All of the characters of X:WP are owned by Renaissance Pictures, Universal, so on?etc. No copyright is intended.

SUBTEXT:

This story gives you somewhat of a loving relationship between these two wonderful women. Though none of it is explicit, it is a sappy romantic? blah hopefully you get the point. Annnd? if you have a myspace, and you get all of the weird bulletins about love and such, you might be familiar with this theme. It's just a whole lot better Xena Style. Enjoy!

For once, Gabrielle had actually convinced Xena to go to the Anthesteria festival in Thessaly. As a child, Gabrielle loved to go to the "Festival of Flowers". People would gather, drinking the season's new wines, gazing at the beautiful flowers that could be purchased.

"I'm so glad that you're going to the festival with me," Gabrielle said, "when I was little this was my favorite festival."

Xena smiled, "And why was that?"

"I loved looking at all of the beautiful flowers that would be on display," Gabrielle replied, "I would always beg my mother to let me buy a rose, because I thought they were so beautiful. But she would always tell me that I didn't need any flowers because they would be dead the next day."

Xena chuckled, "Roses, huh?"

"So? what's your favorite flower?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena arched her eyebrow at that question and scoffed, "I don't have a favorite flower."

"What? Does having a favorite flower ruin your reputation or something?" Gabrielle questioned mischievously.

Xena paused, eyeing the bard, "Yes? exactly."

Gabrielle laughed, "C'mon, Xena. I know you warrior types."

"Oh you do?" Xena added.

Gabrielle nodded, "Yup, tough on the outside, lethal? but when no one is looking you gaze at the flowers and love the cute fluffy bunnies."

"Cute fluffy bunnies?" Xena questioned, "of course I love the cute fluffy bunnies? they keep my hunger in check."

"Xena!" Gabrielle whined.

Xena rolled her eyes, "Fine. Sunflowers."

"Ew, sunflowers?" Gabrielle grimaced.

"You're the one that asked," Xena added, smiling innocently.

"How much do you love me?" Gabrielle suddenly asked.

Xena gazed at the blonde, "Talk about random?"

"How much?" Gabrielle repeated.

"Well? I," Xena stuttered, "it? it's hard to say."

"Hard to say?" Gabrielle questioned, slightly disappointed by the statement.

"I didn't mean it like that? I mean?I do love you that's no question," Xena continued.

Gabrielle cut her off, "It's okay, Xena? let's just go to the festival."

'Great one, you big dumb warrior,' Xena thought as they approached Thessaly.

The festival was majestic. Many different venders stood on the side of the streets, showing off many different varieties of flowers. New wines were sold in the taverns. It was packed. Gabrielle gazed wide-eyed at the beautiful scenery around them as Xena approached the tavern.

"You go look around, do your thing," Xena stated, "and I'm just going to get some wine."

"Alright, meet you back here?" Gabrielle questioned.

Xena nodded, "And stay out of trouble."

"What are they going to do, tickle me with a flower?" Gabrielle asked sarcastically.

"Bards."

"Warriors."

Xena watched as her bard entered the floral streets, and made sure that she didn't spot her as she secretly left the tavern.

When she knew that she was clear of the bard, Xena gazed around the venders, searching. Finally discovering what she was looking for, she approached the salesman.

"How much for a dozen of roses?" she asked.

"Roses?" the man asked, "a warrior like you is asking for roses?"

Xena rolled her eyes, "They're for someone else."

"Ahh, love it is?a dozen of red roses?five dinars," he answered.

Xena nodded, pulling out the money, but stopped when something else caught her mind, "What is that?"

"Why, it is a white rose, only? slightly different? no one has wanted to buy it. You can have it free of charge," the salesman replied.

"Alright," Xena said, "give me eleven red roses and that white one and you have yourself a deal."

~*~*~*~

Near the end of the day when the festivities were coming to a close and the venders were starting to close up shop, Xena and Gabrielle met back at the tavern.

"So?how was the wine?" Gabrielle asked.

Fine," Xena answered, "how did your day go?"

"Fine," Gabrielle answered.

Xena sighed, "Well? I got us a room upstairs, last one on the right? I'll meet you up there in a few minutes."

"Alright," Gabrielle replied, making her way up the stairs.

When she opened the door to their room, Gabrielle stood shocked. There in her path was roses, all leading over to the bed. She smiled, thinking of her warrior, as she picked each one up one by one. When she reached the bed, she eyed a small white rose, and a piece of parchment.

Gabrielle,

I know that I hurt you earlier when you asked me how much I love you. I'm no bard, as you know, so words don't come easily to me. But this is the best I could do. As you can see I left you a dozen roses. You're favorite, I know? thank me later. You are the most important person in my life. You are my light, my salvation. So here's how much I love you? I will always love you, until the last rose withers and dies. I love you, My Heart.

-Xena.

Gabrielle smiled, tears trimming her eyes as she gazed once again at the twelve roses in her hand. When Xena finally returned to the room she immediately jumped into her arms.

"Thank you," Gabrielle said, hugging her warrior close.

"No, thank you?" Xena whispered, cradling her bard to the bed.

Gabrielle smiled, wiping away the tears, "I knew it."

"Knew what?" Xena questioned, sitting beside her.

Gabrielle answered, "You are a softie."

Xena smiled, "Only for you, My Bard."

Gabrielle dropped her quill as a coughing fit depleted her strength. As she regained her composure she gazed back over at her warrior who lay unmoving.

"Xena?" Gabrielle questioned, shaking her softly. But she was gone. And now it was her turn. With her last bit of strength, tears falling freely, Gabrielle took one last look at the parchment that held Xena's letter on the inn table by her bedside and smiled. With one breath, she quickly blew the candle out and cuddled close to her passed warrior. As she closed her eyes, she was greeted by the most beautiful sight ever: Her warrior. And so they walked off silently, knowing that they would face the Elysian Fields together, leaving the silk, white rose that stood beside the letter on the table.

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