By Kandis Glasgow

Disclaimers: Xena, Gabrielle, Mel and Jan aren't mine. The story line and concepts as such are mine. If I see one more thing from my stories on the show, I swear someone is going to lose an eye! Candace, Taylor, Terra and Skye are mine. They like me being their owner and I don't loan them out. They can be rented, however. I don't make money for this. I sometimes wish I did, but that's a whole other Oprah. No, Oprah doesn't belong to me.

Sexy Disclaimer: "Wanna come up and see my etchings?"

Rude disclaimer: "What? Did your mother do your hair?"

Colorblind disclaimer: "You can't really think that shirt looks good with those pants."

Duh disclaimer: "I need a price check on aisle 6." "Really it had one when I picked it up. Really it did."

DMV disclaimer: "Take a number."

Confused disclaimer: "Do they all have coffee breaks at the same time?"

Government Disclaimer: "Yep."

Post Office Disclaimer: See DMV disclaimer.

SEX: Uh huh. It's right there in your face yummy, hot, wet...ahem...yes, there is sex. It is between women of the same general age. Not that that matters really. If this is illegal where you live come, visit me and you can read it at my house. If you are too young to read this, I'm not surprised as it is written at an eighth grade level after all. You might want to have a few more years of school under your belt before you try to tackle this. So out you go. The fresh air will do you good.

Violence: Could happen. If it does, don't read it if it disgusts you. Judy thought my pliers incident was too much for her, so this might get on your nerves.

Language: Yep. Jan is colorful, isn't she?

Before we begin there is one item of business that I must attend to. It seems that there is confusion as to the butch cards and how one earns or attains them. Well, here is the first portion of the manual. Assisted by Txfoto and Slherrin. I scored really low (-17) because I am not as butch as I used to be.

Butch cards are issued with the lesbian starter kits. If you have to ask how to get one, you don't really need one now do you? If you must know, you will either gain or lose cards depending on these factors.

Carry wallet in back pocket: +1

Carrying a purse or a large billfold: -2

Open doors for girls: +1 Being a girl -8

Pulling out the chair: +1

Commenting on the nice material on the chair: -3 plus you just may be a gay male.

Order for date: +1

Letting her order you a salad: -2

Drive a truck (not Ranger): +1.

Driving a Ranger: -1 (No, I don't care how butch you are!)

Playing Rugby: +1, +4 extra awards for scoring three tries

Hooking a rug: -1

Putting shrimp on the Barbie: +1

Playing with Barbie ever in your life: -1

Martial Arts: +2 , +1 attaining next belt level. Black belts get +4. (HA I get 8 for this)

Arts and crafts: -2 (I lose 2 right here)

Piercing other than ears, nose, or belly button: +1

Piercing stares at women who look better than you: -2

Tattoo's not dolphin, fairies, flowers: +2 for really butch or on the forearm, +1 for average butch, +1 For dolphins, -1 for cartoon characters other than Taz, -2 for Roses

Successful upkeep of car without injury: (Not pumping gas or adding oil.) +1

Injury while trying to perform car upkeep: -3 (I am losing quickly), -5 if you have to go to the ER for said injury. (Ummm -5 more)

Drink beer from a bottle: +1

Drinking wine is NOT butch, especially the pink! -4 ( I'm not counting any more)

Rodeo is butch: +2, + 4 if it's bull riding

Hanging on the butch bull riders: -2

Watching football other than your home team: +1

Waving your hands in the air like a nut and saying, "That was good, right?" while watching sports of any kind: -2

Fire building skills are butch, lighting a match doesn't count: +1

Building a fire in your lovers loins by wearing Lingerie (while good, still not butch): -2

Fire fighting is butch big time (I have goose bumps!): +4

Being a nurse while a wonderful profession and I appreciate them all is not very butch: -2

Being a cop. Another very butch thing: +3

Being arrested for stealing Victoria's Secret Bras:-2 (no I haven't been, but it's not butch)

Shooting of either firearms or arrows: +2

Shooting 'the look' at your lover for her saying the wrong thing: -2

The military: +2 for Marines. +4 for SEALS.

National Guard doesn't count: 0

Body Building/heavy weights: +2

Step Aerobics is not! -4

Kick boxing is: +1

Tae Bo is not: -1 (Yes, I have done it and I don't care how hard it is! Not butch!)

Chains on your wallet: +1

Flowers on your billfold: -1

Power tool usage:+1 (even I have power tools!) (ohh you mean the other kind....never mind.)

Wondering what a Sawsall is: -2

BBQ'ing: +1 .

Baking cookies: -1

Boxers are butch: +1

Silk jammies are not :-1

Decking your druggy son in law: +2

Having a Mom more butch than you: -2

Grease under your nails from working on cars: +2 (you lose 10 for not cleaning it out)

Having cars painted on your nails for the car show this weekend: -3

Leather Motorcycle jackets: +2

Jackets with fringe/sequins: -3

Construction work: +2

Constructing napkin sculptures for a dinner party: -2

I am sure that there are a plethora of other things, but you get the basics here. I am sooooo not butch. BE WARNED: If you say, "Aren't those pretty orchids?" about a TV commercial, you lose lots of points. Especially if all of your friends are there. I hope this has cleared up the questions. Xena, Jan, Taylor and Terra are butch. Candace and Gabrielle are in the very middle. Melinda and Skye are girls, but don't tell them. At least not to their face!

Now, on with our story! Call me some time! UgoXena@aol.com

©kg3-27-00

Part 12

Candace slowly opened her eyes. She was disoriented and a little confused. Who she was as a person was now in question. She was one person, yet four. She looked up at the wonderful being that held her so gently. Taylor loved her with a most perfect love. She knew it. She experienced it. She felt in her soul the stirrings of the other two women. They were as confused as her.

She whispered to her lover. "Tay?"

Taylor's cerulean gaze fell on her. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. "Yeah, babe."

Candace hugged Taylor tightly to her. "I love you."

Taylor's long arms engulfed her and held her cradled safely. "I know you do. I finally know that you really do."

Candace cocked her head. "Finally?" She reached up to softly touch the strong woman's features. "God, Tay. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry. It was my own insecurity to deal with. I know everything now. You, Xena, the whole thing. You loved her. You still love her. But, you love me and that makes it alright."

"My love for Xena has changed, Tay. Of course you know that." She let go of a small laugh. "Let's get out of the water."

"How do we face them?" Taylor recalled quite strongly the touches on her body. They burned like fire.

"Same way they face us…love. There is nothing any of us can hide from the others. No secrets. We are all one now."

"Right. But I'm still shy." The tall firefighter blushed sweetly.

"You are NOT shy." Candace kissed her nose. "Carry me yonder!" She pointed to shore.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

They reached the shore to find two sets of eyes looking at them in a totally different light. The four of them were as naked as the day they were born, but it made no difference to them. They were very quiet as the grins began to break out.

"Well, that was..." Xena started first. Being the leader and all, she thought it was her duty to do so.

"Interesting." Taylor tried her best.

"Interesting? We...we...well...That!" Candace flew her arms around over her head.

"Yes, we did didn't we." Gabrielle smiled at her co-Regent. "Artemis knew."

"So why didn't she tell us." Xena was not pleased with the Goddess anyway. This was yet one more reason not to trust her.

"She did. Quicksilver. Xena, I know you now as well as I know the back of my hand. Leading the Amazons into battle will be like a walk in the park. Gabrielle, I don't think I'll ever write like you, but I understand where your words come from." Taylor turned to her intended. "And you. Shame on you!" Strangely, Taylor was suddenly the philosophical one.

The four of them laughed.

"Oh! Like the rest of you are so innocent! Anyone care to explain what we do with this?" Candace shook her head and did the classic finger pinch to the nose.

"Don't know. I am sure we will find out soon enough." Gabrielle was thinking hard on it, but was getting no answers.

"OK. Question of the day. What exactly happened? Better yet can we do it again? Don't know about you all, but it was better than sex! Whoo!" Xena was excited and full of questions.

"Calm down, warrior. This isn't about just experiencing it. There is more to it than that." Gabrielle glanced around for approval. Candace nodded and she continued, "This is powerful stuff we're messin' with."

"I wouldn't say that we are "messing" with anything. We just don't understand it. Yet." Taylor shook her shirt off then pulled it over her head. She grabbed her pants off the ground and looked at them seriously. She put her feet in and pulled them over her hips. Clothes were such an odd thing. She had experienced total and complete freedom. Her soul had connected and danced with the fragments that made her whole, and she was wearing pants. She started laughing and the other three looked at her.

"What is up with you?" Candace nudged the tall firefighter.

"I'm wearing pants." She laughed harder while her companions watched. She doubled over, tears streaming down her face. "Don't...you...see? I'm...I'm...ahhhhh... wearing pants." She fell to the ground laughing.

Xena started laughing with her. She got it. Soon four women, once strangers, were losing total control of themselves for the wearing of pants. It was obvious they would never be quite the same.

As the laughter died down, Gabrielle was the first to suggest they make their way to the compound. All eight of them needed to talk, but that wouldn't take place until the morning.

"Xe?"

"Yeah, Junior?"

"Do we even have to talk anymore?"

Xena thought long and hard on it, yet didn't answer her friend. Taylor nodded. It would seem that if they tried hard enough, they didn't. This was going to be difficult to get used to.

"We need to talk to Skye because she has experience on how to control this. We can't run around with everyone's thoughts tossing through our heads. I have enough trouble with my own thoughts. A.D.D. Regent, at your service." Candace giggled again at her own problem.

"I have the same trouble." Gabrielle admitted.

"Yeah, I know." Candace shouldered the bard.

"I think once we get used to it, we can ignore or separate other thoughts from our own. Like now, I am aware of your thoughts, but I have to concentrate to make sense of them. How to do that again?" Taylor pointed to the space above them. "Your guess is as good as mine. I think if we sat and concentrated it could happen."

"Well, we sure weren't just thinking a minute ago." A fully dressed Warrior Princess winked at the firefighter.

Taylor blushed. "No. Indeed we were not. Now I see why Gabrielle stays with your sorry ass." She grinned wickedly at Xena, then took off in a dead run toward the camp.

Xena took off as well…the chase was on.

"I see some things haven't changed." Gabrielle smiled and shook her head.

"I have a feeling they never will with those two. You know this is normal for us. I lived with you in my head for three years." Candace mentally touched the part of Taylor that was within her now. Her breath quickened.

"This feels different though doesn't it?" Gabrielle scrunched up her nose and tilted her head. Classic.

"Yeah. But I was so incredibly lonely after I left here. I was empty without you. Finally I feel whole again." Candace smiled to herself. She had a lot to think about, and even more to feel.

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

"Jan?" Melinda wasn't sure what had just happened.

"That sure as shit was interesting." Janice had a certain way with words that made her lover grin.

"Why yes love. It surah as shit was. But, what was it?" Mel shook her head to clear the confusion.

"If I were to make a guess, I'd say we fulfilled our purpose." Jan's green eyes blinked in wonder.

"Beg pahdon?" Melinda's brows furrowed.

"Remember what the Goddess said? We are the armor. Some how the four of them connected, and I am not guessing how. I really don't want to know. There's a visual. Bleahhh." Janice stuck out her tongue.

Janice was lying on Mel's breast, pulling herself closer to her tall lover. "Jan, that is really none of ouah business. However, I think if they want to take their relation to that level, then bless 'em."

"Are you nuts. Would you want to do it with Xena?" Janice thought about that for a moment. Xena and Mel looked alike, but there was a danger about the warrior that was somewhat attractive.

"I hadn't given it much thought, Janice. Would you?"

"ME?! Nooooo way!"

"Me thinks thou doth protest too much. Xena has a quality we all want to touch in a tangible way. Even me."

Janice sat up so fast it almost made her dizzy. "YOU! You wanna do Xena? Jeez Louise on a hot tin fucking roof! You're worried that I might be lookin at hot babes, and it's you that has the hots for the Warrior Princess! Shit." She fell back to the bed feeling more than a bit angry.

Melinda turned to her lover placing a gentle hand on her heaving chest. "Be calm, sweetheart. I didn't say that I desiah she sleep with me. That privilege belongs to you alone." The professor placed a soft kiss on the doctor's temple. "Janice, we are different than Candace and Taylah. They belong not only to each othah, but to Xena and Gabrielle as well. We can't judge them in whatevah they may do that connects them. What I tried to say, is that Xena is the verah core of all of us. She possesses a powah that each of us wants a paht of. To touch that dangah, just one time, to say that we did. Not necessarily in a sexual way you see, but in a personal, vulnerable way. Do you understand?"

The doctor frowned, deeply in thought. It made sense to her. The awe and wonder she had always held for Xena had not diminished with meeting her in the flesh. The more time she spent in her presence made those feelings grow and mature. She understood the power of the warrior and it frightened her. "Yeah. I do. What about Gabrielle? She's a little hotty." She changed the subject to eliminate the odd feeling she had. She wanted the closeness that Taylor shared with Xena, but at the same time was glad she didn't have it. That pure force that Xena was intimidated her.

Melinda giggled at her finaceé. "This double standard is quite fascinatin'." She patted Janice's strong shoulder. "Gabrielle is the opposite of Xena, yet just as intriguing. Her heart is so pure that it transcends reason. To be washed in that purity and peace would be an experience to have. Do you see? If the four of them could tap into what they have, and use it somehow..." She let her thoughts wander. She wondered if they had found the secret.

"I don't know, Belle. I will tell you this, what I recall was nothing I could ever begin to explain in words. The others! Terra and Skye. They were there! I almost forgot. We were surrounding that light that was the center. This is all so fucking Twilight Zone. Don't get it at all. With that much power, why would they need protection?"

"I am suah that there are outside forces that don't like the thought of anothah controlin' entity messin' with the powah structah. I have a feelin' that we are there just until they find a way to channel what they have, without bein' in dangah."

Suddenly, a loud commotion rang through the compound.

"YAAAAHHHHHH."

"Uhffff! Xena! Get off me!"

"Make me, Junior!"

"Shhhhheeeeeaaaa! Uuuuh. AHH!"

"OW! So you want to play it that way, huh?"

"PUT ME DOWN!"

"You got it."

There was a loud splash, then silence for several seconds. Jan and her intended looked at each other. They flew from the bed to the window. Taylor standing in the horse trough, was soaked head to toe. Fire ripped through her blue eyes.

"You shouldn't have those thoughts about the one you love, Tay!" Xena shook a correcting finger at the dripping warrior.

Taylor's voice was barely an angry whisper. "These are the only clothes I have right now that don't need mending! Look at me!" She stepped out of the water. Her reactions were faster than Xena could escape. In the blink of an eye the Mighty Warrior Princess and her twin were rolling in the dirt, turning it quickly to mud. Taylor got the better of Xena, and was pinning her to the ground when they were interrupted by soft, and slightly amused voices.

Candace and Gabrielle heard the commotion, looked to each other, and ran to stop it before any serious injury occurred.

Two tall warrior like women were covered stem to stern with a reddish-brown glaze. Blue ice glared from beneath the mud.

"Excuse us, ladies." Gabrielle used her most regal bearing on the dirt encrusted women.

They turned their gaze to their partners, then back to each other. Xena stuck out her tongue at Taylor, and the rolling began anew.

"Taylor! Stop this before someone gets hurt!" Candace was trying not to laugh.

The firefighter was now sitting on Xena's back pinning her arm back. She whispered in her opponent's ear. "Are you finished, honey?"

"I could get out of this you know." Xena struggled halfheartedly.

"I know you could, but there is just this little bit of you in there that wants to be dominated." She was teasing her. Really teasing her.

"Oh yeah. That's me." Xena was afraid her secret would get out to listening ears. Wouldn't that make great gossip?

Taylor let her arm go, but leaned in to whisper to her conquest. "I know you, warrior." That was all she said before she stood to her feet.

Xena shook her head in defeat. Not the physical kind. These three women knew all there was to know about each other. Taylor knew her. She wasn't sure she was going to survive this.

Mischievous blue eyes held hers as she stood to her feet. This was not a good sign.

Candace and Gabrielle closed their eyes, shook their heads trying not to laugh.

"Pardon me, ladies. I heard a...oh my Gods!" Ephiny laughed for the first time in weeks.

"Your Majesty, we can explain." Xena bowed to the queen. Small clods of dirt hit the ground as she did so.

"I am sure you could, but don't bother. Girls will be girls." She knew the effect that would have. When warriors got out of hand, you had to remind them who was really in charge.

She had called them girls to their faces. How humiliating. The best warriors in the nation, and the Queen had called them girls in front of everyone. This was not going well for either of them.

"I suggest you two go to the baths and clean up." The smile on Ephiny's face was more of a smirk.

They bowed and started off for Xena and Gabrielle's hut.

"Ohhh no you don't. If you think you are hauling that mud into the hut, you are sadly mistaken. Go to the baths." Gabrielle crossed her arms, staring down the two women.

Taylor looked at Xena, who looked back at her. They both shrugged.

"I know a better place. Come on." Xena led Taylor by the arm back the way they had come into camp.

"Where are they going?" Candace watched the warriors walking away.

"I don't care as long as they are clean when they get back." Gabrielle called after her wife. "XE! Don't you need clean clothes?"

"NAH. We'll dry 'em by the fire." She waved her hand at them.

"That'll make you late getting back."

Xena turned and walked backwards. "So, don't wait up." She turned back around and kept going.

Candace was about to protest, when she felt Gabrielle's hand on her arm. "Let them go. They need time to deal with all the new emotions running through them. Let's walk." Gabrielle took Candace's offered arm. The Regents bowed to the queen who acknowledged them. They began to wander. "You have to realize they are not like us. For one, they have never lived with the feelings of another person inside of them. We have. On top of that, they deal with things differently than we do. Imagine doubling the rage within them. That's what has happened. We have knowledge of it because of what we all shared, but they know it and understand it. They were truly angry a few minutes ago. It abated quickly, but it was still there. Then there was that sudden rush of desire. What I guess I'm trying to say is that they are intense. They feel everything twice as deeply as maybe you or I."

"Are you sure it's safe to leave them alone?"

"Contrary to popular belief, they are adults. They'll be fine. The question is will you be if anything...happens?" Gabrielle stopped them. She wanted Candace to understand this.

"Happens? Do you think they...sure they could. Wow, would I love to see that." Candace blushed.

"We are sick!"

"It's the company we keep."

"Hooo ya!"

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

Terra pushed herself up to an upright position. Her bearings were slightly off causing her to waver slightly. "Whoa. I don't feel so good."

"Close your eyes and relax, Ter." Skye sat next it her lover, placing a calming hand on her back. "Deep breath. There you go."

Terra's dizziness abated. She opened her blue eyes and stared at her lover. "What was that?"

"That was Xena, Miss Taylor, Miss Candace and Miss Gabrielle. They connected."

"How?"

"You don't want to know." Skye couldn't believe what she was feeling. Sexual tension was not even a way to describe it. It was a taut force that would surely break if not held in check.

"Why?" Terra wasn't following any of what had been happening. It was beyond her the same as it had been with Jan.

"Because...just because."

"They connected how?"

"Their souls joined to become one. They are each other now." That sounded strange, but it was the only way she could explain it.

"They are each other? There is only one way to do that. Oh. Ohhhhhhh. I get it. Why wouldn't I want to know that?" Terra was innocent in most respects, but when it came to sex she thought that most anything was acceptable as long as it was consensual.

"Do you have to ask so many questions?"

"Yeah." She giggled and pulled her partner closer. "I don't think they could stay away from each other. I noticed it from the minute they met."

"You did?" To say that Skye was surprised was a huge understatement.

"Uh huh. The way Miss Candace looks at Miss Gabrielle, you would swear she was going to just kiss her any second. Then there is the connection of Xena and Candace. Once I caught Gabrielle looking at Taylor. When I say looking I mean 'looking'. I didn't think much of it at the time. Now...I don't know. And let's not even talk about Xena and Miss Taylor. Whoooo. Those two are just hot to be around. Shew!"

Skye giggled wildly at her lover's terminology. "You are so funny."

"I'm serious, Skye. I'm surprised we don't have burns from them." The tall girl snuggled closer to the small blonde. Of all the things they did, being held in Skye's arms was by far her favorite. Well, it was close anyway.

"So you noticed. How do you feel about it?" She could tell that Terra didn't feel one way or the other about it, but she liked to hear Terra put things in her own words.

"How should I feel? I don't care as long as they are all happy. I think it's OK with them. And if it's OK with them, it's OK with me." She shrugged. Her attention was caught by a beautifully formed breast. She reached out a long finger and caressed the soft flesh. The small nub moved under her light touch, causing a smile to cross her lips.

"You really don't mind?" The touch of her lover was catching her attention, making it difficult to concentrate. She didn't care if Terra cared. Apathy reigned.

"It's none of my business. I'll tell you, though, that would be one heck of a thing to watch. Hooo ya!"

Skye shook her head and grinned. Terra was spending too much time with Taylor, but she didn't mind. As long as Terra didn't want to sleep with the sexy firefighter, she was fine with it.

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

"Where are we goin', Xe?" The mud on Taylor's face was making her itch. She needed to get in a bath soon.

"The hot springs. Don't fret there, Junior. We're here." Xena stopped walking and sent a big grin to Taylor.

Taylor searched the area, seeing nothing but shrubs and trees. "Uh huh. I can see we are. Am I supposed to wash off with the leaves or what?"

Xena pulled back a large patch of overgrowth. Behind it was an entrance carved out of solid rock. "Ta da! After you."

"Wow! Very cool." The dirty firefighter stepped through, followed by her companion. The covering fell back into place, and they were cast into darkness. "Yo, Xe? We have a little problem here."

"Hang on. Right here...no...here. Yep." Light filled the small cave. "Just like I left it."

"Uh, Xena. This is a cave. So, I use dirt to clean up. Seems a little redundant." Taylor stifled a laugh.

"Smart ass. Help me with this." Xena was leaning on a large boulder. Taylor put her shoulder next to the warrior and pushed. The boulder rolled to the side revealing a cavern warm and full of moisture.

"Whoa! This is awesome." Taylor stared about in utter awe.

The cavern's height was close to thirty meters. The ceiling coned up to a small opening at the apex causing fresh air to waft gently through the underground chamber. In the recessed section sat the bubbling pool. The streaming source was obviously deep underground. Taylor walked to the very edge and placed her hand on the surface. The water was warm and scented thick with minerals. Natural ledges made for footholds, seats and lounges. The smile that crossed her face was hard to hide. She grinned up at the warrior with her. The grin was returned with vengeance.

"Hoo ya!" Taylor stripped her shirt off and threw it into the water. She kicked her boots to the side. Her pants followed close behind.

A large splash hit Xena square in her naked chest, as her firefighter companion cannon balled into the pool. The feral grin on her face let Taylor know she was in deep trouble.

Taylor put her hands up and backed away. "Xe, c'mon. It was an acccckkkk." Her head was under before she could get the words out of her mouth. She shot up, caught her breath and was pulled back under. Xena wrapped her legs around the tall woman's hips from behind, grabbed her wrists and held them tightly in front of the firefighter, and waited. Taylor stood to her feet in the relatively shallow pool.

"Is there a point to this?" Taylor struggled to free her trapped wrists.

"Uh huh." Xena bit her on the shoulder.

"And it would be what exactly?" Goosebumps traveled across her wet flesh.

"You are the one that likes to be dominated. And you know it." She squeezed her legs for added emphasis.

"I don't think so." Her heart pounded harder.

Xena leaned in a whispered in her ear. "I know you, Tay. You can't run, and you can't hide."

"Well, I don't want to run, and it would seem that hiding in here would be difficult at best. Now, get off my back." Heat ran through her veins. This was going awry quickly.

"Uh uh."

"Xena, we can't do this. We can't."

"We're not doing anything, Taylor. I'm proving a point."

"What? That you could have your way with me if you wanted? Great point." She rolled her eyes and hoped she could hold out.

Xena released her wrists and dropped her feet to the floor of the pool. Taylor turned around to face her. From the look on her face, she was disappointed in herself. The look itself cut Xena to the quick. She replied to her friend in a soft voice.

"Hey Junior, its not that bad is it?"

Taylor thought for a while before she answered. "Yeah. Xe, I love you so much. My heart about bursts when we are even close to each other, but I belong to Candace. You see?"

"I know. But one thing you have forgotten, is that we belong to each other, Taylor. The four of us. How would you feel if Candace and Gabrielle felt the same way?"

"They do." Taylor mentioned her feelings without reservation.

"Would you feel bad if anything happened between them?"

"No. I expect that it will. The thing is, we would know. We would feel it. They would, too."

"Of course they would. Come closer."

Taylor stepped dangerously near to the heat of the Warrior Princess.

"Can you feel that? Pure and simple power, Taylor. It belongs to us. I love Gabrielle with every beat of my heart. I swear to Gods I do. But you and I…we have...this." Xena's hand reached to the firefighter.

Electricity raced through Taylor's members. She thought she would fall. Instead she closed her eyes and regained her balance. Xena grabbed her around the waist holding her steady. The touch didn't help.

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

Candace and Gabrielle made their way to the edge of the compound. Candace glanced back at their companion. Why they needed a guard she really didn't understand.

"Why do they need to follow us around? I feel like a dork."

"You're royalty. Don't get me wrong, you're still a dork..." Gabrielle laughed as Candace double poked her in the ribs.

"Oh yeah? Dork this smarty pants!" She poked away with both index fingers.

The feisty Regent put her companion in a headlock. "Smarty pants? You called me 'smarty pants'? Oh that's rich!"

"Gab, let go." Candace struggled in a halfhearted way. Gabrielle leaned in and whispered to her.

"What say we ditch the babe here." She nodded in the general direction of the guard. Gabrielle loosened the hold on Candace and stood up.

"You're on." She stood straight. "Giva? Could you do me a favor?"

"Of course, your Highness."

"First, tell us how things with Jules are going." Gabrielle nudged her in the back. "Stop that, your Highness. I am trying to get the goods here."

"Certainly, your Highness, back at you." The wayward Regent stuck out her tongue at her friend.

"May I suggest that you don't stick that out unless you intend to use it, Your Highness." Candace squinted at her.

"I do intend to use it, Your Highness, just not right this moment." Gabrielle used a seductive tone of voice on Candace that put a lurch in the signer's gut.

Giva raised an eyebrow at the interesting choice of words, not to mention the tone, but she wisely let it drop. What the royals did was none of her business.

"Then keep it to your royal self, if you don't mind." She acknowledged the intent, but refused to take the bait.

"No, I don't mind at all." Gabrielle knew the effect she was having.

"I can see that. Now, where were we?" She turned to the warrior standing with them.

"Are you two finished, your Highnesses?" Giva stayed straight faced while addressing the misbehaving Regents. How she did it, she would never know.

"I believe so. Are you finished, your highness?" Gabrielle tilted her head and stared hard at the woman who was a part of her.

"For now." She nodded. "Please, Giva, tell us."

"Things are wonderful." She tried to keep the gush out of her voice, but it oozed out of her.

"Reeeeally? How wonderful exactly?" The small blonde signer was interested for real now.

"She is so loving. You wouldn't think that a big warrior like that had a soft streak, but she can be so...yummy!"

Candace laughed. "Yummy! That we can understand! Oh yeah!"

"What kind of yummy are we talking about, Giva?" Gabrielle knew yummy, in more ways than one.

"Should I make a list?" She smiled secretly.

"Ooooh. Do you have one?" Candace was getting more curious.

"Hoo ya, your Highness!" The three women all laughed.

"So in other words you two have..." Gabrielle rolled her hands one over the other.

"Promise you won't tell her I told you?" There was a little whine in her voice that labeled the strong warrior as having girl potential.

Candace made note of it, but kept it to herself. "Like we're gonna talk to her about her love life."

"We might have before." Gabrielle glanced over to her partner. "But, we won't now. Right?"

"Of course not. Now…" Candace urged Giva on.

"In answer to your question, yes we have. Wow!"

"Good for you! Jules is one of the sweetest people I know. You are a lucky woman. So is she, I might add. Are there wedding bells in the future?"

"Wedding bells? What are those? The wedding part I understand, but bells?"

"Long story there, Giva. SO?" Candace pressed for details.

"I don't know yet. I have had it for Jules for so long, that I would marry her tomorrow if she asked. I don't think she feels the same way though. I guess I'll just wait."

"Oh sister! She feels the same way! Trust me." The bard turned Regent laughed.

"How do you know? Did you ask her?"

"We don't need to ask warriors how they feel. We are experts at shy, uncommunicative, stubborn Amazons. Trust me. Jules is different than most, though. She had such a soft heart when I was here last, that I am surprised that she even wants to get involved now. I wasn't here when Sharon died, but I know she still grieved over her for at least a season after. Give her time to get over her apprehension. She has waited a very long time to find you Giva. She's afraid of you is my best bet.

"Afraid of me? What's to be afraid of?" Girls never quite understood how warriors worked on the inside.

"Her feelings." Gabrielle interjected her thoughts.

"Exactly." Candace agreed.

"Her feelings?" Giva still wasn't clear.

"Put it this way. The loss of her love almost shattered her life. If she accepts her feelings for you, marries you, then loses you, it will devastate her. She doesn't want that pain again. Losing a love is a pain I never want to feel again. I was lucky to get Xena back. Damn lucky." Gabrielle shook her head at the thoughts that invaded her mind. One time she thought she had lost Xena, the second time, she really did. The pain had threatened to overwhelm her life, her heart and her soul. She contemplated for a moment. She now had three women in her life she loved in the exact same way. If she lost one of them she would feel the same devastation. She shuddered. Pray to Gods it never happened.

"I never looked at it like that, but I think I understand a bit better now. I'll just love her until she's ready to love me back."

"Giva, she does love you. She just doesn't want to face it yet. When she gets to the point where she would rather take the risk than lose you, she'll come around. It happens every time!" Candace smiled softly at the guard.

The air around them changed, but only Candace and Gabrielle noticed it. They turned their eyes to each other with a smile widening across their faces.

"Giva? Could you run back to camp and have Lissa or someone draw a bath in my hut?" Gabrielle tried to be as convincing as she could.

"I'm not going to leave you two alone." The guard knew a diversion when she saw one.

"Giva, let me put it to you this way. We want to be alone. If you stay, you will most likely see things you don't want to see...ever...well maybe never, but not now for sure." Candace wanted to be truthful, but not to the point of making a public announcement.

Giva tilted her head and contemplated the words seriously before she answered. "My duty is to serve you. It is not my duty to make judgments about what you do. Besides I am not as blind as you would guess. I am here to protect you. I will turn my back, but I will not leave your side...sides...whatever."

Gabrielle was impressed. "You're very good. Very well." She paused for a moment. "What do you mean you're not blind?"

"You four are obvious to those who would watch. It has never been discussed with any of the Amazons, but looks have been passed between those who see."

"Who might those people be?" Gabrielle needed to know.

"Queen Ephiny, Krista, Cyrene, Lissa, and myself. I don't think Jules has a clue. But your secret is quite safe with us."

"Well, isn't that great. Half the camp knows and we haven't even done anything." Candace shook her head.

"The thing is, Cand, that these are the people who know us best, or have great powers of observation. Lissa is the best pupil in Terra's class. You can expect her to know something. So, Giva, what do you think you know?"

"Do you wish a list, your Highness?" Giva blonde hair shimmered in the fading twilight.

"Not really. Just what is it you see?" Gabrielle wasn't sure she wanted to hear this, but she asked anyway.

"I see tenderness, passion, desire, love. When Xena looks at Candace, her heart aches to touch her. When Taylor looks at Gabrielle, she blushes. When Taylor looks at Xena, lets just say you have to be blind not to see the fire burning in that furnace." Giva rocked on her heels.

"What about us?"

"You two are better at hiding it, but I think that's because you are afraid to admit to yourselves that there is something there. But trust me, there is."

"There is huh?" Candace looked at Gabrielle. She knew there was a passion there, but Gabrielle didn't want to see it. The bard also didn't want to accept the draw she had toward Taylor, but Candace knew it was there. "Giva, could you go over there and stand or something? We need to talk."

"Certainly, your Highness. Please, don't worry about this. Your secret is quite safe with me, as well as your life." She smiled at them and nodded as she stepped away.

Gabrielle and Candace faced each other shyly.

"So what do we do here, Gab?" Candace looked at the ground then back to her friend.

"That all depends on what you want to happen." Gabrielle let down her guard, letting the feelings of all three women wash over her. Liquid tingles of heat threaded through her.

"Me? Why me?" She didn't want all the responsibility.

"Do you feel them? Feel what's happening. It's not sex but it's sexual. Does that bother you?"

"No."

"Then let go." Gabrielle closed the gap between them. "Touch me."

Candace's hand slid around Gabrielle's waist pulling her in. The kiss this time had purpose and passion. Gabrielle's arms snaked around the singer's neck, hands grasping the back of her head. Sweet tongues slid silently across each other with intent. Candace pulled her closer pushing the limit of passion. A small gasp escaped followed by a low moan.

Giva turned around. The embrace of the two regents was fierce. You would think these two were the warriors, and that they were fueled by the lust of battle. She smiled and turned back around.

Breathlessly the kiss broke. "Gab, do you know where they are?" She leaned in for another quick taste of soft lips.

"I think so. We could find them anyway you know. Come on. Giva? Let's go."

The guard turned to follow them wordlessly wherever they were going.

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

Xena held the firefighter steady in strong arms. "Taylor, relax. Keep your eyes closed." Taylor slowly relaxed and let her breathing ease. "Much better. Listen to my voice and don't think of anything else. Put your hands up-palms out."

Taylor did as she was told. The next sensation was that of Xena's large hands touching hers, palm to palm. The warmth from the warrior's body permeated her skin. Xena's nipples touched her, causing a ripple to rush through her body. How long they stood like that was hard to tell. It seemed that in this place, time was an imagination.

"Excellent. Breathe with me, Tay. Now, find that part of you that is me." Taylor frowned. "Don't force it." Xena's lips touched hers. It was not a rush hurried kiss. It was soft, gentle and loving. "Let it just come out."

The firefighter mentally delved into her own soul. Her spirit followed. Together they found the element of the whole that was exclusively Xena. She loosened the hold on that part, letting it rise out of her. The power collected at their hands, presenting itself as light. Taylor opened her blue eyes in wonder. "What is that, Xe?"

"That's us. I have felt something similar in the past."

"Lao Ma." The realization was obvious.

"Yes, but it was nothing like this." Xena drew her hand back, watching the sparks fly between their palms. "Step closer to me."

There was only a few centimeters separating them as it was. Taylor closed the miniscule gap, until the entire front of their naked forms were pressed tightly together. The power in their hands spread across them. Their own bodies conducted the energy. Xena used only thought from this point, to test where they could take this. <Step back slowly.>

There was no problem. Taylor felt Xena's thoughts as if they were her own. Stepping back, the tangible energy arched between them.<What do we do with this?>

<We can do almost anything. To be complete, to do all, we need the others.>

<Teach me, Xena.>

<You don't need to be taught. You know already. It's in you, Taylor.> She kissed the soft lips again.

Taylor's thoughts became Xena's. The rock sitting beside the pool disintegrated into dust particles. It merely lost its form. There was no sudden explosion, no cuncussive vibrations.

<Wow! Yeah.>

Light beams began to dance throughout the chamber. Pinpoints seared into solid rock faces, branding the walls of the chamber. Taylor opened her eyes, gazing directly into the blue intensity of Xena's. They knew. If all four of them melded this power, they would be unstoppable. The other thing they knew as well was they didn't want that much responsibility.

Silently two bodies slipped into the warm water with them. The energy in the room doubled in intensity. Candace slid her naked form against a tall woman. She slipped her hands slowly along Xena's arms. She trailed her hands back down and across her strong broad shoulders, then down between her shoulder blades. She leaned in and kissed the warrior's strong back, gently running her delicate hands to a slender waist. Fire arched between them. She pressed in tighter for more contact. She had been dying to touch Xena since the moment she saw her at the inn, now she took advantage of it. She ran her hands around Xena's ribs, up to ample breasts. She cupped them in her hands, reveling in the feel and weight of them. Candace squeezed gently.

Gabrielle moved her body between the taller forms. Her naked breasts gliding along Taylor's wet skin, her back brushing across her wife's nipples. Blue tendrils skipped along her arms. She ran her hands up the front of the firefighter's naked body. She let them run a path over the soft breasts before her. She leaned in, capturing one nipple in her mouth. Taylor did a quick intake of air, but never lost the eyes of the warrior before her. Xena smiled knowingly at her. Gabrielle had a very talented mouth.

Candace circled Xena's body, letting her hands roam. She reached out to Gabrielle, who entwined Candace's fingers in her own. The two blondes, situated between the tall warriors, turned in to face each other. Taylor and Xena's hands clasped tightly, arching protectively around the two smaller women.

Gabrielle and Candace released their clasped hands. Their palms whispered against each other with licks of fire dancing between them. Candace pressed her body tighter to the firm body of the Regent. She leaned in and captured the full lips that begged for her attention. Energy drifted in pulsating lines along their mouths.

Xena and Taylor watched as the smaller women shared the touch and the power that defined them. The Warrior Princess leaned closer to Taylor. The firefighter paused for as much as a second before she allowed Xena to kiss her. Tongues rocked against each other in slow passionate connection. Four women shared touch, and the energy grew in relation to it. A white light started to coalesce above them. Gabrielle felt the potent energy first. She reluctantly broke the sweet kiss she was sharing, and gazed up. Above the lips that were locked in a warrior's embrace, was the ball of light. Candace followed Gabrielle's green eyes. She smiled at the intensity of the kiss her intended and her former wife shared. She locked her focus on the light. Xena ran her tongue roughly across Taylor's bottom lip, then kissed her one more time. She smiled at the firefighter then looked to the radiating circle. Taylor turned her gaze to the pulsating form. Their thoughts became a single flowing stream.

The shining ball of power shot up and out of the small opening in the cavern. It flew it's course unwavering. Artemis grinned slyly. Zeus stood from his throne. His face was confused at first, then understanding hit him. The frown there would not be leaving anytime soon. The sphere paused above the Mount as if for effect. It expanded slightly before it exploded. Shimmering tendrils of light trailed from the center out. Sparks of color zipped across the atmosphere like speeding rockets. The display was colorful and choreographed by the power of the women that controlled it. It was strong, soft, violent and peaceful. As suddenly as it started, it was over.

The most powerful of the Gods sat heavily on his throne. He never imagined that the four puny mortals would ever find the answer. He realized he had underestimated them, causing his thoughts to pierce his heart with fear and his mind with anger.

"ARES!" The call went out, and the newest plan was laid before the God of war.

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

To be continued………

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