Big warning! You really need to read Stranger Paths and Return to Reality before you read this! There are plot lines and emotions dealt with herein that may seem strong but will make sense if you read or even re-read the stories. Hey, I am just being truthful to the characters. So run, run, run girls (Yes I called you that, but not to your faces). I'll be here when you get back. I Promise!

Dis is da main claimers: I can't tell you loudly or strongly enough; OH how I WISH that Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrene, Jan, Mel, Ephiny, etc...belonged to me, but they don't. What a harem I would have if they did. And that would be a good thing! Yeeeehaw! Anyhoo, they belong to Renpics, MCA, Universal. Candace, Taylor, Skye and Terra are mine I tell you! MINE! Ahem! Sorry. I am out of the money for this. Ah well. Maybe one day. There is an NC-17 warning for most of my stories. Women make a ton of love in them. Hey, with 4 sets of them how can we get away from it? Better yet, why on earth would we want to? Just thought I'd ask. If you are offended by the thought of women talking about and performing acts of a sexual nature, good heavens don't read this or anything I write! Especially "Love in an Elevator" (shameless plug) it's packed with nothing but, well, sex and more sex. If you are under 18 you shouldn't be reading this at all! I don't have a PG version sorry. If this is illegal where you live, I am so very sorry, but you can't read this either. Well, maybe you CAN but you shouldn't.

Dis is da language claimer: On occasion they use a bad word or two. Well, Janice uses as many as she can as quickly as she can. Be watching for that.

*Dis is da Violence claimer*: There are disturbing events depicted in this installment. If you are disturbed by depictions of torture or rape, though not graphic (mostly just hinted at), please don't read this.

Dis is da Spoilers claimer: They pop up all over for every single season. If you don't want to know don't read this.

Special thanks to Kimmy for being my sounding board and all around plot catalyst. You the bomb, sistah friend!

I really like feed back! It makes me feel as if I am doing this for a reason other than to hear myself talk. Or type. Or laugh. Find me at UgoXena@aol.com. Thanks for reading.

©2000kg

Part 5

 Candace awoke slowly, lifted out of her dreams by a very comfortable warmth against her back. She was wrapped up in safe and secure arms. It was the same feeling she experienced everyday when she awoke. The feeling was somehow different this time and her groggy mind couldn't quite grasp what was so peculiar about it. As she shifted in and out of the conscious realm, her thoughts drifted to the night before and the hilarious conversation the three of them had enjoyed. It then hit her like a hammer who it was that had such a death grip on her. Green eyes flew open and she awoke completely to find the blonde head of her friend tucked gently against her back. Gabrielle's right arm was gripped across her waist and the other was under the pillow beneath Candace's head. She thought for a moment and then decided it wasn't all that bad. She had woken up in more unpleasant ways in the past. She sunk back into the cuddle for a few extra minutes of sleep. It wasn't very much longer before a soft knock came at the door.

"Come in." She spoke in nothing more than a loud whisper.

Xena's dark head poked through the door and smiled at Candace and the regent returned it.

"Hey, fancy face. How ya doin'. " She looked around the room for a second. "Where's my wife?"

"She would be drooling on my back at the moment." Candace nodded in the direction of the royal drooler at her back.

"I do not drool." She grasped Candace tighter and put her head deeper into the covers. "I really don't want to get up."

"Honey, you say that everyday. And everyday you do it. So there's no reason to complain is there?"

Her muffled voice snuck out from behind her friend, "Please, Xe. Just a few more minutes." If she had whined any more pathetically it really would have called for cheese.

Candace rolled her royal eyes and wondered if she really was related to the woman behind her. "Humor her or we'll never hear the end of it."

Xena laughed and nodded. The warrior turned and went to prepare the horses for travel.

Candace started to get up but was prevented by the strong arm gripping her. "Uh Gab. You can let go now."

"Nope. You're comfortable and if Xe ain't here you're staying."

The singer thought for a minute and tried to dispute the logic in Gabrielle's thinking but found that she didn't want to. She was comfortable and if it meant that she got to stay in bed a little while longer she was game. She put her head back on the pillow and fell asleep in the cocoon of warmth Gabrielle had wrapped around them.

What seemed like mere minutes later there was another knock at the door and this time Xena entered without invitation. "Alright kids! Time to get up! Amira has breakfast ready and the horses are packed. Let's go! Let's go! Daylights a burnin'." With that said she exited and left the three women alone.

"Did you catch all that?" Candace grumbled into the air.

"Something about Amira packing horses for breakfast in the daylight......I think."

"Excuse me Miss Gabrielle?"

"Yeah."

"Is she always like that? 'Cause if she is, I don't care if she's an Owner or not, I am going to kill her." Skye stretched and sat up running a small hand through her wayward hair.

The two blonde Regents laughed with their scratchy voices and Gabrielle released Candace so they could sit up as well.

"You can voice your displeasure with her later, sweetie. I would appreciate that you not do away with her, however. I am kind of fond of the way she looks." Gabrielle grinned and rubbed her eyes.

"Yes, ma'am. I'll do my best."

"Thanks. Candace, you can sleep in my bed anytime. You make a great pillow."

"Great. I'll tell Xena. I'm sure she won't mind."

"Taylor either! Oh My Gods! Can you imagine their faces." The two women and Skye broke up laughing again. Another knock came at the door.

"Come in." A trio of voice answered and they cracked up all over again.

Taylor's dark head stuck itself in this time. Her sheepish attitude made them aware that it was not her idea to interrupt the slumber of the group. She noted that they were all awake and stepped in fully.

"Uh hi. Now don't get mad at me OK?" She looked for sympathy from her partner and the others. She noted she wasn't getting a single bit. She breathed deeply and presented the message. "Xena says for you to get your blonde little selves downstairs or she's coming up to get you."

"And.....?" Gab knew her wife and that the message was being edited.

"And she would hate to have to sling you over her shoulder and carry you down in front of all the patrons of the inn."

"Sling me over her shoulder? Humm. I'd really like to see her try. And what about you, Taylor? What are you supposed to do with Candace?" She gave the firefighter her best raised eyebrow and stared at her.

"Love her all up and down?" She knew the way to her lover's heart.

Candace grinned and leapt from the bed practically skipping to the door. She threw her arms around her lover. "Good answer, sweetheart! Good morning!" She kissed Taylor soundly on the lips.

"Good morning my love. Did you sleep OK?" Blue eyes took in the sight of her life's companion and she grinned inside. There weren't enough words in the world to describe the emotion she felt for the woman in her arms.

"Except for the drool on my back, I had a great night. Well, except I missed you." She was captured by sapphire eyes and couldn't help but kiss Taylor again. She really loved this tall firefighter.

Taylor's apprehension about the entire situation was fading quickly. "You did, huh? I missed you, too" She placed a quick kiss on her nose. "Honey, why do you have drool on your back?"

"I do not drool!" Gabrielle was adamant. "Ya know. After eight years of marriage you two won't act like that."

"Probably not. But then, we're not married." Candace smiled at her lover and gave her a squeeze.

"That can be arranged ya know." The regent thought for a minute. "I think it would be fun. What do you say?" Gabrielle was going to get to the tall woman no matter what.

Taylor's eyes widened to the largest size Candace had ever seen. *Deer in the headlights again.* She shook her head and laughed. "Tay, don't let her tease you. I love you. You love me. It's all good. Besides you have to be an Amazon to marry a regent." She stuck her tongue out at Gabrielle.

"Yeah. It's all good." Taylor gave a Gabrielle a look of suspicion and spoke to her wife again. "We really need to get going, babe. I'll meet you downstairs with breakfast in hand. Bye Gabrielle, Skye." She nodded in the direction of the young woman and flashed at her the famous grin that melted hearts then turned and walked out.

The young woman blushed and returned the grin. Skye had watched the exchange with great interest. The love between the two women was tangible and she was envious. Even in the controlled environment she had been raised in she had always craved that kind of deep connection with a person that truly loved her. But was she worthy of that love was the question in her mind. Gabrielle had said some very kind things to her and she would never forget the words, but letting them take root in her being was a different story all together. She didn't feel the truth of the words she only heard them. She pulled her small frame out of the bed and shook out the thoughts that were scrambling through her semi-foggy brain. Terra's face came to her mind and she smiled at the thought of seeing her friend this morning. After the interesting education she had gotten last night she wasn't all that sure she could face her. She was beginning to see the tall protector in a new light and she wasn't sure she could handle the emotions raging through her. In the Colonies it was necessary to suppress all emotions that were what were considered unnecessary for slaves. It seemed it had been most of them. They lived as robots. Now she was free to feel and those feelings were gushing up and oozing out of her. There was no way for her to stop them. She was thinking she didn't want to.

"SKYE! Yo! Sister!" Candace had been trying to get the girl's attention for the last few minutes.

Skye jumped. "What?"

"Are you in there?"

Candace was kind in her voice and the girl sighed. "Yes, Miss Candace. I'm sorry. I was just thinking about having to see Terra this morning. After what we talked about I am a little scared to see her."

Candace pulled on her boots and crossed the room to put a secure arm around her ancestor. "We didn't tell you those things so that you would be afraid. There should be no fear in love. I know you're not accustomed to dealing with all of these new emotions running free through your body, so if you have any problems or any questions, come get one of us. We are here to help you. Come on, get dressed and meet us down stairs. Now if you will excuse me, I gotta pee like a race horse." She squeezed Skye and tripped out of the room.

"Miss Gabrielle?"

"Yes, Miss Skye?"

"How do you know Miss Candace? I mean if she is from the future and I am from the future, and you're here, well?" The girl threw her shirt over her head then pulled her pants on lacing them up tight.

"Skye, that is a very long story. I think we will have plenty of time to talk about that as we travel. For now let's just say we have some very interesting things in common. She is my very closest friend in all the world. We know each other inside and out. Literally." Gabrielle grabbed her sais and slid them into her boots. She pulled her pack up off the floor and laced the strap securely.

"Are you in love with her?" Skye pulled her boots up and stood watching the regent with soulful eyes.

Gabrielle stopped what she was doing and raised a questioning eyebrow. "Well, that's an interesting question. I probably love her more than anyone except Xena. That's because I know her heart. Her very heart." The regent stood in contemplation for a long while over the question. Candace was as much a part of who she was as anyone. "So, yeah I guess I am. But not in the way you think."

"I thought so." She left it at that and exited the room.

Gabrielle stared after the young woman for long moments. "Huh." It was all she could think to say.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Four rather grouchy Amazons had met up with the band of travelers and the ragtag group was getting instructions from Xena when Gabrielle exited the inn.

"And do not, I repeat, Do Not wander off by yourself. If you go anywhere tell someone. That goes for you as well, your Highnesses. Especially you two!"

The two Highnesses started to protest when they were stopped by a controlling hand.

"There are too many bad guys out there that would love to get their hands on either one of you. They will know that royalty is in the group because of our less than obvious escort." She nodded at the Amazon guard. "I'm not taking any chances. Especially since we don't know what's really going on yet. Agreed?"

Two golden heads nodded at the leader of their group and agreed. "We all ride for now. Terra you ride with Candace so you can safeguard her if need be. Skye you're with Taylor." The girl smiled at Taylor who gave her a wink.

The Amazons looked at Terra but said nothing. They resented the position that Terra had been assigned, but arguing with either of them was going to get them nowhere. Terra had proven herself more than able to defend the Regent with or with out weapons.

"Excuse me Xena, is there an extra sword around here anywhere? I feel a little naked without one."

Xena thought for a moment and then gave Candace a quick nod. "All of your personal effects are here I think. Toris, can you take Candace to the storage real quick see if you can find the crate? I totally forgot. This will only take a minute. Anyone else think they need a weapon?"

"I'll take some nunchakas if you have them." Taylor looked expectantly at the ex-warlord.

"Not sure what those are, Junior." Xena squinted her eyes in the bright sunlight and gazed over at Taylor.

"It's OK I'll make some. They are heavy wooden or metal dowels attached with a chain or a rope at the ends." She wasn't sure how she felt about Xena using nicknames for her. Was she being endearing or was it so she wouldn't have to use her name? She chose to believe the former. Xena didn't seem to dislike her, especially after the discussion they had shared the night before.

"I think I have seen something similar. Can be deadly, and they're compact. Good choice. Here take this for now." She pulled something out of her saddlebag and tossed it in Taylor's direction.

The fire fighter caught the pouch deftly. She removed the object and examined it closely. It was a rope chain maybe three quarters of a meter long with solid weights on the end. Her eyes lit up at the feel of the weapon. "Manriki chain. Awesome. Thanks."

"You know how to use that?" Xena was a tad surprised. She had expected the firefighter to give her the "I don't get this." Look. She was wrong.

"Ohhh yeah."

The warrior smiled in approval. "You can use that until we get you some of those nunchucki things made for you. Deal?"

Blue eyes shined at Taylor and she understood in part the effect she herself had on people. "Deal."

Xena turned to the Amazons and gave them direction. "Reece, you and Linna take point. Giva, Nona you have the rear."

"Your Highness, I was thinking that we may want to send Giva and Nona ahead to the village to inform Commander Julisa of our delayed arrival. They may worry and send out troops to look for us."

"Good idea. Do it." Xena nodded and the two Amazons took off. "Reece, you want point?"

The lieutenant nodded and directed her comrade to the rear guard.

Candace returned with her sword strapped across her back and her travel guitar in hand. Taylor raised her eyebrow and smiled. "Music! Very cool!"

"Thought you might be happy about that, my love." Candace handed the instrument to Terra and mounted her horse. Terra handed the instrument back to Candace and leapt up behind her with little effort and situating herself in the saddle. She had no weapon to carry but didn't really need one as was evidenced last night.

"Everyone have everything they need? Anyone need to go to the bathroom? No? Good let's get out of here."

The band traveled quietly for several hours, enjoying the scenery and the fresh air. The two Martians were in awe of the nature around them. It went on for miles and miles. Greenery as far as they could see or imagine.

Skye wrapped her arms around Taylor and put her head down in the broad back. She wasn't sure how she felt about this whole experience. She knew it felt wonderful and peaceful. She didn't think she had ever known a true moment of peace in her whole life. Fear was the controlling undercurrent of every minute of every hour of her life. As slaves, they never knew when an Owner would take their frustration, anger, or lust out on one of them. As far as she knew Terra had never suffered the lust of an owner in spite of her incredible beauty. The Owners all knew who and what Terra was, and her best guess was that they had no desire to test her skills in that fashion. Too intimate. Skye did know of the violence that had been perpetrated on her friend. She had been witness to some of the beatings that Terra had suffered. They had been ruthless in their punishment of the slave. Skye thought they were more brutal with Terra than others because they knew they couldn't violate her in any other way. Skye shook her head and erased the disturbing thoughts form her mind.

"You OK back there, Miss Skye?" Taylor's resonant voice brought a new sense of relief to the blonde.

"Yes, Miss Taylor. I was just thinking."

"Care to share?"

"Share with you?" She was surprised again by the kindness of her new friends. Taylor wanted to know about her.

"Well I seem to be the only one talking to you so I would have to say yes."

"Alright. I was thinking about Terra."

"Surprise." Taylor's sarcastic whisper was ignored by the young woman.

"I was remembering the times that she was beaten for no reason. An Owner would just cuff her up and whip and torture her for hours. It was awful." She shuddered again as the horrid thoughts and images invaded her mind.

"Skye, do you mean to tell me they made you watch that?" Taylor couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Yes, ma'am. Sometimes they would bring her to wherever I was just to make me observe what they were doing. Then, when they had finished beating her, they would tie her up in a chair and let her watch while they..........." A small whimper slipped out of the girl. She couldn't say it.

"Hey, hey. Hold on tight to me. Real tight! That's good. Skye, you don't need to tell me any more." *Good God!* What they had done to these poor girls was beyond imagination. If she had ever had to watch Candace violated in anyway, someone would die one way or the other. Poor Terra.

"I just feel so bad. You know, Dirty. All the time, like I can't get clean enough. That is one reason I don't think I could ever give to Terra the things that Candace and Gabrielle talked to me about last night. I am not worthy to be loved like that. And she saw, Miss Taylor. She saw everything." Silent tears were falling. What Terra must think of her she couldn't begin to fathom.

Xena had been right about the content of the conversation among the three golden haired women. Taylor nodded and shook her head. *She's good.* "Skye, what happened to you is not your fault. You understand that don't you?"

"I hear the words, but I can't help but think that I made it happen in some way." She sighed heavily. She had been over and over this in her mind. She was a slave. She had had no choices and yet she felt guilt. Mostly because of Terra. Terra had seen her taken time and again; surely she wouldn't want her after seeing that. She was damaged in ways Terra could never imagine. Her heart was breaking over it. She brushed an errant tear away and held on just a little tighter to her protector. Taylor patted Skye's hands and let the subject drop.

"Junior!" Xena called back to the firefighter.

"Yes'm?" Taylor decided it was an OK name after all.

"Come up here and keep me company for a bit. I want to show you a few things." Xena nodded to the spot beside her.

Taylor and the soon to be snoozing Skye joined their leader at the front of the train. The firefighter was about to get a crash course on battle tactics and defensive postures when confronted in different situations. She was fascinated and amazed that the ex-warlord would share these secrets with her.

While Xena and Taylor discussed fighting and battles, Candace, Gabrielle and Terra were discussing love and its tactics.

"So Terra, did you have an enjoyable evening?" Gabrielle gave Candace a knowing look and it was returned with a vengeance.

"Yes, ma'am. It was.....educational." She blushed and Gabrielle took note.

"I see. And what did you learn about?"

"Sex." Terra was as matter of fact as she could be in her response.

Candace coughed and looked at her friend who tried hard not to laugh. "Uh huh. And what was it that you learned."

"Miss Gabrielle, I learned a lot and I really don't want to go into it again. Except for the flowers. I didn't get that part."

"Ho ho! Good job Xena!" Gabrielle was very proud of her wife. Yes indeed, she had trained her warrior well.

Xena looked back at them with a questioning glance. They waved to her and smiled. She returned the smile and shrugged. Women were strange creatures.

"What they meant by flowers was that if you love someone and you want them to know it, giving them flowers is a good way to do that." Candace hoped some of what the warriors had imparted to their new friend last night contained a modicum of wisdom.

"I see. And the kissing. We kind of skipped over that in favor of breasts and such. I see that you and Taylor kiss quite a bit. What does it mean? I mean, how does it feel. I mean. Well, I don't know what I mean." The girl was dejected.

Gabrielle rode up next to them so that she could speak softly without the rest of the group listening in. "Kissing is very special. It is in my opinion the most intimate of acts. You take into yourself the very life essence of another. It seals a profession of desire to love and cherish the one with whom you share it."

Terra was silent and it was obvious that she was sifting the information into something she could understand. Gabrielle and that bardic grammar again.

Candace felt her thinking. "Terra, this is it, bottom line. Don't kiss her unless you intend to hold her heart in your hands." She paused and let the words sink in. "Skye's love is a very special and a fragile thing. You must hold her so close and so dear that there will never be any question in her mind of how you feel for her. She loves you so much that if she ever had reason to doubt you it would crush her soul."

These were words Terra understood. "Miss Candace, I love her so much it hurts sometimes. I would never dream of hurting her. There has been too much of that already. I've seen it first hand and I swear if we have to go back I'll kill all the Owners if I have to just keep her safe."

Candace and Gabrielle both looked at each other and frowned. Gabrielle spoke up first. "Terra, what do you mean you've seen it first hand?"

The young woman hesitated. It wasn't her place to speak of Skye without her knowledge. She dropped her head. "They made me watch." It was all she could say, but it was more than enough.

"Oh my God, Terra! WHY?" Candace was shocked to say the very least.

"They hated me because they knew they couldn't touch me without risking death, so they beat me and then....well. Then."

"But why Skye? Why not someone else, or no one at all?" The regent was in a state of disbelief.

"Miss Gabrielle, I don't know. It was only us. The rest of the slaves NEVER saw or watched anything. Sure there were other pleasure slaves, but it was all kept very private with them."

"Sounds like a personal attack." Candace was working things out in her head.

"Yeah. Almost like they knew who they were. Or should I say what they were." Regent Gabrielle was joining in on the deduction.

"Are you beginning to smell anything?" The small warrior squinted in the way that her best friend did and ground her teeth.

"Yeah! A big ol' rat!" Gabrielle was NOT happy. If they were right this whole thing focused on the family line of Xena and Gabrielle. And that spelled Ares.

"I thought as much. That bastard!" Candace was as upset as her co-regent. This didn't sit well with her at all. She had never dealt with Ares but hated him for what he had done to her in the past. Lucky for him it had all worked out in the end.

"We'll need to talk to Xe about this. If we're right, this whole mess is bigger than we thought. I can't wait to see Xe's face. Hoooo boy are we in for a pleasant night." Gabrielle glanced at the trees around her and then up to the impossibly blue sky above them. It was funny. Skye's name was the same color of her loves eyes. *Wonder if she knows.*

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Two Amazon warriors rode hard to the perimeter of their land. Having given the sign, they were allowed to pass in to the compound. Giva and Nona handed their steeds over to the caregiver and Giva ran to find her commander. Nona was off to report to the queen. It wasn't long before Giva found Julisa in the midst of a heated debate with a shorter older woman. Giva had never seen her before but her features were unmistakable. *Yes, Amazons. We have four Gabrielle's.*

"Excuse me commander." She stood and waited to be recognized.

"Caesar has no clue what in the hell he's doing. It swear it will kill him in the end."

"Granted, Janice, I have no love for the man, but he knows how to rule. Look at what he's done."

"Fuckin' conquering the world yeah! But it's too much. I tell you it'll be Julie's down fall."

Jules laughed at the name. "If you say so Doctor." She turned to her soldier. "Good to see you back safe, Giva. I take it that Xena and Gabrielle are here."

"Not exactly, Commander." She looked straight on into the jade green eyes that she so adored.

"Not exactly isn't the right answer, Corporal. Care to try again?" Jules stood to her full height towering over the not so small Amazon.

"Commander, Reece and Linna are traveling with them. We came ahead so you would not be concerned by their late arrival."

At that moment a very tall graceful woman joined them and Giva about dropped her jaw. *This is weird. Either that or I'm going crazy. There's a possibility.*

"Hi ya sweets. How's your love life?" Jan grasped the tall woman around the waist and grinned up at her partner with total adoration.

"It is........" She leaned down to the smaller woman's ear and whispered.

Janice's eyelids drooped slightly and she blushed. "I am glad to here that. We'll have to do further investigation into those scrolls and see what else you may find interesting."

Jules smiled at them and hoped that one day she would enjoy that kind of love. "Melinda, it is pleasant to see you." She nodded and it was returned.

Jules looked back to her officer. "Why will they be arriving late?"

Giva shook her head and returned her attention to her superior officer. "It really is very interesting. Candace is with them."

"Candace! Short blonde Candace?" Jan was getting excited. This was turning into an adventure.

"Yes ma'am and a very tall woman that looks exactly like Xena. Well, except she had shorter hair. Her name I think is Taylor."

"Taylah. Of course. They would both be heah if we ah. I look foward to seein' them." Mel loved the two women as if they were her own. She was more that looking forward to seeing them .She was excited.

"That's not all. They have two more women with them. Much younger but the same thing. Skye looks like Gabrielle. Terra looks like Xena. They are from the future as well. I didn't get a chance to get the whole story. We were...we got our. Terra knocked the......you see......It was like this..."

"Do you have a report, Corporal?" Jules smiled at the woman. She had always thought that she was very attractive and it was unprofessional to think so right now. She didn't care. Giva had long blonde hair that curled in all the right places. Like right across her more than ample cleavage. *Artemis help me.* Her eyes wandered and she tried to stop them, but they didn't listen. Suddenly she was climbing mountains and didn't even have a rope.

Giva noted the admiration she was receiving and flipped her hair back so that her Commander could get a better view. She had had the hugest crush on this strong woman for the longest time. If she could dazzle her with her body, one day she might realize that she had a brain to go along with it. Her dark blue eyes sparkled when Jules finally looked up. *Bingo! You are mine.*

"Yes ma'am. The report is that Terra, the young woman traveling with them, tossed us around like we were ragdolls and Xena sent us to bed without supper for it. Because of that we didn't get to get details."

Jules was surprised at the account. "For what reason did she do this...tossing." She shook her head. Reece, Giva and the others were some of her best.

"Reece tried to touch Gabrielle." Julisa's eyes turned dark and anger started to rise. "No it's OK. It was not threatening or anything, just on her elbow. Terra laid Reece out so fast I didn't even see her move. We drew swords and the next thing I know I'm crashing across a table watching Linna fly over my head. It really was amazing. Xena was impressed and you know she's gotta be really impressed to tell you so."

"I'll have to have a talk with Reece when they arrive. For now, ask Cyrene if she will prepare some places for our guests. OK here's a problem. Who is the Regent?"

Janice piped up. "If you ask my opinion, and I know you're not, I'd say both. Candace was first and received it directly from Trèsha. She didn't die so she never lost it by death. Did council ever vote her out of office?"

"No. We had no need. She wasn't here any longer. She was just gone. Gods, it was awful. Don't take me wrong, I love Gabrielle, but Candace saved my daughter and she was a dear friend. When she left she took a part of my heart with her and I really thought Mik would never get over it. Fortunately, Gabrielle knew sign and it helped a little. When Gabrielle and Xena left the village it had been one more blow." Jules didn't think that her daughter would ever survive the loss of her friend and mentor let alone Gabrielle and Xena. But she had and Mik was a strong young teenager now who worked very hard for the survival of the Amazon nation.

"Seems to me you have two regents." Janice smiled at the thought of seeing her friend in her position as Regent. It would be a true study.

"It would seem so. We need to set another one of the huts up as a royal residence. Please have Kimi help you with that. She is in charge of Royal Protocol now. She'll know what to do." She smiled at the blonde and sparks seemed to fly.

"Very well. Is that all Commander?" She still stood at attention but her body language was screaming seduction.

"Um yes. Uh NO! Well, yes." This wasn't going well at all. *Yeah right! Supreme Commander of the 'I don't know how to ask a girl out on a date' army. Loser.*

Janice and Mel looked at each other with and then grinned at the two women. Young love was so sweet.

"Is it 'yes' or is it 'no', Commander?" Giva was confused in a very pleased with herself kind of way.

"It's no. Umm. I ah....do you.. well I mean are you....yes...are you. Damn!" Jules took a very deep breath. "Giva, will you have dinner with me this evening?"

"Yes, Commander. I'd like that very much." *Yesyesyesyes! Pow baby!* She was still at attention. She was impressed with her self-control.

"Giva I don't mean like a 'friend' kind of dinner or a Commander to her subordinate 'how are things with the troops' type of dinner. I mean "dinner"."

"I understood that Commander. And I would still love to." She smiled sweetly and Jules knew she was in trouble.

"Really? I mean great. I will have Wendi escort you to my quarters this evening. Is this acceptable?"

"More than, Commander. Thank you. I look forward to spending time with you. Until then." She nodded and walked away with a gate that could swing.

"Oh my." Jules was suddenly nervous. "What did I just do?"

"Seems to me Commandah, that you asked a vera lovely lady to dine with you this evenin'. Nicely done. She is....hot."

"Am I ready for this again?" She was breathing a little fast and was worried as to what she would do when the actual time for the date arrived. Pass out was her best guess.

"Ya must be sport or you wouldn't have asked her." Janice smiled at the very tall commander. "Besides, you're kinda hot yourself."

Julisa smiled with a slight laugh. "Yeah that's me. Almost thirty two seasons old with a teenage daughter. Hot I am."

"Give yourself credit. She likes you and not just a little." The doctor had seen the chemistry between the two and if mixed in just the right quantities it was going to be explosive.

"It seems we are about to get an influx of guests. As Giva said, this is bound to be interesting."

"Yes. I believe you ah correct. Jan, shall we return to the library? It would seem ouah situation has just turned into a puzzle. One I am dyin' to put together. "

"And this has nothing to do with the instructional scrolls, right?"

"Not yet." The tall woman smiled at them both and strode away.

"Ain't she somethin'" Janice smiled after her spouse and sigh. "All these years and she still controls my heart."

"Doctor, you are the lucky one."

"Ain't I just!"

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

The firelight cast flickering shadows across the faces of the quiet group. No one wanted to bring a worse mood down on the head of the small clan. Xena's eyes had burned with profound loathing for all things Gods. She knew with a fierce knowledge that Candace and Gabrielle were right. The hatred and torture that had been poured out on their bloodline had been savage. She would have her revenge she just wasn't sure at this point what to do about it. All the emotions that she was experiencing due to the appearance of the four women were taking their toll as well. Her heart was warring with her head and there were few options left to her, so she left camp and took it and other things out on the trees around her.

"She'll be back, Skye." Gabrielle held the small woman close to her chest and rocked her gently.

When the two regents had told the ex-warlord of their suspicions, Xena had thought it all over carefully and then she had lost her temper in a very frightening way. It was almost never that she became violent in her reactions to anything, but this had been different and it had frightened Skye. Terra was upset as well but hid her fear well. Seeing the fright of the young women, Gabrielle had yelled angrily at Xena that, "if she wanted to destroy things to take it somewhere else" and her own anger hadn't helped matters.

Candace stood to her feet slowly. "I'm gonna go find her." The small blonde turned and began to exit the camp.

Taylor began to stand to stop her but she was refrained by a gentle hand. Taylor looked down into the incredible green eyes of Gabrielle. "I need to get her, Gab."

"No, Taylor. Let her go. I know why you want to stop her and you have nothing to worry about."

"But, she's her wife." She wasn't liking this one bit. It was one thing for them to be together again, it was totally another to have it be alone in the woods.

"Possibly, but I am her wife first and foremost. Trust her Taylor. She needs that more than anything from you."

The firefighter sat down next to the two blondes and waited.

Candace walked quietly through deep green foliage until she found the warrior sitting on a stump with her sword resting between her knees. She knew that Xena could sense her presence but she approached her slowly anyway.

"Hey, Xe?"

The warrior was silent. Candace stood next to her and placed a soft hand on the broad shoulder.

"I know you don't want to talk, but I think maybe you need to. I have known you warrior and I have never seen you that pissed off before. What's up?" She made sure there was a light quality to her voice. The last thing they needed was a grouchy Xena in their midst. Senar's death was bad enough, now this.

"Bet your glad you didn't stay married to me for the rest of your life, huh? With a temper like that." The dark warrior shook her head.

Candace frowned at the comment. Where was this coming from? She realized that the outburst from her friend was more than it appeared. "I would never say or think a thing like that, Xena. If it weren't for Taylor, I'd be begging you to take me back." There was a slight pause. "Would you?"

"I think Gabrielle might have a little say in that, but you know I would. I made promises to you, a vow. I make sure that I keep my promises."

"That's nice to know but certainly don't let those emotions of yours get in involved anywhere, OK." Candace smiled hoping her sarcasm wouldn't offend Xena. The great warrior before her had such a sense of duty it was an interesting study in Xenaology.

"Candace, I still love you, damn it and I think I will forever. I didn't realize how I felt until I saw you again. Taylor is a good woman and I am glad that she is able to take care of you and make you happy, but this hurts and I have to admit that. You know I thought I had dealt with all of this and moved on. Now you're here and I hurt inside all over again." Xena bowed her head. "Please know that I love my wife endlessly. We fit and belong together, for some reason that is not making this easier."

Candace took a deep breath. This was not at all what she had expected from Xena, even remotely. She ran an absentminded finger across the dark bangs that tumbled down Xena's forehead. And then caressed her cheek. Xena looked into the green eyes that she had lost years ago but haunted her now.

"Xena, when I lost you, I thought I was going to die. I had Taylor to love and support me through it and even then I cried at night for missing you and Gabrielle. You see I lost two loves at once. One that loved me and kept me safe on the inside and the one that was my Champion and my lover on the outside. It's not easy for me either, Xe. I love Taylor, heart and soul, but there is still a big piece of you in there, and yeah, there always will be. I love you, Xena." She bent and kissed the beautiful woman softly on the lips and walked away.

Xena watched her go while a very silent tear fell directly from her heart onto the underbrush. She whispered after her, "I love you too, little one."

The anger that had built in her guts abated somewhat but the guilt was jumping up and down on her shoulders. She was the cause for all the pain and suffering that the girls had gone through and now she realized she was still in love with her former wife. It was not the same impassioned love that she had for the bard but it was love none the less. She knew she had to talk with her wife about it but wasn't sure how to do that. And now the thing with Ares. Well, most likely Ares. None of the other Gods had ever paid her enough attention for them to warrant a second thought. Her unwillingness to succumb to the wishes of the War God had caused the anguish Terra and Skye had gone through.

Xena heard the steps of another approaching her and she knew it was Gabrielle. She waited until the bard found her. What she could say to the woman that was her soulmate she couldn't begin to guess.

"Hey there, warrior. Is there room for two here?" Gabrielle walked tentatively up to her wife.

"There's always room for you, my love." She meant what she said. Her soul belonged to the bard.

"Candace sent me out here." Gabrielle took in the form of her strong lover. She knew what Xena was going through and it wasn't all trouble with the Gods. Xena was very adept at hiding her feelings for the most part, but when they hit the surface it was no holds barred.

Xena eyes smiled ever if she didn’t. "Oh she did, did she."

Gabrielle sat next to Xena on the stump and didn't say a word for long moments. She gazed around at the trees that stood strong and sturdy in the woods that she loved. Her eyes caught a fallen log that looked like a whale. She stared at it and let her mind empty. "So Xe, do you want to tell me what's going on?"

The dark-haired woman's heart was pounding a new rhythm and her hands started to sweat. "I wouldn't know where to start."

"How about with what you're feeling right now. This very moment. We've done it before. Remember?"

"Yeah. I feel the same now as I did then. I hurt inside. I love you so much it scares me sometimes that I might lose you again. Do you know that?" She turned soft blue eyes to her love.

"I love you just that much as well, Xena. So tell me what's bothering you. I know that the discussion we had about our theory angered you, but that little display you put on was a little out of character, even for you. So?"

"So," Honesty. All Gabrielle had ever asked of her was her honesty. If she had only known what she was asking. "I am having trouble dealing with seeing Candace again. I thought I was handling it when I was really just avoiding it. Please understand I love you OK?"

Gabrielle placed a soft hand on her lovers back. "Xena, I know you love me. I have never nor will I ever doubt that. You love her, don't you." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Xena didn't even look at her. She put her thumbnail in her mouth and looked at the ground. Gabrielle stroked her hair and she felt the guilt rise up in her like a deluge. Her head bowed and she was speechless. She couldn't lie. She cleared her throat. "Yeah."

"And you think I don't know this?" Gabrielle voice was soft and filled with understanding. Xena looked at her in obvious surprise. "Xena, I am not stupid and neither are you. You had no reason to ever fall out of love with her; just like you had no reason to ever fall out of love with me. You didn't did you?" She gave her a teasing nudge.

Xena grinned sheepishly with her head still down. "No. Course not."

"I can't expect this not to affect you. Please, don't ever think you are being unfaithful to me or our love. I was there when you fell in love with her. Remember? I chose her for you and on top of that I know her love for you was very real and very strong. It probably still is on some levels. If it makes you feel any better, I love her, too. Probably not in the same way but it's still powerful. We lived with each other for almost four seasons. I had no reason to ever not feel deeply about her and you are in the same boat. It's OK for you to have those feelings. Well, I should say it's OK with me. I am sure Taylor might have issues."

"Ya think?" Xena laughed.

"Yeah, I think. Don't let this eat you alive, Xe. It's gotta be hard watching them. Sounds strange coming from me, but damn it, I'm jealous for you. For us. We both lost her."

"I'm not jealous. I am glad that Aph and Arte kept their end. I just wish somehow things could have been different. Don't ask me how. I don't know. But she brought me you, didn't she? We owe her big time." She thought for a minute and then came to a realization. "So many emotions over one little slip of a nothing girl."

"You called her a girl." Gabrielle couldn't help but point it out.

Xena smiled at the comment. "But not to her face. Sweetheart, you know I never really thought about you having lost anything. But you lost a more intimate connection than even you and I have. You were in her, with her. How lonely you must have felt when she left. And I was so busy doing the poor me that I forgot about you." She put her strong arms around the blonde woman and kissed her head. "I'm so sorry."

Tears threatened to brim in the bard's eyes as she remembered the emptiness in her being when Candace had been taken from her. Her other half had been ripped out of her and she was alone with her own thoughts again. It sure was quiet. She laughed at her thoughts.

"I am glad you are finding something amusing here." Xena pulled her wife closer to her. The sun had set completely and a slight chill was filling the glade.

"It's just that it can get very quiet in here some days." She tapped her head.

Xena looked at her and a thousand smart remarks came to mind but none would reach her lips. "Well, babe, she's here now and you two can talk each others ear off."

"But what happens when she leaves, Xe? Can we handle it?"

"As long as we get to say good-bye this time."

"Don't even go there." It was the last thing she wanted to think about.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Candace returned to the site with more wood in hand and a very heavy heart. This was not going well at all. Taylor saw the look on her lover's face and knew immediately the heart of her partner was breaking. She gathered the wood from Candace's arms and laid it next to the rest of the pile.

The firefighter took her small hand and led her a small distance away. She gathered her up and the tears began. They had been through this in the past, more times than she could count. This time was different however in that the cause of the singers pain was very much here and very much real. She could get angry, but that was not the way to deal with any of this.

"Come sit with me, OK?" She sat on the ground and directed the smaller woman to sit on her lap. Candace complied with the request and buried her head in Taylor's neck.

"I'm so sorry, Tay."

"You know something, I'd be very surprised if you didn't have a problem with all of this. I know you well enough to know that you love very deeply. At least for my sake I pray to God you do. Plus, I know the story here. You were ripped away from the women you held most dear without so much as a 'see you later'. I am betting that Xena is dealing with the same feelings right this minute. Am I right?" She felt the affirmative nod against her shoulder. "I thought so. And she told you, right?" Another nod. Taylor was silent while she absorbed the confirmation of her fears. What to do with this information was eating at her. What had Gabrielle said? *She needs my trust more than anything.* "Candace, you are my life and I need you to know that your happiness means the world to me. Please know that if you felt the need to pursue this, I would have no choice but to let you." Candace started to object. "Let me finish. I trust though that you won't do that. I trust your love for me. What I am saying is that I love you enough to let you go, but I know you won't."

Green eyes caught the love that was held in the blue only for her and she owned it. "No my love. I won't. Ever." Candace leaned in and kissed the one that was created for her alone. It was deep and passionate without doubt or pretense. Long moments later the kiss broke and the two settled against each other.

"Cand, I need to go talk with Xena." She looked at Taylor with doubt in her eyes. "It's OK. I am not mad at her and she needs to know I trust her as well. She has got to know I know. Ya know?"

"Yeah, I know. Go on. We'll have dinner cooking." She kissed Taylor again and the tall woman took off in the direction she had seen Gabrielle walk.

Candace looked over to where she had last seen Skye and found her held sweetly in the arms of Terra, both sound asleep. Travel will do that.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Xena and Gabrielle heard the footsteps of the approaching firefighter and looked warily at each other and then back in the direction of the footsteps. Taylor entered the clearing and gave them a small grin.

"Hey guys. This looks like the place for long talks tonight." Taylor walked gently to the seated women.

"That it is, Junior. What's on your mind?" *Please, don't make this harder than it is, Taylor.*

"Can we talk alone, Xe?" She looked pleadingly at Gabrielle who smiled at her and nodded.

Xena looked at Gabrielle who patted her leg. "It's alright, love. I have to get dinner started anyway. You girls have a good talk. And yes I did! Right to your faces. Don't be too long." She kissed Xena and then left the two blue eyed warriors looking at each other.

"So Taylor."

So, Xena." The quiet was almost deafening. "Look, I have a few things I need to say to you." She stepped closer to the seated woman and took a cleansing breath.

Xena nodded. *Here it comes.*

"I know how you feel about Candace. Can't say as I blame you. More important though is I know how she feels about us."

That got the Warrior Princess's attention. She looked up sharply at Taylor who stood her ground when all her instincts told her to run.

"Oh? And how is that?" Xena really wasn't sure where this was going.

"She loves us both. There is no getting around it or under or even over it. And it's alright. It has to be." She thought some more over the words she really wanted to say. She had never been the best at expressing herself and now was the most important time she had ever needed to. "Xena, what I am trying to say here is don't try to stop loving her. If you did that to her she would die all over again. She needs you to support her and I need you to do that as well. This is all so different for me that I can't do it without you and neither can she. I trust that you would never try to do anything to hurt Gabrielle or Candace or me for that matter." She stopped and thought some more. "I am really trying to say something here and it's just not coming out right. Here it is. This is it. Don't avoid her. Don't not talk to her. Don't avoid touching or hugging her. Xena, she needs you. Not in the same way she needs me, but she does. Please don't take that away from her." That was the best she could do.

Xena gazed up at the woman who was her twin for long moments, stunned by the words spoken to her. "Taylor, you are more than worthy of the love she has for you."

"Sometimes I wonder. One other thing. Know this, that I trust you with her life and that is as much as one person can trust another." She was dead serious in her words and Xena vowed then and there to never let her down.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

The two tall women returned from the glade all in one piece much to the delight of their traveling companions. Taylor found the kind face of her lover and smiled. She approached her with determination and Candace knew that look. She was about to be kissed and kissed well. She smiled in anticipation. Taylor swept her into her arms in a dancing position. She put her right arm securely around the blondes waist and gently took her right hand in her left.

"What are you doing, ya nut." Candace laughed and Taylor swore it was the sweetest sound she had ever heard.

Taylor nuzzled her neck and dipped her. "I'm dancing with you. And now..." She planted her lips on Candace's neck causing a surprised giggle to escape and the singer bent her chin toward her shoulder. "Now is that any way to react?"

"It tickled." She laughed.

"Ah. Well, try this on for size. She placed her lips as close to her lover's as she could. "I love you, Candace."

"Mmmmm." Candace closed the small space between them. She tasted the sweet lips slowly savoring ever nuance of Taylor's mouth on hers. She felt Taylor's tongue brush a small trail along her bottom lip and she parted the opening allowing the precious invasion. Their tongues danced as they did as well to music the in their hearts.

Gabrielle grinned largely at them and grasped her warrior around the waist. "I don't know what you said, my love, but it worked."

"It wasn't anything I said. It was her heart that said it all." Xena bent to her wife and stared deeply into her endlessly green eyes. "I belong to you Gabrielle and I love you, always."

"You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that." Her hand found it's way around Xena's neck and she pulled the tall warrior closer to her and whispered in her ear. "I want you so bad I am aching." She smiled sweetly and watched the reaction of her wife play across the strong features.

Xena's blue eyes closed as she saw in her minds eye the features of her spouse floating above her. She looked so good naked. Xena cleared er throat and opened her eyes. "Well, hold that thought until tomorrow. I promise to show you a good time."

"You had better." She kissed Xena softly at first and then it turned serious.

Terra had observed all the interactions between the women and wondered at the unusual dynamics. The kissing however, was something she understood. These four women adored their spouses and each other. It was an experience she was beginning to grasp. She and Skye were to become a part of the bigger picture she just wasn't sure what that meant. Blue eyes regarded the sleeping woman in her arms. She knew one thing for sure and that was that she understood the love that each couple possessed. She felt the same for the blonde that she held. Terra bent to her and placed a small kiss on her forehead. Skye stirred in her arms and opened her eyes to look at her. There were no words in this life or the next to convey the emotions that rang through both of them. If Terra felt she could hold this woman's heart, now was the time to declare it. Without speaking she did just that. Slowly she bent to Skye and paused waiting for an objection. When none came she closed the distance between them.

Skye tilted her head slightly to meet the dark-haired woman. Her heart raced with the knowledge that Terra was going to kiss her. When she did the fear abated totally and her heart exploded in joy. The sweetest lips touched hers and she melted into the embrace.

In spite of the fact that neither one of them was an expert in the area of kissing they did just fine. Terra had observed the four women and had gotten enough instruction from Xena and Taylor that her trepidation was almost non-existent. Terra ran a small trail with her tongue gently along Skye's lips. To her surprise and great delight Skye understood the signal and returned it with a quick flick of her own tongue across the tip of Terra's. Instinct carried a low moan from the throat of the tall woman and she pulled Skye tighter to her. Their mouths slowly and gently discovered the sweetness of kissing the one you love.

Two couples stood a distance away with bright smiles plastered across their faces. There was nothing better in the world than watching soulmates fall in love.

=/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

To be continued......

Continued - Part 6

Return to The Bard's Corner - Kandis Glasgow