~Subtext warning: There is a WHOLE lot more then just subtext, its mostly maintext.

~Story contains love between more then two consenting (hopefuly) adult women If this bothers you, or your under 18 OR its illegal where you are theres alot of other, regular fiction out there just need to look around the sight a bit more.

Of course comments are always welcome : Illusia15@aol.com

"...Constant Craving has always been.." --K.D Lang

      The warm sun rose high over the mountains of Thrace, basking the Amazon Village in its wake. Few actually woke this early save for the cook who had to feed the hundreds of women, and a certain Warrior Princess who was out for her morning jog.

     Xena sat perched high in a tree as she watched the sun rise. She loved this peaceful time of day when she didn't have to worry about anything or anyone. She'd left the bard sleeping peacefully in her bed. A small ache entered her chest whenever the bard wasn't around. It was something that was as constant as the girls chatter. She had grown used to it by now, although she often wondered if it was truly Gabrielle that caused it. She blinked as she felt a familiar prescence approach.

     "You're up early" she said to Ephiny, without even glancing away from the now fully risen sun.

     "I know, Solari's snoring always wakes me up, but never tell her that" the blond regent chuckled as she sat herself down next to the warrior. Ephiny regarded Xena for a moment.

     "You know, I don't think I have ever seen you this content, something must be on your mind" She stated simply. Xena knew that she was right. She knew that something must have truly been bothering her. Then she spoke up finally.

     "Have you ever just been thinking about someone, and felt an ache in your heart that you actually really do feel? Not just metaphorically speaking." Xena looked into the blond eyes of the regent as both of her eyebrows raised.

     "Most of the time that only happens when Solari is gone for awhile, and I miss her deeply" she leaned against the wattle and daub of a nearby tree with thought.      "You must be in love" Ephiny smiled, already knowing where this was headed but pretended to act surprised. Xena looked away.

     "I am, but I can never tell her." She said simply, for she always knew in her heart that Gabrielle would simply reject her and head home.

     "Why not?" Eph moved down and sat behind her.

      "She..well.. to put it in laymen's terms, is straight."

     Ephiny laughed softly.

     "Xena, Gabrielle has been around amazons so much as to know what's going on, and, trust me, she isn't as straight as you think." Her bright blue eyes laughed, completely amused by the whole situation. ***

     Xena and Ephiny walked back into the camp a few hours later, having missed the morning meal, and were both greeted by a furious Gabrielle.

     "I was worried to death and just about to send out a patrol for you two!" she nearly screamed. Xena glanced at Ephiny, and they both surpressed a smile. Gabrielle only let out an aggravated type of growl and headed back into her hut.The dark haired warrior merely followed, and the rest of the camp did not see hide nor hair of the two 'til the next morning, leaving them only to guess about what was going on behind those closed flaps. ***

      As the sun rose high, a new day dawned, as did a new chapter in the two friends' lives. The golden haired bard lay curled up next to her warrior and champion. Xena was awake, of course, but she never rose completely, and especially today, where she planned to spend an awful amount of time in bed. She smirked softly, remembering for a moment her first woman lover...

     Rosen was a beautiful warrior, full of life and love. The Destroyer of Nations thought, her dark eyes scanning the body of the scantly clad amazon.

     "You're of Cyane's tribe?" she asked, confused.

     "No, I serve Epinin, ruler of the Amazons of CauCasus." the woman suddenly seemed weak, not as strong as most full-blooded amazons. Xena said no more, merely walked up and kissed the woman forcefully. Surpringly, she was kissed back.

     "You are to be an example to this Epinin." Xena exclaimed. Then she proceeded to chain the woman spread eagle. She dismissed her guards and continued to do as she pleased, exploring and learning about the powerful sex that happened between two women....

     Xena shuddered gently at the memory of her darker days. Her fighting days were not over, they where far from it. But her days as a warlord where complete. She looked to the slumbering bard.

     "You are the first woman I have loved completely without reserve..." she whispered and kissed Gabrielle's forehead. Gabrielle smiled in her sleep and leaned in, kissing Xena firmly on the lips. The warrior woman smiled inwardly and deepened the kiss a bit, extracting a soft moan from the Bard....

     Ephiny glanced at the Queen's hut, then laughed to herself as she and Solari walked by on their way to breakfast.

     "First time's always a charmer.." she chuckled to her soulmate. Solari agreed.

     "Remember our first? I think we where at it for the better part of the week.." Ephiny blushed, clearly remembering.

     "Constant craving huh?" Solari smiled as she leaned in and kissed this walking Goddess in mortal guise.

     "Has always been my love.." Eph mumbled into the kiss, never regretting a moment .

     As a new day started, so then did re-kindled and new found love. Creating an atmosphere of peace and hope in the Amazon camp unlike many had ever felt before. Cravings are funny that way, full of wonder and light for most of eternity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

thank you: my friend Melissa for editing and making appropriate changes. And for a whole lot more.