Chapter XXXVII

It was close to three years after the end of the war before Hercules was able to return to his sanctuary in Banff and when he arrived, he almost didn't recognize the place from the changes Gabrielle had wrought in her time there.

Gone was his tiny, one-room cabin and in its place stood a three room home. Gabrielle had added a private bedroom and a bathing room that had real hot and cold running water. He simply stood and marveled as she showed him around the place.

He hugged her hard again, just as he had when he'd first come over the final ridge and found her out in the small garden patch.

"This is wonderful, Gabrielle. You've turned it into a home. How did you manage?" He noted the large logs that made up the walls of the new rooms and remembered all too well the struggle he himself had had building the original room alone. He saw too the furniture she had added, including a neat writing desk for herself at an angle near the fireplace.

She gave him a look. "After nearly two thousand years, I hope I've learned to work smarter. Besides, I had plenty of time and little else to do," said without a hint of reproach, though Hercules took it as such.

"I'm sorry it took so long, Gabrielle," Herc said as he scrubbed a hand across his face, trying to hide the weariness and disillusionment he felt so deeply. She pushed on his shoulder lightly and he took the hint, easing himself into a kitchen chair he had crafted himself many years before. Gabrielle moved the tea kettle into the center of the stove and took a seat beside him and covered his hand lightly with her own.

"Hercules, it wasn't a problem, really. War is rarely short-lived in mortal terms and I used the time to catch up on a lot of things... my writing, for one. Do you know how many stories I was able to go back and flesh out from my journal entries?" She laughed softly. "I didn't realize I had been so busy."

Herc chuckled. How well he understood *that* feeling.

"Besides," she continued with a smile. "I created a new writing instrument. It made things even easier for me. Wanna see?"

Hercules knew what Gabrielle was doing and he appreciated the effort. So he matched her enthusiasm in his answer. "Sure!"

The kettle started hissing as she rose and he motioned her away. "Go get your new quill. I can pour up hot water." He grabbed his saddle bags from where he had dropped them by the door when he came in and rummaged around inside until he found what he was looking for. He stepped back to the counter just as Gabrielle came back out of the bedroom.

Gabrielle set down what appeared to be a stick of wood before going to a cabinet and retrieving the honey. Herc's eyes lit at the prospect and he brought both cups over to the table setting one at each place before picking up the odd writing instrument she'd laid down.

Gabrielle grabbed two spoons from the drawer and handed one to Hercules before resuming her seat. She watched with fascinated eyes as he studied the object, finally managing to pull it apart and realizing....

"It's a quill with no feather!" he exclaimed with delighted astonishment. "This is very clever, Gabrielle. It must last much longer than feathered quills... even those with metal tips like this."

Green eyes sparkled in merriment. "It's even better than you think. I call this a fountain pen. It actually sucks up and holds the ink so it doesn't need to be dipped into the well as often. The only thing I have had to change since I crafted it has been the metal tip. It wears down to a nub after a while... at least it does the way I use it." She giggled and Hercules chuckled in sympathy.

He understood then that she was much changed from the chattery, impulsive child she had been when they'd first met, nor was she the tired, pursued warrior she had been during the twilight. She was even different from the woman he'd found helping escaping slaves get out along the Underground Railroad.

The woman before him had a poise and confidence that her many years on earth had given her. And now there was also a peace about he that he suspected had long been missing. He decided it was time to share some of his news, but he was roundabout in his methods.

"How do you like the tea?" he asked as she took her first sip.

Gabrielle took a second sip and held it on her tongue, letting the flavor waft into her senses. Finally she swallowed and nodded. "It's very good, but different from anything I've had in a long time. It reminds me of... spring and sunshine and... blackberries."

Hercules swallowed his own gulp, then winced at the burning as it went down his throat. It brought tears to his eyes and he drew a deep breath. Without a word, Gabrielle stood and pumped him a glass of cold well water, then waited patiently for him to drink. He chugged it down gratefully and set the empty glass on the table.

"Thanks," he croaked. "That wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done."

"You all right?" she questioned gently. "You need a little more?"

He held up a hand. "No. I'll be fine in a minute. Please sit." Herc waited until Gabrielle resumed her seat. "Xena is a very lucky woman," he said as she blushed then continued on before she could respond. "Let me tell you what took me so long to get back here."

Gabrielle nodded and picked up her tea, sipping it gingerly and waiting for Hercules to speak.

"The war was only four years long, but the ugliness... the senselessness of it...." Hercules scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. "Gabrielle, it reminded me so much of the Trojan, or the Thessilian-Mitoan wars. It was vicious and really I'm not sure it managed to do anything except divide a nation and get a lot of people killed."

He drew a deep breath.

"I saw so many lives and homes destroyed and near the end... Gabrielle, have you run into any old friends?"

"You mean besides you and Cecrops?"

Hercules shook his head. "No, not other immortals. Reincarnations of souls you've known before."

"No, not re... wait. I did run into a funny little man thirty-odd years ago. He wore a pot on his head and he reminded me of Joxer. So much so I had to consciously realize that he wasn't. Is that what you mean?"

"Uh huh." Herc scratched his head. "Near the end of the war, I was riding with a general named Sherman. He was a brutal man, burning everything in his path, but he was also a big reason the war finally ended. His tactics caused the Southern forces to become trapped between Northern ones."

Gabrielle nodded her understanding, the harshness of war all too familiar to her.

"When we reached the sea in Georgia, we turned and headed back north. In North Carolina, I came upon a Rebel soldier who was no longer fighting. He had gone home to protect his mother and all he wanted was to be left alone."

Hercules looked at Gabrielle, the anguish now apparent in his eyes. "Gabrielle, it was Iolaus. As sure as I am sitting here, I recognized his soul." Here he chuckled. "And his fierceness. Some things just don't change."

Gabrielle smiled sympathetically. This had obviously rocked Hercules to the core. "So what happened?"

"I convinced Sherman to leave him alone. He wasn't any danger to us. And his mama fed us... well, we provided the rations and she cooked one night. We almost didn't get the troops to leave the next morning."

"That good?"

"Oh yeah. The tea you're drinking is one of her special blends."

"Umm, it's good. So then what?"

"Well, as soon as Lee surrendered and the Confederate units were dispersed to go home, I asked for extended leave. The last leave I had was when I brought you up here, so there wasn't a lot anyone could say, especially since all the others had had leaves during the war. Some of them more regularly than others."

"You went back to North Carolina." Gabrielle made it a statement and not a question.

"Yeah. I felt I owed Isaac and his mother."

"Because of Iolaus?"

"Mostly, yeah." Hercules paused and drew another deep breath. "I'm glad I went, Gabrielle. The months hadn't been kind to either of them and they were trying to eke out a living on land that was singed and battered and bruised."

He chuckled as he remembered the looks of astonishment on both Isaac's and Mama's faces when he knocked on the door and Gabrielle laughed in delight when he shared the experience with her.

"So you stayed long enough to help them get back on their feet?" Gabrielle asked when her curiosity outweighed the silence that had fallen between them.

Hercules shook his head. "No. I convinced them to move west. To get a new start." He grinned at her sheepishly. "And then I helped them move. We had quite a wagon train by the time we pulled out. There were a number of folks who wanted a fresh start."

Gabrielle nodded sagely. How many times had she been glad for each new chance she got? And after war... she knew only too well how desperate people were to put that kind of unpleasantness behind them and sometimes the easiest and best way to do that was to simply start over somewhere else.

"So where did you go?"

"Well, we rode a ways. There was so much destruction until we reached almost the middle of the country. Isaac decided he wanted to try his hand a being a lawman and Mama said she wanted wide open spaces. So we headed down into Texas. An old Army buddy is the Federal Marshal in those parts and I told Isaac I'd talk to Daniel about making him a deputy."

"And...?"

"And Daniel made Isaac a deputy Marshal in a little town called Nocona Corners. Beautiful place. Already has a stable and livery with a blacksmith, a dry goods store, stagecoach office, marshal's office, a church, a saloon, a mill and Mama set up a boarding house."

"No school for the children?"

"No teacher... yet. But if you'd be willing...."

"Hercules, what makes you think I can teach children English? I still write in the now dead language of ancient Greek. Or history... I haven't been in this country that long, relatively speaking, ya know. And Xena did all the math when we were together. I hated math... still do."

Hercules covered Gabrielle's hands and waited for her to calm down. He didn't realize he would throw her for such a loop with his suggestion and wondered what was behind it.

"Gabrielle, even if you agreed to do it, it wouldn't be this year. I'm tired. We wouldn't leave here til next spring anyway. Okay?" He waited for her to take a deep breath and nod. "Besides, you read and write English better than most that were born to it... you told me about Shakespeare, remember?"

Gabrielle smiled, remembering fondly the times she and Will had spent creating with words.

"And you've lived history... even if it wasn't American history. And that is short enough you can learn it over the winter if you want." He hesitated. "Gabrielle, I didn't commit you to anything. Honestly, I would never do that. I didn't mention your many skills to anyone."

Gabrielle drew a hand over her eyes. "I know you wouldn't and I'm not sure why that spooked me so bad. It's not like I haven't done that during my life." She paused. "Maybe it is the fact that I have been alone here for the last few years. I haven't interacted with anyone."

"Well, I did mention the fact that I had a sister who I had moved out of the war's path and Mama told me to bring you to visit. She wants to meet you."

"Oh, she does?"

"Yep. She didn't believe me when I told her my sister was a wee bit of a thing."

"You didn't?!"

"Sure I did. Gabrielle, you *are* a wee bit of a thing next to me. And you'll like Mama. She Irish and spunky and as fine a woman as you'll ever hope to meet."

"Uh huh. Did you at least bring me some books to study?"

"Yep and I brought books just for reading too. Figured it would help pass the winter months."

"True. I can quote a few of the ones here," Gabrielle said with a wry smile.

"And when spring comes...."

"Yes?"

"When spring comes we'll take a trip to Texas. If you like it we can stay a while; if not, well, we'll figure that out when the time comes."

He waited until she nodded and rose before he spoke again. "There's one more thing, Gabrielle. Something I think you should know."

She looked up from where she was rinsing her cup and Hercules stood and stepped up beside her to do the same. Gabrielle arched an eyebrow at him and waited.

"I think if we go to Texas you have a better chance of finding Xena."

Hercules didn't miss the flare of hope that lit her eyes. The tone of her voice remained cool though.

"Why? Some insight or just a gut feeling?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "A little of both, I think. I've heard some rumors - rumors about hit-and-run raids that the Indians are perpetuating on the white settlers, trying to keep them off Indian land. Not all, but a lot of them have a very familiar feel. The tactics are similar to what Xena was using as a warlord."

Now the hope flared into a dangerous fire. "You think Xena has reverted to being a warlord again?" Gabrielle asked in a perilous purr.

Herc shook his head and noticed the slight relaxation of the bard's rigid posture. "No!" he said emphatically. "No," he reiterated in a softer tone. "Gabrielle, when Xena was brought to this country, she was adopted into the Cheyenne nation. They are a nation of fierce, proud warriors and Xena looks at them as part of her extended family. For years the white man has made and broken treaties with all the native tribes. I think Xena is just using the skills she has to the Cheyenne's best advantage."

"Why not unite all the tribes against the whites?" Gabrielle asked pragmatically. "They'd win with Xena leading them."

Hercules nodded his agreement. "Yes, they would. But there is a lot of conflict between the tribes and many of them would never accept a woman as their leader in a war party. Especially one who's untried."

Gabrielle burst into laughter and Hercules joined her heartily.

"I know, I know," he said when he caught his breath. "Knowing her like we do makes that absurd in the extreme. But they don't and there just isn't time to convince them all. But thank you for the laugh... I haven't done that in years."

"How did you find all this out?"

"About the raids? Or Xena's involvement in Indian affairs?"

"Yes."

Herc chuckled. "Well, Xena told me a little about her involvement with the Cheyenne tribe when I saw her. She was explaining her quest."

"Did she tell you what her quest was exactly?"

"I just know there are a number of sacred objects she has to find before she can attempt to return to the Greece she was taken from."

"But we were in Ja... Japan."

Hercules shrugged broad shoulders. "I dunno. She seems to think she can go back to Greece. I think she's got enough determination to find a way to do just that." He hesitated. "You're part of that, you know."

"You think so?"

Hercules shook his tawny head. "Uh uh. I *know* so."



Gradually the days settled into a pattern and it wasn't long before the warmth of summer turned to the coolness of fall. Together Hercules and Gabrielle took in the garden produce and prepared the cabin for the coming winter. Hercules stood amazed more than once at Gabrielle's strength and determined capabilities, but instead of saying anything and making her self-conscious about them, he simply shook his head and got back to work.

When everything around the cabin was done and ready for the coming storms, Gabrielle decided to approach Hercules about hunting.

"Hercules, would you be terribly offended if I asked you not to go out hunting with me?"

He took her hands in his and chafed them lightly. "Gabrielle, I know you need to feed and I would never embarrass you... well, you know what I mean. If you're more comfortable out there alone, I know there are still things around here for me to take care of. But be careful, will ya?"

She smiled impishly at him. "I always am," she said saucily, conveniently forgetting what Xena had always referred to as the 'Gabrielle Effect'.

"Uh huh," he teased. "Like I haven't heard some stories."

Gabrielle smacked his muscular arm. "Be nice to me," she growled.

He laughed and absently noted that he tended to do that a lot around her. That went a long way to explaining the extreme changes he'd noticed in Xena and he put that thought aside to ponder more when he was alone.

"Go on," he said with a pat on her back. "I'd like some venison steaks."

Gabrielle's eyes twinkled. Since the weather hadn't turned completely cold, most of the furs and all of the ones she had tanned were still put away. She decided to yank Hercules' chain... just a little.

"Oh you would, huh? I'll see what I can do, though it's not usually what I go looking for at this time of year. In the meantime, the furs and bedding probably needs to be aired out. See ya."

Then she disappeared down the slight path and into the woods beyond.

Hercules watched for a while, his eyes remaining on the spot where Gabrielle stepped into the trees for long moments after she was lost from sight. "Now I wonder what she meant by that. She's got that 'I'm up to something' twinkle going. Poor Xena," he said, chuckling to himself as he moved towards the lean-to that served as the storage shed. "She's gonna have a hell of a time trying to keep up with Gabrielle anymore."



Hercules sat outside on the tiny porch when he saw Gabrielle's blonde head pop through the opening in the trees. He thought about letting her struggle with her burden herself after the surprise he'd been handed earlier in the day, but his nature wouldn't let him and he got up and jogged over to the tree line.

"Did you get another bear?" he asked with a small smirk.

"Yep and I got you your deer too."

An eyebrow rose on his forehead. "You didn't have to...."

I know," she cut in, "but I could." She shrugged gracefully. "So I did."

He noticed a skin pouch on her waist and figured she must have drained the blood she needed for the coming winter. He shuddered, but pushed the thought aside, knowing she hadn't chosen the destiny she'd been handed. Besides, he'd never her take more than she needed and from what he'd seen in the short time he'd been back in Banff, she put back into the earth at least as much as she used.

"Well, thank you, Gabrielle," he said, focusing his mind on other things. "How 'bout I take this stuff and start preparing it and once you get cleaned up, you could maybe, um... cook us some steaks?"

"You saying I stink?"

"Nonononono!" Hercules said, backpedaling a bit as Gabrielle took a step forward. "Just thinking you might like a soak after lugging this big old bear back."

Gabrielle let him worry for a moment as she continued to advance. She giggled when she reached him. "Nice save," she said. "And you're right, I would."

"Cook?" he ventured.

Gabrielle walked by him laughing. "That too."



Hercules was very thankful for Gabrielle's hunting skills when the weather suddenly dropped from chilly to frigid. His bed was a stuffed mattress on the floor in the main room and he noticed an immediate difference when the furs she had captured became rugs and blankets and window coverings. He couldn't believe how much snugger and cozier the cabin became with the addition.

Winter passed pleasantly enough for the two immortals. There was plenty to keep them occupied and they respected the silence as much as they indulged in conversation. Gabrielle studied American history and Hercules found out she was better at math than he was. Hercules decided it was nice to have family to share with again, even if only for a little while and Gabrielle came to the conclusion that having an older brother was nice, especially one who respected your skills.

Days turned into weeks and then into months and eventually the storms went from fierce blizzards to lazy snowfall to spring rain. Finally the weather cleared enough that traveling down out of the mountains and into Banff was not treacherous and after making sure everything was well-tended and put away, they began their journey back to civilization with only a single glance at the cabin that had been their sanctuary.



"What was that all about?" Gabrielle asked Hercules as he stepped from the small office. Banff was not too greatly changed since Gabrielle's arrival years ago - a few more shops, but it mostly retained its rustic flavor and appearance. Hercules walked slowly, allowing Gabrielle to soak up the renewing of connecting with humanity on a personal level again.

The first thing Gabrielle noticed was that many of the women in this small frontier town wore trousers much like she herself had on, though they were certainly not stylish or well-fitting. Then she realized that since many of them had come to climb the mountains, they simply had to wear smaller versions of men's pants to be able to do so safely. Maybe there was some hope for society after all. She couldn't imagine anyone not choosing trousers over the confining garb that was considered fashionable for women if they were given the chance to choose.

She looked in many windows, fascinated by the changes a few short years had brought. Then she remembered the pen she had crafted from necessity. Probably that same need was behind many of the new gadgets and contraptions she saw in the small town.

"Ya know," Hercules commented, breaking in on her thoughts. "Maybe you should market that fountain pen of yours. I imagine that could become quite popular." He looked around. "Not here necessarily, but in the big cities." He shrugged. "Something to think about."

Gabrielle nodded. "Maybe, but that still doesn't answer my question."

"Huh?" he blinked. "Oh, I sent a telegraph off to an old friend in Calgary. Asked him to have a couple good horses ready for us." A blonde brow rose and he answered what he felt was an obvious question. "So we don't have to walk all the way to Texas."

"Uh huh... and how is he gonna know when to have them ready and waiting?"

"Well, he'll be in town for the mustang round up and we should arrive pretty close to then as well. "Whoever gets there first will wait for the other."

"And you're sure he'll get that telegraph thing you just sent?"

"Yep... in two to three days if there are no lines down the man in the office said."

Gabrielle let her eyes follow the long thin wires that were strung precariously high above her head and tracked them through the mountainous area until they were well out of sight. She shook her head. "If you say so. I've seen enough strange new things in my life not to discount something just because I don't understand it."

Hercules grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. "That's the spirit." He took her arm. "Now c'mon. I'd like a hot meal and a bed tonight. We start a long walk into Calgary in the morning."

Gabrielle laughed infectiously and soon Hercules joined her without understanding the reason why. When she was able to draw breath and wipe her eyes she looked at him seriously. "Herc, I have walked the diameter of the world several times in my lifetime. Walking from here to Calgary will be a day in the park."



Of course, he never mentioned that walk in the park was gonna be mostly through the mountains, Gabrielle groused silently as the duo approached Calgary. The walk had taken longer than Gabrielle remembered, though in all fairness she was so anxious to get there she didn't recall much of the trip in.

They weren't in Calgary yet, but they had slowly started seeing the occasional ranch with its accompanying outbuildings. To Gabrielle's surprise, Hercules turned down a long lane without a word and she kept pace beside him. Just as the sun reached its zenith, Hercules removed his hat and wiped the sweat off his forehead before raising his hand and knocking loudly on the front door.

An older woman came to the door, wiping her hands on a towel, then squealing and opening her arms to the big man when she recognized him.

"Harrison Tillman!" addressing Hercules by the moniker he wore in his present incarnation. "What are you doin' here? Phillip got your telegram and was making plans to meet you in Calgary next week." She looked past his broad shoulder. "You gonna introduce me?"

"Oh, yeah... sorry Maggie. "Maggie, this is my sister, Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is Maggie Atkins. Maggie and her husband Philip and I knew each other in the States before the war."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am."

"It's Maggie, child, though you must be older than a child to be Harrison's sister." Maggie looked at Hercules. "Sure do wish you'd share the secret of your eternal youth though. We seem to get older every year and you still look as good as you did the first time I met ya."

Maggie stepped back and gestured them inside. "Ya'll come on in and be comfortable. I'll call Daddy in from the field." She stepped onto the porch and rang the heavy iron bell that hung from the side of the house. "He'll hear that and be right in."

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Phillip was stomping his boots just outside the kitchen door. And after another surprised round of greetings and introductions, they settled into visiting.

"So what brings ya by here instead of meetin' me in Calgary?"

"We made better time than I expected, actually. Thought maybe we could just pick up the horses and leave from here. It's a long ride into Texas."

"Can you stay a day or two? Visit a little bit?"

Hercules looked at Gabrielle who nodded ever so slightly in agreement. He smiled. "We'd love to, thanks."

The rest of the day was spent catching up, though Philip promised them a tour of the ranch and the mustangs he was taking to the round-up in Calgary the next week. And with the early morning light, he did just that.

The spread was beautiful, nestled into the heart of the valley and framed by the craggy mountains that stood majestic behind it. There were a few trees and a stream, but what captured Gabrielle's imagination was the vast space around them. Similar to what she had known in Banff, yet not the same at all. What seized her attention however, were the wild horses running circles around each other in the corral. They were beautiful in a fierce rowdy way that simply awed her in a way she hadn't felt in a very long time.

Gabrielle edged the horse Hercules had purchased for her up to the corral, close enough to brush the fence post with her leg. The mustangs ceased their movement, only their breathing making their sides quiver. Gabrielle sat completely still, simply watching, feeling her breath catch as one mustang separated itself from the pack and stepped forward towards her.

The two men sat back a little simply watching the tableau that was taking place before them. Hercules had felt Gabrielle's start and quickly realized the reason behind it.

The horse approaching her bore an uncanny resemblance to Argo. It was a little smaller and its mane and tail were a little darker, but the similarities were astounding.

"I'll be damned," Phillip muttered sotto voce to Hercules.

"No kidding," Herc mumbled back.

"No, you don't understand. That 'stang... I have never seen one that color before and until today... until right now, he has been the meanest, orneriest critter I have ever had the displeasure to meet." The two men watched in silence as the horse eased up beside Gabrielle and not only allowed her to pet him, but actually encouraged it.

They remained that way for sometime before Gabrielle whispered in the mustang's ear. He whickered and shook his head and she laughed aloud. The horse nudged her gently and she kissed his head on the white mark between his eyes before moving back to where the two stunned men sat watching her.

"What??" she asked, looking at herself for marks.

Hercules just shook his head with a smile. Phillip cleared his throat. "Wow," was all he managed to whisper.

Gabrielle grinned real big and started to make her way back towards the ranch house.

"Oh!" she exclaimed and stopped the big horse in its tracks, turning to face the two who had yet to move. "His name is Shamrock." Then she continued on her way, grin still plastered to her face.

Hercules laughed heartily and clapped Philip's shoulder as the two friends watched the mustangs scurry away at the rolling sound. Then they turned and headed their own horses for home.

Phillip waited until he thought she was out of hearing. "Well, I'll be damned," he repeated again.



Chapter XXXVIII

"Well, I'll be damned," the grizzled cowboy commented as he came up to lean on the corral fence next to Xena. "Ya know, you're the second beautiful lady to tame him this week. Must be a trend." Then he was forced to step back from the fence when the horse reared in his direction.

Xena snorted and so did the horse. The man just chuckled at the similarities between the two until he was pinned with ice blue eyes. Then he swallowed his laughter with an audible gulp. The horse whickered and Xena smirked.

"First of all, this horse isn't tamed. He's his own spirit." She gave a small smile when the horse nodded his agreement. "And secondly, I'm no lady." Her feral grin made the man straighten uncomfortably, but he held his ground and extended his hand.

"Name's Phillip Atkins." He motioned to the horse. "This here's Shamrock."

Xena raised and eyebrow as she clasped his hand. "Xena," she said briefly. "You gave a wild, untamed horse a name because...?"

"Oh, no ma'am. *I* didn't. We had a friend and his sister visit last week. She and the horse took a shine to one another. *She* named him Shamrock."

"I see," Xena drawled slowly, clearly confused. "So why didn't she keep him, if they got along so well?"

"Because they were leaving out for Texas and she needed a horse that had already been trained and was ready to make the trip."

Xena nodded, accepting the explanation, then she turned her attention back to the mustang. "Shamrock, huh?" she asked, rubbing his head. He pushed harder under her hand and she laughed soundlessly. "How much?" she asked the cowboy without removing her eyes from Shamrock.

"Well," he considered, "He's got good tone and speed and he is such an unusual color... I won't take a penny less than two hundred."

Xena looked at the horse carefully, then put her hand on the top rail and lightly leaped the fence into the corral.

"You can't...." Phillip sputtered, then simply stood back and watched as Xena gently lifted and examined each hoof. She walked around the mustang, talking to him in a low tone that no one else could understand. The horse stood stock still, allowing the examination, even when she opened his mouth and checked his teeth.

"Two hundred, huh?" she said with her back still turned to Phillip.

"Yes, ma'am. I think he's worth every penny."

Xena wrapped her hands in the dark blonde mane and leapt onto the mustang's back. The horse trembled but stood still, waiting to see what this strange new human had in mind. Xena sat confidently, giving the animal a chance to adjust to her weight. She eased one hand into her shirt pocket, pulling out a handful of bills and counting out two hundred. She extended her reach towards the cowboy who stared at her with astounded eyes.

The horse stutter stepped nervously and Xena gently urged him to take the sidestep necessary to bring her body along side the fence.

"Your price," she said briskly, when Phillip made no move to take the money from her. Slowly he raised his hand and felt the warmth of the paper as the transfer was made. He looked at her fully then and Xena let her eyes show a feral joy she hadn't felt since coming to this strange land decades ago.

"Do we have a deal?" Xena asked softly. She sat straight on the mustang's back, sure of her seat and confident in her abilities. Her hair blew away from her face in the light, early morning breeze and her eyes reflected the glow of the dawning sunlight.

Phillip merely nodded his head, mesmerized by the living portrait of feminine fierceness before him. She accepted his word with a slight lift of her head. Then she leaned down into Shamrock's neck and whispered into his ear.

"All right, boy... let's see whatcha got. Let's RUN!"

She nudged him with her knees as she spoke and Shamrock took off like the wind. Around the corral he ran, stirring the other mustangs until he was leading a parade. Xena angled him towards the fence, hoping he would clue into what she was thinking. A grin crossed her face when she felt the mustang gathering himself as the fence approached. Xena leaned down into him and Shamrock pulled his legs up, clearing the fence by a good foot and leaving Phillip staring at their dust with his mouth agape and his eye bugging out of his head.

"Well," he drawled at last. "I'll be damned."



Xena laughed in sheer pleasure as the headed out of the town proper and into the outskirts. She pulled up in front of the boardinghouse with a flourish and Rosalie stepped out to see what was causing such a commotion so early in the morning. Her eyes widened perceptibly when she spotted Xena sitting so comfortably on top of a mustang, looking for all the world as though she'd been born to the saddle. Except....

"Come with me," Rosalie said abruptly.

Xena slid down from Shamrock's back, though she kept a hand in his mane as she followed Rosalie to the barn. Xena had spent a lot of time cleaning out the old place out and now it was clean and repaired and nearly empty, save the few odds and ends Rosalie had insisted be stored there.

Now they went in with Shamrock walking obediently behind Xena. She wondered about the oddness of that, then accepted it as a gift not to be taken lightly... especially not knowing how long it would last.

"Wait right here," Rosalie asked and move further into the barn.

The barn was mostly dark in the early hours of the morning, even with the barn doors open wide, but Xena breathed deeply of the clean scent of hay and fresh wood. Shamrock nudged her gently in the back and Xena chuckled lightly as she scratched his ears.

She could easily hear the bumping and groaning coming from the dark corner and wondered what on earth.... Then she saw Rosalie struggling and rushed over to help her.

Rosalie's face was a little flushed from the exertion and she was happy to have Xena relieve her of her burden. "Take that outside, please. I have a couple things to go with that and you'll be all set."

Xena took the heavy wooden box and stepped back out into the morning sunshine. She put it carefully on the ground and turned to see if she could help Rosalie when the older woman came through the doors struggling with a smaller box. Xena was quick to take that from her as well and stacked it on top of the bigger one.

Rosalie leaned against them and removed a kerchief from her bodice, wiping away copious amounts of sweat from her face and forearms. Then she blew out a disgusted breath.

"I surely don't recall this being so heavy before."

Without a word, Xena crossed to the well and pulled up the bucket. Then she grabbed the full dipper and brought it back to Rosalie. Rosalie accepted the dipper and drained it, patting Xena on the arm with a smile.

"You're a sweet one, Xena. Remind me a lot of myself in my younger years. C'mere." Rosalie pushed off of the boxes and picked up the flat iron bar she'd brought out from the barn with her. She handed it to Xena and gestured to the wooden crates. "Open those up for me, will ya?"

Xena pried the lid off and set the smaller box aside. Then she lever the second one off and stepped back.

Shamrock, doing his bit to help, lipped at the straw that was visible, but he soon abandoned the stale straw in favor of Xena's clean hair. She ducked his lips playfully and scratched his neck, then froze when she saw what Rosalie had removed from the crates.

On the lid sat a western leather saddle that though used, looked as though it had been well-cared for. Rosalie set the oilcloth it was wrapped in on the straw and casually moved over to the smaller box and took out bridle, reins, bit and various other sundry parts that Xena needed to saddle Shamrock.

Wide blue eyes blinked and her mouth worked, but before Xena could get sound to come out, Rosalie started to speak softly, her back turned to Xena.

"When I was a much younger woman," she reminisced, "I had a best friend that I loved very much. We did everything together. Neorah and I, we... I... well.... Anyway, when we were sixteen, my folks married me off to a much older man and Neorah, she ran away from home and headed west, swearing she would never suffer my fate. Marriage, ya know."

Xena nodded but remained silent, wanting to hear more of Rosalie's story.

"Horace, my husband, was a kind man, but we didn't love one another. He lived for three years after we wed and once my period of mourning was over, I came out west, hoping against hope to find my Neorah."

Silence fell as Rosalie got lost in her memories. Xena waited patiently.

"It took me almost a year to travel out here on my own, avoiding Indians and white men alike. From the little I'd heard they were equally vicious and even as young and stupid as I was I knew it was best not to be a woman caught alone out here."

"So why do it?" Xena asked logically. "Were things that bad for you as a widow?"

Rosalie shook her head with a sad smile. "No. Horace left me comfortably well off. But I needed to find Neorah." Her eyes pinned Xena's. "You can understand that."

"This area was empty when I stopped here. I just couldn't go on any further. And that first year... God, I didn't think I'd survive. I built the barn alone and it took me until after the first snows. It was... it was rough." She swallowed hard. "For five long years, I worked the land and built me a little place. The Indians left me alone because I respected the land and their way of life. Very few white men came through until they built the fort and even then, they didn't come out here unless they were passing through to the ocean."

"What happened?" Xena asked when silence fell again.

"Neorah," Rosalie answered with a tremulous smile. "Out of the blue one fine spring morning almost thirty-five years ago, the most beautiful sight I have ever seen came riding up to my front porch." She laughed. "I was out back in the garden when I saw a rider come up the path. I picked up the shotgun Horace had taught me how to shoot, having learned real quick to be safe rather than sorry."

Rosalie never felt the tears fall from her eyes, but Xena felt her own tearing up at the joy that shone in her face. She blinked rapidly and focused her attention on keeping her breathing even.

"The rider dismounted and walked towards me, even though I had the gun still raised. I asked what they wanted, told them to get off my land. She stopped, just out of arms reached and lifted a hand towards her hat...."

Rosalie trailed off again, remembering the day her life had changed so drastically. Then she sighed and turned her attention back to Xena, who had a faraway almost pained look in her eyes. She laid a tentative hand on the warrior's arm and waited until the blue eyes tracked to her own.

"We had twenty-five wonderful years together before she... before...." Rosalie bit her lip and turned away. "Even after all this time," she whispered, "it still hurts."

Finally she lifted the bridle and bit and put them in Xena's hands. "These were hers... well, her horse's," Rosalie said with a small smile. "I'd be honored if you'd consider them yours and...." She looked at the horse. "He got a name yet?"

"Shamrock," Xena said gruffly. "Name he came with."

Rosalie held up her hands defensively and tried not to laugh. "Yours and Shamrock's," she continued. "You need them and I'd like you to have them. Please," she added when it looked like Xena might refuse. Xena nodded and moved to outfit Shamrock in his new gear for the first time. Then the day got *really* interesting.



"Guess you're glad he's a fast learner," Rosalie commented that evening as she put the stopper back in the bottle of witch hazel. Xena's hands and arms had cuts and scrapes that were already healing, though if Rosalie noticed, she kept such things to herself.

Xena merely grunted her agreement. Her butt was sore. It had been a long time since she'd ridden such a strong-willed horse and it had taken Shamrock a little while to accept the new tack. But a few well-placed words after their first battle of wills and he settled down right. Xena spent a good bit of the morning learning his gaits and teaching him different commands. She felt satisfied with their work and turned him back towards the house at a fast clip when without warning he threw her cleanly out of the saddle and unfortunately landed her in a briar patch.

She climbed back on a little warily and put him through his paces again. Once she was satisfied they were communicating again, she directed him back to the house. Everything was fine until they reached the yard. Then without warning, he stopped dead and arched his back, jumping and curling in a wild, graceful dance.

Then she realized that he was bucking and twisting because he enjoyed it... it was his way of playing with her. But she supposed that free spirit had to express itself somehow. Xena held on tight and just hoped that mostly it came in the form of running and not this creative dance he seemed so enamored of. She wasn't sure she could handle all that enthusiasm, despite her immortality. Especially since the panther and the fox tended to bring out those traits in Shamrock and they seemed predisposed to appearing in her life at the most inopportune moments.



Xena left Calgary with good memories though they didn't last long. Almost the minute she crossed back into the United States from Canada, ugly rumors reached her ears about Union atrocities and she set out to find out the truth.

What she found was beyond her understanding, worse than anything she had done during her warlording days in Greece. Union soldiers had killed Indian women and children and that put Xena on a warpath that would bring her in contact with a despised enemy.



Xena's first glimpse of Custer sent proverbial chills up her back... something she'd not felt since.... India? The Steppes? Rome? The familiarity of it made her spine tingle in a most unpleasant way and she initially tried to put it aside as malevolent feelings towards a soldier she considered to be without competence or honor. But it niggled at her and she began comparing it to the other times in her life she'd felt it. It was reminiscent of Ares, but....

Xena cast her mind back nearly two thousand years and remembered what Naima had said about karma and the circle of life. Then she realized why this union soldier felt so familiar to her. The colonel known to the world as George Armstrong Custer was in actuality the reincarnation of Alti's soul. And Xena set out to defeat her in the lifetime she now lived.

For several years, Xena had dogged Custer's steps, harassing him and his troops at every turn. She organized raiding parties that plagued Custer's efforts across the plains. Fort Riley had been razed because of his desire to channel the Indians onto a reservation and she had only just missed catching him there. It was the Battle of Washita that made it personal for Xena though.

The fact that soldiers killed defenseless women and children made her blood boil and it made Xena want to bring the skirmishes to an end once and for all.

Various Native nations had joined her periodically to drive the troops from their land, but Xena was having trouble convincing them to join forces and with one another to drive the white man out completely. They felt their hatreds for each other were too old and deep.

Finally she went to Sitting Bull, with whom she had developed a friendship over the last few years as they'd fought together against the white man. Crazy Horse, whom she met on her trek back from California, had introduced them. Crazy Horse was like a duplicate of Palaemon, being something of a dashing rogue, a ladies man with an almost identical facial scar. Once he understood that she was a warrior of no small skill and not a woman to be wooed, Crazy Horse had accepted her as a friend and brave. Sitting Bull had never questioned her motivations, accepting her introduction by Crazy Horse and appreciating her Cheyenne warrior marking and skills. Several times she had been invited to share around his fire and he'd found her thoughts succinct and insightful.

Now when she approached him for a meeting, he couldn't refuse and he listened carefully while smoking a pipe which they shared. His gaze went inward for a while once she finished speaking and he thought about what she'd proposed. Finally he nodded.

"Join me for Sun Dance. See what spirits think."

Xena nodded. She felt confident that the spirits were in agreement.

The following morning the rites for the Sun Dance began and for four days Xena fasted and meditated except when her physical presence was required for some ceremony. Just before dawn of the fifth day, she escaped her self-imposed exile and hunted, knowing she needed the blood sustenance for the trial ahead.

Xena was already deep in a trance when the blades were inserted into her breasts. For hours she simply hung still reviewing her life with Gabrielle while those around her struggled and fought to get free. The medicine men couldn't understand the small smile that graced her face. Finally, though, she slid free from the blades and only the silent tears on her face gave any indication of the excruciating pain she felt, though they never knew the real cause.

When the day was over, she had Sitting Bull's agreement. The tribes would join together to fight the Union Blue Coats at Little Big Horn.

Runners were sent out to the Nations and men gathered very quickly, including a very surprising visitor for Xena.



The appearance of a white man in their camp was stunning, but the enthusiasm with which he was greeted by Xena and Crazy Horse caused a dead silence to fall over the entire assembly.

They had been preparing for war - arrows added to quivers, axes honed to razor sharpness, guns checked and loaded and the buzz of conversation hung low across the encampment. When the stranger approached the camp, he drew everyone's attention, then Xena looked up and caught his eyes and the small grin on his face that he produced on sight of her.

"Hercules?" she whispered, before launching into a run and engulfing him in a hug.

Hercules wrapped her in a fierce embrace and lifted her off the ground until he felt her shrink away from him. He drew back to look at her face, concerned.

"Problem?" he asked softly, well aware of the eyes on them.

She shook her head and hugged him again, though it was much lighter than the first. "I'm just a little sore," she answered vaguely. "C'mon," she said with a smile as she pulled away again. "There's someone here I want you to meet."

They turned to find Crazy Horse waiting. Hercules extended his hand and Crazy Horse simply looked at him a long moment, before engulfing him in a hug.

"Harrison! I have not seen you since we fought with Red Cloud in Wyoming."

"Crazy Horse! How are you?"

"Good, my friend. You?"

Hercules smiled. "The same. Glad to find friends here," though his look at Xena conveyed more than his words.

"Happy you are here, Harrison. Come." Crazy Horse led the way.

The eyes of the whole community followed them until they reached Sitting Bull's fire. And conversation started up again slowly as the Chief invited them to sit down. They sat and talked until the shadows grew long and Sitting Bull found a friend in the man named Harrison Tillman.

Once the sun had completely set, Xena and Hercules took their leave from Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse and walked away from the camp out into the darkness of the plain. Without a sound, two animals came up on either side of Xena, subtly pushing Hercules further away from the warrior. He looked at Xena with a raised eyebrow. She chuckled softly.

"Etor, Melo, this is an old friend... Hercules. Herc, these are my spirit guides."

Hercules knelt down to bring himself eye to eye with the animals. "It's nice to meet you. I'm glad Xena has had you and hasn't had to be alone." The panther stepped into Hercules' personal space and growled, showing its canine teeth in a full, snarling smile. The fox crossed in front of the cat, putting itself between the panther and Hercules. The cat held Herc's eyes for another full minute before turning its face into the fox's neck and nuzzling with a faint purr.

Hercules stood slowly and looked at Xena who has silently watched the entire tableau. "They're mates?"

She nodded, "Since before I found them, I think."

"Ya know," he commented casually, "They remind me of y...."

"I know," she cut in. "Me too."

They walked on again in silence. "Would you excuse me a few minutes? I need to...."

Hercules held up his hands. "Go ahead. Etor and Melo can keep me company til you get back."

Xena nodded and slipped into the darkness without a sound and Hercules sat down and turned his attention to the two animals. The panther sat facing him and the fox curled up in its embrace. Hercules stared at them for a time, then turned his attention to the darkness, feeling as though he had intruded on something intensely private when they began grooming on another. He never heard Xena come up until she seated herself next to him, clearly visible in the moonlight.

"Do you know who Alti is... who she was in the lifetime that was so long ago for us?"

"I know some. I've heard stories. Why?"

"I've seen her in this lifetime. She is the soldier known as George Custer."

"You're sure?"

"Yep."

"I met him once, during the war. He was a total ass."

"Yeah, well, soon he is gonna be a dead one. We're gonna wipe 'em out, Herc. They've killed enough, killed women and children and it ends here. But Custer especially dies."

"Why?"

Xena shrugged. "It is part of my destiny... my karmic circle. I defeat Alti in every life we cross paths in."

Hercules looked a little lost at her surety, but decided to let it pass uncontested, having other things of importance on his mind. He was composing a way to bring up his topic, when Xena beat him to the punch.

"So what brings you here, Hercules? I got the distinct impression from your arrival that you were looking for me."

"I was." He looked down at his clasped hands then back out at the flat plain of darkness that stretched to infinity. "I found Gabrielle." Xena's grip on his arm made him flinch with the bruising force she applied when she grasped it.

He waited, but she didn't say a word, her jaw clenched so tightly he could hear her teeth grinding together.

"She, um... she's a beautiful woman, Xena, but time and the world have worn on her... a lot."

"She's always been a beautiful woman, Hercules. Even when she was still a cute kid," she whispered, though Xena's hold grew noticeably tighter. Hercules surreptitiously flexed his hand to keep the blood flowing to it. He cleared his throat and continued without looking in her direction.

"I took her to Texas... to stay with some friends I have there. It's given her some stability and she's well thought of there. She's the school teacher in a little town called Nocona Corners."

Hercules heard Xena swallow, but it was the only sound she made. He looked at her and watched her jaw clench and unclench, knowing she was fighting an emotional battle to stay focused. He'd given her the impetus she needed to make the coming fight swift and furious. Herc nodded to himself and returned his gaze back to the blackness and kept a silent watch, waiting for the sun to come up.



Morning brought battle. The Indians spotted the Blue Coats in the same instant they were seen and they prepared themselves for the coming fight.

Xena mounted Shamrock and prepared to lead a mounted charge against those who were coming. Her gut told her Custer would be among them and she had a burning need to finish her business with Alti so she could finally reunite with Gabrielle... especially now that she had all the totems save one. With the chakram she suspected was still in Gabrielle's possession, they could go home.

Hercules gathered up his borrowed weapons and prepared to join the warriors who were on foot. Sitting Bull had introduced him to the war chiefs and he had been made welcome to join the many braves who would fight on foot. He felt Xena's regard and he gave her a salute from his chest which she returned with a smile, before giving her war cry and leading the mounted troops to meet the enemy. He felt himself wishing for a horse so he could fight by her side once more and then a far bigger problem became his immediate focus.

Custer was not a stupid man and he had divided his forces into a three-pronged attack and unexpectedly, one of those prongs came over the horizon towards the encampment and the warriors who remained there. The war chiefs rallied the braves and soon they were engaged in the battle. Hercules spared a prayer for Xena, then focused his attention on the fight that lay ahead of him.

Meanwhile Xena and the rest of the mounted warriors pursued Custer and his battalion into the hills, knowing they had the advantage in both numbers and knowledge. This was their home they were defending and many of them had grown up learning their skill at arms in this very valley. So it was with many glad voices raised that they now fought to drive the white man from their territory once and for all.

Xena honed in on Custer, wanting him to know where his death was coming from. He was a little separate from those in his command, as though his being in charge would make a difference in whether he lived or died.

Pompous little prick, Xena thought to herself before turning Shamrock and heading directly towards George Armstrong Custer. She blocked the other sounds of battle, negligently killing those who thought to get in her way and letting this one Blue Coat become her entire focus.

Custer caught sight of the brave headed at him so recklessly and he raised a pistol to shoot him. Before he got the gun to firing level, however, he realized two very important things. The brave was no brave at all, but a woman with startlingly blue eyes. And she was now leaping from her horse and taking him off of his.

Custer lost his gun along with his balance and was barely able to roll to his feet before the first blow rattled his brains. He fell and she kicked him and he reached for his remaining pistol while shaking his head.

"Die, Injun!" he yelled as he pulled the trigger, his smile a grimace when Xena fell to the ground unmoving. The bloodstain blossomed on her chest and he reached for the knife strapped to his leg and grabbed the dark hair in his fist.

"I've never taken a woman's scalp," Custer sneered, "but I'll make an exception in your case."

He never saw the blow coming, but the pain that exploded in his throat was telling as her foot connected with his throat and he landed on his butt from the force of her kick. His breath grew raspy as he struggled to pull air into his lungs and Custer recognized to his bemusement that he was going to die. He looked at Xena with a mixture awe and fright when she snatched the blade from his hands.

"Y-you... should be... d-dead!" he wheezed as his eyes fastened on the big red spot on her chest. "I-I-I shot... you... at p-point... blank... range!"

She looked down at her chest and felt a wave of lethargy flow through her at the blood loss. "Damn you, bitch! That hurts!"

Xena punched him and watched his head snap back, then drew the blade up Custer's face, leaving a thin trail of blood in its wake. "I don't kill that easy," she remarked. "You of all people ought to know that by now."

Custer stared at her trying to focus even as his breath grew subtly shallower. Xena waited, knowing revelation would come and recognized the moment it did.

"Xena," Alti drawled. The warrior could hear just the faintest hint of the telltale rasp that her voice had carried in their original lifetime. "How...? You can't...."

Xena smiled cruelly. "Oh but I can...I have many skills," she said coldly.

Alti forced her body to stand. "So do I," she growled, gathering her waning life force in her hands and channeling it, hitting Xena in the chest again. The warrior flew back and landed on the ground a second time. "At least if I have to go I can take you with me."

Alti fell to her knees and punched Xena's face, then reached for the knife. "Say your prayers, Xena."

The warrior jerked upward and pulled out of Alti's grasp shaking her head to clear it of the dizziness that the blood loss had caused.

"Why won't you die?" Alti hissed, even as Xena swung the knife towards her. She sliced through the blue uniform and cut into the skin on Alti's upper arm. Then she spun and kicked the shamaness in the gut, watching as she fell to the ground.

Xena clenched Custer's hair in her hand and twisted hard as she moved the blade into position. "Nice as this has been, I've got other places to be," she said.

"I'll see you in hell," Alti said, then screamed as Xena removed her scalp. Silence soon followed, but she, like those of her regiment, was not alive to appreciate the peace that shrouded the battlefield at their deaths.

Xena stood and raised Custer's scalp to the sun and her war cry was echoed across the plains by the warriors who had survived the day with her. She whistled; Shamrock ran to her and she leaped astride the mustang as he headed back to the encampment, followed by his compatriots.

What they found when they got there was astonishing. Yet another band of Blue Coats had attacked the main camp, but they were being held off by the foot troops that had not left for battle... instead the battle had come to them. Now with the return of the mounted warriors, the Blue Coats were being forced to retreat into the hills and the war chiefs were pursuing them to wipe out the last of the enemy.

Xena rode the where Sitting Bull stood, directing the warriors. She dropped the scalp at his feet. "Custer is dead," she said succinctly. "And now I must leave. Duty calls me elsewhere."

He motioned to her bloody chest, but she waved him off. Sitting Bull shook his head, but motioned his acceptance of her diagnosis nonetheless.

"Go find beloved. Search over soon."

Xena's eyes rounded with questions. Sitting Bull chuckled at her expression.

"Vision quest during Sun Dance revealed many things. Now go, brave warrior. Your place not here now."

Xena nodded and stood in the stirrups, looking for Hercules. She gritted her teeth against the pain and the dizziness and guided Shamrock through the maze of bodies living, wounded and dead before she reached him.

"Where is Nocona Corners?"

"Let me get my stuff...."

"Hercules, you've got no horse and I'm not gonna wait. Where is she?"

"A little town in the northeast part of the state."

She extended a hand with a grimace and he took it, knowing she bore him no malice but that her patience had finally run out. He just hoped she'd be all right alone.

"Thanks, Hercules. You've been a good friend and I appreciate...."

He held up his hand. "We'll see each other again. Good luck, my friend."

She nodded and wheeled her horse around, headed southeast and giving Shamrock his head. Herc watched until she was out of sight.

"You're gonna need it."



Chapter XXXIX

It was only when Shamrock stopped walking that Xena opened her eyes to near darkness. The loss of blood combined with the day's heat, Shamrock's rocking gait and the exertion of the battle had caused Xena to drift into a state of disassociation. By unspoken common consent, the three animals kept a slow steady pace and the cat searched for a spot to make a lair.

Fortunately, the country they were currently in had hills and mountains... some of which had caves. It was to these that they headed.

When they stopped, Xena looked around in confusion, her mind not clear enough to understand where there were... or why.

"Whassa matter, boy?" she slurred. "Ya loss?"

She studied the area, trying to wrap her focus around what was happening. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, she was having trouble thinking coherently.

She slid from Shamrock's back, her knees buckling when her feet touched the ground. A sharp pain lanced through her chest and she put her hand up, pulling it away covered in blood. Her legs slid out from under her and she sat down on the hard-packed earth rather abruptly.

The fox nuzzled her hand, licking it clean. Xena realized that she needed blood to replenish what she had lost and to help speed her recovery. The problem was her ability to hunt. She wasn't sure she could remain cognizant long enough to find what she needed.

"Gotta do this... gotta get... to... Gabrielle."

She made to stand and instead slipped to the ground unconscious.



Hercules helped bandage the wounded and saw to it that everyone was on the trail away from the Union soldiers before he headed for the nearest outpost. There was a little town a few days' walk from his current location and he had a promise to keep.

He bid Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse goodbye and headed east, hoping to get to his destination quickly.

The vagaries of weather made him a few days later than he'd hoped and he briefly considered skipping his errand altogether. After all, given Xena's anxiousness to get to Gabrielle, she could very well have run her horse to its very limits which would put her to Texas in a very few days. On the other hand, he had told Gabrielle that he would let her know if he found Xena as soon as he could, so she could make some preparations.

He stepped into the telegraph office, pulled one of Gabrielle's fountain pens from his shirt pocket and began to write:

GABRIELLE *STOP* X HEADED YOUR WAY *STOP* BANFF FOR SUMMER *STOP* GOOD THOUGHTS *STOP* H

He reread it twice before he nodded in approval. Then he took the message to the clerk and handed him a few pennies. He watched with satisfaction as the message was sent out across the wire, then he walked back out into the town, intent on finding a hot bath and a soft bed.



July in Nocona Corners made Gabrielle wish for the forests and trees of home. It also made her long for the cloth and leather outfits the Amazons had introduced her to. Though, she admitted to herself with a smirk, Xena had a lot to do with the increasingly lack of material her clothes were made with. Her ego had preened every time she caught *that look* in Xena's eyes and a new outfit with less material was a sure fire guarantee to bring that look out. She hadn't done it often, but they both always enjoyed the results.

"Miss Gabrielle! Miss Gabrielle!"

Gabrielle came out of her reverie, spinning to find Dominic running down the street waving a paper at her. He skidded to a stop in front of her and she waited patiently for him to catch his breath. Finally he extended his hand to her.

"Here ya... go, Miss... Gabrielle."

"Thanks, Dominic," she said, taking the paper and glancing at it before she turned her attention back to the boy. "C'mon. Let's go see if Mama has some lemonade." Dominic smiled and did his best to contain himself to a walk.

Gabrielle laughed and tousled his hair. "G'wan. Tell Mama I said it was okay."

Dominic grinned broadly. "Thanks, Miss Gabrielle. You're the best."

Gabrielle chuckled and left him to his enthusiastic run as she strolled towards the boarding house. She took a good look around her, seeing the town she had called home since Hercules had brought her here with new eyes. It had grown some since they'd first arrived, but it was still a cattle town and in many ways reminded her of the home she'd had lifetimes ago.

Mama had taken her in immediately, treating her as one of the family and making sure she was looked after. It tickled Gabrielle's sensibilities in a way; after all, she'd been on her own and taking care of herself for a very long time. But Mama had deigned that it wasn't proper for Gabrielle to be without family, so she'd simply made Gabrielle part of hers. And Gabrielle had discovered it was much easier to go along with Mama on most things than to put up an argument.

Part of Gabrielle appreciated Mama's overtures as something she'd been without for more years than she cared to remember. It was nice to know that people cared about you for yourself and Gabrielle had a whole town full of people who felt that way about her. Thanks to Mama's acceptance, she had carved her own little niche here and was a respected member of the community.

Part of her, though, just wanted Xena to find her and go home. She and Hercules had searched together for a while, but nothing had come of it. She'd gotten involved with the school and the town and when he'd asked her to remain behind this time, Mama had backed him up and she'd agreed.

Now she had in her hands proof that her search was nearly over and her patience was finally going to be rewarded. Though she fumed a bit to herself, acknowledging that their reunion would have already happened if she had been with Hercules. Still, she couldn't quite contain the grin that slid onto her face at the prospect of being in Xena's arms again.

"That must be some news," Mama remarked as she handed Gabrielle a glass of cold lemonade. Mama had carefully tended the two lemon trees Hercules had found for her in their travels and she made good use of their fruit. "I don't think I've ever seen you so happy."

Gabrielle accepted the glass with shaking hands and Mama motioned Dominic out of the kitchen. Then she took Gabrielle's cold hand in hers and led her to the table. She looked at her flushed face and then patted her hand.

"I'll be right back."

Mama stepped out of the kitchen and into the dining room which had a small bar on one wall. Mama's boarding house was a little unconventional. Her dining room was a restaurant that was open to the public for lunch and dinner and the bar was actually a bar that served alcohol... to a point. If Mama or Sal decided you had enough, that was it. And they never let anyone have enough to get drunk. Mama had learned that costly lesson early on.

Strangely, it didn't put a damper on business, though that had a lot to do with the great food Mama served. It didn't hurt that Gabrielle told stories for an hour or so three nights a week either.

Now, however, the dining room was closed and Mama went behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of clear shine. Sal cocked an eyebrow in question, but Mama waved him off and he kept wiping the glasses.

Mama re-entered the kitchen, noting Gabrielle's faraway expression. She picked up her still nearly full glass of lemonade and poured in a generous dollop of liquor. The recipe was an old family one she'd brought with her from North Carolina and though the climate differences changes the taste slightly, Mama's shine still packed quite a punch.

"Drink," she commanded softly, pushing the glass into Gabrielle's hand. Gabrielle did, consuming huge gulps that made her swallow her tongue as soon as her body realized what she was ingesting with such fervor. Tears came to her eyes as she coughed and gasped for air. Mama rubbed her back and waited for her to settle down again.

"Whaddya do that for?" she asked Mama in a hoarse whisper, eyeballing the water she set before her with distinct suspicion.

"I figured to err on the side of caution. I didn't want you goin' into shock and you were showin' signs of it. Now," she said without pausing for breath. "Tell me the news."

Instead of answering, Gabrielle passed over the telegram to Mama as she picked up the glass to drink. She'd never explained much of her story - just that she was searching for someone who'd been missing from her life for a long time. Mama had her own suspicions, but she figured Gabrielle would share when the time was right for her.

Mama smiled as she read the words printed on the page and then passed the paper back to Gabrielle. "Good news, then." She smiled. "I am so happy for you Gabrielle. I know this is somethin' you've been searchin' for for a long time.

Gabrielle nodded but didn't speak. The compunction to share with this woman was overwhelming, so she simply kept her mouth shut and nodded. There was no way she was going to spill her guts when she was so close to recouping everything.

"I'll miss Harrison, though," Mama continued, unaware of Gabrielle's wandering thoughts. "He's been a good friend to Isaac and me since we met."

"Who has, Mama?" Isaac asked as he came in the back door. He leaned over and kissed her cheek before moving to the counter to fix himself a glass of lemonade. "Hey, Gabrielle!"

"Hey, Isaac," she replied even as she pondered his likeness to Iolaus. Sometimes it was simply uncanny and she had to catch herself from referring to him as such. He had become a good friend though, once he'd gotten over his crush.

"Harrison," Mama was answering his question. "He's gone up to Banff for a while. I was just mentionin' to Gabrielle here how much I'd miss him."

"Yeah," Isaac replied. "He's always finding some adventure or other to get involved in."

"Hmph," Mama answered eloquently. "Always findin' trouble for you two to get into, you mean."

Gabrielle hid a giggle behind her hand. The truth was Isaac was a LOT like his ancestor Iolaus and he and Hercules still got caught up in all sorts of escapades.

"Mama," Isaac whined, blushing furiously.

"Don't even," Mama said, cutting him off with a wave of her hand. "I still can't look at honey without laughin'."

Isaac blushed even harder and Gabrielle finally let loose the laughter that was dying to be released.

"You'd think I'd learn," he muttered as he lifted the glass to his lips and drank.

Now Mama laughed. "Yes, but then where would Gabrielle get story material from?"

Isaac looked up with a horrified expression on his face. "You wouldn't...."

Gabrielle stopped giggling, though she couldn't quite wipe the smile from her lips. "No, I wouldn't... but it sure would be easy to." She shrugged. "You two make it sooo simple."

Finally, Isaac chuckled ruefully. "I guess we do. But it sure is fun... mostly." He looked between the two women. "Any idea when he'll be back?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "He said through the summer, but I don't know what he'll do once he gets there. That's been home for a long time. He may stay until next spring."

"And what about you, Gabrielle?" Mama asked quietly when Isaac moved to retrieve the pitcher of lemonade. "Will you be stayin' once your beloved arrives?" She smiled slightly at Gabrielle's startlement. "C'mon, Gabrielle. I'm not so old that I've forgotten what the sparkle and flush of love looks like."

Gabrielle's eyes dropped to the table. "I'm not sure," she stated honestly. "We have a lot of things to talk about. I'm sure that'll be one of them."

Mama patted her hands. "Well, I hope you decide to stay, but whatever you decide, I want you to know I am happy for you."

"Thanks, Mama. That means a lot."

"What does?" Isaac asked as he resumed his set, setting the pitcher and a plate of cookies on the table.

"Having you all as my family, Isaac. Now if you two will excuse me," she added as she stood, "I have a couple things I need to take care of at home." She patted Mama's arm. "Thanks for the lemonade."

Then she disappeared out the back door and down the lane that led to her tiny cottage.



Her house was small and very reminiscent of the cottage in Banff though this one housed the few mementoes she'd collected. But Hercules had insisted she have her own private space and he, Isaac and a few of the townsmen had gotten together and built an adobe house similar to the log cabin as soon as he'd convinced her to make Nocona Corners her home for a while. Its furnishings were spare, but she was comfortable enough with what she had.

So now she had a place that was as much a home to her as any had been and she went to make things ready for Xena's imminent arrival. Not that she had a logical reason for it; she was fairly certain Xena wouldn't be noticing much of anything when she got to town. At least, she hoped not... feeling the tiniest niggling bit of doubt. After all this time, Xena did still feel the same about her, right?

Gabrielle forcibly put the doubts aside and began preparing her house to become a home to share with Xena, at least for a little while. She wanted some time alone with her soulmate to reconnect on every level, before they made any decisions about their future... or their past.

So she did her busy work, cleaning and polishing until everything was just so. Then she settled back to wait, hoping the next few days would pass swiftly.

Days turned into weeks and weeks became months and still there was no sign of Xena. Gabrielle went from the heights of joyous hope to the depths of depressed despair until it became obvious to everyone in town that she'd lost her sparkle and zest for life.

But she gritted her teeth and tried to put the utter disappointment aside during the day, digging in her heels and continuing to teach the children when the school year rolled around. She stopped telling stories, however and many nights she roamed the countryside alone, searching for a reason to stay.

Finally, a week before Samhain, Mama came to her home, determined to do what she could to help make things right.



Xena awoke after a long sleep. She was inside a small cave, but she couldn't have said how she got there. The last clear memory she had....

"Gabrielle??" she called out, sitting up swiftly and then regretting the action as the world went dark again for long minutes. She laid there simply content to breathe, letting her mind wander as she tried to put the pieces back together.

She remembered the fight with Custer, Alti, her mind cheerfully supplied. The gunshot... Xena put her hand on her chest. Her deerskin shirt had a hole and it was hard and crusty from the blood that had soaked it and subsequently dried.

Well, I had to have been here at least a day or two. Let's get up and see where we are and get some nourishment, Xena.

Xena slowly rolled to her knees and paused, waiting for her equilibrium to catch up with her body. She idly wondered just how much blood she had lost to have affected her so drastically. She stood on shaky legs and fell into the wall, almost blacking out again, before sliding back to the ground using the wall to ease herself into a sitting position.

She sat there for countless minutes before she noted that the fox and the panther stood in the opening. The cat carried a large jackrabbit carefully in its jaws and it crossed the cavern floor to drop the still warm animal in Xena's lap.

She felt her canines extend themselves and without ceremony Xena sank her fangs into the rabbit, draining it in seconds. Then she leaned her head back against the wall and let the bit of blood seep into her system. It wasn't nearly enough to replace what she'd lost, but it might be enough to keep her on her feet. She looked at her two spirit guides.

"Thanks, guys," she croaked out hoarsely. She set the carcass to one side and slid up the wall slowly. "Let's go see if we can find some more game, some water and something to burn. I need to get my strength back and get to Gabrielle."

When she stepped from the cave, she noticed several things immediately that made her heart heavy. The weather was much cooler than she remembered it and the grass all around her was brown. Shamrock had cropped it short in all directions as far as she could see and he had somehow worked himself out of the saddle, though by the condition of the girth strap, it had taken a while and hadn't been a very pleasant experience.

Xena leaned against the mouth of the cave as another wave of vertigo swept through her. "How long have I been out?" she muttered to herself. Finally she straightened and moved towards the saddlebags that lay with the abused saddle near the entrance to the cave.

They were more worn than she remembered but still intact and she pulled them to her, opening them carefully. She didn't want any nasty surprises. What she got were musty clothes and old trail rations. The pemmican she'd carried was soft and odd to the taste, but the jerky still tasted like jerky and she chewed it slowly. The water skin was bone dry and her bow was broken so she hoped her reflexes were up to hunting. With a little more haste, she opened the second bag, gratified to see the careful packing of the totems had paid off. Not one thing was broken, though the staff was quite scuffed up.

Xena let the wave of relief wash over her. She gradually made her way to where Shamrock had wandered near the cave entrance when he'd seen her emerge.

"C'mon, guys," she said at last. "Let's find some game."

Shamrock knelt at her command and Xena slid into his back, hefting the skin and her knife before signaling the mustang to stand. Then they took off at a slow pace in the direction the cat led.

Etor led them to a small herd of deer and with Shamrock's help they managed to separate two good-sized deer from the rest. Xena fell on them as a starving person would, incisors extended fully and soon both animals were drained. Now, feeling exhausted, but no longer weak, Xena placed the remains on Shamrock's back and began leading the mustang back towards the cave.

Etor led them by a burbling stream and Xena dismounted as quickly as her tired body would allow her. She filled the empty skin, then stripped off her clothing and sank into the cold water with a sense of unerring relief. She drank until she'd quenched her thirst, then scrubbed the dried blood from her body, glad beyond words to remove the itch from her skin.

When she stepped from the water, she realized her clean clothes were still at the cave and she really had no desire to put on the ones she'd so recently removed. Xena looked around, noting the barrenness of the landscape and shrugged. It wasn't that long of trek and nakedness had never been an issue for her before.

They reached the cave without incident and Xena removed the deer from Shamrock's back, patting the horse and promising him a good grooming later. Then she pulled her cleaner clothing from her saddle bags, smiling a little as she slid the denim pants up her long legs. They'd worn to an even more comfortable point over the years and the last she'd heard, Levi was doing quite a business with them. She slipped the shirt over her shoulders and buttoned it with shaky hands, then turned to see what sort of fuel she could find for a fire.

It took her a while, but she was finally satisfied with the chips and wood she'd found. She butchered the three carcasses and laid them out for smoking, putting the hides aside to tan. She began the smoking process, saving a large portion of raw meat for the fox and the panther to share between them, which they did with gusto. Xena wondered again how long she had been out of things. Then she took the hides to the stream and washed them well, stretching them out when she returned to the cave.

Then she sat back to wait for the meat to smoke and the hides to cure. Never realizing when she fell asleep again. Only knowing when she woke up that it had been several days by the coldness of the fire and the dryness of the new hides. But she felt better than she had in a very long time and she stretched before she climbed out from under the white buffalo robe she still carried.

With much more energy and enthusiasm, she rebuilt the fires, then began working on the hides. It took a few days, but soon they little party was ready to travel again. Shamrock had been groomed til he shone, though the saddle was no longer useful. Xena flipped the saddlebags over his hindquarters, then vaulted aboard herself.

"You guys coming?" she asked the panther and the fox. She'd noticed they'd stayed pretty close to her and she rather hoped they would choose to travel with her to Nocona Corners. She wanted Gabrielle to meet them and visa versa.

Xena chuckled when the fox tried to scramble up Shamrock's flanks, causing the mustang to whinny and shy away from it. Only the panther's low growling kept the horse from bolting completely, sensing that the cat would have no compunction in making escape a painful prospect. Xena bent over, reaching a hand down until Melo could grab hold and be lifted up in front of the warrior.

"Behave, Etor," Xena rumbled lowly, grabbing the reins and pulling Shamrock back under control. "We've got a long way to go yet and a short time to get there. I just hope we're not already too late." She squeezed Shamrock's sides with her knees. "Let's go, boy... YAH!" And they raced from their past towards their future.



Gabrielle had taken to wearing her trouser outfits again except when she was teaching. Not that anyone saw them... for the most part she was cloistered in her home, or out away from the town where no one went in the darkest hours. Besides, she figured she wasn't going to stay here past the current school year, so it really didn't matter if they did see or what thy thought.

Her only regret was that it was only October, so she was committed to staying in Nocona Corners for another seven months. Once school was out, however, she had decided to travel back to Greece. Xena had made it clear so was no longer interested in being part of Gabrielle's life, so she was going to go home and ask Aphrodite if she could simply remain in Olympus. She was tired in her very soul and there was nothing left to fix that.

The knock on her door in the early evening surprised her. Most of the townsfolk were either at Mama's restaurant or in their own homes. So she opened the door hesitantly, only to find Mama standing on her front porch.

"May I come in?" Mama asked, her brogue showing itself just slightly. She showed no astonishment at Gabrielle's choice of clothing. She simply waited with understanding in her eyes.

Gabrielle nodded and opened the door wider, motioning the older woman in and to a seat on the small couch. Gabrielle's home was an eclectic mix of things, Mama decided and reflected the younger woman's personality in an odd way. An old leather-bound book sat on a table nearby and Mama wondered what secrets it held. She took a seat and waited for Gabrielle to do so.

The bard didn't sit, crossing instead to the fireplace and stoking it, poking at the wood until the flames were literally jumping up the flue. Then she stood, keeping her eyes focused on the flames.

"Did you need something, Mama? Something I can do for you?"

"No darlin'. I was hopin' I could do something for you."

"Nope," Gabrielle said without turning from the fire. "I'm good."

"You're lyin'" was Mama's rejoinder.

"It no longer matters, Mama and there is nothing you can do."

"Your beloved is here then?"

Gabrielle didn't answer, but she didn't need to. Mama knew; she more than most was aware of the despair created by the desertion of the one you'd entrusted your heart to. It wasn't something she shared, but it did make her understand Gabrielle better than most. The difference for her had been Isaac; he'd given her a reason. And as far as she knew, Gabrielle had no one... save her brother Harrison.

Gabrielle took a deep breath. "You have been a good and dear friend to me, Mama. I think it's only fair to tell you that I'll be leaving in the spring."

"But...."

Gabrielle held up a hand. "When the school year is over, I'm going home. There's nothing left for me here anymore."

"You can't know that. Time heals...."

Gabrielle laughed ruefully. "Time heals nothing! The pain is always there, even if it is only a dull, throbbing ache." She looked Mama full in the face as she said these words and for the first time allowed her to see the oldness of her eyes. Eyes that had seen and done more and lived alone for far longer than a human being should be permitted.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle," Mama said as she rose from her seat. She laid a hand on Gabrielle's cheek, grateful when the younger woman didn't pull away, though she didn't lean into the contact either. I would like to ask a favor of you, if I could."

The request was so stunning, Gabrielle nodded. "If I can," she replied.

"It's two-fold," waiting for Gabrielle to nod her agreement again. "First, I'd like for you to help me with Samhain. We have the fall carnival for the kids coming up...."

"I'll help you with the preparations, Mama."

Mama shook her head and took Gabrielle's hands, leading her to sit down on the couch. "Gabrielle, I want you to do more that help us get ready. If you're only gonna be with us a few more months, let us give you some good memories to take with you. Don't shut us out."

Gabrielle withdrew her hands as gently as possible and walked back to the fireplace. "No promises, Mama. I can't."

Mama nodded, understanding more than Gabrielle was aware of. "Will you try?"

Gabrielle bit her lip and closed her eyes. She really was so very tired, but what would it hurt her to make a little effort for these people who had been so kind to her? When she opened her eyes, there was resigned acceptance in them and she nodded at Mama.

"I'll try," she said simply.

"Good," Mama answered approvingly. "Now, will you tell me where I can get a pair of those trousers? They look sinfully comfortable."



All Hallow's Eve arrived and with it came a stranger into the small town of Nocona Corners. Classes were scheduled for half a day to let the children prepare for Halloween festival that evening. Gabrielle crossed from Mama's to the general store as a cream colored mustang pulled into the stables on the other end of town.

Xena eased off the horse, both rider and animal a bit weary from the pace they had set. Then she stepped to the blacksmith to see about a price. Once that was settled, she turned the conversation to more personal interests. The warmth she felt in her belly told her she was almost home and she hoped this man could point her in the right direction.

"Hey, Smithy, I'm looking for a friend... woman about this high," she described, holding her hand at shoulder level, "green eyes and red-blonde hair. Her name is Gabrielle."

Xena watched his eyes shutter, though his face gave nothing away. He shrugged nonchalantly and she knew something was up.

"May wanna check with the lawman, across from the general store. He might know of her whereabouts. Though it's a mite early for him to be into the office yet."

Xena nodded. "Much obliged," was all she said, moving back to the stable area and grooming Shamrock carefully before she left. Then she hefted the saddlebags and headed down the street.

Gabrielle walked back from the general store with Sammy helping her carry the grocery items she'd picked up for Mama. Then together they, Dominic and Little Sal made their way to the schoolroom for the day's classes. She dismissed the tingling in her gut as anticipation over the coming night's activities.

Xena stepped into the street and noticed the general store. She headed that way, anxious to find the lawman. Somebody had to know something in this town and he was gonna be her best bet.

The door of the office was locked and Xena figured as early as it was she might do better to find some breakfast. She crossed to the general store and went straight to the counter, sliding the bags to her feet.

"Morning," the shopkeeper greeted her politely.

"Morning," she responded in kind. "I was looking for a bit of information."

The man crossed his arms and leaned casually against the counter. "Well, I don't know how much help I can be, but let's hear it."

"I'm looking for a woman named Gabrielle," watching the walls go up in his eyes. "Bout this tall, green eyes and red-gold hair."

"Hmm," the man appeared to consider. "Probably wanna talk to Isaac. He's our local deputy marshal," said with a hint of pride. "If he ain't left yet, he'll be over to Mama's. That's the boardinghouse directly at the end of the street."

"Appreciate it," Xena muttered, slinging the saddlebags over her shoulder again and headed for the boardinghouse.



Chapter XL

Xena got nowhere with Mama, though her eyes did not close up when the warrior asked her questions. Instead they turned speculative. But she was not forthcoming with any information and it seemed as though the deputy Isaac had been called out of town early that morning on an emergency. And he wasn't expected back for several days, a fact that Mama lamented several times in light of the coming Samhain celebration.

Still, Xena did manage to get a good meal in the bargain and a room for the duration. She took her bags up to her room and decided to take a stroll through the town. She figured it was the best reaction she could have short of going totally ballistic and using the pinch on someone. She knew she was close... she could feel it. Waiting a little longer she could manage after the years she'd been waiting and searching and it sure beat ending up in some Podunk little jail.

Nocona Corners was different than what she expected... similar to Sutter's Mill, but by the same token vastly different. This town was well established, built of wood found in the scrub hills around the area, or of rock and adobe. It was also unsoiled and fresh, something Xena appreciated greatly. Even with the cattle that were herded in, the people took great pride in keeping it clean and only on days when the town was downwind of the stockyards did one realize that this was indeed a cattle town.

Her view of it from the hills was spectacular and she let her mind wander, trying to figure out the best way to find Gabrielle. She was convinced the bard was here and wondered at the secrecy of the townspeople about it. The ringing of a bell brought Xena out of her reverie and she remembered what Hercules had told her. He said Gabrielle was the schoolmarm here. I wonder....

She turned from where she had been at the far outskirts of town and began walking towards the small building that seemed to spew small children from its belly. From this distance, her eyes couldn't tell for sure, but her heart recognized the one small blonde who stood at the door til the others had left.

"Gabrielle!" she called. "GABRIELLE!"

The bard hesitated, but seeing no one, continued on to the barn with two boys walking beside her. Xena realized that the wind was working against her and she hustled to catch up.



Gabrielle was amazed when she, Dominic and Little Sal entered that stables. There in front of her stood an old friend whickering a greeting. The boys moved off to do their chores and left Gabrielle to say her hellos in private.

"Shamrock!" she exclaimed happily, moving to scratch the mustang between the ears. It was only when she traversed to the stall that she noted two other animals... animals that struck a chord of familiarity in her soul. She hesitated, unsure of her welcome by the panther and the fox.

The cat stalked slowly towards her, taking in her scent before curling around her legs with a purr. The fox gazed beguilingly at her and Gabrielle knelt down, allowing the panther to nuzzle her neck and the fox to crawl into her arms.

Shamrock stamped his forefoot impatiently and Gabrielle laughed. "Shamrock, be patient," she commanded, standing gingerly with the fox still cradled happily in her left arm. "You guys must have a great human to be so trusting and friendly."

Her skin prickled just before the voice spoke from the doorway.

"I'd like to think I'm a better human being than I was the last time we were together."

Gabrielle froze, stiffening in recognition. Then she put the fox down, keeping her back to the door. She felt as much as heard the steps behind her and flinched when hands landed lightly on her waist.

"Hello, Gabrielle."

A myriad of emotions washed through her, but surprisingly she was left with infuriation as her chief reaction, her abandonment by Xena coming to the forefront of her mind. Hundreds of years of emotion built up in a matter of seconds and she turned violently, putting the force of her anger behind the straight-from-the-shoulder punch. There was no sound until impact - fist to face and the crack of bone, the crumple of cartilage and the spurt of hot blood.

It was the scent of blood, so enticingly familiar that Gabrielle felt her canines grow in reaction, that brought her back to the present and she turned and walked out the door without a backwards glance. The panther growled in Xena's direction as it passed by the warrior before following Gabrielle. The fox cocked its head, then stepped across Xena's body before joining the parade leaving the barn.

"Thanks, guys," the warrior muttered, moving her lips as little as possible.

Gabrielle had always been quicker to anger and quicker to forgiveness than she herself had been. It was one of the things that made her so vibrant, so passionate and it was one of the reasons Xena loved her. Xena stood and allowed the punch, having seen it coming in the subtle nuances of Gabrielle's body language. Some things will never change, she had time enough to think before her face caught nearly two millennia of frustration.

The warrior was amazed at the amount of pain she felt as she flew back and landed flat on her back. She smacked her head on the hard ground and lay there looking up as her eyes began swelling closed. She heard more than saw the footsteps and knew from their weight that the older boy had left the barn at a run and the set approaching her belonged to the smaller boy that had accompanied Gabrielle to the stable.

Xena felt the eyes staring at her. Little Sal put his hands on his knees, crouching down to get a better look.

"Geez, mithter. Are you okay?" He reached towards her face and touched her swollen nose lightly. She hissed and grabbed his hand, moving it away from her. He pulled his hand from her grip and wiped the blood on his shirt before putting the hand back on his knee.

"Nope, I guess not. Ya gots blood runnin' out yer nose and a really big fat lip. Does yers hurt? Mine did... I had one of those once when I gots hit by the door. Loosed up my front teefs... that's why I talks funny right now. My tongue keeps slippin' through the big hole, see?"

Little Sal peered at her closely. "Ya can't see too good, can ya? You gots black and blue eyes, didja know that? The blue parts real purty, but the rest is real swolled up. Ya looks kinda like a coon. I seen a coon once... mean thing tried a bite me. Are you mean, mithter? Ya made Miz Gabr'elle mad and I's never seen her git mad like that 'fore. She's a nice lady. She telled us good stories. Do ya like stories, mithter? She telled lots of stories fore she got so sad. Are you the reason she's so sad, mithter?"

Xena's head was spinning trying to keep up with the five-year-old's conversation and she was relieved when she heard footsteps approaching.

She sat up gingerly, cradling her head in her hands. She was gratified to find that her head was going to stay attached. For a long moment there, she really had doubt... immortality or not. Then she heard Mama's voice.

"Help me get her up, Sal. I think this one has some explainin' to do."

"I c'n do id mythelf," Xena mumbled, slowly rising to her feet and swaying slightly from side to side. "Godda lub a woman wid a mean wighd," she muttered under her breath. Mama heard, though and put the thought away for later contemplation. For now, she put a gentle hand on Xena's arm.

She'd seen Gabrielle exit the stables as she herself had been out on the front porch at the time, having opened the doors to let some air into the packed dining room. She'd wondered, of course, but Gabrielle had headed up into the hills and she had paying customers to take care of. Then Dominic had come running up the street calling for her and Sal. It was amazing that the whole town hadn't heard and turned out at the commotion, but most everyone was at dinner. And Mama had left Sal's wife Josephina in charge... and everybody listened when Josephina spoke. She and Mama were a formidable team.

"C'mon," Mama said to Xena, who was trying to peer through her mostly closed eyes. "Let's get you back to the kitchen and get you cleaned up. You're gonna be in some pain for a few days and look like a raccoon even longer. But you'll live."

Xena chuckled ruefully at that pronouncement, wincing when her lip started bleeding again. Then she took Mama's arm and followed her to the privacy of her small back kitchen.



Mama set a glass of clear liquid on the table and wrapped Xena's hands around it. "Drink that," she commanded in a voice the eerily resembled Cyrene's.

"Whad id id?" Xena asked warily, trying to sniff the contents, but unable breathe through her nose, much less smell anything.

"Somethin' that'll make this hurt a lot less. Now drink."

Xena did so, gasping for breath as the tears ran down her face from the harshness of the alcohol as it burned down her throat and into her system. After a long moment, the burning subsided and she felt a little numb and somewhat disassociated from the throbbing pain of her face.

"Waid a minnud," Xena said, placing the flats of her fingertips on either side of her nose and jerking it sharply. She saw stars but she made no sound and spent a minute simply trying to breathe without passing out. Finally, she turned in the direction she felt Mama's presence.

"Aw wighd. Go ahead." Then the warrior sat perfectly still while Mama started cleaning up the damage Gabrielle had done.

"Can I tell you a story?"

Xena shrugged. She wanted the woman to get done so she could go rest long enough for the swelling to go down and then she could go find Gabrielle. She was fairly confident the bard had not left and she was glad her spirit guides had gone with Gabrielle to keep her company until Xena herself could get to her. She spared a rueful thought to Cecrops and sent him a silent apology for his broken jaw. Even as an immortal, this really hurt. She turned her attention back to Mama's voice.

"More than a decade ago, we met a man named Harrison Tillman. He and my son Isaac became reluctant friends because they fought on opposite sides during the War of Northern Aggression. When the late unpleasantness was over, he helped us move from North Carolina out here to Texas. Once we were settled, he went to Banff, where he had taken his sister to get her out of the war. He promised to come back and bring her for a visit."

Harrison Tillman? She's talking about Hercules. That must mean.... breaking her thoughts off to concentrate on Mama's words.

"When he came back the followin' summer, he brought a most delightful young woman... his sister, Gabrielle." Mama rinsed out the cloth she'd used to wipe the blood from Xena's face and tossed the old water out the back door. Then she pumped some fresh and soaked the cloth again, placing it gently over Xena's eyes before picking up a new cloth and the witch hazel. Xena didn't even flinch when she started dabbing it over the raw flesh and her split lip.

"It was obvious to me at any rate that Gabrielle was searchin' for somethin', or waitin' for someone. Though she eventually allowed herself to settle here somewhat contentedly, it was clear her heart was elsewhere. For a while she did go out searchin' regularly, but when Harrison left this last time, he convinced her to let him go alone."

"He was gone for several months and finally in early July, Gabrielle got a telegram from him... a telegram that changed... everythin'."

Xena shifted, uncomfortably aware of where this little tale was probably headed.

"He'd found whatever or WHOever she'd been searchin' for and she was so excited. I'd never seen her so happy."

So, on top of the fact that she's been alone for over eighteen hundred years because of a bad decision, now I have to explain why it took me over three months to take a trip she knows I should have made in less than three weeks. Some lifetimes you just can't catch a break.

"I don't think I need to explain what happened when the days turned to weeks and months for her, do I?" Mama cupped Xena's chin and removed the cold cloth, looking into the slits of her now open eyes.

Xena closed her eyes against the truth she knew, feeling the aching in Gabrielle's soul as though it was her own. She shook her head gently. Her eyes opened again when Mama tapped her fingers on her chin.

"I'm gonna share somethin' with ya, because I believe that you are probably the only thing in this world that can make things right for her. She has a little cottage in the woods back of this house. If you follow the path it'll lead you right to her front door."

Xena nodded.

"Now, I know she went up into the hills to think... she does that a lot, but she will be back down before dark. We have a town carnival tonight, usherin' in Samhain. She's supposed to be participatin' - tellin' stories and such. You might wanna get some rest if you wanna catch her beforehand."

"Bud...."

"Tch. You leave the details to Mama. I'll make sure you get your chance, if you promise to make the best of it." She chuckled. "At least you'll make a colorful impression."

Xena would have smiled, except she could feel the bones, cartilage and skin reknitting themselves whole and it was almost more painful than the initial hit had been.

"Than yu," she replied, before standing tentatively, waiting to see if her balance was going to stay with her or desert her for more stable surroundings. Satisfied that it was going to remain intact, she turned to the back stairs.

"Can I...?" Mama asked, laying a hand on the warrior's arm.

"I god id," Xena said cutting Mama off before she could offer more help. "Bud thans."

She eased up the staircase and she found her room by luck as much as anything else. Then she lay down, hoping that liquor Mama had given her would kick in and let her get a little rest while she healed.



Gabrielle was in a whirlwind of emotion. The connection she'd once had with Xena, the one she'd had to become accustomed to doing without, had reinserted itself with a vengeance upon their personal contact. The warmth that she had felt those thirty-odd years ago when she'd first reached the New World had blossomed with the first touch between them. It allowed her heart to believe in the possibility that she could be whole once more. Her head was having a much harder time wrapping itself around the fact that not only did she not have to be alone, but that Xena might actually desire such a resolution.

Her soul struggled... she wanted this. To her very depths she desired this, needed this. But she didn't want to. Her guts felt like they had been ripped out - first in Japan when Xena had chosen death over her and again when it seemed as though she had pushed everything between them aside. But had she? Gabrielle no longer knew. Her mind was in turmoil, weighing the odds; going over what she thought and felt and believed.

The fox crawled into her lap and she absently stroked the soft red-gold fur, so much like the color of her own temperamental hair. The panther snuggled down beside her, nuzzling both her leg and the fox's neck.

Gabrielle watched them for a long time, allowing the rhythm of her motions to soothe her. Finally it dawned on her that these two animals, animals that should have been natural enemies, were in fact mates. Against the odds, against nature itself, they were mated and perfectly suited to one another. Just like me and Xena.

And suddenly she felt better, knowing that despite everything, if they wanted it, they could work through everything and be together again once more. Only this time, it would be an eternal kind of thing. Because she wanted this... more than anything, she wanted this. And she was sure in the depths of her soul that Xena did too.

It was with a much lighter step and a smile on her face that she made her way back to her cabin.



It was nearly sunset when a light knock sounded on the door and Xena beckoned, "Come in."

Mama opened the door slowly, then gasped as she got a good look at Xena's face. The swelling was down and eyes which had been black and blue hours earlier were now merely shadowed in a remnant of their previous bruising.

"That's amazin'," she said, approaching Xena but not touching. She got the distinct feeling that any familiarity Xena had permitted earlier was gone.

Xena shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm a fast healer."

"I'd say so," Mama commented as she continued to stare a moment longer. A dark eyebrow raised in question brought her back to herself and she flushed slightly in embarrassment. "Beg pardon," she mumbled. "I'm not usually so rude. I uh, I came up here to tell you that your bath is ready."

Xena swallowed. "I appreciate that, but I've got nothing clean to put on. You think the general store might...."

"You leave that to me. Now g'wan, before you water gets cold." She handed her a long robe and shooed her down the hallway to the bathing room.

Xena didn't take long, but it felt so good to wash in hot water. And she appreciated the fragrant soap Mama had put in the room. But it made her start thinking and by the time she reached her room again, she was scowling fiercely.

Mama was waiting there with clean clothes and she turned when Xena closed the door quietly behind her after she crossed the threshold. "Here you go. These should be just about your size. You're much the size my Robert was." It was said matter-of-factly, but Xena could see the pain in the brown eyes that faced her and she sank to the bed with her back to the older woman to leave her to private grief.

"Why?" she finally asked quietly when she didn't hear Mama make her departure. "You obviously know what Gabrielle and I are to one another and I've seen the way your church treats people like us. Why are you so willing to help us?"

She felt the weight of the bed shift when Mama sat down on the opposite side with her back to Xena. "If I allowed the church to dictate all aspects of my life, you're right. I'd shun you and decry you as sinners headed straight to hell, because your love is not only not valid, but not real."

Xena's lips tightened and her fists clenched. She held still though, because she expected more and she had asked. She actually appreciated Mama's honesty.

"But I learned a long time ago not to let others decide what I believed or what love was real and valid. Even when the love turns out to be different from what you expect or hope for, it is still real and just as valid as anyone else's. My husband and I shared something like that briefly and it was worth what I have lived with since."

She paused and stood up from the bed. Then she walked to the door and turned the handle before looking back at the still figure on the bed. "If what I suspect is true, I would do this even if the church condemned me to hell because of it. If there is a chance to recover that kind of soul connection, then it is worth everything."

The door closed and Xena sat unmoving on the bed for a moment longer. Then she rose to dress in the clothes Mama had provided.

The black trousers were long enough, but were far too wide on Xena's slim waist. She slid into the suspenders and then looped the belt around her. The pants were still loose, but at least they wouldn't fall off.

The shirt actually fit across the shoulders, but hung down shapelessly in the front. She shrugged and tucked it in, chuckling a little when it reached to her knees. But at least it helped hold the trousers in place. She idly wondered how large a man Mama's husband had been, trying to picture the couple they had made.

Xena put on the thick socks Mama had given her, then stepped into her boots. She slid into the jacket, figuring to need its warmth against the chilly night air. Then she combed through her mostly dry hair and opened the door to find Mama standing there with a few precious roses and some wild flowers.

"Here," she said with a smile. "These may help," extending the flowers. "If she was mad enough to hit you, it's probably best to soften her up. Flowers always worked with me."

Xena accepted the bouquet and withdrew a single rose, pressing it into Mama's hand. She didn't say a word, but her eyes spoke volumes. Then she left down the stairs without a backwards glance. Mama stood still until she heard the back door shut in the waning sunlight.

Then she lifted the rose to her nose, breathing in its delicate scent with delight and smiling. She had a good feeling about this and against all logic, it gave her a hope of her own.



Gabrielle had come back to her cottage intent on taking a warm bath before the evening's festivities. She was surprised that the animals remained with her, but they curled up in front of her fireplace content together and she simply watched them for a moment, continually reminded of possibilities.

She went into her bathing room, happy she had taken the time to recreate all the creature comforts she'd seen and enjoyed during her lifetime. No one knew about her hot running water or her flushable toilet, but she definitely appreciated them.

Especially tonight, though she didn't let herself examine the thoughts too closely. She was still hesitant to hope too hard, though if she was completely honest with herself, she was more than hoping. She was betting her very essence on what would happen.

Gabrielle gazed into the looking glass as she dried herself, noting for the first time in a while the tattoo that still adorned her body after all the time that had past. It was slightly faded from what she remembered, but it still had color and movement with her body's own and she turned away feeling slightly nauseated by the sight.

She dressed with more care than usual, choosing her favorite blue gingham dress and combing her hair out carefully before pinning it up in the accepted style of the day. She looked at herself again, realizing Xena hadn't seen this look on her before and wondering what she would think of it. Then a knock on the door caused her to stop breathing for a moment.

She wiped sweaty palms on her and moved to the door....

... only to find Hercules standing on the other side.

"Surprise!" he said, extending his arms for a hug. "Wow, Gabrielle. You look great. Can I come in?"

She looked beyond him. "Well...."

"Or are you expecting someone? And where is Xena?"

"I hope I'm expecting someone and I'm not really sure."

An eyebrow rose. "But I thought...."

"Long story... one I'll share with you soon, I promise." Gabrielle looked past him again and this time her eyes burned with a fierce inner joy tinged with sadness, though her face never lost its stoic expression. The years had enabled her to hide many things, though her eyes told a story all their own.

"Hello, Xena," he said as she approached, her eyes never leaving Gabrielle. The bard blushed at the intensity, but she didn't let her stare waver.

"Hello, Hercules. Nice to see you. Now get lost."

Xena reached the steps and walked purposefully up them, pulling the flowers from behind her back. Hercules walked backwards, nearly tumbling down the stairs in an effort to escape the strength of passion he could feel flowing between them.

"I think I'll go surprise Mama," he muttered before turning and moving briskly back towards the boarding house.

Xena stopped short of touching Gabrielle, not quite sure of her reception despite what her heart and soul were shouting at her. She extended the flowers and watched Gabrielle tear up as she reached a hand out to accept the bouquet.

When Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak, Xena stepped into her personal space, resting one hand lightly on her hip and putting the other over her lips.

"Don't," she said. "Don't apologize. I deserved that and gods...." She let her hand trace Gabrielle lips and travel up smooth cheeks, smiling tremulously when Gabrielle leaned instinctively into the touch. Xena wiped the solitary tear that slipped from the green eyes and let her hand feel the silky smooth skin beneath her fingertips - a sensation she had missed for more than half a lifetime and one Gabrielle had not shared in longer than forever.

Xena's hand trailed down Gabrielle's neck and into her hair, loosening the pins that held it in place and running her hands through its corn silk softness. She went no farther; now any overtures would have to be Gabrielle's. But first....

"We have so much to talk about. I need to explain...." But her words were cut off when Gabrielle repeated her earlier action, raising a shaky hand to cover her lips.

"Do you want there to be an us?" Gabrielle asked in a bare whisper, moving her fingers and tracing Xena's lips with a feather-light touch. "Do we have a future together?"

"Oh yes! Gods, yes, Gabrielle. If you're willing, we have an eternity together to look forward to," Xena answered softly, kissing the fingertips that remained on her lips. She waited patiently as Gabrielle studied her eyes while the bard's fingers continued to roam around her face and down her neck. It was sending all sorts of pleasant sensations along her body and she trembled slightly in reaction.

Gabrielle felt the shiver and smiled as she saw the banked fires in Xena's eyes burst into a barely controlled flame. She understood suddenly that their future rested in her hands. Xena was giving her the decision to make and she knew if she turned the warrior away, she would never see Xena again.

Just the thought made her catch her breath and Xena's eyes filled with concern.

"Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle smiled nervously, feeling much like a blushing bride on her wedding night. She wound one hand into Xena's long tresses and ran the other up the front of her body until it rested on the curve of her neck.

"We do have a lot to talk about," she said, urging Xena's head down. "But we have an eternity to do it in," she added as she brushed their lips together in a teasing kiss. "And we can start tomorrow." A second kiss lasting just an instant longer. "But tonight, especially tonight, I need to feel you. No words... no explanations... no excuses. Just us... touching, feeling, loving one another."

For her answer, Xena swung Gabrielle up into strong arms and crossed the threshold into the house, shutting the world out with the slamming of the door.



Chapter XLI

Xena was only peripherally aware of the banked fire and the two animals curled up blissfully in front of it. Her entire focus was on the world she held in her arms and she walked without hesitation... into the bathroom.

Gabrielle chuckled soundlessly, as much from nerves as from amusement. "You trying to hint I need another bath?" she asked teasingly, smiling at the slight blush the climbed up Xena's face.

"Um, no... I took a wrong tu...." She took a good look around. "On the other hand, I can think of a few reasons to use that later," she said, wiggling her eyebrows as she nodded towards the shower.

"So can I," Gabrielle agreed as she pulled Xena's head down until their lips were nearly touching once more. "Now, take me to bed, Xena. I have waited an eternity for you."

The truth of those words hit Xena in an unexpectedly deep place. "Never again, sweetheart. Never again."

The warrior walked the few paces into the bedroom, not stopping until she was standing next to the bed. She set Gabrielle gently on her feet and stepped back slightly, allowing her eyes to roam the slim figure before her. Unlike any of the clothing she had previously seen Gabrielle in, the blue gingham teasingly hinted at the assets it hid. The strength of her shoulders and arms were hidden by the sleeves. But the snug material hugged full breasts and a trim waist, then draped nicely over the swell of her hips.

"You are so beautiful," Xena whispered hoarsely, noting the nervousness in Gabrielle's actions as she wiped her palms on the front of her skirt.

"Still?"

Xena closed the space between them and lifted Gabrielle's eyes to meet her own. Only then was she aware of the weight of Gabrielle's solitary life in her eyes and it made her heart break again.

"Always," she said softly, before claiming the lips that had been hers alone in lifetimes past.

The kiss was soft, gentle and unrushed. Xena traced Gabrielle's lips with her tongue and moaned when she was granted immediate entrance. She brought her hands up to cup Gabriele's face, trembling when she felt Gabrielle's hands running up her chest. The bard paused to tease Xena's breasts before she reached the top button on the warrior's shirt.

Without hesitation, she grasped either side, intent on ripping the shirt open. Xena pulled back slightly.

"Wait."

Gabrielle looked up in confusion. Xena smiled.

"Mama let me borrow the clothes... so I could have some clean ones."

Gabrielle smiled in return. "Well, in that case...."

She pushed the jacket to the floor and eased the suspenders from broad shoulders, feeling muscle that had grown firmer than she remembered. Gabrielle trailed her hands down the white shirt, smiling slightly when Xena's breathing hitched. She reached the belt and loosened it, unbuttoning the trousers, then watched them slide from Xena's slim hips to the floor.

"How accommodating," she said with a smile.

Xena shrugged and gave her a crooked grin. "They were a little big."

"Take them off," Gabrielle said, leaning against the bed and watching with interest. Xena did so, sitting down in the room's single chair to ease her boots off then stepping out of the trousers. Gabrielle giggled when Xena held them up.

"Xena, those are more than a little big. You, me and Shamrock could fit in those things with room to spare."

"Maybe we'll try it sometime without the horse." She stood up and wrapped her hands around Gabrielle's waist. "What happened to no talking? You all right? You're not... you're not... afraid... of me, are you?"

Green eyes flew up to meet blue and Gabrielle shook her head vigorously. "No, love, NO!" She chuckled uncertainly. "I'm just... I'm nervous, I guess. It's been a while. I haven't done this since...."

"Since...?" Xena repeated when silence fell, feeling her heart clench at the thought of Gabrielle having shared herself with anyone else. Despite what both Hercules and Cecrops had said, there had always been a tiny corner of doubt. How could anyone choose to be alone for so long?

"I haven't been with anyone but you, Xe."

Xena felt both overwhelmed and humbled by the quiet, startling admission. "You've been alone... since that last night in Japan?"

Gabrielle nodded.

Xena enveloped Gabrielle in a full body hug, which the bard reciprocated in kind. She nestled into Xena's chest, absorbing the warmth and scent and feel of the warrior surrounding her. Xena leaned her cheek on the fair hair, nuzzling its softness with a sense of coming home.

"Oh, Gabrielle...."

"It was my choice, Xena," she said as she squeezed. "I... couldn't. I couldn't share this without the feelings and you own my heart."

Gabrielle felt Xena's heart stop at her words and then redouble as she blew out a breath.

"Let me love you, Gabrielle." The words floated down to her ears on a bare whisper.

Gabrielle pulled away just far enough to unbutton Xena's shirt and push it to the floor. She traced the tattoo and scars on the warrior's chest, arching an eyebrow in Xena's direction. Then she stepped back and looked at Xena, standing naked before her. Her legs had lost a good deal of their customary tan, but they were still long, lean and supple, the muscles flexing with each tiny movement of the warrior's body.

Her hips were a little slimmer than Gabrielle remembered and the abdominal muscles more pronounced. The breasts were still firm and round and the shoulders and arms were muscular, though differently than when they had wielded a sword.

The full lips were creased in a rare, full smile and the blue eyes twinkled in pleased embarrassment. No one had ever made her feel the way Gabrielle did with a single, smoldering look.

Gabrielle lifted her hands to her dress, but Xena gently pushed them aside. She began unbuttoning the bodice, shivering when Gabrielle ran her fingertips up the warrior's bare sides. She traced her fingers over ribs and stomach muscles and lingered over the round sides of her breasts before repeating the action.

Xena worked the buttons loose as quickly as she could, then stepped away from Gabrielle's touch. She walked around behind the bard and trailed her fingers across Gabrielle's shoulders, watching the goosebumps rise following her touch. Xena pushed the dress down her arms and waist, watching it fall to the floor in a heap of material. Another tug and her undergarments joined them.

Then Xena scooped Gabrielle up in her arms once more and lowered her onto the bed.

For a long moment she simply looked, gazing into Gabrielle's eyes and loving her without words or touches, seeing that love returned in kind. Then Xena's eyes traveled down the immortal body, remembering how and where Gabrielle liked to be touched. Finally she brought her lips and hands to bear, capturing Gabrielle's mouth possessively and allowing her fingers to trace the smooth contours of the bard's body at last.

They took their time. Having waited a lifetime and beyond, they went slowly - touching, exploring, rediscovering - igniting one another's passion and celebrating the joys of coming together and being whole once more.

They met body to body, heart to heart and soul to soul. And at the height of their passion, just as the clock struck the witching hour, they renewed their blood connection and for the first time in nearly two millennia, the circle was complete.



"Harrison! What are you doin' here?" Mama exclaimed as she opened her arms for a hug. "It's so good to see you again."

"Hello, Mama. I thought I'd come check on Gabrielle, but I saw she is finally in better hands."

"Lord, you didn't interrupt...."

Hercules chuckled and flushed slightly. "No ma'am, but it was a near thing." He motioned to her finery. "What's the occasion?"

"It's Halloween, Harrison. We're welcomin' Samhain."

"Ah."

"And you just volunteered because I'm bettin' we don't see Gabrielle for a while and I need the help."

"Where's Isaac?"

Mama shrugged. "He got called off on some emergency before daylight this morning. Told me it might be a few days. Now go get into your Sunday-go-to-meetin'-clothes. We got a party to go to."

Hercules laughed and took the stairs two at a time to get changed.



Folks were glad to have Hercules, or Harrison as he was known to them, back among them and they welcomed him warmly. Though they were disappointed that Gabrielle was suddenly unable to join them, the party was in full swing when Hercules ran into a most unpleasant and unexpected visitor.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed taking the visitor's arm and pulling him into a more private area. "Can't you find somewhere else to be?"

Ares jerked her arm out of Hercules grasp and smoothed down the material of his jacket. "It's a free country, bro. I can go where I want."

"Yeah, well I want you to go somewhere else... preferably back to your hidey hole in Greece."

"Well, we don't all get what we want, do we?" the war god said bitterly. "Don't get your shorts in a twist. I'm leaving soon. I got what I came for."

Hercules eyes got big, but he bit his tongue on the off chance that Ares hadn't come for Xena and Gabrielle.

"Besides, even with that annoying little Iolaus clone you call a lawman, this town has an energy... a power I haven't felt in ages. It drew me...." Ares shrugged. "Maybe it is just the time of year." He walked off a few steps before he turned. "See ya, little brother."

"You know that jerk?" Isaac asked as he came up beside Hercules, who turned in surprise. Isaac smiled. "Hey, big guy."

Hercules clapped a hand on Isaac's shoulder. "Hey, buddy. I didn't think you were supposed to be here, but I'm glad to see you."

"Same here. You know him?" jerking his chin in Ares direction.

"We've had a few run-ins, yeah." A pause. "Why?"

"He's the reason I left so early this morning. He's rounding up mercenaries to join up with Union forces to fight the Indians. Seems the government is still smarting over their loss at Little Big Horn."

"Always something, isn't it?" Hercules muttered, though he wondered what had brought the god of war to the point that he was physically recruiting mercenaries. "Well, nothing to be done about it tonight. C'mon, let's go get some of Mama's pie."



Classes were suspended briefly at Mama's behest. She explained that Gabrielle had things come up that took precedence and any communication with her would need to be directed to Mama for the time being. Hercules volunteered to fill-in as the teacher, but first he and Isaac made a quick trip to Kansas to warn the Indians of the coming military raid.

Unfortunately, none of these natives recognized either white man as a friend and it took the two several days to convince the braves of their sincerity. Only when they finally met with Kya and Kepo did they make headway, but it was the mention of Xena's name that gained them the trust the needed. They told their story and turned towards home. Hercules particularly was anxious to hear about the reunion between warrior and bard.

It was a two week round trip, so Hercules was more than a little surprised when Mama stopped him from visiting when they returned to Nocona Corners.

"No, Harrison," she said calmly but forcibly. "They are not ready for visitors yet."

"But...."

"Gabrielle promised to let me know when they were ready. Until then, you respect their need for privacy."

"How long do they need? It's been over four months."

"No. Gabrielle's companion arrived on Halloween, just as you did."

Hercules creased his brow in thought. "But...."

"Let it go, Harrison."

He nodded. "All right. Not like I'm going anywhere for a while what with teaching school for Gabrielle," realizing for the first time just what he'd committed to. "It'll wait. It's just...."

Mama patted his arm. "I know, but we'll get the whole story eventually." She turned to slip a pan of biscuits in the oven. "I hope," she muttered in afterthought.



The weather turned colder and snow flurries blew through on Thanksgiving. December was colder still and Christmas approached with no sign of Xena or Gabrielle emerging from their cocoon. Even Mama became concerned and girded her loins to check on them.

Hercules tried to dissuade her, knowing they could survive much longer without any of the so-called necessities of life. But he couldn't convince Mama of that without betraying their secret, so with great reluctance he let her go, hoping Gabrielle could cope with the questions he was sure would follow.

She wrapped up a meal, packing it into a basket before pulling on her heavy coat and wrapping a shawl over her head. Then she started down the path, hoping she was not stepping where angels feared to tread.

Mama heard soft laughter and the murmur of voices when she lifted her hand to knock on the door. Her hand fell as she considered the wisdom of simply dropping in. Gabrielle had promised to let her know when she and Xena were ready for company and though it had been nearly two months, that sign had not yet come.

On the other hand, it had been nearly two months and there had been no sign of life around the cabin save the wood smoke that came from the fireplace. Mama felt her concerns were well-founded. No matter how strong, human beings simply could not live on love alone.

She raised her hand again only to hesitate when the laughter turned to something much more provocative and intimate. Instead, she set the basket down, knowing the cold would keep everything for a few days. If she didn't see them before the first of the year, she would try again.



They heard the steps coming up the stairs, but when there was no knock, Xena and Gabrielle turned their attention back to one another. The days since Halloween had been filled with much sharing - love, laughter and tears.

Gabrielle had gotten out her diaries and they were reading through them together and Xena saw so many ways her bard had influenced the course of history. She felt a bit of melancholy over all the time they had missed together and a little jealousy over all the things she had missed sharing with Gabrielle.

They were curled up together on the bearskin rug Hercules had brought back from Banff on one of his trips. The fire was cozy along with being warm, something they both appreciated.

"You did a lot of good over the years, my bard," Xena said as she handed Gabrielle a cup of tea. "I mean...."

Gabrielle shrugged. "I guess."

Xena sat up at the tone. "Gabrielle?"

She shrugged again and took a sip of the tea. "I would have rather spent the time with you," came the quiet admission.

Xena set her cup aside and did the same with Gabrielle's. Then she embraced the bard's body completely with her own, nuzzling the soft skin of her neck until she got a delightful little shiver and a tiny mewling sound out of Gabrielle. The bard turned her head and their lips met again. Xena was fuzzily aware of the retreating footsteps but her attention was focused elsewhere.

"What if you could?" she asked when they separated.

Gabrielle shifted in Xena's arms until she could look up into her face with a furrowed brow. She cupped the soft cheek gently and urged the blue eyes to meet her own quizzical green ones.

"Wha...?" She shook her head. "Xena, I don't understand what you're asking me."

Xena smiled and captured the full lips beneath her own for a long moment. "What if you could?" she asked breathlessly when they pulled apart. "What if we could go back and live through that time together?"

"Don't tease me, Xena," Gabrielle said harshly. She pulled away as much as the floor allowed her and would have moved from Xena's hold had not the warrior held on tightly. "I don't think you really understand what an eternity alone is like."

Hurt flashed in Xena's eyes before it was swiftly hidden. She kissed the blonde hair beneath her lips. "You're right, Gabrielle. I don't... I can't. I can tell you I didn't like the small taste of it I had and given the chance to do it over, I do things differently so we could be together... I mean, if that's what you wanted."

"Of course it would be what I wanted, love, but what is the point of speculating over something that can't be?"

"It can."

This time Gabrielle did pull away, enough to sit up until she was leaning on her elbows. She looked at Xena askance and rubbed her temples.

"Simple words, Xena. My head hurts."

In answer, Xena rose and went to the large saddlebags Gabrielle had collected on Samhain morning, following their Halloween reunion. It had been the only time either of them had been out of the house except to collect wood from the shed. Now she sorted carefully through the totems in one bag until she reached the scroll at the bottom. She unrolled it and passed it to Gabrielle.

"When I arrived here, I was... so... lost. All I could think of was finding a way home to you." Silence. "I found out how I was brought here and how to reverse it." Xena opened the bag again and set the items out one by one. "It took me a while and a lot of searching, but eventually I had all the items I needed to go home... except one."

Gabrielle looked over the totems carefully, recognizing all of them but putting her questions save one aside for the moment. "You'll share the stories behind these with me one day, right?"

Xena nodded.

"You're missing the chakram," she stated unequivocally. Xena nodded again. "The chakram that is now in my possession." A third nod. "Well, we have a tiny little problem," Gabrielle said and Xena's head dropped. She had been afraid of this.

"Lemme guess... you left it in Greece. With Aphrodite."

It was Gabrielle's turn to nod. "It seemed like the best idea at the time. I had to leave most of the weapons in her care. I still have a staff with me and some of the smaller knives, but she kept the katana, your sword and the chakram."

Xena smiled ruefully. "Well, I guess in the spring we'll be taking a trip to Greece. In the meantime...." Her smile turned rakish and her blue eyes twinkled wickedly.

"Yessss?" Gabrielle drawled, feeling her blood prickle in excited reaction.

Xena pushed the scroll and other totems aside and moved back to lie beside Gabrielle on the fur. Then she ducked her head, kissing the bard with abandon until she felt Gabrielle relax into her. She loosened the ties on Gabrielle's robe, setting her hands free to explore and asked on a ragged breath when she felt the bard reciprocate the touches in kind, "How 'bout a trip to Elysia?"

Her answer came in the form of a touch so intimate, Xena simply held on and let the bard take her there, cradling her heart and soul tenderly while setting her body free to soar.



They lay together in the afterglow watching the flames burn the new wood Gabrielle had fed them. Xena had opened the front door and retrieved the basket Mama had left and they were cuddled together under a think blanket feeding one another bits.

Unexpectedly, to Gabrielle at least, Xena was on her feet and crouched in defensive position before the rose petals reached the floor. Aphrodite stepped back in pure reflex. Gabrielle giggled and Xena glared before sliding back down beside her bard.

"Whoa, babe! Nice reflexes! Wow... great bod, too!" She turned her attention to Gabrielle who was glaring. "Oops!" And she laughed girlishly. "Forgot about those radical green eyes." She winked and took a look around before dropping onto the couch, bouncing on it a time or two before nodding approval. "Quaint little place you've got here, Cutie. I like it... it totally suits you."

Gabrielle tied her robe and crossed to sit on the couch, wrapping Dite in a crushing hug. "I've missed you," she whispered, feeling a tightening of the goddess's arms around her in reflexive response.

"Oh, babe... I've missed you too... so much." She looked at Xena who was caught between the need to glare jealously at the interruption and the joy she still felt flood her being when she realized that she and Gabrielle were together again at last. Instead, she tied her own robe and began clearing the remains of their meal, keeping one ear on the conversation.

"It is like, so bitchin' to have you two babes together again. The love vibes are just rockin'."

"How did you get here?" Gabrielle asked seriously. "I mean... I know you just popped in, but I thought... I mean you haven't been able to do that for a while."

"Yeah, well, you two have juiced the batteries so much since you've been back together, my energy is totally off the freakin' scale. It's awesome!"

Gabrielle blushed, but her smile was radiant. She gazed at Xena adoringly. "Well, it's been pretty awesome for us as well."

"I know," Dite said softly. "And I am so, so glad. Now," she said in a louder voice, pulling her glasses from a nonexistent pocket and slipping them on her face. "Let's get down to business. Here," she added briskly. "I think you're gonna need this."

She pulled the chakram from another nonexistent pocket and handed it to Gabrielle. Xena reached for it almost automatically, but pulled back with a scowl when Gabrielle took it and set it aside, both at the action and the implication of Aphrodite's words.

"You've been spying on us?" Xena said low and dangerously.

"Not exactly, no," Dite defended herself. She turned to face Xena squarely. "Gabrielle, could you give us a moment alone, please?"

The bard looked between the two of them - one angry and defiant; the other angry and determined. Aphrodite's use of her full name and the seriousness of her tone had not escaped Gabrielle's notice. Dite turned her head, her eyes pleading. Gabrielle turned her attention to Xena, noting the stiffness of her posture before the blue eyes turned her way and the dark head nodded her agreement with a sharp, short nod.

Gabrielle looked back at Aphrodite and nodded with a soundless sigh. Then she rose and picked up the chakram, laying it in Xena's lap before kissing the top of the raven hair. She picked up the basket Xena had left with its neatly stacked dishes and moved over to the tiny kitchen area which backed up to her bathroom.

Then she went into the bathroom and started a hot shower running, figuring it was about the only way to give the two women a bit of privacy.

Aphrodite waited until the door closed before she turned outraged eyes to Xena who met her stare with an equally furious look. She rose to her feet until she was nose to nose with the warrior.

"Just listen," she said when Xena opened her mouth to speak. "Yeah, I overheard your conversation. I've been keeping an eye on Gabrielle for nearly two thousand years. It's kinda become an ingrained habit."

"So once you knew we were back together, you kept watching because...." It was a bare whisper, but the outrage came through clearly.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Get over yourself, warrior babe. With your track record, figure the odds. Besides, it's my job, remember?? It's like, what I do."

"Yeah, well, you can stop now."

Dite gave an unladylike snort. "Let me explain something to you, Xena. You have the chance to go back and do things right this time... to be able to live through all the time you missed with Gabrielle. BUT...." She poked the warrior in the chest to emphasize her point. "You screw this up and I guarantee you there won't be a third chance."

"Is that a threat?"

"NO. That is a promise." Dite softened her eyes and her tone. "Xena, most beings, mortal or otherwise don't get the kind of opportunity you've been offered. Don't squander it."

"Or?"

"Or you will be alone for eternity. I won't see Gabrielle live through this... alone like this again."

Xena walked over to the window and looked out across the expanse of bare, snow-dusted ground unseeingly.

"Why?"

Dite's brow furrowed. "Huh? Why what?"

"Why am I getting this chance?

The goddess shrugged. "A lot of different reasons. But I think mostly because of Gabrielle's faith in the two of you together."

"You think?"

"Yeah, but don't let that get around, all right? People will start expecting it all the time," she replied wryly.

Xena couldn't help it. The deprecating, sardonic answer made her smile and she realized that Dite genuinely cared for both of them, though she suspected that caring went much deeper for Gabrielle.

"So what do we do now?"

"Well, I can't take you back. I mean... I can take you back to Greece, but not back in time. You need to find the spell that brought you here and reverse it."

Xena concured. "That's what I've been working on - collecting the totems. The chakram was the last piece of the puzzle. I need to talk to Kya." She looked at Aphrodite. "He's the shaman who brought me here."

Dite nodded and chewed her nail. "Probably a good idea."

"What is?" Gabrielle asked as she stepped from the bathroom drying her hair with a towel.

"Talking to Kya before we attempt the ritual that will take us back to our Greece... our time."

"So you think we can really do this successfully?" Gabrielle asked, looking between them.

"I think so," Xena said slowly. "I don't think we have anything to lose by trying."

"Agreed," Gabrielle said with ultimate faith and trust reflecting in her green gaze.

Aphrodite clapped her hands. "This is so totally exciting! I got things to do." She leaned forward and kissed them both on the cheek. "Good luck guys.... Later!"

Gabrielle laughed when Xena shook her head to clear it of the rose petals that had landed in her hair. Then she blew off one that landed on her nose. Gabrielle covered her mouth to keep from howling. Xena glared in the bard's direction, then let a wry smile cross her face.

"She really cares for you, ya know," Xena commented.

"She cares for both of us, Xena and she's been a good friend."

"Yep. I'm glad...." She started to say more then bit her tongue. She still felt guilty though she and Gabrielle had worked things out between them with lots of honest conversation since their reunion. Now with the opportunity to make things right, she didn't want to dwell on the coulda-woulda-shoulda's. "Here's hoping she's right about us going home again although...." Xena paused. "Gabrielle... are you sure? I mean, I'd be happy to make a life here with you. And by your own admission, you've done so much, helped so many...."

Gabrielle wrapped the towel around her neck and closed the two step distance between her and Xena. She lifted her arms to Xena's neck, gratified when the warrior's hands automatically went to her waist.

"Xena...." captured for a long moment in the intent regard of those blue eyes. "Yes, I'm sure. If it works, we'll be able to do all those things again... just together this time. If it doesn't...." She shrugged. "We'll make a life here together and I'll be happy to do that because we *will* be together. But I'd really like to give going home a try. What do we have to lose, right?"

Xena remembered Aphrodite's warning, niggling in the back of her mind. She wondered if she were destined to repeat her mistake or if the Fates were truly given her a chance to choose her own greater good this time. "Right," she answered.

She pulled Gabrielle into her and hugged her close, nibbling on her neck and chuckling silently when the bard was caught between a giggle and a moan as she allowed Xena better access. The warrior licked her way up to Gabrielle's ear and patted her on the butt.

"Go get dressed. I think it's time to go see Mama."

"You're a tease," Gabrielle said with a hint of frustration in her voice.

Xena grinned rakishly. "Yeah, but you love me anyway."

Gabrielle reached around and pinched a firm warrior behind, then scooted towards the bedroom. "Yep. I sure do," she said laughingly.

Xena growled and gave chase.

They were later to Mama's than they planned, but still made it in time for dinner.



Chapter XLII

Xena and Gabrielle observed Christmas with Mama, Isaac, Sal and his family and Hercules at Mama's insistence. Xena didn't understand what exactly what they were celebrating, but it was near enough to solstice for her to accept it as a holiday. Gabrielle had long since given up trying to explain that she didn't commemorate most of the modern holidays and simply participated in her own way. They were both glad of the opportunity to thank the woman who had welcomed them into her heart and home without judgment, though and they did so with relish.

Sal, Isaac and Hercules each received a bone knife from the white buffalo Xena had killed so many years before. She had kept them carefully and carved a bit of her story on each of them. The children and Josephina were given Cheyenne beaded necklaces. Mama received the white buffalo robe over her protestations that she couldn't possibly accept something so valuable.

Each of them was given genuine scrolls from Gabrielle that told a different story. The uniqueness of the gift made Sal's eyes light up at the prospect of a new business venture - until Josephina smacked his head for allowing commercialism to intrude on such a sacred holiday. The story she gave Mama brought tears to her eyes.

"Thank you," she whispered to the bard when she was done reading.

"You've been a mother to me for... a few years, Mama," Gabrielle said with a smile. "It was the best way I could think of to say thank you... and goodbye."

"You're leaving?" This from Hercules. He hadn't had a chance to catch up with them yet and he felt a pang at the possibility that he might not get to.

Gabrielle bit her lip and nodded, looking directly in his eyes. "We have a chance to go home again. We're gonna take it."

"Will you be back?" Mama asked.

Gabrielle shook her head. "Probably not. Home for us is Greece. It...." She trailed off, at a loss for how to explain without actually saying anything revealing. Isaac broke the silence before it stretched on too painfully, opening his arms for a hug.

"We'll miss you, Gabrielle."

"Thanks, Isaac. I'm gonna miss ya'll too."

Mama got up from her seat and first embraced an embarrassed Xena and then a teary Gabrielle. "I expect you girls to be careful and be safe. And if you can come back here, we'll be glad to see you."

"Thank you, Mama," Gabrielle said. Xena didn't respond verbally, but she gently returned the hug.

Hercules walked them beck to the cabin later that evening. "So you found all the totems?" he said into the cold air, watching the fog of his breath billow out at his words. Xena nodded. "You think it will take you back home then... to the time we are from?"

"I dunno. I think so... I hope so."

"But you're gonna try?"

Xena nodded. "Yeah. We are. We've got nothing to lose...."

"... and everything to gain," Gabrielle finished. Hercules acquiesced. They reached the cabin and Hercules remained at the bottom of the steps while Xena and Gabrielle walked up them and paused.

"Do me a favor," the big man asked. "If you don't make it back to the beginning, go to Banff and wait for me. I'll come up in the summer to see if you're there or not. But I'd like to know if ya'll do stick around this time, okay?"

Gabrielle walked back down the steps and into his arms. They hugged for a long moment. "We will," she agreed softly. "Thank you Hercules... for everything."

He kissed her cheek tenderly. "Thank you, Gabrielle. You brought back a wonderful part of my life and I'm glad to have had you in mine."

"Hey," Xena called softly. "Can anybody get in on this little love fest?"

Both Gabrielle and Hercules opened an arm to her and they embraced briefly. Then the two women withdrew and moved back to the door.

"When are you leaving?" Hercules asked as they opened the door.

Xena shrugged. "Probably the next day or two. May as well go to the winter camp while the weather is decent."

"Do you need an escort?"

"No, Hercules, but thank you." And Hercules knew that Xena was thanking him for more than just the offer and he acknowledged it with a smile.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," he said teasingly. "Ya'll be safe, all right."

"You too, Herc."



It was cold but brightly sunny when they started out two days later. Shamrock for one was glad to be out in the open again. The panther and fox made periodic appearances, as though they were checking on the progress of the little party. But both Xena and Gabrielle had grown accustomed to their odd emergence and disappearances.

The trip was a lot like their travels in Greece had been and they found themselves falling into a comfortable, well-rehearsed routine. They weren't really bothered by thugs or brigands and the days were filled with games they had played and conversation. Mostly from Xena, surprisingly, as she shared tales about her early life in this strange, new world and the people she had shared it with. Gabrielle found herself looking forward to meeting the tribe Xena proudly called family.

Nights were filled with warm campfires and lots of star chasing. Two thousand years hadn't changed the argument.

"It's a bear."

"It's a dipper."

"Bear."

"Dipper."

"Xena...."

"Gabrielle... even in this time, star gazers call it the Big DIPPER."

"But SCIENTISTS call it Ursa, as in BEAR, Major."

They looked at one another and burst into laughter.

"You think we'll have this argument every night for the past two thousand years?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena kissed the top of the blonde head. "I sure hope so." Then they snuggled down to go to sleep. They had high expectations of reaching the winter encampment sometime before midday on the morrow.

Strangely, the winter encampment was eerily empty when they arrived, with no sign that it had been inhabited all winter. Xena surveyed the area and tried to remember what Hercules had told them about the reservations. She exchanged a grim look with Gabrielle and they mounted Shamrock and headed out into the wilderness.

Travel was slow as the weather increasingly got worse and by the time they reached the land Hercules had described, even their immortal blood was frozen nearly solid. Shamrock was terribly unhappy and the fox and the panther had disappeared once more.

Xena looked around, discontented with the conditions she saw. But before she could comment on it, Gabrielle spoke up.

"I think we may have to delay our trip, love. We can't leave family in this kind of shape." Xena smiled at Gabrielle's words, knowing they came from her heart even though she knew little of the people who her warrior called family.

It was touch and go about their reception until they were recognized and acknowledged by Kya, especially since Gabrielle was so obviously not one of them. Kya was now an old man and he welcomed them both warmly, taking a liberty in age he couldn't have managed in his youth. He cupped Xena's cheek and smiled.

"Hello, Kya."

"Zee-nah, my friend. Welcome." He beckoned them forward into his small dwelling. "And this is...?"

"This is Gabrielle. This is the reason I was searching for the totems."

"Is great honor, Gabrielle. Zee-nah legend of our people."

Gabrielle chuckled and took his hand. "Yeah, she's something of a legend of ours, too."

Xena cleared her throat and changed the subject, trying to will away the blush she felt coloring her skin. "Kya, why are things so bad here? Where are your supplies... your homes?"

And he told them of the raid that had been perpetrated on the Nation little more than a moon before. A raid that had wiped out many of the supplies and homes of the northern clan. The Blue Coats had forced them all to the reservation and now they were having to make due with too little shelter and too few supplies. Sickness was running rampant through the camp and many were not expected to survive the winter.

"Let us help, Kya. We can help build more shelters and do some hunting. Then you can help us go home."

"Finished journey, then?"

"Yes," Xena said simply.

"Good," he told them with a glad smile. "Come. Talk to council. Will help the people then will send you home."

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances and a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. "We can do that. C'mon."

The trio walked from the hut and Kya picked up a small drum that hung on the wall outside. He banged on it steadily and precisely and a crowd gathered. He continued until the council arrived and pushed its way through the congregation at Kya's hut. Then with very few words, they and Xena and Gabrielle went around back to have their discussion.

The discussion was held in Cheyenne and Xena patiently translated for Gabrielle. First Kya explained who they were and what they meant to the local tribe. Gabrielle could have guessed that just by the looks they were receiving.

Then he went on to tell them of Xena's offer. That caused a loud outcry from the elders until a younger man - the war chief - stood up and motioned for silence.

"Zee-nah fought at Little Big Horn. Killed Custer. Led braves to victory over Blue Coats. She clan. I will follow."

Dead silence ensued his pronouncement. The war chief gave up his leadership only in times of peace, something they hadn't seen in some time. For him to relinquish his position to Xena spoke volumes of not only her abilities but also his faith in her personally.

And Xena proved out his faith in her in spades. Within just a few weeks, the warriors had turned their weapons of war into weapons of salvation for their people. Tomahawks chopped down brush to help create beds and arrows were used for hunting game that Xena was able to pinpoint even in the dead of winter. Then she taught them how to find fish at the bottom of a riverbed.

Gabrielle helped the women and children collect rocks and make mud to build a permanent structure to house the overflow of bodies in. It was hard, grueling work, especially in the dead of winter, but when they finally had it standing after two weeks of exertion, it was well worth the effort. People's attitudes had changed in that time - both towards Xena and Gabrielle and about life in general. They had been given hope again. And they all understood the reason behind the change.

The day before Xena and Gabrielle were to leave, heading off into the privacy of the plains to test the ritual for themselves, Kya called them into his dwelling. A load had been removed from his shoulders by the work they had done in taking care of his people. But the look he wore was a cross between consternation and confusion.

He held in his hand the parchment Xena had given him. Though he remembered the ritual he'd performed that had brought Xena to them, he had wanted to check the details against his memory to be sure he instructed them correctly. Now especially, after just a very limited time on this reservation, he could truly understand both the want and the need to return to the home of one's roots. He marveled at Xena's patience. But he found the scroll... mystifying.

"Hello, Kya."

The shaman looked up from the parchment when the two women walked through the doorway. He was again struck by how well suited they were to one another and wondered if it had always been so. He wondered though, why Gabrielle's green eyes were so much older than Xena's. Then he had a sudden flash of insight. If he had brought Xena, who had not aged a day in the forty years he'd known her, from the distant past, could Gabrielle have possibly lived through it? He didn't expect to actually ever have an answer, but it would give him an interesting question to ponder until he died.

Kya realized he had been silent too long and that Xena was giving him that raised eyebrow look. He motioned them to sit.

"Forgive old man, Zee-nah. Get lost in thinking too easy."

Xena smirked. "Kya, my partner is a bard. I'm used to it." Then she squirmed to dodge the backhand that hit her squarely in the belly.

"Watch it, Warrior Princess. We have plenty of time for me to torture you, ya know."

Blue eyes twinkled mischievously. "Promise?"

Green sparkled back at her, forgetting their audience for a moment. "Uh uh," Gabrielle replied. "Guarantee."

Kya's laughter brought them back to the present. "You old couple. Been married long time."

"You think we act married?" Gabrielle asked with a smile.

"Yes," Kya answered with a vigorous nod. "Like parents." Then his face turned abruptly serious. "Zee-nah, where did you find?"

Xena scowled. "In the cave, Kya... just like you did."

He shook his head. "Not same. Different ritual."

Xena ran a hand through her hair. "What?? You mean we can't go home - I collected all those totems for nothing??"

"No, mean ritual different. Still need totems."

Xena blew out a big breath and Gabrielle casually stepped up behind the warrior and began rubbing her back. Xena relaxed into the touch though it wasn't noticeable to anyone save Gabrielle. The bard smiled at Kya.

"Can you explain what you did and how it differs from what we will need to do?"

"That is key... this for two. Will take both to do."

Xena nodded. "That almost makes sense, though how anyone knew there would be two of us...." She looked at Gabrielle. Gabrielle shrugged.

"I have learned not to question some things too deeply, Xena. I either don't like or don't understand the answer."

"Gods know I can understand that," Xena muttered. "All right, Kya... spill it." She took Gabrielle's hand. "We have places to be."



It took them nearly a week to reach the sacred ground Kya directed them to. They had returned to the spot where he had originally performed the ritual that had brought Xena to the New World so far out of her own time. Xena had some serious niggling doubts about the whole process now, but figured she owed it to Gabrielle to at least try.

"Xena?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you sure about this? I mean... I get the feeling you have some... doubt... or whatever. I don't want you to do this just for me. I'm content to stay here and live out our lives together from this point."

Xena took Gabrielle in her arms and pulled her into a nearly crushing hug. Then she brushed a kiss to the top of her head, feeling Gabrielle return the favor on her clothed chest. "Sweetheart, let me be real honest here... even with doubts, I would do this for you, because I really believe you would be happier if we got to travel through all that time together. But to be completely selfish... *I* want this. I want to be there when you re-establish the Amazon Nation or meet Genghis Khan or write the Scottish Play. I missed so much this go round and if I have the opportunity to change that... even if I have doubts about its success... I'm gonna try. Because I want it. I want us to have that time together."

Gabrielle didn't say a word. She didn't have to. She simply lifted her tear-filled eyes and embraced Xena for all she was worth. Xena pulled back slightly after a few minutes and wiped away the lone tear that slowly rolled down Gabrielle's face.

"I don't say it enough, my bard," bringing a smile to Gabrielle's face with the endearment. "But I love you. You still give my life meaning and joy and regardless of whether this works or not, I'm gonna do a better job of showing you that. You deserve that... we both do."

"Time for us to be the greater good maybe?"

"Maybe, yeah... I think it is."

The two women separated and began collecting wood and chips needed for the fire and placed them in the center of the fire ring that had already been prepared. Gabrielle laid the fire and started it, while Xena lifted the saddlebags from Shamrock's back. She groomed him carefully once more before removing the bits of tack he had left.

"Go on, boy," she said with a gentle slap on his rear. "You've been a good friend, but it's time for me to set you free. Go find you a pretty filly and make some beautiful babies, all right?" She took his head between her hands and kissed his nose. "Thank you, Shamrock," said as a whisper.

The mustang nodded and butted her in the chest. Then he reared and walked away, but only went so far as to be out of the light cast from fire ring.

The fox and the panther stepped forward and took up sentinel positions on either side of the fire and no amount of coaxing could convince them to move. Xena and Gabrielle physically relocated them, picking them up and repositioning them out of the fire ring to wait beside Shamrock. The spirit guides simply followed both warrior and bard back into the sacred ring and resumed their stance by the fire.

"You think they know something we don't?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena shrugged. "Maybe. I don't think it will hurt to have them here, though."

Gabrielle nodded her agreement.

Xena looked around when a familiar tingling skittered up her spine, but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary. With a shrug, she returned her attention to the task before her.

They placed the six totems equally around the circle. Xena had explained her journeys behind each one and Gabrielle had been amazed at the connections to both herself and to those they called friend. She idly wondered how it all tied together, then turned her attention to Xena.

Without a word, the two women stripped naked and entered the water much as Kya had done forty odd years before. The freezing temperature made them scrub much faster than he did and they were happy to remove themselves from its icy wetness and dry with the thick blanket they'd set aside strictly for that purpose.

They stood in the circle as close to the fire as they could manage, thankful for the distinct lack of wind inside the fire ring. Xena picked up the two pots of paint they had made - one green, one blue - and began painting non-descript symbols on Gabrielle's body as she chanted low in her throat. She then painted stripes of blue and green on her own face before passing the paint to Gabrielle.

The bard accepted the paint and returned the favor... chanting the words Xena had taught her as she decorated the warrior's body in patterns she felt more than understood. Finally, she striped her own cheeks and set the pots out of the circle. Then Xena and Gabrielle began a rhythmic dance that was at once both non-sexual and highly erotic, continuing to chant the words that the parchment scroll had given them.

The dance tempo increased, as did the recitation of words and Xena lifted the chakram from its position in the circle. It like the other totems had begun to glow with an unearthly energy and she felt the warmth of its power flow through her when she raised it above her head.

Beyond the circle, the wind blew fiercely and Shamrock had gone for cover against the rumbling thunder and flashing lightning that was increasingly evident in alarming proportions.

In the distance, a lone rider saw the commotion that seemed to light up the horizon and he raced towards it. Perhaps here at last was the trail he had been searching for.

They continued to dance, closer and closer without touching. The totems pulsed with light and energy and as the sun began to drop beneath the horizon, Xena sliced into the palm of her left hand and lifted it to Gabrielle's lips.

Gabrielle felt her incisors lengthen and her eyes change from green to red. She extended her tongue and swiped it over the cut, licking her lips and savoring the taste of Xena's life essence. A low growl rumbled in Xena's chest at the sheer eroticism of the act and she waited impatiently for the bard to return the favor, her canines extending in anticipation.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity to the warrior, Gabrielle took the chakram and cut her own left palm, proffering the bleeding extremity to Xena. Xena accepted with alacrity, relishing the sweet tang of Gabrielle's blood and smiling at the moan she felt emanating from the bard's chest.

They were unaware of the storm growing outside their circle and they clasped their left hands together, letting the blood flow and mingle jointly. Their right hands each held a side of the chakram, which now pulsed steadily and brightly. The five remaining totems pulsed until their energy arced and raced towards the chakram.

The chakram glowed and sent out a light that surrounded them, drawing the energy of the approaching storm to them.

Ares pulled to a quick stop a short distance from the light, sensing the end of his journey... a strength and presence he had only felt occasionally in two thousand years. He was trying to reconcile what his mind knew with what his eyes were seeing. But there was no way to deny that the tattoo on the shorter woman's back belonged to Gabrielle. These were not descendants or reincarnations. This was the real deal... and if they were here....

"IMMORTALS???" he whispered. "But how??"

Xena lowered her mouth toward Gabrielle's neck and Gabrielle extended her mouth toward Xena's. As fangs sank into flesh, lightning converged on them. And the world was blinded for a very long moment.