No lover had ever treated her with such care. Gabrielle’s love was evident in every movement, every touch, every word she uttered. It was her fantasy fulfilled.

For the warrior, the moment was mindless, there were no thoughts, no worries, no responsibilities, no past. She knew only of the bard’s love, filling her completely. And for the first time in her life Xena gave of herself completely. Her body hummed as glorious sensations coursed through her.

As Gabrielle felt her lover's crisis approach, she softly whispered. "Only you."

Without pause her lips closed around the warrior’s sex, her tongue lightly caressed the tip over and over. Xena arched her body helplessly, a small cry escaping. She gave herself totally to the orgasm. A torrent of sensations raced through her body. Her heart set pace with each surge of blood, until it seemed it might burst.

Explosions of light passed in front of her eyes and spasms shook her body as the orgasm claimed her. A crescendo, building inside, making her body tremble uncontrollably. She came, her climax crashing down and rushing over her. It seemed to go on and on, until her body had nothing left to give.

"Gabrielle." The warrior melted into her lover’s embrace and let the tears come. At long last, she knew what it was to be truly loved.

*****

Xena awoke to find the beautiful blonde smiling down at her with unabashed adoration. "I must be dreaming." She ran her fingers over her fair skin to confirm the young woman was real. Gabrielle brought the fingers to her lips, kissing them softly.

"I could make love to you for the next two thousand years and never get enough."

"Mmmm, I’d like to test that theory." Xena answered barely holding back a grin.

Gabrielle laughed and ran a finger over the upturned corners of her mouth. "It’s so right. Are you sure we never did this before? In another life, maybe?"

"I’m positive. Believe me, I would have remembered."

"How did I ever manage to keep my hands off you?" The bard’s finger playfully circled the warrior’s nipple which hardened on contact. "Every time I look at you, I want you all over again."

"Me too." Xena purred.

"Mmm, then don't stop looking." Gabrielle replied, her eyes gazing lovingly into endless blue.

"Gods" The warrior sighed.

"Gods?" The bard looked at her curiously.

"It’s just an expression."

"Like the Gods in mythology? Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite..."

"Those are the ones." She thought about explaining and changed her mind. "Don’t ask. It’s a long story."

"We never did have what could be called a normal life did we?"

Xena smiled. "I tend not to do things in a conventional way."

The bard smiled back. "I think I liked that about you."

"You did, huh?" Xena reached for her.

"Mmhmm." She playfully rolled away.

"I’m going to take a shower. Care to join me?" Xena’s eyes remained locked on her. She was a vision. Her naked young body glowed with vitality.

When Gabrielle reached the door she turned to her lover and smiled at the warrior’s lustful gaze.

"Well, you coming?"

"Just pausing to enjoy the view. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?"

"I think you are wearing rose colored glasses."

She frowned. "I have perfect vision."

The bard laughed. "Then you can see how excited you make me." Gabrielle teasingly faced her, then turned the corner into the bathroom. Xena was out of bed in a flash.

She opened the door to the large shower and stepped in. Gabrielle grinned and handed her a wash cloth.

"Will you do my back?" Without waiting for an answer, the young woman turned around, giving her an unobstructed view of her tight bottom.

Xena licked her lips and took a deep breath. "Okay... grab onto that bar in front of you."

The bard looked over her shoulder at her lover. "I think I’m capable of standing without holding on."

"If you say so."

The warrior dropped the wash cloth and lathered the sweet smelling soap through her fingers. She slowly caressed Gabrielle’s back then slid a slippery hand over her young lover’s hip and between her thighs, breathing hotly against her ear.

The bard’s legs went weak as Xena's fingers gently parted the lips of her swollen sex.

"Mmmm, you’re so soft," she whispered. Gabrielle groaned and grabbed the towel bar in front of her.

Xena purred in her ear. "That's it, hang on... tight." Two very slippery fingers slid against the sides of her enlarged clit. Her young lover’s breathing became labored as her hips rolled in encouragement. The fingers of her other hand teased the bard’s aching nipples mercilessly.

She molded her body against Gabrielle’s, her breasts pressing snugly against her back. She shifted slightly, positioning her thigh between the young woman’s legs, coaxing them farther apart. Immediately, the bard broadened her stance and Xena gently nipped her ear lobe in reward.

The warrior felt an exhilarating rush as the bard cried out in pleasure. She reveled in the feeling of her lover's skin as it grew fevered under her touch. Very slowly she descended between the lips of Gabrielle’s opening and pressed one finger gently against it, easing the tip of her finger inside. The bard was so hot , so exciting that it was all she could do to take her time. She longed to bury her fingers deep within her lover.

Suddenly Xena stilled.

"Ahh, don’t stop... I need to feel you inside me."

She pressed her free hand lightly to the bard’s mouth in warning. "Shhhh. I heard someone." Gabrielle stiffened and tried to calm her racing heart. Xena opened the shower door and quickly wrapped a towel around herself.

A male voice called from the other side of the door. "Gabrielle?"

It was Peter. Xena stepped toward the door. Gabrielle placed a hand on her arm to stop her.

"Please, let me handle this." She squeezed her shoulder in an effort to reassure her. The warrior reluctantly stepped aside. Her young lover put on her robe and slipped through the bathroom door, closing it behind her.

"Peter… I... I was in the shower."

He paced nervously back and forth. "I understand you’re not ready for marriage. That’s okay. I... I can wait. I just don’t understand this sudden change in you. It's her, isn't it?"

Gabrielle looked anxiously toward the bathroom door.

"She’s in there isn’t she?"

The bard stepped closer in an attempt to draw his attention away from the door. "Peter, why don’t you wait for me downstairs while I get dressed. We’ll take a walk and talk about this."

He ran his hands anxiously through his hair. "Is she fucking you?"

"Peter, please... This doesn’t have anything to do with her... it’s me. I... I’m sorry."

"Sorry my ass!" He kicked the wall hard. Xena burst from the bathroom.

"I think you better leave." Even clad in a wet towel, the warrior looked menacing. Gabrielle stepped between them.

"Gab, she has you brainwashed." He glared at Xena.

"Please Peter, I’ll meet you at Maple Grove Park." Her eyes implored him. He looked at her sadly and left.

The dark-haired woman cast her a worried glance. "I don’t trust him. Are you sure you should go? We only have a few hours before the portal closes."

"He’d never do anything to harm me. He’s hurt. I owe it to him to help him understand. I have to explain somehow."

The warrior’s instincts rebelled. "Gabrielle, I don’t know..."

"Xena, last night I remembered... I remembered Perdicus. I can’t leave it like this. This time, I have to make things right. Please understand."

"If that’s what you need, do it. I’ll wait for you as long as I can."

The bard hugged her tenderly.

She quickly dressed, then grabbed some money from her wallet and handed it to her. "Take a cab to the park."

Xena was reluctant to let her go alone. "Are you sure you’ll be all right?"

She smiled lightly and nodded. "Nothing will keep me from joining you. We’ll be together soon." She brushed the warrior’s lips with a feather light kiss.

Her heart sank as her young lover walked away, closing the door behind her.

*****

Gabrielle exited the cab and walked anxiously into the park. She spotted Peter sitting on a bench and sat beside him.

Peter glanced at her sheepishly. "I’m sorry about the way I behaved..."

"It’s okay. Forget it. I know how difficult this is."

"It’s just I... don’t trust her." He spat the words out bitterly.

"Don’t blame Xena. It’s me you should be angry with."

"I couldn’t be angry with you for long and you know it." He smiled weakly. "I’m worried about you."

"Peter I..."

"Wait, I need you to hear me out. The past few months I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I’ve decided to leave the force. I know it used to concern you. I..."

"Peter..." He rushed on.

"I’m tired of the violence. Tired of the death. I want a simpler life. One we could share together." He took her hand in his.

It was painfully clear to Gabrielle how wrong that life would be for her. She looked into his eyes. "Peter, our dreams, they’re different. I..."

"It’s her you want, isn’t it?"

"Yes... I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

"Gab, you hardly know her."

"But I do, I can’t explain it Peter, but I know her, like she’s a part of me." She met his eyes. "Do you believe in destiny? That things happen for a reason?"

"Are you asking me to believe she’s your destiny?"

"Yes." She squeezed his hand. "Peter, I know you care for me, but didn’t you ever feel something was missing between us?"

He shrugged. "I don’t know. What we have is nice. It’s comfortable."

"That’s not enough. Not enough for me... and certainly not enough for you. You deserve better. Somewhere out there is someone meant for you. If I stayed, I would only be keeping you from her. It’s not right. Not for either of us. If you search your heart I think you’ll see that."

"Does she love you that way?"

"Yes."

"How can you be so sure?"

Gabrielle looked into his eyes. "She holds me like her life depends on it… Peter, I’ve found my soul mate. I feel it... with all my heart."

He took a deep breath and glanced away. "I guess there’s nothing I can say then."

She shook her head sadly and bent to kiss him lightly on the cheek. "Peter, don’t stop looking. Yours is out there too."

He pulled away awkwardly. "Can I take you back?"

"No, I’ll walk from here."

"Gab, What are your plans?"

"I'm leaving with Xena."

"Where are you going?"

"Home… I’m going home." She smiled lightly and headed out of the park.

The sun was setting. Gabrielle walked briskly toward the other side of the park. As she approached the exit she spotted the alley. She hurried toward it, looking for Xena. The warrior was nowhere in sight. As she entered the narrow street she saw three dark figures in the back moving toward her.

*****

Peter sat on the bench contemplating his life. He thought about the things Gabrielle had said and wondered if she was right. Had been settling too? He had never really believed in the kind of head over heels love she spoke of. But maybe she had found it and if that was true, maybe he could too. As he started for his car a gunshot echoed across the park in the direction Gabrielle had gone.

He took off running.

*****

Xena stepped out of the cab and looked around for Gabrielle. There was no sign of her.

She turned toward the alley just as Peter stepped out of it, his face ashen. Something terrible had happened.

"Where is she?" The warrior’s voice had a hint of desperation.

"I... I don’t know. I... I found her jacket." He held up the white coat covered with blood.

Xena ran past him into the alley. She looked around anxiously. There was no sign of Gabrielle.

She went back to Peter. "Tell me everything! When did you see her last?"

"We went to the park, to sit and talk. I... wanted to give her a lift... I never should have let her go alone."

His hands shook as he held the bloody coat. His eyes were fixed on it as if in a trance.

Xena grabbed his arm. "What happened after that?"

He looked at her dully. "I sat on a bench and thought about what she had said. I... I was ready to leave when I heard a gunshot. I... ran toward it and found her jacket."

"Did you see anything in the alley? Anything at all?"

"No. It was empty."

"What about people, were there any people around?"

He stopped to think. "There were three guys that entered the park as I came out."

"Tell me what they looked like." He began to give her a description. Xena recognized them immediately as the men who had attacked her and Gert. Her heart sank.

"Which way were they headed?" Peter pointed and she took off running. He followed closely behind her.

She found them at the other side of the park.

The leader looked at her and laughed. "Hey, I didn’t think we’d ever see you again."

Xena glared at him. "If you don’t tell me what I need to know you’ll wish you never laid eyes on me. Where is she?"

He looked at her feigning innocence. "Who?"

"The blonde, from the alley."

"We haven’t seen any blonde. Have we guys?" Xena ripped the bloody jacket from Peter’s hand and tossed it at his feet.

He glanced at the jacket and smiled at his friends. "Rough neighborhood."

She was on him and an instant. Her hands gripping his throat. She glanced toward the other two men. "You’ve got thirty seconds to tell me where she is or he dies."

The thug to Peter’s right pulled a gun. Peter tackled him to the ground, knocking it out of his hand.

The leader was making choking sounds as Xena slowly cut of his air.

The third guy began talking, pointing an accusing finger at the guy on the ground "He’s the one. He shot her."

She released her hold on the leader and went after him, pulling him roughly to his feet. "Where is she?" The warrior snarled.

"We... we left her behind the dumpster." Her eyes were wild with anger. Peter had seen people snap and knew without a doubt that she intended to kill him. He moved to stop her.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the glint of metal. The leader had picked up the gun. Without a clear shot at Xena, he pointed the gun at Peter.

She lunged between them. The sound of the gun was deafening.

The three men took off running.

Peter stood in shock. Xena lay wounded on the ground before him.

Peter bent over her. She’d taken the bullet in the chest. He had seen a few in his career injured as severely, and none of them survived. He knelt down.

His eyes sought hers in confusion, unable to understand why she would risk her life to save him. "Why?"

The warrior tried to speak. He bent closer to hear her. "I never meant for you to die."

She coughed. Blood oozed from between her lips.

"Don’t try to talk."

"I love her... more than you could ever know." She took a labored breath. "I’m sorry."

He looked at her sadly. "I know. Lie still. I’m going for an ambulance."

She heard the sound of rushing hooves and turned her head.

A mounted officer approached them. Peter flashed his badge. "Call an ambulance." The officer quickly radioed for assistance.

Xena reached out her hand to Peter. He took it. She struggled to pull herself to her feet and leaned against him. Blood ran from her nose as she labored to breath. She looked up at the sky. A small sliver of the moon shone brightly.

"What happened here?" The female officer dismounted and walked toward them.

Xena took a step toward the horse. Clutching her chest, she teetered. The officer reached to catch her. With the last of her strength the warrior grabbed the saddle horn and mounted. She leaned into the horse’s neck and urged the mare forward.

Instinctively, the officer moved to lunge for her but Peter blocked her.

She ran the horse full out to the other side of the park, nothing but her iron will to keep her on the mare as she raced toward the portal. Every jarring movement was an agony. As she entered the alley the tear was clearly visible, shimmering in a surreal light. It was growing smaller, quickly closing in on itself. She slid off the horse, falling painfully to the asphalt. Tears of grief welled in her eyes as she envisioned her beloved Gabrielle. There was nothing she could do to help her now. One thought forced her on as she crawled slowly toward the portal: her promise, her last words to her daughter.

*****

The officer turned to Peter. "What do you think you’re doing? You let her take my horse!" She glared at him angrily.

Peter found himself looking into the most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen. For a moment he was speechless. "I'm sorry. She won't get far in her condition. We'll be able to catch up." He flashed her a gentle smile and held out his hand. "My name’s Peter, I’m with the 34th Precinct."

She lifted a curious brow. "So Peter, do you mind telling me what’s going on?"

******

Part VI

******

Xena felt grass beneath her. Her chest ached and she reached down to put pressure on the wound. It was gone. Not even the faintest blemish marred her skin.

She got to her feet and looked around. The woods were utterly quiet. The sky was bright blue. No exhaust smells assaulted her senses. She was home.

The warrior turned sadly and looked at where the portal had been. She dropped weakly to her knees.

And whispered Gabrielle’s name. Once again they were separated by time.

The sound of footfalls pulled her attention. A party of Amazons broke through the forest.

"Xena!?"

As the group fanned out, a single Amazon broke through the crowd running toward her.

"Gabrielle!?" The warrior could not believe her eyes as the young woman rushed into her arms. The bard hugged her tightly.

Xena ran her hands over her tenderly, praying it wasn’t a dream. Gabrielle felt the heat of Xena’s naked body against her.

"Solari, your cape." The Amazon tossed the cape to her queen. She draped it over her lover’s shoulders and pulled it closed. The warrior was oblivious to her nakedness. She was not able to take her eyes of the bard.

"How?"

"I went to the alley. I saw some men and hid behind a dumpster. There was a gunshot and they took off. I ran to the back of the alley, sure they had shot you. I found Gert dying. It was bad, there was nothing I could do for her. I knew the portal would close soon. I could see the north star in the sky. I… I couldn’t just leave her. So I dragged her through with me."

Gert stepped to the front of the Amazons, grinning.

The warrior smiled and shook her head. The old woman looked healthier than ever.

She pulled the young woman into her arms.

Gabrielle gazed at her lovingly. "I knew you would come. I’ve been waiting with the baby."

"Is she all right?"

"Perfect. I left her with the midwife."

Xena put her arm around the bard’s waist holding her close. "Let’s go get her."

*****

They sat back on the bed. The bard held the sleeping child.

"Gabrielle, about the baby. I... I didn’t tell you everything. I..."

The young woman smiled. "She’s ours."

"You know?"

"Artemis told me. But I think I’ve always known. That night I... I felt you inside me."

"I felt it too. I dreamed of you... of making love to you. When I woke up and realized it was only a dream, I was devastated. I... I was so jealous of Perdicus. I felt so guilty about what happened to him. I couldn't help wondering if I could have done something to save him. I never wanted him to die."

"I know, I felt guilty too. It helped talking it out with Peter. I did it right this time."

Xena thought of the bullet she'd taken for him. She stretched out beside Gabrielle and sighed. "I think we both did."

The warrior looked at her lover, her eyes traveled the length of her body, then settled on the young woman’s full, heavy breasts. They were noticeably larger.

She gave her a puzzled look. "You... you look different."

Gabrielle smiled. "A gift from Artemis."

Xena lifted a brow "How thoughtful."

The young mother laughed. "For the baby." She could see the passion in her lover's eyes and quickly changed the subject. "You should have seen the welcome I received when I first arrived."

"I can imagine." The warrior smiled, envisioning the naked bard. Gabrielle gave her a puzzled look and Xena added. "Well, you are their queen."

"It’s all so incredible, kind of overwhelming. Ephiny has been filling me in on all the details."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, she tells me that when the queen takes a consort there is a joining ritual."

Xena nibbled the soft skin at the base of Gabrielle’s neck, sending a shiver down her spine. "Mmhm."

The bard reluctantly pulled away. "So you intend to make an honest woman of me then?"

"Of course." She smiled and put her hand on the warrior’s stomach.

"I understand that the ceremony requires that we abstain until after our joining."

Xena sat up. "Apparently you haven’t got all your memories back yet."

"Oh?"

"Yes, or you would remember that I’m not very good with rules." She pulled Gabrielle close but the young woman was determined to continue.

"Let me get this straight. As queen, all the women who reside here are bound to do as I command."

"Yes."

"Without question?"

"Yes."

"And you my warrior, are you planning to live here with me and our daughter?"

Xena smiled. "Mmm, so it seems."

"That would make me your queen too."

The warrior eyed her suspiciously, but nodded.

"Then you're bound to follow my commands without question, too?"

"Well..."

She smiled playfully. "Bound to fulfill my every need."

Xena lifted an eyebrow.

"My every desire, to the best of your ability." Suddenly, the warrior was pleased with the direction their conversation had taken.

The young queen smiled. "I think I’m going to like it here."

"Gabrielle, I was thinking the same thing."

"Mmm, imagine that." Her look became more serious. "As queen I think it's important that I follow the rules, even if it mean’s waiting until after our joining to...."

Xena quickly interrupted. "It seems to me that you’re closing the barn door after the horse has run out."

"Well... technically, since we went back in time, what took place in the future hasn’t happen yet."

"I don’t like that theory." She watched the rise and fall of her lover’s ample breasts. Suddenly, her need was a very tangible thing. Past, present or future her body remembered Gabrielle and wanted her.

The warrior’s hand settled on the bard’s shoulder, her fingers caressing her lover's neck. Gently, she titled her head back and kissed her deeply, leaving no doubt about the flaws in the queen's theory. Her lips traced the line of Gabrielle’s jaw and whispered hotly in her ear.

"I know you want me. Listen to your body."

She struggled to reclaim her breath. "But, what about following my commands?"

"I think you’ll find that sometimes a Warrior Princess overrules an Amazon Queen."

"Ah, wait... I" The bard pulled away.

"As queen, it’s within your power to waive that rule." Xena’s eyes implored her.

Gabrielle looked at her teasingly. "I want to take a nice long bath and think this over."

Xena smiled mischievously. "I’ll help."

"Okay." She handed the warrior their sleeping child. "You can baby-sit." Temporarily defeated, she watched her go.

*****

Gabrielle entered the royal baths. In the center of the mammoth cave was a large oblong pool, twenty feet in length, sunk deep into the cave floor. The late afternoon sun streamed through a ten foot hole in the ceiling, bathing the interior in shadow and light. Small hollows carved in the walls housed thick candles that gave the room a sensual illumination. At the far end, water from a hot spring cascaded down the smooth stone wall, eventually draining into the pool. Steam curled throughout the room.

Flower petals floated on the water’s surface, their subtle fragrance filling the air. Gabrielle removed her cloak and walked down the stone steps to the water. She took a breath, closed her eyes and immersed herself in the soft scented water. An audible sigh escaped her lips as the luxurious heat enveloped her. The warmth penetrated her muscles, releasing all tension. She found herself wishing Xena was with her.

Steam rose from the surface in swirling clouds. At the edge of the pool she found a bowl filled with liquid soap and dipped her fingers into the creamy substance. She slowly lathered her skin, caressing her neck, shoulders, and breasts.

After she had finished, she ducked under the water, surfacing on the other side. Her body felt both relaxed and revitalized. She lay with her head back against the side of the tub, lips parted slightly, body cradled gently by the water, her pink breasts just breaking the surface. Floating almost effortlessly, she closed her eyes and thought of her warrior. Within moments she was dozing.

A far away noise woke her. Gabrielle opened her eyes and looked around the empty room. She froze in alarm when she saw faint ripples in the water at the end of the pool and was about to get out, when Xena surfaced near the center.

The warrior stood, exposing only the teasing curve of her breast. Her eyes reflected the candle light, giving her a predatory appearance. The young woman was mesmerized. She exuded a strength and sexuality that momentarily took her breath away.

"You aren't supposed to be here," she whispered.

Xena said nothing, instead she slowly inched forward.

Gabrielle swallowed hard and continued her protest. "It is against Amazon law to see the queen disrobed."

Her eyes slowly wandered over Gabrielle’s body as she continued to advance.

She felt her pulse quicken as her resolve weakened. "It's forbidden... to touch... the queen before the joining."

The warrior smiled wickedly. "Rules are made to be broken."

She felt Xena’s long fingers tighten around her ankles, lifting her body to the surface. Gabrielle floated weightlessly. She opened her mouth to protest... or consent, she wasn’t sure. Her mind was spinning. Only a gasp escaped her lips.

"I…"

The warrior applied gentle pressure, slowly spreading the queen’s legs. "Tonight, we play by my rules."

Gabrielle’s heart thudded loudly in her chest as she glimpsed the untamed side of the warrior, the side that fueled her fantasies. How could she refuse what she wanted so badly? Xena’s hands slowly traveled up each leg, coaxing them to part.

They did…

She caressed the inside of her thighs as she moved between the young woman’s outstretched limbs. "I want you... now, my queen."

Gabrielle closed her eyes as the warrior’s hands closed in on their goal. Her body flooded with desire. Xena’s fingers lightly caressed her labia, dancing over the delicate folds. Her body tingled, aroused and yet so completely relaxed that she was barely breathing.

The warrior bent forward and touched her lips to the hollow of the young woman’s hip. Gabrielle’s blood surged as she felt the heat of Xena’s tongue against her sensitive skin. The intimate contact was electric.

She drew in her breath, her body awash with sensation. Their eyes met as the warrior's skilled tongue explored the curve of her hipbone, moving seductively toward the mound of curly blonde hair.

She shivered.

The warrior pushed her legs down into the water and slid in close against her. Her eyes sparked with desire as their bodies melted into one another. Gabrielle’s skin burned at her touch.

Strong hands reached for her. Xena kissed the bard deeply, her tongue teasing as it explored. She sighed with pleasure, relishing the sweet taste of her young lover’s mouth.

Gabrielle wrapped her arms around the warrior’s broad shoulders, pulling her in tight. Their bodies slid against each other in the steamy wetness, Xena's firm breasts rubbing against the bard’s soft fuller ones. She explored every inch of the young woman's body, caressing every curve.

The young woman’s hands moved to discover the smoothed muscled torso of her partner; the strength of her back, legs and arms... both women drowning in sensation.

The warrior arched against Gabrielle’s body in encouragement. She kissed the creamy skin of the bard’s graceful neck, descending to her collarbone and then down to the tips of her erect nipples, firm as pebbles. Cupping a sensitive breast, She massaged its fullness, gently milking it. Gabrielle was suffused with heat. She moaned as a warm trickle of fluid escape the tip. Xena bent forward to catch it on her tongue. She suckled gently, then harder as the young woman arched into her mouth. Gabrielle’s body became liquid, flowing both from her nipple and her center. She writhed in pleasure.

The warrior's thumb and forefinger imprisoned her neglected nipple. She felt it grow taller, harder and lifted her mouth to give it equal attention, capturing the sensitive point. She sucked hard, hungrily feeding on her lover. Gabrielle arched toward her as she continued the pleasurable suction, wanting it to go on forever. Xena had other plans and released her, kissing the tip.

"Oh, God..." She moaned.

The urgency in her voice heightened the warrior’s passion. Beneath the water Xena felt her own sex respond, as fiery liquid escaped from between her legs. She closed her eyes as ripples of desire washed over her. The warrior's hunger twisted inside. Her thirst unbearable. She bent to drink from her once again. Her tongue flicked over the tip of Gabrielle’s nipple before her mouth greedily claimed it. She suckled her lover, causing her to cry out as she drew from her.

The queen's hands gripped tightly to the stones at the edge of the pool. She gasped desperately for air. Xena slowly eased up , lightly touching her lips to the tip of the tortured nipple in a tender caress.

The young woman's face was the perfect expression of rapture. The warrior threaded her fingers through Gabrielle’s wet hair and kissed her passionately, leaving her weak. She lay weightless, on the surface of the water. Xena slid one arm under the small of her back, lifting her hips out of the water. Effortlessly she guided the young woman’s open sex into her mouth.

The groan that escaped Gabrielle's throat was primal. Her golden hair moved like flames in the water.

Xena stroked her gently, savoring her taste and texture. She eased her tongue into her entrance, pushing deep.

The queen's body came alive. She arched into the warrior's mouth, daring her to take what was forbidden. Xena’s tongue retreated. Her lips spread in a smile against the young woman's sex.

Gabrielle struggled to catch her breath. "Inside... please. I need to feel you."

Slowly Xena raised her head. Her eyes locked with Gabrielle’s and in a sensual demonstration she slid her finger over her lip, across her sharp teeth and into the moist recesses of her mouth. The young woman threw her head back and groaned.

She was on fire, her expression a mix of torment and passion. Without warning, Xena removed her finger and pressed it gently between the open lips of Gabrielle’s sex. The bard’s body thrust forward in pleasure, giving her entry.

"Oh... yes... more."

Betrayed by her excitement, the warrior’s hand trembled as the slick wetness of her lover surrounded her finger. Gabrielle’s muscles contracted around her, pulling her in. Xena could barely restrain herself. Her desire to thrust deep within was overpowering. She took a long breath and slowly slid a second finger inside as her lover’s walls relaxed around her.

Gabrielle moaned in pleasure.

Regaining her composure, Xena withdrew from her lover’s slippery opening and teased the sensitive skin surrounding it. Gabrielle watched helplessly.

Soon, the warrior’s mouth sought out her sex. The sensation of Xena’s tongue as it swirled playfully around the very heart of her was mind shattering. The queen cried out, no longer caring about rules.

The warrior's attention was fully focused on Gabrielle’s throbbing sex. Her tongue captured every drop of her lover’s nectar as her fingers slowly glided in and out. No longer able to resist, the warrior thrust into the depths of her lover, then stilled, pressing lightly against the sensitive place deep within. The bard's body went ridged and trembled in response. Her breath came in quick gasps.

Xena tenderly stroked the responsive flesh with the very tip of her finger, while her tongue caressed Gabrielle’s swollen nub. The young woman was nearly delirious with pleasure as her blood rushed to her sex in a wave of heat.

The queen let out her breath in a long moan.

She arched desperately into Xena’s mouth as her body contracted around the warrior’s fingers, tensing and expanding with orgasmic pleasure. Her muscles flexed as she released, pumping again and again in spasms of pleasure. Her scream filled the room. Xena stayed against her, lightly pressing her tongue against Gabrielle’s clit, coaxing each spasm from her.

The warrior rose slowly from between her young lover’s open legs, sliding her fingers from Gabrielle’s hot sheath. The slippery juices coating them gleamed in the candle light. Xena looked in wonder at the spent woman she held in her arms.

Instinctively Gabrielle wrapped her legs around the stronger woman and drifted in the steamy water. The warrior waited patiently for her lover to recover. As her breathing calmed, she looked lovingly at the warrior. "You took me so high... I..."

Xena whispered into her ear, "I've only begun."

Gabrielle’s heart skipped at beat.

"I want it all... everything your body has to give."

She pulled her in for a torrid kiss, so intense that when she finally released her, The bard nearly swooned. Her head dropped back weakly, exposing her neck. The warrior’s mouth fell upon the tender flesh of her throat, pulling it into her mouth. The burning pleasure of her persistent suckling excited Gabrielle beyond control. Her blunt fingernails raked at the warrior's back, driving her on. She breathed heavily, lost in sensation, all thoughts forgotten. There was only the warrior’s ravenous mouth.

Xena was marking her, laying claim to her body, a symbol all would see and none would question. When the warrior finally released her, the skin of Gabrielle’s neck tingled with sensation. She wanted more. In a frenzy of need, she pulled the warrior in for a heated kiss. Xena made no attempt to hold back or disguise her desire. Her kiss was consuming and the bard returned it with equal passion, feeding off the warrior’s lust.

Xena swept the smaller woman up into her arms and carried her to the smooth stone steps ascending from the pool. Half way up she set her down. Gabrielle sat submerged up to her shoulders in the warm water, entranced by the dark goddess before her. She lifted the young woman’s hands above her head to a large iron ring embedded in the top stair and pressed them against the warm wet metal.

"Hold on tight." She whispered. The sultry voice sent a shiver through her. Gabrielle obeyed without question. Her eyes flashing with desire.

Xena smiled and stepped back. "I need both my hands free."

She leaned forward and brushed her lips to Gabrielle’s. Playfully, she grasped the young woman’s lower lip in her teeth. The bard moaned, encouraging the much-needed connection. Xena released her and stepped back. Her gaze devouring the younger woman, piercing her very core.

"I’m going to take you... again... and again... and again." She whispered. Gabrielle trembled, a slave to her own desire. She ached for Xena’s touch.

When at last it came, she was not prepared for her body’s powerful reaction. The warrior's fingers sparked tiny electrical explosions as they glided over her skin. The bard's sex pulsed wildly as her body writhed under skillful caress.

Xena held Gabrielle’s body just above the water and positioned herself between the young woman's legs.

Her palm pressed gently against her mound, stoking the fire within. The bard was so highly sensitized that the light contact made her clit spasm. Sensing her internal stirrings, the warrior lovingly stroked her. Gabrielle melted under her caress. Her eyes hooded with passion.

She was climbing, her pleasure building. Yet, her orgasm floated just beyond reach. In an effort to bring it forth more quickly, she raised her hips. It was a silent plea for the warrior to slip her long fingers between her moist folds.

Xena knew the light contact was not enough to stimulate her lover to climax, yet she continued to gently caress her mound. The warrior was infinitely patient and extremely skilled. A slow, sensual arousal was crucial in preparing her lover’s body for the marathon of pleasure she had planned. If executed properly, Gabrielle would climax several times in close succession before her body gave out.

Xena was keenly aware of the subtle changes in her lover: the flush of her skin, the rhythm of her breathing. Gradually, her gentle ministrations drew Gabrielle’s hot blood to her center. She parted her lover's swollen lips and found her more than ready to progress.

The bard moaned at the sweet sensation. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her weightless limbs. Every nerve in her body was focused on the warrior’s touch, awaiting her next move. Xena's mouth opened on the queen's center. Her lips rimmed the edges of her clit, teasing but never touching. It was ecstasy.

When Gabrielle cried out, the warrior smiled and wrapped her warm lips around her swollen nub. She sucked, gently pulling, lips tightening and releasing as her tongue teased the tip, coaxing her pleasure. Her senses sizzled.

The young woman trembled as her excitement grew. She was cresting, the waves of pleasure taking her higher and higher, her climax rapidly approaching. She could feel it growing deep inside, refusing to be contained. She screamed as it broke loose, spreading through her with a powerful urgency. Tumbling into a vortex of sensation, she exploded. Her fingers grasped the ring above her head, clenching and unclenching in spasms of release. The room was spinning. Her body shuddered violently as Xena held her close.

Slowly Gabrielle came back to her senses, enveloped in the afterglow. Her eyes lovingly focused on the beautiful woman before her. The warrior smiled down at her and ran her finger across her lover’s taut stomach, circling in sensual patterns. The bard's skin tingled at her touch. Her sex still highly sensitized from her last two climaxes. Xena's thumbs gently pressed into her lower abdomen, the skillful massage designed to coax her spent body to life. Gabrielle looked at her helplessly.

"I can’t... I"

"Oh but you can... and you will."

She slid a finger between her lips, past her clitoris, coating the long digit with Gabrielle’s creamy nectar. The young woman cried out at the gentle contact. But the warrior did not remain. She slid past her entrance and between her firm cheeks touching her most intimate place.

Gabrielle stiffened taken off guard by Xena’s action. The tip of the warrior’s finger stroked the delicate membrane one time, then pressed against the reluctant opening.

"Pleeease." Xena coaxed.

Gabrielle’s heart hammered. A fear of the forbidden welled inside. The tip of the warrior’s finger moved against the tight opening, persistent in it’s caress. Each touch sent chills through the young woman. There was a lure in surrendering so completely to her lover, giving to her what she had never given another.

Yet, a part of her held back, unable to relax. Sensing her dilemma, Xena grazed the bard's nipple with her tongue. She gasped as it tightened in pleasure, still sore from her last encounter with the warrior’s aggressive mouth. Her lips closed delicately around the erect flesh and she drank from Gabrielle's endless font. The young woman moaned in pleasure. Her attention fully focused on the delicious pulling sensation .

As she exhaled, Xena felt the tight ring her finger rested against relax. She pushed inside to the first knuckle. The young woman’s muscles tightened around the intruding finger and she gasped at the invasion. There was an uncomfortable pressure as the warrior’s finger teased it’s way inside. Xena continued to suckle Gabrielle’s breast as she slowly spiraled within her.

The sensations rushing through her breast were incredible but the bard could not focus on anything but the slow entry of the warrior’s finger. It combed her sensitive walls, arousing nerve endings Gabrielle didn’t know she had. Each screamed with sensation, causing her mild discomfort to give way to pleasure. She wanted more, longed to reach the heights the warrior’s attentions promised.

Xena shifted her attention to her other breast, causing her lover to cry out, her tongue manipulating her tender nipple in the most pleasing way. The young woman’s body was humming.

All the while, the warrior’s finger continued it’s advance, her soft elastic walls slowly giving way. Her finger twirled and pushed deeper in rhythmic movements designed to relax and open her lover.

Gabrielle felt deliciously stretched.

Xena slowly withdrew to the edge of the tight ring. There was a sense of relief, then loss. Almost immediately she longed to feel the pressure again. The warrior pressed almost fully inside. The incredible sensation shattered all remaining barriers.

"Yesss," Gabrielle breathed.

With one word, she granted her permission. She was Xena’s to pleasure.

The warrior drew Gabrielle’s nipple deep into her mouth. At the same time she slid two fingers of her other hand past the moist folds of her vagina, entering her smoothly.

She moaned in ecstasy. Even her most vivid imaginings had not prepared her for the hunger that filled her soul. She held back nothing, resisted nothing. The pleasure of being filled so completely made her nearly delirious. Her muscles pulsed hungrily. Everywhere fingers searched her, probing and thrusting. The continual movement inside her caused a tumult of sensations

The warrior’s hands controlled her utterly. Pumping heat into her quivering body. The thin membrane separating the two channels tingled as Xena’s fingers caressed both sides, creating a roller coaster of sensation.

The warrior’s actions unraveled her down to her core. The steady pulling came from everywhere and seemed designed to empty her. It was as if she intended for Gabrielle to take her into herself, in the ultimate union. She boiled with heat. Her body arched and bucked.

Her chest heaved as she drew in air. The queen's cries came in bursts. "Oh God... Oh God...."

Every muscle in her body strained to pull Xena in as the warrior's fingers took turns pumping in and pulling out. Her body ached for release and the warrior's thumb moved to give it to her, stroking the tight bundle of nerves in a tender caress that demanded her climax.

Gabrielle's hips froze. She could not withstand the sensations welling up inside. She lost all control as ecstasy overtook her. Time stopped. Her body vibrated with energy as her pleasure came crashing down upon her, unstoppable, her muscles tensing and untensing around Xena's fingers as the orgasm engulfed her. Her climax bubbled to the surface in a series of jarring explosions. Thousands of nerve endings came to life as her entire body pulsed to the beat of her heart.

Slowing now, Xena caressed the pleasure through Gabrielle’s body, taking her toward a deeper satisfaction. She spoke in soothing tones and stilled her fingers, waiting for her lover's body to calm.

The bard moaned softly, too weak to speak, her belly swimming in warmth. Xena remained inside her as the young woman lay spent on the waters surface. When Gabrielle's breathing calmed, she slipped her fingers free. The motion causing one final wave of contractions. The bard inhaled sharply. Exhausted she drifted into a deep sleep.

The warrior lifted her from the water and placed her on the thick fur rug. She lovingly toweled her dry and laid down beside her, holding her close. Xena stroked her sleeping lover’s soft hair while she watched the red glow of the setting sun overhead.

*****

All too soon, it was time to return to the village. Gabrielle stirred only momentarily as Xena got up to dress. The warrior collected the young woman's cloak and gently pulled it around her naked form. Effortlessly she lifted her into her arms.

The bard nuzzled her face into the crook of Xena's shoulder and murmured contentedly against her skin. The warrior held her close as she carried her home, enjoying the pleasant sensation of the young woman's body pressed to hers.

The village was quiet. The evening activity had wound down.

Ephiny stood in the doorway of her hut watching the warrior approach, carrying her mate. They caught each others eyes and the regent thought for a moment that she saw Xena smile. The warrior stopped along side her.

"Beautiful evening." Xena said. Her tone hushed.

"Yes."

"Thanks for watching the baby. I hope she wasn't any trouble."

Ephiny couldn't resist teasing the warrior. "No, sleeping soundly, just like her mother."

Xena’s eyes twinkled shyly. The regent found it endearing. "Looks like you made the most out of your quiet time." Ephiny grinned. "You may need to work a little on her stamina."

"It’s not her stamina I’m worried about." The warrior replied, smiling lightly.

The regent looked at her seriously. "I never thought you could do it… find her and bring her back."

"There were moments I doubted it too. I only hope I can do right... by them both."

"Now that… I have no doubts about. I’ve never seen her so happy and who could blame her. It must feel wonderful, knowing you're loved so very much."

Xena nodded. For the first time in her life she too knew what is was to be loved. She felt her lover’s lips move against her skin and turned to make her way to their hut. "I'll be back for the baby after I put Gabrielle to bed."

"I’ll follow you, save you the trip."

She nudged the door to their hut with her shoulder and carefully laid Gabrielle on their bed.

Ephiny handed the baby to the warrior and waved good-bye closing the door behind her.

The absence of her lover’s body heat caused the young woman to stir. She looked up sleepily. "Xena? The baby, is she okay?" The warrior handed her the sleeping bundle and Gabrielle held her gently in her arms.

Xena stripped off her clothes and climbed into bed. "Go back to sleep. Everything’s fine." She pulled the bard to her and sighed contentedly.

In the quite of their hut Gabrielle laid with her head on Xena’s chest, their daughter sleeping peacefully in her embrace. She thought about the life she left behind and had no regrets. All she ever wanted from her career in medicine was to help people. Here her knowledge could really make a difference.

Gabrielle felt Xena's arms tighten protectively around her and their child. She sighed contentedly and snuggled against the warrior. Within minutes she was peacefully asleep.

Xena felt her partner’s breathing change as she drifted into slumber. Tears born of a happiness welled in her blue eyes. All was well in her world. She held on to her small family and whispered a silent prayer of thanks to Artemis and Aphrodite.

The end

I welcome comments or constructive criticism. mailto:wlw@penn.com

……………………………..

Started 5-98/Finished 11-98

Copyrighted November 1998 by Friction.

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