Part 3

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Clank.

Thud.

It had started as soon as I had shut the door to the bedroom. The image of Xena sitting there so forlornly was vivid in my mind and my head was hurting both where I had hit it and from a fierce headache. Beginning with a small ache behind my eyes, it had grown into this incessant pulsating that started in the center of my head and ebbed outward in waves with every beat of my heart.

"Headache?" Cyrene asked, dipping a plate in the water and washing away the grime from last night.

All I could manage was a grunt. "I heard yelling."

I didn't respond. It took too much energy.

"You two fighting?" She asked, trying to figure out why I was sprawled against her cutting table, moaning at every little sound.

Ok. That question at least deserved some sort of verbal response. "Yeah."

"You know, when Atrius, Xena's father, was still around, we used to fight, too. Every time we argued, I used to get these throbbing headaches that wouldn't quit."

As reassuring as that sentiment was, her voice was driving huge spikes into the back of my head with every syllable she uttered.

I sucked in a bit of air and tried to shift my head on my forearms so that the throbbing in my temples would ease. I groaned as she set another dish was down to dry with what seemed, to my sensitive ears, like excessive force.

"Gods be damned, Gabrielle, if you're that sick, go to bed!" Cyrene said, her hands settling on her hips as she turned and scolded me.

"I can't," I said.

"You've got a room. You've got a bed. What exactly can't you do?" She asked me, sitting opposite me at the large cutting counter.

"I can't because she's in there," I said to her "And this `she' would be my daughter? The same person who you seemed quite happy to be lying on top of this morning?" She asked, causing me to blush fiercely.

"You saw that?" I asked, deciding to not let her know that we were awake at the time.

She nodded as I looked up at her.

I sighed. "Oh."

She placed her hand on my elbow. "You're healthy?"

I nodded.

"You're happy?"

I chuckled, though not really amused. "Most of the time."

She looked into my eyes for a long moment. "You two have been through a lot, haven't you?"

"You could say that," I said, rubbing my eyes again as they strained to focus. "But you're still together? Still a team? Still best friends?" She asked me gently, her hand unconsciously pushing a strand of graying hair behind her ear.

I nodded. "We're more than that. And I think that every day we stay together, we grow stronger and closer," I admitted. While I didn't know Cyrene that well, she was Xena's mother and I did value her as a person. "Then what's the problem?" She asked, frowning in obvious confusion.

"She's worried about me. She thinks that because we're.because we."I stuttered, not really knowing how to phrase this.

"Because you love each other," the older woman supplied patiently.

I grinned a bit, both surprised and embarrassed at how easily we were scanned. "Yeah. Because we love each other, she thinks I'm going to be a target."

"But you've traveled with her for three, almost four years, right?"

"Right."

"So what, specifically, makes you more of a target now than you were three years ago?"

This was one smart woman. "Exactly my point," I said with a sigh.

"You're able to defend yourself, aren't you?" She asked.

"I didn't used to be. I used to have to hide whenever there was a problem. Now I'm right in the thick of it. That's where I like it, guarding her back."

"You fight with that staff you carry?" She asked me, starting to dry the dishes as she sat.

I nodded. "I'm not bad, either. Xena told me the other day that I was probably better skilled than she was."

Cyrene chuckled. "Do you know that when you just said that, your whole face lit up?" I blushed and looked down and she continued. "Xena was never one to dish out comments just for the sake of saying something. If she thinks you're good, then you're good."

I nodded. "I know. Which is why this silly argument is bothering me more and more. If I'm able to take care of myself out there and she admits that, then why is my safety even an issue?" I asked Cyrene. I didn't really want an answer, already knowing the correct one in my heart.

"Gabrielle, if you were being chased and there was the possibility that Xena would be a target just because she was friends with you, you'd be worried, wouldn't you?" She asked me, watching me closely as I answered.

"Of course!"

"And you'd feel absolutely horrible if anything happened to her because she was your friend, right?"

"Right," I said, knowing exactly where she was going with this.

She put her dish towel down on the table and grabbed a large basket from underneath the cutting area. "So why don't you understand how she would feel if something ever happened to you?" I sighed and she reached over, patting my hand. "Xena's had a rough life, as you well know. Just like any mother, I used to hope that I'd be the one to put the bright spot in her life, but since I'm not the one who makes her smile or who gives her reason for living, I'm glad its you."

I smiled and blinked hard, trying not to cry at the wonderful gift of words I had just been given. "I know she's concerned, but.." I stuttered. Cyrene placed a warm hand on my cheek in a very familiar manner, stopping me in mid sentence. "Gabrielle, you're the bright spot in her life. If she looses you, she's gone. She'll just be a shell of who she used to be. I know you understand that. You're something so special to her. I can see it in her eyes when she looks at you. She's scared. My sword wielding, Bacchae slaying, I-don't-take-attitude-from-

anyone, daughter who has faced some of the toughest warlords in the world and beat them all, is afraid of you and what she'd do without you."

I looked at this woman who had practically single handedly raised my lover. She had seen turmoil and serenity and hunger and feasts. She had managed to pass many a winters and many a summers by hard work and wits. There were small lines set into her skin around her mouth in the same area that folded back when she smiled broadly. Furrows near her eyes seemed to resemble the same markings made by crows' feet in the sand. Not nearly old enough to have forgotten all she had learned nor young enough to have learned all there was to know. I smiled up at her. She was quickly becoming more to me than "Xena's mom" and I longed for this kind of relationship with my mother. But that would never be and I knew it.

"Thanks," I said honestly. "I'll fix this headache and then go talk to her," I said.

She looked at me with a grin on her face. "In my experience, those headaches are often only fixed by the one who caused them."

I smiled and blushed.

Cyrene reached behind her into the larder and retrieved a bundle of dried rose hips, a loaf of onion bread and a rope of garlic, placing all three into the large basket and lining the top with a cloth having been warming by the oven. "I've got a few errands to run."

"In this weather?" I asked worried about the snow that had descended on us again, though this time the drifts were higher and the flakes bigger.

"Its got to be done!" She said, tossing a wrapped package of tea leaves into the basket before closing it. "Weather has never stopped me before from doing what I need to do. And now that you and Xena are here, you'll be able to take over for me if I get snowed out. I have to head to the other side of town and visit Auriel, the seamstress. She needs some company."

"But." "No buts, chicklet. You and Xena are in charge. I've written down the lunch and dinner menus. That parchment is tacked to the inside of the pantry cabinet next to the flour, just in case I'm late. I should be home by midnight at the latest, but if not, lock up and bank the fire. If it looks like I won't make it home, I'll stay the night at Auriel's," she grabbed her shawl and tucked it under her neck before hooking her thick woolen cloak over top of it. "But."

She grinned and walked around to me, kissing me softly on the forehead. "Dishes need to be washed, floor needs to be swept, and I need wood split for the fire. I know your head hurts, little-bit, but the only thing that'll fix that is in your room, not out here. Chores can wait. Go find some pain reliever, ok?" she advised, smacking me in a motherly way on the rump, effectively pushing me off the stool, towards the kitchen exit, and the hall that housed the door to my room.

I heard a chuckle behind me and the back door shutting behind Cyrene as she headed out into the snow storm to visit her friend.

My arms were elbow deep in almost boiling warm soapy water as I scrubbed the remaining plates and pans and mugs.

The throbbing still plagued my head but I was starting to not feel it anymore as my body focused on the pain from standing up and not moving for a long amount of time settled into my lower back.

A back rub would be nice right about now, I thought. The lunch crowd was beginning to pack into the dinning area and as I finished washing and drying the dishes, I'd have to serve up the stew that Cyrene had left on the fire. Then, while they were eating, I'd have to sweep the floor and clean the larder. The door to the kitchen creaked open and a dark head popped in before a slender body followed.

She grabbed the broom and began to sweep the dried straw stalks across the wooden floor, making a small pile of dirt near the door and then sweeping it out into the cold.

She dusted off her hands on the blue skirt she was wearing. Sauntering into the pantry, she clanked around for a few minutes, the sounds being a bit heavier than they should have been for someone with her deft hands.

I shifted my feet and groaned as my heel sent a shooting pain up my leg and into my lower back. At the same time as the small sound escaped my lips, I heard a huge rumble and a clatter come from inside the pantry. I pulled my hands out of the water, grabbing a towel on my way to see what had gone wrong.

"Xena?"

"Don't you dare come in here," I heard growled at me.

I placed my hand on the half-shut door, unable to see into the pantry all the way. "You ok?" "Fine," She growled. "If you need help," I offered, opening the door a little, only to find it stopped by a powerful body part. "Xena?"

"For once would you just listen to me and not come in?" she said, her voice having fallen from a growl to more of a pleading half-snarl.

"But." I said, desperately needing to know she was all right. She must have heard the urgency in my voice because I heard a sigh and the door swung open.

I brought my hand to my mouth, biting on a finger to keep myself from laughing. She was covered from head to toe in white flour. Her normally tan skin had been doused in fine white powder that washed any trace of ebony from her hair, leaving her looking much like a ghostly apparition. It was comical but I tried to hold me tongue for the sake of her pride.

I honestly tried not to laugh. I swear. And I could have made it, too, had her lips not twitched. If her face hadn't cracked, I would have been fine. But no. She had to go and let that bit of humor show through and leave me with my stomach shaking so hard that I had to slid down the wall and sit on the pantry floor because my knees had given out.

"Its not funny," I managed to gasp out while trying to silence my still chuckling inner child. "Its not," she agreed, shaking her head solemnly.

I looked up at her, making eye contact and raising an eyebrow at her in question. She cracked, laughing hard and ending up on the floor right next to me.

It was few minutes before we were calm enough to talk. I leaned over and tried to wipe the flour off of her eyes, but with my hands being wet, I only made more of a mess, leaving a white pasty goo behind on her face. I chuckled at my mistake and used the towel to dab at her eyes and face, getting as much of the flour off as I could before the rag, too, was covered in the cooking staple.

"Thanks," she said to me, smiling a bit.

"Welcome," I said softly, stirring to stand and go back to my kitchen work. She placed an hand gently on top of my own, making me pause and look her in the eye.

"I've been thinking," she started and I settled back down next to her on the cold floor.

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking and maybe we shouldn't stop," she said softly, looking at me.

"Yeah?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe I'm just.just-"

"Scared?" I provided. "Scared," she said, looking down.

"Xena," I said, raising her face up by hooking a finger under her chin. I met her eyes with my own and leaned in a bit closer. "I'm scared, too. You should know that. Do you really think that I'm not worried about what'll happen next?" "Yeah.No. I dunno," she stuttered.

"I'm terrified!" "Really?" "Of course. Just because I'm enjoying myself and enjoying us, doesn't mean that I'm not scared," I admitted, longing to kiss her but knowing this wasn't the right time.

She smiled and leaned in, somehow knowing I needed to feel her lips against my own. I pulled back after a moment or two, not wanting to over-do it.

"I do love you," she said.

"I know you do," I replied. "I love you, too." She grinned and it warmed my heart. "Slower maybe?" I asked, hoping to find a happy medium.

"Have you ever known me to do anything slowly?" She asked with a chuckle.

I blushed, a few racy comments coming to mind, though only one of them I chose to voice, "I sure hope there's at least one thing that you do slowly."

She laughed out loud, her eyes crinkling on the edges just as her mother's did. It was endearing, though it was hard to imagine Xena becoming any more endeared to me than she already was.

I rested my forehead against hers. "I'm not going anywhere, Xena." "You can't promise that."

"You remember when I was so sick? You told me that even in death, you'd never leave me. Did you think that was one sided? That it only worked for you? There's no way I'd ever leave you, Xena. Even in death," I said, stroking her cheek absently.

It was a look of astonishment and wonder that crossed her face. In the amount of time that it took for her to open her mouth, I had already placed a finger there, silencing her unspoken words. "Don't debate it. You're just not going to get rid of me that easily, Xena. You got that?" I said, my best no-nonsense tone of voice coming through with full force.

She looked at me, a bit taken aback it seemed. "Yeah. I got that."

"Good."

"But you listen to me, bard. No more seducing me, you hear? That means no more waking me up with dainty little kisses or those pleasing little tracing patterns you're always making on my skin. Deal?"

I grinned. "And what if I don't agree? You're going to throw me out on my ear?"

She put on her most feral look and lunged at my head, nipping a bit at my earlobe. "Nope," she said, suckling on the ear I had just spoken of. "I'll tie you down and ravish you."

I laughed, both from her tickling teeth on my ear and the silly statement. "Who says I won't like that?" I asked, realizing that if we couldn't keep without sticking some body part in our mouth for five small minutes, we were in big trouble.

"Oh yeah? I never knew you were into that kinda thing, Gabrielle," she said, pulling back and playing with the hem of my shirt.

I waggled my eyebrows at her. "Well I hooked up with you, didn't I? That must mean that I like things rough."

We laughed, standing up and heading back out into the kitchen. I returned to my dishes and she went to wash and change out of her floury clothes.

"Feel better?" I asked, seeing her return, this time wearing her snug black leather leggings. "Less like a baking product and more like a human," she muttered, tugging her warm sweater down around her slender hips.

I smiled. "The dishes are done," I muttered, drying my hands and tilting my head slightly toward the stack of dry dishes. "I would have helped," she commented, finding a bowl and serving herself some beef stew.

I grabbed a fork and speared a piece of meat out of her bowl and popped it into my mouth, chewing slowly and realizing this was the first meal I had all day. "I have to split logs later," I commented.

"I'll do it."

"Nah. You need to go take care of Argo and then make sure everything's ok here. Tossing people out on their ear if they act like children and that sort of thing. I can do the chopping. I used to cut firewood in Poteidia," I said, stabbing a carrot and chewing it greedily.

"But."

"I'm a perfectly capable adult, Xena," I said around the carrot mush that was in my mouth.

She smiled a small smile with just the ends of her mouth curling up. It was a minuscule smile, but it was enough to make me happy as I watched her dip her fingers into the bowl of stew and nab a chunk of meat. She bit it in half and held the other piece out towards me with a raised eyebrow. I took the portion of meat with my teeth, pulling her fingers into my mouth and suckling for a moment before releasing them. It was sudden when she leaned down and kissed me, bringing my tongue into her mouth with pure force of suction. The bowl had been forgotten after being tossed onto the counter and her hands reached behind me and pulled me tight against her.

Wait a minute…my mind screamed. I put my hands on her shoulders and pushed back. "Didn't you just decide to take this slowly?" I asked, trying to restrain myself.

She smirked. "You didn't really want to go slowly, did you?" She asked somewhat sarcastically, her hand sliding down my back and lightly squeezed one of my lower cheeks.

Glad to have her hands exploring me once again, I leaned in, nuzzling my head so that it rested perfectly under her chin. "You really have got me figured out, huh?" Her hands stilled and pulled me even closer, finding that we melded together in all the right places. "I should after all these years."

"Three years isn't really that long a time, Xena," I commented with a bit of a chuckle. I felt her body relax as I massaged her lower back in the same spot that mine was still aching. "Its longer than I imagined myself being with someone," she admitted as I rubbed my fingers in circles, trying to release stress from her muscles.

I sighed. This conversation was obviously long overdue. "It's longer than I thought you'd keep me around," I admitted.

"Really?"

I nodded against her throat.

"Did you really think I'd send you home?" She asked, pulling back to look me in the eye.

"I really did."

"Do you still think that way?" I heard her ask me.

"Not…no…Not so much as before," I stuttered, not quite sure of how to answer.

She raised an eyebrow.

Fess up, Gabrielle. Holding it in isn't helping anyone, I thought. "There's still a part of me that thinks that the next time I mess up or cause trouble, you'll leave. But deep down I really know you won't do that," I said, knowing it was a weak statement even though it was true.

"Do you know that in your heart?" She asked me.

I nodded. "I feel it in my heart."

"Good. I'm not going to leave you," she said. "I might go for a ride to cool down so I don't yell or say something I don't mean, but I'll always come back, Gabrielle. I promise," She said, looking me so deeply into the eye that I knew she could see to my soul if she wished it.

A smile tugged at my lips and I let it take over my face, feeling the skin near my eyes crinkle.

Xena's head, ears perked, snapped around and faced the door just before I heard a very loud "HEY" being screamed in the direction of the kitchen.

"Do we get any lunch or what?" A rather disgusting and burly man pushed his way through the door, yelling at us the entire time.

I stepped back from Xena's arms and wiped my hands on my apron before turning back half way to the pot and the other half to the man who blocked the door way. I could feel Xena staring him down from over here.

"Sir, if you'll just take a seat, one of us will be with you shortly," I said calmly, ignoring the nasty look he was passing between the two of us.

He sneered, obviously unaware of who exactly he was dealing with. "If you two want to fool around, do it on your own time! I'm hungry and stuck in this hovel that's mistaken for an inn. I want lunch and I want it now!"

She took a step forward and it was by pure luck that I managed to intercept her before she got to him. I had to place a hand firmly on her chest and almost push her away from me before she stopped her advance.

"Sir, as I said," I calmly repeated to the repugnant man, "If you'll take a seat, one of us will be with you soon,"

"I'll sit here," he said, motioning to the kitchen stool. "Make sure you two don't dally about it."

Ok. I was nice twice. I even kept her away from him. That's enough of that. He's all yours, honey, I thought as I released my restraining hand from Xena's chest and watched her pounce on the unsuspecting man. I shrugged as he was lifted unceremoniously off his perch and held against the wall by my dark haired partner who could have crushed him with but one hand.

"Lookie here," she started as the man's eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped. "I grew up in this inn and it's anything but a hovel. You get great service from people as beautiful as her," she said, jerking her head at me and causing me to blush, "Not to mention the fact that this inn is owned by my Mother!" She growled and it was obvious that her arm was restricting his flow of air and I felt a pang of sympathy for him before remembering what a putz he had just been.

"Mother?" the man stuttered.

"My mother," She restated, pushing him higher up on the way with only one hand.

"Xena?" I said softly, knowing this might get out of hand in a few minutes. She glanced over her shoulder at me and I smiled a bit. "Why don't we ask this gentleman to leave quietly through the back door after paying his bill and everything will be taken care of?" I nudging her along on this course of action.

She sighed and gave me a very "Do I have to? I won't get to pummel him?" look. I cocked my head to the side and she knew that I meant business.

"5 dinars," She said, her free hand held out. He placed the coins into her hand and was slowly released to the floor. I walked over and opened up the back exit, holding the door for Xena as she guided him out. Her booted foot was planted firmly against his rear end and she pushed, propelling him out the door, barely missing tossing him into a snow drift.

"Have a good day!" I called sarcastically after the man as he walked through the snow, hand rubbing his severely bruised backside.

She leaned across and shut the door with her heal, hugging me again in the process and walking towards the cutting counter with me wrapped in her arms.

"Make a pretty good team, don't we?" She asked.

"What? You pick 'em up and I yell at 'em?" I teased, hopping backwards onto the counter and sitting there, allowing her eye-to-eye contact.

"Equal partnership?" She said, somewhat a question and somewhat a statement.

"Sounds good to me," I replied, leaning in for a deep kiss, hands groping each other for more than lips could immediately provide.

"WHEN'S LUNCH!?" Some voices screamed from out side of the kitchen, just as my lips were about to brush hers. Our foreheads rested together and we both groaned.

She held the door open with her heel as I rushed through it, two steaming plates of bread and stew held high above my head. She had a rather large stack of dirty dishes in her hands and was only managing to hold on to them because she had planted her chin on the top dish, effectively pinning them in place.

"Next year we're going to your mother's," she groaned as I left the kitchen rushing to deliver the food to the customer's at the table near the fireplace. From the kitchen I heard a rather loud sneeze followed by the loud clattering of dishes being fumbled into the sink and its soapy water. I managed to muster a grin for the polite family I was serving and ran back off to the kitchen, leaping over a drunkard who had just recently toppled onto the now dirty floor.

"You ok? What broke? You hurt?" I asked shoving the swinging kitchen door open and skidding to a stop, bracing my hands against the cutting counter to slow my speed.

She turned to look at me, her entire sweater front covered in soapy dish water. Her face was the same that I had seen on a reprimanded puppy some years back. I snickered a bit, trying not to laugh. "Your poor sweater," I said, grabbing a towel and wiping her off as much as possible. I even got the water from off her leggings before looking back up at her. She was scowling. "Just not your day, is it?" I asked cutting off my laughter.

She just glared at me, blue eyes snapping at the world which seemed to have turned against to her today.

"Don't look at me like that!" I said, my hands going to my hips, "It's not my fault you can't stack the dishes nicely in the sink! And don't even think that my mother's house would be any better! She wouldn't put up with your attitude, either!" I said, not at all upset, but not really seeing the need for her to look at me in that tone of voice.

She gave me one of her 'Oh yeah?' looks.

"Its true! Warrior princess or not, she'd pick you up by your ear if you looked at her the way you just looked at me. You'd be leaning over the wood pile with a belt to tanning your backside!" I said, not realizing I had probably just said too much about my old life. More than I wanted her to know right now. More than she had ever assumed, no doubt.

Xena's look changed from one of annoyance to one of concern. She opened her mouth to say something that I didn't really want to hear. I raised a palm and staved off her words. "Look," I started just as she raised her hand up even to mine and laced her fingers through my own. I sighed. Avoidance was something I had just about mastered over the years. "Xena, the Fates are just against you today," I said.

It was a deep frown that crossed her face before she sighed and allowed a small smile to tug her lips. "As if they haven't done enough to me in the past."

I grinned and suppressed a chuckle. "I can handle things here. Why don't you go check on Argo. If it keeps snowing like this, I don't know if you'll have an easy time of getting out to the barn tomorrow morning."

It was a light tickle to my heart that told me I would soon be having a serious talk with her about the little secret I had just divulged.

"Fine," she said, spinning on her heal and heading outside without her cloak, sparing me a backwards glance with worried eyes.

I didn't try to stop her. She still had that horrible cough from her sickness, but I knew that trying to take care of her now wouldn't be very smart. The world was, it seemed, against her today and everything she did was going wrong. Her blue eyes were aflame with unsettled nerves and agitation that I hated to see lighting her face. Damned if I was going to contribute to her upset just because I wanted to put a layer of warm wool around her shoulders. With a small grin on my face I turned and grabbed a pitcher of ale and headed out to the dinning area, a new respect for tavern keepers deep in my soul.

The drunkard whom I had previously leapt over grabbed my ankle as I tried to step around him. I sighed. One of those customers, it seemed. "Sir," I started. He tried to tug on my leg so I would have landed on him. No such luck. After trouping around Greece with the best reflexed warrior in the known world, I had long since stopped being pulled over by stray tree roots never mind a half-strength drunk.

"Damnit," I said, setting the pitcher of ale down on the bar and reaching for the broom that sat just out of my reach. "Sir!" I said again, this time much less politely. With a sigh, I just did as my body had been trained to do. I pulled my foot back a little and then pressed my heel into the man's throat. My voice dropped to a rumble that was very similar to my partner's. "Let go of my foot," I said, enunciating every syllable with menace. "Now." The man's hands unclasped from my ankle and he struggled to sit up. I kicked him lightly in the side, providing enough motivation for him to speed up his motion. "Get up," I growled, nudging him with the toe of my boot. I saw a flicker of motion out of the corner of my eye and heard the almost inaudible foot falls of tall-dark-and-deadly. She paused on her way in from the kitchen. I saw her body still as she saw me handling the man with as much self-confidence as she would have. He scurried to his feet, swaying under the influence of his booze. "Get out. Get out and don't ever come back until you've learned to hold your liquor and listen to a lady when she speaks to you."

"You're no lady," he said with a hiccup.

"Damned right, I'm no lady," I said with a sardonic grin, "I'm an Amazon Queen. As far as I'm concerned, that's even more reason for you to listen to me." First time you used that one to your advantage, Gabrielle, I thought to myself.

The man stepped toward me, body language sending bells off in my head. Trouble!

I grabbed the broom and spun it about in an obvious display of power. I cocked and eyebrow at him. "Get out while you're still able to walk out of here under your own power. I've thrown one bastard out today by force already and I don't want to make it a habit." His foot shuffled forward and then back, seeming as if he was trying to decide weather or not to test my claim. He turned with a grumble and headed towards the door. My sturdy friend had already made her way stealthily across the room and held the door open for the man. The white swirling wind had calmed down and he could, no doubt, find another shelter for the storm without freezing his drunk arse off.

She closed the door behind him and turned to the people in the tavern, all of whom were staring either out the door, at Xena, or at me. "All right, listen up," she started, grabbing their attention and not letting go, "This is a respectable inn. It always has been. But for some reason, people are acting like Jerks today. I won't have it. This is my mother's inn. That makes it my inn. And that makes it her inn," Xena said, pointing to me. My heart skipped a beat as I realized the impact that simple sentence made on our ever-changing relationship. "You don't listen to us and behave respectably, you're outta here. Got that?"

There was a wave of nodding heads as people vigorously agreed with her comments. I saw her grin, obviously satisfied with the encouraging cooperation from the crowd. Her head turned and she winked lightly at me. I returned the sign with a grin as I saw her turn and head back out towards the barn.

I chuckled and dusted my hands on my apron, having replaced the broom in its old spot. I grabbed the pitcher of ale and continued on my rounds, filling glasses and waiting for the night to be over so that I could get a few warm kisses and a much earned back rub from my mate.

"Mom's still not back?" She asked me, finally coming in from the barn. "Snow's starting again."

"Nope," I muttered, holding fiber between my teeth. "Wonder what's keeping her." Blue eyes turned to the window, and looked out through the slowly thickening white.

"I got the distinct impression that she's leaving the inn to us for a couple of days," I said with a chuckle as I let the fiber fall from my mouth and into my hand. I had begun weaving a basket out of materials I had found in the spare store closet. She grunted in acknowledgment as she sat down opposite me at the counter. "Want some?" She offered, holding out a hand full of roasted nuts she had snatched off the fire pan.

I reached out to grab a warm nut only to have my fingers snatched by hers. I looked up into her intense blue eyes and found a bit of curiosity in them. I smiled mischievously and squeezed her fingers, pulling the nut from her clutches, plunking it into my mouth, rolling it around and savoring the taste.

She put her head in her cupped hands and sat, watching me for a few minutes. "Heard from Eph?" She asked after a bit of us just absorbing each other's quiet presence.

I shook my head no, "Sent a note saying we'd be there for the new moon festival, though. Doesn't look like we'll make it after Solstice like we had planned."

She snickered. "Amazons and their festivals. Never need an excuse to party." I smiled. "Neither do we." It was true. Anytime we had a grand time, there was never an excuse handy. "Just because" was as good a reason as none at all.

She laughed and I saw the skin around her eyes crinkle in a very attractive way. The customers had gone out or to their rooms or were playing chess in the dinning area. They were all docile and I had left a pitcher of ale out so they could help themselves and I could have a few minutes alone. "You handled that drunk guy well." A soft voice said and I felt a hand on my elbow as I continued to weave the round basket with the special design in it. I looked up and met her gaze with a smile. "I learned from the best," I said. "From me?" she asked.

"Who else?" I countered. "Your dad." It was sudden and a fierce blow. Unexpected. Completely unexpected.

"I…I…" "I know I'm not typically one for talking, but I'd consider it a personal favor if we could talk about this."

I frowned and set my basket down behind me on a close by counter. "Now?" I asked.

"Yeah."

Damn. If only my mind hadn't betrayed me and allowed such a slip of the tongue. I couldn't be dishonest with myself nor with her and I knew it. "I hate this, Xena," I started. "I don't like this part of my past."

She sat, unwavering. Her gaze was true and I still had her hand holding mine; a small gesture, but something very meaningful coming from the woman who seldom liked close public contact. "You've taught me that we all have things about us that we don't like, Gabrielle."

I blushed and looked down at the table top.

A finger was hooked under my chin and I met her eyes with my own. "I'm not going to judge you. I just want to understand you. More," she said, seeming to throw that last word in for reinforcement.

I nodded against the hand that cupped my chin. "What do you want to know?"

"Start at the beginning." Her voice was soft and without a trace of pushiness in it. I didn't feel pressured and, deep down, I knew that I'd feel better letting her in on a few of my well kept secrets.

It was a deep breath that steadied my nerves before I began. "He didn't beat us. I'm not just saying that, he really didn't. He was stern and demanding of us. When we were little we'd get spanked when we were bad just like all the other kids did. Lila and I," I amended, not sure if Xena realized I was referring to my sister. My love sat across from me patiently waiting for me to continue. No pressure. Nor forcing looks. Just patience and resolve. I grinned at her, a bit more at ease about this. "It wasn't dad. Dad used to leave on trips. He'd be gone for a couple days at a time. You know. The whole village farmer life. Mother would stay home with Lila and I and we'd all do chores until dad came back."

Breathe, Gabrielle. This only lasts for as long as you let it, I said, forcing a deep breath of air into my lungs. "When I was about 7 or so, mother caught me going to sleep without saying my prayers to Hestia. That was a big no-no at our house. She picked my up by my hair and drug me out to the side wood pile, dropping my breeches in front of all the village men who were on their way home from the tavern." In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Slowly. Deeply. It was the simple mantra that kept me telling this story to her. "She took a set of reins from our plow horse and switched at my backside until she was sure another stroke would mean scarring. And all while she was switching at me, she made me say my prayers over and over again." I paused to catch my breath not aware of how telling this would leave me so internally raw. I looked up at her. All of it, Gabrielle. All of it or none of it at all. "It was first time but not the last."

As if a board was against her spine, she sat straight up and down with an icy gaze.

"She did that to you?"

I nodded. She set her jaw firmly and I pushed my hand across the table, letting our finger tips touch and hoping that the feel of our love would pull her away from the invisible darkness he was staring at. "Xena? Don't look like that. Its was a long time ago."

"But you were a child! You couldn't defend yourself!" She argued, holding my hand between her two warm ones.

"I know. But she was my mother. I don't know if I would have done anything even if I could have." "How? Despite all that abuse?" She said, seeming flabbergasted. "How did you not grow up angry….like…like me?"

It was the fond memories how we used to go apple picking and she'd tell me all about how to make apple pie that flashed through my mind at the moment. I remembered sitting at the hearth with Lila and hearing all about father's day and the price of wool and how mother would come out of the kitchen and just gaze at us all fondly. Even then I knew she loved me but just had a horrible way of expressing it. "I loved her. She's my mother. Yes, she did bad things. Yes, they hurt me, physically. But what would have hurt more is if I thought she was doing them out of spitefulness. She wasn't, Xena. Every time she hurt me, she was doing it because that's how she thought I would be corrected. How I would learn. Its was what she thought would make me grow up to be a better person." I paused to take a breathe and before I could continued my story, she interrupted me. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

"You're asking me if I want to go for a walk?" I said completely confused. "But its snowing out there! And who'll watch the inn?"

"Toris," She said with a grin.

"What? Your brother? He's not here. Did I miss something?" I stuttered, having been thrown for a loop.

"He's here now," she said smoothly giving me a wink just as the door opened and a tall hooded and snow covered figure walked in, looming in the door, obviously taking in our two figures seated at the table. "Hey bro." It was casual. After all, what else did you expect from the queen of cool? I tried not to snicker at the flabbergasted face Toris wore when his hood fell back.

"HEY!" he said enthusiastically, dropping his bundle of wood and saddle bag and running over to pull Xena into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Celebrating Solstice," I supplied, somewhat glad we had been interrupted and somewhat upset that I couldn't get this present horrid topic off my chest all at once. "We were invited," Xena said to him, trying to defend a blow she felt coming in advance.

"I'm sure you were! Its just a surprise!" Toris said with his present obnoxious enthusiasm bubbling over.

Mental note: Remind Xena just how annoying her brother really is. I picked up my basket from the counter, the movement bringing Xena back to our previous conversation. "Tor, we're going on a walk. Mom's gone to Auriel's for lunch. She said she'd be back but didn't say when. I need to get out of here. Damned weather's driving me crazy." I chuckled. "And here I thought I had gotten the cabin fever out of your system."

Toris looked at me, obviously still unsure of me as a person, none the less his sister's daily companion. He cleared his throat and unhooked his cloak, hanging it on the door-peg. "So you're asking if I'll watch the inn while you guys take a break?" he said sarcastically, his back to her.

Big mistake. Not today, Toris. She put a hand on his shoulder, spinning him around so fast I heard his neck snap into place. "No. I'm not asking you. I'm telling you. Watch the inn, Toris. We're going out for a while." Her hand squeezed his shoulders and I rubbed my eyebrows aware of the stress that I had caused her. She let go of his shoulder and headed back to the room at a quick pace. She returned barely a few minutes later with one of our packs on her back and out cloaks in her arms. She held out mine and fastened it for me, tugging the hood up and, with an honest smile, pushed my blonde hair back under the woolen cowl. I smiled and placed one of my hands over hers and passed a small smile her way; one which she returned four fold, dazzling me with such warmth. She pulled her cloak over the pack and over her shoulders, closing it with the leather ties. She took my hand and we headed out the door, backs getting, surely, glares from a pair of familiar blue eyes.

I paused her as we stepped out into the swirling snow. "Where are we going?" I asked, almost shouting over the wind.

She turned and looked at me as if it were a silly question. "To our house!" She turned again, taking my hand in her own and leading me toward a hillside just to the outskirts of town. She pointed and in the distance I could, just barely, see a section of snow that was above the ground. It came into focus after a moment and I realized it to be snow captured by the pitch of a roof. A roof of a cabin. I turned to her and raised both eyebrows questioningly.

She nodded and we started up the steep hill, the wind and snow at our backs.

The door stuck a bit as she leaned on it, pushing with both her shoulder and her hip. I touched her back with one hand before sliding up behind her and also leaning on the door, causing the wood finally to give. It popped audibly as the moisture swollen wood slid free of the casing and swung into the cozy cabin.

She stepped inside, holding the door for me and shutting it behind us both.

I smacked her on the shoulder lightly. "What did you mean, our house? And did you have to beat up on your brother? Come one, Xena, you're killing that good reputation I've been working on!" I said, only half joking.

"It is our house!" she retorted. "Grams lived here when I was little. She died and that means its my house. And since its my house," she said, taking off my cloak and hanging it on a hook over the door, hanging her own next to it. "That means it's your house. Which makes it our house. Right?"

Step lightly. This is dangerous territory. "But…that means that I'm family," I said cautiously.

She frowned, setting our pack down on the somewhat dusty floor. "Didn't you know that by now?" she asked. That was all it took to make me get the hint and realize we were about to clean the dusty cabin to make it livable. I shook my head. "I knew your mom kinda thinks of me like a stray she's taken in. But I didn't… no. I didn't."

She chuckled at me, squatting down and removing my favorite candles and some rags and some other nick-nacks. All the essentials would remain packed.

"You're not a stray, Gabrielle. Mom thinks of you as a daughter. Just as if you'd popped from her hips just as I did. To her, the only difference is that you eat more and get angry less. Toris is just…well, …Toris. He doesn't have an opinion until someone gives him one."

I snickered at her last comment and stood there as she handed me a dust rag. "Gab?" She said softly, standing up and looking at me oddly. "You're so much more than family to me. I…I wanted to be sure I told you that. I mean, I know you have family in Potedia and all, but…" she stuttered.

I saw her faltering and was afraid she'd, honestly, tuck her tail and run back out into the snow. "You're my only family, Xena. I have a mother and a father and a sister, but none of them are anything compared to what you are to me. I…I don't know if they have an adequate word for you. You're more than a best friend or a sister and definitely more than random cousin or other relation. You're everything. You're…ingrained into my days and my nights," I said casually, reaching and starting to clean the mantle and its sparse decoration of a lone huge purple crystal. "You're bonded into my soul. You're kinda like half of my whole."

I saw her blush from across the room as she took a pile of wood from the built -in access to the outside lean-to. It had stayed well stocked full of wood over the years, no doubt one of the "little things" Cyrene had done during the slower summer months. "Thanks," she muttered and I smiled, starting to re-make the bed with clean linens Xena had stuffed into the impromptu travel pack. I pulled the dirty ones off and tossed them into a large barrel that was at one time, no doubt, a bathing tub.

I finished making the bed with our own linens, not realizing just how intimate an act it was until I looked at it and saw how I had place the larger pillow in the center, aware of how I'd surely be sleeping on her. I felt a bit of heat at my back and leaned into it, knowing it was her presence that warmed me.

"Whaddaya think?" She asked, standing behind me and wrapping her arms around me snugly. "Nice," I said, not really caring one way or another. It would be warm as soon as we got the fire going and it was dry. The furniture was sparse but cozy. There were a few nicknacks and decorative items around, but it just wasn't homey. "I don't believe you." I laughed. "Well," I said, not wanting to lie about something so trivial, "I like it. It's really nice looking. But is it really you?" I asked, knowing that even Xena like a small touch of the familiar.

"No," she said after a beat. "It's us, though, I think."

I looked at her as if she were daft. "Us?"

"Us," She agreed with a small outlet of air that obviously sealed the subject for her.

I took a step forward and tugged free of her arms, stretching out on the bed, finding it much more comfortable than one might have thought for an antique.

She wandered to the fire place, getting a roaring fire going with the striker and flint that was tucked into the firebox. A pail of fresh and clean snow was scooped from outside and placed over the fire to melt for tea. On her way back to the bed, she stopped by the informal travel pack and pulled out my favorite blanket; a creme colored woven wool with swirling designs woven in. I felt her body weight shift the bed and a warm pair of hands reach over and fit themselves around my ribs, pulling me into her lap. She leaned against the pillows and I leaned into her, cradled by those powerfully strong arms. I sighed and kissed her neck, liking where my lips reached her body. She hugged me closer, allowing her fingers to tangle in my tunic.

"Xena?" "Hmm?" She muttered, her chin tucked about my head. Her eyes reflected the fire that she was gazing into and her look was one of serious reflection.

"Thanks for getting me out of there."

"Whenever I used to need some quiet time I'd come up here. After Grams died, I mean." Her voice was soothing and eased the ache in my head somewhat. "Wasn't really the place to be having that conversation," she muttered.

"Mm," I said. "Finish your story about your mom?" She asked me softly?

"Later," I said. "I think my head is going to explode," I confided.

"Head ache? Why didn't you tell me! It could be serious!" she said, her fingers moving to prod the area where I had landed earlier that morning. "Its not serious," I said with a chuckle as she over reacted. The area was still a bit tender but I didn't need to flinch as she was just as gentle as ever when handling me. "How did you know?" she asked, her fingers finding the tender areas. Her eyes closed as she prodded my skull; almost as if she could see the insides of my head better if she couldn't see the outsides.

"My head didn't start hurting until you and I started to fight," I admitted softly. I softened under her soft touch and found my eyelids drooping a little as her exam turned into a very relaxing scalp massage.

She let out a bit of breath and scratched my head lovingly. "Head aches, huh? I get sick to my stomach when we fight."

It was an admittance I wasn't prepared for. And, honestly, I think that's what made it even more intense. I rolled over, my face tucked against her shoulders. I tugged on the front lacings of her sweater and pushed it back, off her shoulders, allowing my lips more of that sweet surface to nibble and suckle on.

"Maybe," I started, pausing to taste her skin, "It's our bodies' way of telling us that separation and anxiety are not good." She snickered. "Yeah. Maybe."

"Or…Maybe," taste. Taste. "We just fight too much," I offered, hearing her groan as I bit into her collar bone lightly.

"Gab?" she muttered, tugging on my leggings, having already pushed my shirt up past my breasts.

"Hmm?" I could only mutter as my lips were otherwise occupied exploring relatively low and new terrain on her chest; inching lower and lower towards the rise of her chest with every moment that passed. I felt her hands flutter along my lower back as she pulled my leggings lower and lower, teasing the skin of my butt with her fingertips. I took in a bit of breath as she stroked the skin teasingly, not allowing her hands to linger for too long in one spot.

Sparks coursed through me when I finally kicked the pants to the floor as did she, and my legs tangled with her own, flesh to flesh. I heard a sharp intake of breath and realized it came from my own lips. Damn. Never felt that before, I thought vaguely as a ripple of incessant heat rose through me.

My hands pulled at her sweater before she finally yanked it up and over her head and then did the same to mine, but with much more care it seemed. Our bare chests rubbed together and I heard a deep, throaty groan from her. I smiled and let my hands travel down to her thighs, testing the area they had never been before with cautiously daring touches. I ducked my head and nipped at the light skin surrounding her nipple before I allowed a hesitant kiss at its center. She gasped and her back arched in a seeming reflexive motion. "Let's not fall off the bed this time, hm?" she muttered before pulling my chin up and claiming my lips as her own territory, her hands roaming all over my sensitive flesh, not leaving a spot untouched.

I smiled against her face as our hands roamed and we abandoned ourselves to each other and the sensation of pure love that we had been fighting for three years.

"I don't even want to know where you learned that," she muttered, her one hand stroking my hair while the other pressed into the curve of my back. I was sprawled over top of her, my body nestled against hers like two pieces of the puzzle-boxes she was so fond of. Funny how that is, I thought, we're a perfect fit.

I smiled against her skin and planted a soft kiss. "Remember what you tell me when I use my staff? Go with your instincts?" I said softly. She groaned a bit as my naughtily roaming finger traced the curvature of her still sensitive breasts. She managed a rather breathless "Yeah."

"Well my instincts kinda just took over," I said sheepishly, still unsure of the success of my recent attempt at pretending to know what the Hades I was doing.

She smiled and tilted my head up towards her own, grabbing a quick kiss before commenting on my performance. "Your instincts sure seemed to be well versed in how to make me loose my mind."

I felt my face crease into a huge smile and my insides bubbled with happiness. If I had made her feel even half as good as she had made me, then any insecurities were well worth it.

I leaned down and kissed her, taking her tongue into my mouth greedily and getting a serious jolt as the linen sheet shifted and our bodies came into full contact again. I played with her hair, loving its texture. I slid off her body after a few minutes of kissing and walked over toward the fireplace, not at all aware of my nakedness until I felt her eyes upon me.

I turned my head only to find her eyes filled with something unexpected. I had thought, at first, they'd be brimming with lust. I had been wrong. Very wrong. There wasn't a lewd speck in her blue eyes as I saw her take in my body in a slowly sweeping gaze. She paused not on my breasts or on my hips but rather on my face. It surprised me to see an expression that saturated with love and devotion.

I blushed under her scrutiny and dropped my head unconsciously, turning again and heading over to the pack she had set on the small and aged table. I reached in and found my small satchel that I always carried with me when we traveled. Why she had thought to bring it, I still don't know. None the less, it was there. And its contents were there, too. I reached my hand into the soft leather pouch and pulled out a small stone. It was gray. And always seemed to be warm even in the coldest of weather. I held onto it with care and walked back to my life who was resting on the bed. "Do you know that I love you?" she asked me with a smile as she stretched her arms above her head and inadvertently gave me a mouth watering look at her body. I must have smiled and admired that celestial physique because she blushed. It was the first time I had ever seen her blush under someone's scrutiny and obvious approval of her physical condition.

I didn't answer her question but I did slid onto the bed and straddle her hips, sitting on her midsection lightly. Picking up her hand and uncurling her fingers, I placed the shinny pebble inside. With very little effort I closed her fingers around it and leaned down slightly, kissing the curled fingers. "What's this?" she asked quietly.

I smiled. "Remember that kiss? With Autolycus?" I asked, knowing it to be a silly question. Of Course she did. "That night, when I sent your sarcophagus down river, I watched you float away until long after I couldn't see you anymore. I knew right that if you didn't come back…if I failed you on that then I wouldn't have any reason to go on. Because as you floated away, you took my heart with you."

She looked at her closed hand and waited for me to finish. I took a deep breath and stilled my nerves against the onslaught of emotions that memory brought about. "The moon was casting this really beautiful design on the water and I watched it ripple and move for a few minutes before it stopped on this," I placed my hand over hers and looked into her eyes. "I've had it with me ever since."

She unrolled her fingers and let the fireplace's light reveal a small blueish gray stone that had been water tumbled over many tides and was smooth as a baby's skin. The stone's color was not far from that of her eyes and it's shape so perfectly matched that of a heart that it take all my strength that night to merely pick it up and carry it with me instead of crumbling into a pile of sobbing Amazon. She turned it over in her hand. And over again. And again. It was as if she were trying to absorb its entire essence with her eyes.

I smiled at her, glad it had the same effect on her that it still had on me. "See, Xena, I told you that you had my heart. Now you really do!" I said, referring to the heart in her hand. She smiled and gazed up at me with what seemed like wonder on her face. "I…I…This is remarkable," she said. "But how did it…and so blue! I don't…" she stuttered.

"I stopped trying to figure your quirks out, Xena," I said with a smile, cupping her cheek in one hand. "I don't have to anymore. I just take you on faith. The miraculous things that you do. The fact that you love me. I can't explain them or justify them with any logical reasoning. I just know that there's something about you that is above logic and reason. And I figure that this rock is just one of those enchanted things that you're able to do."

"I'm not miraculous, Gabrielle," she said, rolling her eyes. "There's just no other explanation for it, is there?" I said, poking her belly lightly, "You knew how much I was hurting for you so some part of you left me this." I cradled her hand that held the pebble and didn't even debate her on it anymore. I was right. She'd just have to get used to that. "But…"

I placed a finger on her lips. "Don't argue with me. I know you better than you know yourself."

She smiled and rolled the rock around in her hand for a few more minutes before seeming to just accept it with a shrug as "just one of those things. "

"Now that you really have my heart," I said with a grin, "Wanna neck?" I said with a growl as I leaned down at playfully bit her on the jugular.

"We did that once, remember? You took a huge bite out of me," she teased, tickling my bare ribs.

"I don't remember and you know it," I retorted with a giggle as she flipped us over so she hovered over me. "Hey," she said softly, gazing at me with a very unique expression on her face. "Yeah?" "Thanks."

I knew what she was referring to without having to think at all. Blushing, I curled my arms around her shoulders, pulling her down to me in a fierce hug. "You are more than welcome," I said honestly, rolling over again and stretching out on her chest, letting her explore the dips and curves of my body that she seemed to be fascinated with. "Thank you," I said, rolling over and laying on my back, my head pillowed softly on her chest.

"Why are you thanking me?" She asked, playing her fingers across my abs. It was erotic and ticklish all at once and I stiffened against the touch and I felt her body chuckle beneath me. "Ha!" I said. "You make me feel like I'm on Mount Olympus handling ambrosia itself and then you act as if its an everyday occurrence!" "Well, you know, Gabrielle, if you really want to, I can make this an everyday occurrence for you. I do plan on being around for the rest of your life, soo…" she said, a tease to her voice. "Don't make promises you can't keep, princess," I said, my hands falling past my sides and tracing the line of her hips that were right under mine. "I'll wear you out if you do that to me every day." I smiled and laughed as she put a hand on my abdomen and one on my breast. "You're the one who'd be exhausted, love, not me," she teased, tweaking the sensitive skin between her thumb and forefinger.

"Why do I think you're probably right on that?" I asked around a groan, feeling every sexual inch of my body stand up at full attention. In a stealthy and supportive move, she flipped me over on my back next to her. A very feral smile was on her face and I chuckle as I realized that I would be her next prey.

Raspberries. No. Blackberries. It was the zesty smell of Orange and …. Yep, definitely Blackberries, that woke me from my doze. I rolled over, having been covered protectively in the soft cream blanket. It just barely covered my mid-breasts to my feet. The cabin was drafty due to cracks in the foundation that had obviously gone a while without repair.

I stretched my arms high above my head and felt the blanket fall, exposing my skin to the chilly draft.

She was in front of the fire, resting on her heels. A large wooden mug in her two hands and spoon drizzling honey into the steaming liquid.

I gazed at her, not really sure why I always found her body posture so fascinating. Her long legs were tucked up under her and she squatted near the hearth. Feet poised and ready for her to stand on a moments noticed. She turned, a brow raised as she noticed I was awake.

"Sleep well?" she asked softly, smelling the mug's contents before bringing it towards the bed with her. I nodded a bit, watching the fabric of the tunic she had tossed on settle and move around her as she walked and then sat down on the bed next to me. Pushing with my hands, I sat up, letting my shoulder brush against hers gently. She scooted over, tugging up the blanket around my shoulders. I quirked an eyebrow, surprised that she was covering me up after the last few hours that we had spent freely indulging in each other's bodies and our own nudity. "Cold?" she asked.

"Not really," I said, feeling the current of air against my skin but not caring in the least.

"I think I should replace some of the old mortar," she commented, handing me the steaming cup. I took a breath, smelling the scent of freshly brewed tea with some of the dried orange peels and blackberry leaves that we had stored in my spice kit. "Why?" I asked, not quite sure if I should assume she was planning on settling down or just trying to find something to do if we were ever with free time on our hands.

"Thought you might like some place nice to…stay for a while."

"To call home?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said, putting her arm around my chilly shoulders and tugging me close so that I just about lay against her chest. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. That was the most comfortable spot to lay against that I've ever known, then or since.

"Xe?" I said softly.

"Mm?" she replied, not even a word, just a tone.

"I don't need a home," I said, turning and looking up at her. It was a cross between hurt and surprise that flitted across her divine features.

"Oh."

"Are you planning separate vacations?" I asked her, snuggling into her warm presence and deciding that it was something I didn't want to escape from. Ever.

"No."

"So we'll always be together, right?"

"Well- yeah," she said, pausing slightly.

"Then I'll always be home." I felt a long held in breath ease out of her lungs and she buried her face in my hair. After all we had been through, she still doubted my love for her. Even after we had just expressed it in the purest way that two people could, she still had questions regarding my faith in her. I shook my head slightly as I stretched to set down my cup of tea. I turned and kissed her chin. "Xena…Xena?" I said as I watched her shoulders go from their normally erect position to more slumped. "Xena, listen to me. I love you. I love being with you…both in battle and in life. You're the most caring and trustworthy person I've ever met. If you want to come here, to this cabin, or any other cabin, to relax a bit, I don't mind at all. But if you're offering this because you think that it's what I want, then don't. The only thing I want is you. Just you, that's it," I said, one hand cupping her cheek slightly as she finally absorbed what I had been trying to say for all these years. I saw the recognition in her eyes as she finally took heed to the depth of my loyalty towards her. Towards us.

"I'm sorry.. I…"

"For what?" I interrupted. "You don't have anything to be sorry for."

"For not believing you. You told me and told me but I just didn't really listen, I guess."

"Its ok," I said softly, leaning up a bit and kissing her, allowing the fruity taste of my tea still on my lips to pass on to her. "For thinking you wouldn't want to stay if we didn't settle down. I guess I…"

I sighed and kissed her again, effectively silencing her. "Xena. Its all right! I knew you didn't believe me. I know you have doubts. Have issues. I'm ok with that. Take as long as you need. I'll be here when you finally realize it. I promise."

She looked at me with a smile on her lips and she leaned down, barely brushing her lips against mine. "Thank you."

I smiled.

"I don't know why I have you in my life. I must have done something good somewhere along the line."

"Yeah. You did something good. You stopped by Potedia one day."

"I'm thinking that was a good choice after all, huh?" She said grinning as she took a swig of my tea before rolling us over and nibbling on my earlobe, causing me to groan.

"Oh, yeah," I moaned as she moved her tongue down my throat and played her lips across my breasts.

Her head was pillowed against my chest and I was cradling her in much the same way she had cradled me earlier. An empty scroll was stretched out in her hands and she had a quill poised between her long fingers. My hands pulled back her hair and braided several sections together and close to the scalp, leaving only her bangs framing her eyes.

"What next?" she asked.

"Just write!" I said with a chuckle.

"But there's got to be more to it than that."

"Nope. Just let your heart do the speaking," I reassured with a chuckle. "My heart?" "Yes, your heart." Was this the fifth time I'd been over this? Most likely the sixth. I looked down and the pen was being held out to me. "What's this?"

"You said for me to let my heart speak. You're my heart. Speak." I bit my lip to keep from bursting into semi-irrational tears. "How come you're so romantic? Were you like this with Marcus and Borias and M'lila?" I asked, finishing my braid quickly before leaning down and kissing her face.

"I'm not romantic. And who said anything about M'lila?" She asked, taken aback.

"You ARE that romantic. You can make my heart leap to my throat at a moment's notice. And do you really think I'm that stupid? I mean, you wouldn't take a slave with you for over a year just because she could teach you the pinch. I know you better than that." Her face wrinkled as I said that and she pouted a little, almost a defeated look crossing her face. "Come on," I said, poking her in the side slightly. "Its not a big deal to me. It doesn't matter anymore. I've got you now," I said with a chuckle, wrapping one arm around her and squeezing slightly in a possessive act. "You most certainly do," she said with a chuckle before letting the frown creep back onto her face.

I sighed in exasperation. "What now? What are you frowning at this time?"

"I don't like you thinking about me and M'lila like that." "Why not?"

"I just don't. Kinda creeps me out," she said, wiggling her shoulders a little.

"Something creeps YOU out, Ms. Oh-let-ME-kill-that-spider?" "Thinking about you and Perdicus creeps me out!" She said defensively.

I snickered. "There was no me and Perdicus, Xena. That never happened."

Her head just about snapped off with the force "WHAT?" Her jaw dropped. "But…married and then Callisto. Not even once? I thought…"

I laughed. She frowned. "Don't laugh. I'm serious! This is important! Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"You never asked," I said simply, getting a glare in return. "He was tired. I was…I was…in love with you. I thought it would go away once I married him. It didn't. It only got more intense that night when I realized that we were about to do…that." I paused to chuckle. "I finally felt just how much you meant to me when he kissed me. It just wasn't right. It felt …horrible. I tried to just play along with it, but I think he knew something wasn't right. He thought we had the rest of our lives. So we just slept. He tried to hold me that night. I guess I must have pulled away or something because he just," I paused, watching her face as I explained this last part. I knew she was visualizing as I was remembering, "kinda patted my hip and rolled over. We didn't. It was just wrong and I knew it." "You're telling me that…I'm your first?" she asked with an odd expression that crossed confusion and wonder.

"That's as it should be!" I said with a smile, stroking her hair in a motion that I found soothing.

Shaking her head, she tisked. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked again, though this time it was a bit less enthusiastic. "Because it didn't matter to me. As far as I'm concerned, you're the only person I should ever be with. That's the only important thing." I paused. This was really bothering her. I could feel the tension washing through her body in little pulses. "Why? Why's this bothering you so much?"

"I don't know. I just wish I had known," she said, sitting up and turning to face me, our bodies no longer melded together; or touching at all for that matter. It was an interesting sensation to go from having her relaxed body cradled against mine to not being in contact at all. It was almost as if I had my breath pulled out of me when she pulled away.

"Would it have made a difference? Would you have turned me away?" I asked, worry edging unhindered into my voice.

"No! No. Not at all," she said, scooting up and leaning forward a bit. "I guess it would have been nice to know. That's all."

"Do you really wish I had told you?" I asked with concern and worry evident, thinking I had ruined the moment for her.

She paused for a second before shaking her head. "No. I think it was perfect just the way it was."

I shook my head in frustration, "Then why are you making it seem like the whole thing was ruined just because you hadn't been warned of my sexual experiences prior to?"

"I didn't mean it to come out that way, Gabrielle. Don't think that making love to you wasn't wonderful. It was! It was… the best I've ever experienced, honestly."

"Oh, please," I muttered, not believing a word of it.

She snickered. "I don't ever recall being left so weak that I couldn't mutter a "thanks" at the end." "That was just from all that reciprocating you insisted on," I said with a smile at the memory.

"Oh, no. That was definitely from all those instincts you pulled out of nowhere," she said, snaking a hand behind my head leaning our foreheads together in such a manner that we were both comforted by the touch.

"Hey. I'm good at what I do!" I said with false bravado. My comment got a snicker from my companion and I snuck a quite kiss to her lips, tasting the flavor of the aged cider she had found stashed in the pantry. She had been sipping on it while I still slowly nursed my tea as I tried to explain how I wrote poems. That was at the beginning of this whole thing and now my tea sat cold on the table and her cider was forgotten on the floor near the bed. "You most certainly are," she said with a grin as she closed in on my oh-so-neglected lips and began to tease me until I rolled her over and pounced, marking my territory with some love bits to her neck.

"So, do we get to stay like this all day?" She asked, trying to pick pieces of fur off my backside. How we ended up on the floor, I'm still not sure. But there we lay, sprawled on the somewhat decaying bearskin rug that stretched in front of the fire place. My head was tucked into the hollow of her neck and shoulder and her arms held me in place as I stretched out on top of her. There was, really, no need for that securing arm because our bodies melded together perfectly and there was no way I was going to slide off.

"Your call," I said, passing off the decision.

"Hey!" she half-protested.

"Well I don't want your mother mad at me if she gets back and finds Toris running the Inn. But damned if I want to leave, either," I said, "So it's your choice."

"But…I don't want to leave. And I don't want to get yelled at by mom," She sighed deeply and I felt it. "We will have to go back eventually. I didn't bring anything to eat other than that tea you like so much."

"I liked that. Thank you for remembering it," I said softly, kissing her chin.

"I liked it, too," she admitted with a chuckle.

"You didn't have any," I said.

"Yeah I did. I'm sure it tastes better on you than it does out of the mug," she quipped, making me blush in the process. She kissed the top of my head and smiled, taking in a deep smell of my hair.

"Why do you do that?" I asked softly, not really understanding the behavior.

"I…its comforting, I think," she said in almost a whisper. "Why? I'll always be here. Its not like I'll be gone one day and you'll have to remember what my hair smelled like on the day we first made love," I explained, letting one my of my hands trace the side of her breast with a lazy finger.

"One of us is going to die first, Gabrielle," she said with a chuckle.

"Not as far as I'm concerned. When you go, I go. That's just the way it is," I said softly, kissing her neck to punctuate the statement. "You're too good to me, your Majesty," she said, her hands kneading the muscles in my back with practiced motion.

My backside was warm as I rolled over, releasing my body from the heat provided by the dancing yellow flames. "You're brother must be going crazy by now. That inn was packed when we left…and he's all alone. At least you and I can work as a tag team."

"Toris'll manage."

"Xena!" I said, my voice a playful growl as I stretched and stood up, towering above her still sprawled, naked body.

"Yes?"

"Be nice to your brother. You may need him some day," I said only half-joking.

"What would I need Toris for?" She asked, rolling her eyes.

I paused for a moment, thinking that was a very good question. "What if you were called away on a trip and was stuck here and then I got hurt and Toris was the only one who could take care of me. You'd want him in your favor then, wouldn't you?" I asked, knowing it was a pathetic try and would never happen.

She frowned. "I'd never leave you behind, first of all. And second…."

"Second?" I asked.

She groaned and sighed, knowing she was out of luck with a number two reason, "Fine. Let's go. Ruin my little vacation." Pushing up off the decaying bear-skin rug and standing up, her tanned skin received a coppery glow in the firelight.

"I'm not ruining anything," I said with a smile as I walked up and, placing my hands on her bare shoulders, pulled myself up for a long and dangerously passionate kiss. Then again, I thought as our tongues danced and my conscious thought began to move to the background, I could be ruining an evening of great fun.

Her hands roamed my body and, somehow, I ended up, held only by my strong legs being wrapped around her waist. That one kiss had taken over my senses and I was barely aware of my surroundings as she staggered towards the bed, carrying me with her, and fell backwards onto the plush creme blanket. "How do you do that?" she asked as I pulled back from her lips to feast on her breasts. "Do what?" I muttered around a nipple.

She groaned and was out of breath when she replied: "Drive me as insane as the Fates did?" I smiled and moved on to newer territory of her belly button. I nibbled and licked and suckled a trail leading downward. "It's a gift," I said before moving lower with an evil grin of surprise on my face. I continued my assault on her senses with a few more teasing kisses to her thighs before I caused what had to be the loudest shout to come from the mouth of the Warrior Princess.

Small beads of sweat were gracing her forehead by the time she finally released my face from her hands. She just looked at me with a searching and thankful look. "W…" she managed to say before running out of breath.

I snickered, happy to have done to her, what she did to me with but a kiss. "Glad you liked it," I muttered, kissing her soundly on the lips. I lay down next to her, slinging a leg across her own and tucking my body into the hollow where her arm and body met. "I guess now I know that the Amazon's are going to have to make those walls extra thick when they rebuild my hut this year, huh?" I teased, tracing those silly little shapes on her ribs. A sheep. A fish. A small bird. I moved my eyes from her stomach to her face and saw her looking down at me with a smile. "What? What did I do?"

"What did you do?" She said softly. "You just made me so out of it that an entire army could have come in here, attacked us and I wouldn't have known. Do you know just how many people can do that? Not many, that's for damn sure."

I smiled against her skin, leaning in slightly to kiss her shoulder. "Do me a favor, Xena," I asked her.

"Sure," she said without missing a beat.

"You don't even know what it is yet!" I said with a chuckle.

"Don't care. I trust ya."

I smiled and snuggled in letting my hands pull her closer to me. "I need a day off. Can you do that?" I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you go work in the inn for a day and I rest here for a day," I said, a plan already unfolding in my mind. "But…ok. If that's what you want," she said, her face contorting into a horrid look of hurt.

"No! Xena, no. I'm not mad or anything…I just kinda wanna work on something for you," I said softly. "Would you trust me please?" She frowned and her blue eyes barely poked out of her lids as she mulled it over. "I trust you. Honest. I'm just not sure I can handle being away from you for a day," she said with a laugh and a blush. I snickered. "I think you'll manage," I said, getting out of bed and tossing my shift on. "Get dressed. I'm kicking you out as soon as you're able to leave."

"You're mean," she said with a smile as she got up and threw her travel clothes on after scrubbing down lightly with the warm water we had been heating by the fire.

"I know. But you love it," I said with a chuckle, smacking her rump lightly as she pulled her shirt on.

She dressed and I kissed her goodbye, knowing this would now be one of the hardest nights I'd have to endure. "Sleep well," I called after her with a smile and a wave as she headed back to the inn with a still confused look on her face.

I spun around as soon as she was gone, plotting my attack on this pig-sty of a cabin, knowing that damned bear-skin rug was the first thing I was throwing out.

Two children, not much older than six or seven winters, ran past the front of the cottage, playing in the snow. The skirt of the little girl had been pulled by the back hem and tucked into the front waist giving the same free leg movement that her brother's breeches provided. They had a blown up pig's bladder between them, batting it back and forth and making a game of never letting it hit the freshly fallen snow.

I watched through the freshly cleaned window as they played, winding around the house several times in joyous loops, laughing and cheering the whole time. My hand, unconsciously found its way to my lower abdomen and I laughed when I looked down and saw it resting so protectively there, as if longing for a burden to guard with but five fingers.

"Yeah Right," I muttered, "As if that's even physically possible, now!" I chuckled at my mind's oversight. Not a bit of bitterness was in my heart as I reflected on how kids wouldn't be a possibility for me anymore. Well, not unless Xena had some hidden talent that I don't know about.

I opened the door, my creme blanket around my shoulders as a shawl. The kids heard the creak of the hinges and froze in their tracks, snapping their head around as if expecting to see a ghost. Seven. She can't be older than seven, I thought. Her dark curls fell in her eyes and she shly reached up to brush them away as I stepped from the dark shadow's of the cabin's overhang. I smiled kindly in her direction and noticed the threadbare portions of her dress. Her brother, maybe nine winters old, stepped forward, makeshift balloon in hand and the light caught his trousers, showing their well worn fabric. His brow furrowed as he put a hand on his sister's shoulder and tried to push her away from me. "We're sorry," he said softly to me. "Didn't mean any harm. Won't be on your land no more." I smiled and held out a halting hand. "Its ok. I'm not angry. I thought you might want to come inside and warm yourselves by the fire." It was a simple offer but a warm fire was a gift I had learned to cherish on cold winter nights. The young girl looked as if she wanted to step into the cabin, but her brother's hand forestalled her. "Thank you kindly, but we don't take charity," the young boy said as if it were a mantra, recited many times.

I sighed and let my mind think quickly for a few seconds. "I've got some work to be done. If you help me with it, it wouldn't be charity, would it?" The brown curls, seeming to be dusted with blonde stripes, shook as the girl agreed with me. I stepped back and she broke free from her brother's hand and ran inside, skidding to a halt at the hearth, and plopping before it with her hands outstretched and warming in front of the dancing flames.

I laughed and walked inside, letting the young boy follow me at his own pace. I set my pouch of Dinar's on the mantle. "So. Work first or second?" I asked the young girl as I broke my remaining piece of bread in half and handed it to each of them.

She gobbled it down and the boy tucked his away in a pocket, her response of bread demolishing an answer enough. Well this "he" and "she" business has gone on for long enough, I thought after realizing I had just gone about ten minutes without using a proper name. "My name's Gabrielle. What's yours?" I said to the little girl, handing her a piece of trail jerky.

"Arianne," She said softly before biting into the jerky.

"That's a very pretty name," I said to her, sitting down on the floor next to her, waiting for her brother to speak up. She, Arianne, looked up at her brother, and frowned. "That's Danic. He don't like strangers."

I smiled. "That's ok. I have a very good friend who's not too fond of strangers either. In fact, she gives them the same look he's giving me right now!" It was true. Danic's imitation of "the look" was so dead on that it was hard to keep from laughing.

He broke contact and turned to the front door again. Arianne scurried to her feet to stay next to him. Now or never, I thought, seeing him ready to leave. "I need some help. I can't go into town because I'm trying to surprise my friend and she works in town. So I need someone who'll run back and forth for me. I'm willing to pay them," I said honestly. "Would you two know anyone who'd like a job?" "I'll do it." The body and voice were small but the heart willing and I smiled and stood next to the young girl, who, in many ways looked like a young version of Ephiny.

"You're very eager," I said with a chuckle. "Mamma's sick."

"ARI!" Danic, shouted, obviously upset that she had shared more than he had intended for her to. She hung her head, hurt at her brother's tone of voice before squaring her shoulders and taking a step toward her much taller brother in defiance. "But the healer can't help her without the money, Dan!" she said. I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ari, I know a very good healer. And I bet that if you helped me out today, she wouldn't charge you a single Dinar to help your mother." So Xena would glare at me for offering her medical services. So what? So she'd be mad before hearing the story. So what? She'd get over it. So would I.

"Really?"

"Really."

"How do I know you're not lying?" Danic asked bravely on his shoulders.

"Because I'll pay you weather you want my friend to help your mother or not. Five dinars for the rest of the afternoon."

He studied me, his face contorting into serious thought as it seemed that he weigh the pros and cons of each action. He nodded slowly and I smiled, rising from the dusty floor to my feet.

I grabbed my scroll case and used a bit of parchment. "I need this note delivered to the man who works at the inn. His name is Toris."

Toris-

I need all of our things. Both Xena's and mine. All of it. Don't forget the nik-naks in her room. Bring it over to your grandmother's old cabin. Let's just call it an early Solstice present for Xena and keep it our little secret.

-Gabrielle.

I handed the parchment to Ariane and held the door while she scurried off toward the inn. "Can you go to the market for me, Danic?" I asked before retrieving my coin purse.

He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. "I don't steal."

"Well, good. I don't want you to. I just need you to go do some shopping for me while I stay here and clean."

"I can do that," he added with a nod of his head.

"I figured you could." I made a short list of my needs and set him on his way with enough coins to cover it before standing up and pulling the hideous bear skin out the back door and to the trash pile. "Gross," I muttered as the aged skin started to crumble in my fingers.

"Well, that doesn't look half bad if I do say so myself!" I said, hands on Arianne's shoulders as we stood looking over the room we had just scrubbed from top to bottom. "So clean!" Arianne said in wonder. "Where do you all sleep, Arianne?" I asked her with a deep breath.

"Momma sleeps in the barn loft," Arianne said in a whisper, "But don't tell Danic I told you. He'll get mad."

"I won't tell Danic," I promised with a smile as I brushed an invisible piece of dust off the nearby table.

There was a quick knock on the door and Arianne stood where she was as I rushed to look before opening the door.

"Get in here!" I said, pulling Toris in by his sleeve. "She didn't see you, did she?" "She was too busy feeling sorry for herself. She's pouting in the kitchen," Toris responded. "I don't even think she knows that I'm gone!" "Good. If we get this done, then she can stop pouting and move out here toniight instead of waiting till morning."

Danic snickered. "This is a lot of stuff to get ready in one night."

"Cynic," I said, plucking the childhood blankets from his arms and placing them, with Arianne's help, on the bed.

"You want me to unload the rest of it?" Toris asked. "Of course. How'd you get it here?" I asked as Arianne hung our largest cooking pot on the fire hook.

"Argo, of course. As if I'd be stupid enough to trust any other horse with my sister's personal belongings."

"You put a Harness on Argo?" I teased with a chuckle.

"It wasn't an easy task, let me tell you. Apparently she's not used to anyone but you or Xena handling her."

"She's not used to me, either," I muttered, stepping outside with Danic and Toris and helping them unload the rest of our belongings into the cabin.

Trunks were strategically placed near the end of the bed. The ladder-accessed attic was converted into storage space by sweeping out the rotted hay and placing our extra saddle bags and such on nice hooks.

Danic had succeeded on his shopping trip and I hung the dried meats and ropes of garlic and onions on nails in the attic rafters while the pantry was being stocked with all the good food the young boy had purchased in the market. Toris showed me the access door to the small kitchen that had served his grandmother as a medicinal storage room. I saw the older herbal jars, long since emptied by roaming thieves and vowed to restock them with all the proper herbs Xena tried to keep in stock. The kitchen was large enough to hold a jar rack, a metal back-door to the fireplace that heated the front room, and a rather large cutting table. I turned to Toris with a smile on my face. "Its a good thing she doesn't cook, huh? I don't think she'd fit in here."

He chuckled and we stepped back outside only to find Danic and Ariane sitting on the floor by the fire, patiently waiting.

I turned in a circle, taking in my new house. "It looks wonderful, guys. Thank you so much."

"Anything for you, Gabrielle," Toris said with a sarcastic smirk as he quickly hugged me before taking Argo back to the inn's barn.

"I'm glad you two decided to help me," I said to Danic and Arianne. "Time for those Dinars, huh?" I walked to my coin pouch and emptied out 7 dinars, two more than I had promised. "Thank you for your help."

Arianne walked up to me, trying to return her extra Dinar. "I don't need this."

"Its ok, honey, take it. Your mother might need it," I said, folding her fingers back around the coin. Danic just looked at the gold in his hand, as if it was the most he had seen in a while. "Just how sick is your mother, Danic?"

"Sick."

"How sick is "Sick"?"

"She's been coughing for a moon or so. Can't get up to work no more. Had ta leave her job at the armory."

"She worked at the armory?" I asked, surprised. Most placed didn't allow women to work in the armory as it was strictly men's only job.

"Yeap. Made leathers for warriors." A woman making leathers…the only people who make leathers are warriors. The only women warriors are the Amazons. With a few exceptions being Xena and Callisto. Hmmm. I'd have to think about that one a little longer. "That's a very interesting job for a woman, don't you think, Danic? There aren't many women leather makers out there."

"Momma said that where she came from, women did everything."

Ah ha! "Do you know where she came from?"

"She's never said. Just said we weren't allowed to go back because I was a boy."

"She was exiled because you're a boy?" I asked him, trying to solve the puzzle in my head. "That's what she says," Danic said as he helped me move the largest trunk to the foot of the bed and then left it for Arianne. Her job was to fill it full of the extra blankets and linens that would be aired out come spring time. "What's your momma's name, Danic. I might know her," I said as he stood, wiping off his hands of sweat.

"Rahlna." Nothing more offered by him and nothing more requested from me. I nodded, not wanting to seem as if I was tugging information from him. We moved the small table next to the bed and set a fresh candle on it, leaving it ready to be lit by my partner. After a few minutes of various household chores such as stocking the wood pile and cleaning the abandoned kitchen, the cabin was in perfect shape. "You two worked very hard today. I think your mother would be quite proud of you," I said to Arianne, finding a small piece of wool and turning it into a cloak for her with a spare button that I had in my repair kit.

"You think?" Arianne said as I fastened the cloak around her shoulders, silently vowing to make one for Danic as well. "I know she would," I affirmed with a smile and a nod before reaching over and taking both his shoulders in my grasp, squeezing gently in something close to a hug. He smiled and I took the opportunity to ask what had been on my mind for a while. "Danic, can I meet your mother? Bring my friend so that maybe your mom can get well?" He shook his head, obviously debating his love for his mother and his loyalty. "I dunno. She done told us not to let anyone know she was sick in the barn. They'd make us leave, she said." I smiled at them both, "I can garuntee that won't happen. I know the woman who owns that barn. She won't kick you out. Let's go get my friend and help your mom, ok?"

He nodded and I offered my arm out, extending my cloak and allowing he and his sister to huddle underneath before we headed to the inn.

"Go inside and tell Toris I said to give you some warm cider. I'll be in soon," I said, pushing the door open for them before wandering around to the other side of the house and peering through the window frame to Xena's childhood room.

She sat on the bed, her armor piece in hand and a small detail tool she used to clean the fine metal designs in the other.

I watched but for a moment before lifting the ledge and crawling through the window. Her head spun around and she got to her feet a second too late for my liking. Looks like someone still doesn't feel good! I thought, noting the slowness of her movements, that to anyone else would seem lightening quick.

"What are you doing sneaking up on me like that? And I thought you had banned me from you for the night!" She said, her armor piece clattering on the floor.

"I didn't mean to scare you," I said softly, leaving my cloak on. "And I didn't ban you. I was just working on a surprise for you, that's all."

She rolled her eyes and sat back down, reaching to pick up her breast plate. I snagged it from her grasp with a flick of my boot toe and handed it to her with shy eyes. "I need a favor," I said softly.

"Anything, you know that," she said, hand held out and the metal moved from our way as I sat on her lap lightly.

"I met these two kids-"

"I'm not adopting kids, Gabrielle," she interrupted with a sigh. "First off, that wasn't even my favor. Secondly, kids aren't like lost puppy's. You can't just up and adopt them because they have soft hair and sad eyes." She snickered and I placed my finger on her nose, loving how her muscles moved under my own. "Ok. Go on."

"Their names are Danic and Arianne. He's about 9 or 10 and she's not more than 7. They're sleeping in your mother's barn, Xena."

"Why?" She asked, surprised.

"Because their mother's very sick and lost her job at the armory."

"Armory?" she said, her mind doing the same thing mine had earlier. "Yeah. Armory. And I don't know that many women who aren't Amazons or You who know how to make leather armor. Do you?" I asked, sliding off her legs and noticing how drab the room looked without all her belongings. It seemed that she hadn't even noticed that the only things left were her armor pack and her weapons. "Not many, you're right."

And since Danic said his mother was sent away because her first born was a boy, I think-" "That maybe this woman is an Amazon. And if she's an Amazon, she's your responsibility as Queen. Right?" "Actually, I didn't even think about the responsibility part, but yeah. And if she's sick, Xena, I'd like you to take a look at her. Please. You're the best healer I know and … I …Please?" I asked, turning to face her, my hands unconsiously wringing in front of my chest.

"Did you honestly think I'm going to say no?" she asked, standing up and stretching, her joints snapping loudly. "Getting old," she muttered as she grabbed her cloak and reached for her travel kit which usually sat by the door. I handed it to her before she could even realize it was out of place, having tucked it inside my cloak pouch before leaving the cabin. "You not old, Xena. You just haven't had anyone to take care of you for a long time. And now that I don't have to hunt for a reason to give you back rubs and help you get stitched up after a fight, I think you'll do just fine to live to be old and grey," I said, wrapping my arm around her waist, walking downstairs with her to find Danic and Arianne.

"I've seen your sewing. Is it my fault I don't want scars that look like your hem lines?" She teased, tickling my waist as we rounded the corner into the inn to see two young kids sitting on the bar stools, mugs in hand, sipping away and laughing as Toris made shadow puppets with his fingers against the far walls. "Oh, isn't that cute?" She asked with a sarcastic chuckle as we headed toward them. "Behave," I said softly, poking her side. "Danic!" I called. The young boy turned around while Arianne continued to play with Toris. "Danic, this is my friend Xena. She's gonna have a look at your mother and try to help her, ok?" I asked with a smile.

"She's in the barn," he said, starting to get up before Xena's strong, yet gentle, hand forestalled him. "Why don't you stay here. Rest a little while. I'll go see what I can do, ok?" Xena said, patting the young boy's shoulder as he nodded and turned back around to finish his cider and watch Toris's finger play. We stepped outside, and I tugged her cloak tight around her and we headed the short distance to the barn. I wanted…no, I need to see if I was indeed responsible for this woman and her children.

"Rahlna?" I called, stepping into the barn. I watched out of the corner of my eye as Xena listened for any sounds that I might not be able to hear. I called again; "Rahlna?"

Xena's finger pointed up to the loft and I headed to the ladder, climbing up with confident movements, Xena right behind me.

In the hay, a pale woman stirred softly in a fitful sleep. Her red hair was wavy and damp with sweat. Probably as curly as her daughter's, I thought, knowing curly hair straightened when it was wet. Xena walked over and knelt at her side, her hand placed on the woman's forehead. "Fever," she muttered, feeling the woman's cheeks as well. "Bad?" I asked, reaching for the healer's kit and opening it up. "Not good," she said, forestalling my motions with a hand. "There's no way she can stay up here, Gabrielle," Xena said to me. "It's not clean. There's no hot water. We've got to find a room for her. Somewhere."

I nodded, closing the satchel back up with a deft movement. "I know just the place. We just need Argo and a litter and she'll be fine," I said. Her eyebrows quirked at me in question. "Don't argue, Xena," I said. "I wouldn't risk this woman's life just to be right. Its out of the way, warm, and clean. Come on!" I stood up and got down the ladder with little effort, jumping the last three rungs and landing with ease on the hard ground. I knew without even asking her that Xena would jump off the loft with the woman in her arms. My knees, on the other hand, weren't reliable enough to do such a feat, so I left that up to my dare-devil friend. Sure enough a few seconds later I heard a soft thump and turned to see Xena with the sick woman in her arms, standing not two arms lengths from me. I smiled at her and she grinned back. "How far are we going?" she asked.

"Our house," I said, getting Argo's bridle off the hook and fastening it to the mare with practiced motions.

"That place isn't fit for the ill, Gabrielle!" Xena said, glaring at me.

"But its fit enough to take me and make love to me?" I asked, getting a shamefaced blush and hung-head from her. "I…I…I" She stuttered as I cinched the girth. "Forget it," I said with a half-smile. "We'll talk later about it if you really want to, ok?" I said, getting a nod in return. "Do you really need a litter or do you think she'll make it on horseback?" I asked, changing the subject.

"She won't make it alone. We'd have to double up," she said walking to the left side and lifting Rahlna up onto Argo's back. "It isn't far. You get on with her. I'll walk." I said, holding Argo steady as Xena steadied the ill woman before smoothly mounting the horse herself. "I need my things from our room," She said, still not realizing that during her pouting session all her belongings had been moved. I nodded, ignoring her request and led the horse out of the barn, shutting the large doors after us. There was no internal debate as I removed my cloak. I'll be fine for the quick walk to the cabin. Passing it up to Xena who placed it around the trim Redhead, I knew that she would need it more than I. I glanced at Xena, seeing the dark circles under her eyes and made a mental note to make her get some extra sleep. She still wasn't completely well and I'm sure all our affectionate attentions earlier hadn't left her completely rested, either. She kneed Argo along into a brisk walk and I guided the loyal pony along in the blinding snow, only my thin tunic separating my chest from the driving white.

Xena slid off Argo's back as I held Rahlna up with two hands. "You take her in. I'll run back, put Argo back in the stable," I said, opening the door for Xena before mounting Argo, deciding it was too cold to be afraid of either heights or horses, and nudged her into a cautious trot all the way back to the barn. I felt her surprised look at my back as I headed back to the barn. Very seldom did I get on Argo's back voluntarily. The gentle pony was just too damned high for my liking. And big, too!

Once Argo was safely in the barn, I ran back to the inn.

Toris was in the kitchen, getting some food served onto a plate. He dribbled onto the floor without a look back. "Toris," I said, my breath short, "Xena and I are at the cabin. The kids' mother, is with us. Keep the kids here over night. They can stay in Xena's old room if you don't have any spares. I'll come by in the morning as soon as I can and let you know what's going on, ok?" I turned, grabbed a piece of stew out of the pot, plopping the warm meet into my mouth without giving Toris a chance to reply before I headed back outside into the swirling snow and up the hill to the cabin.

The cabin's window let off a yellow tinge and I could see smoke rising through the somewhat leaning chimney as I came up to the front door. Inside was warm and cozy even though small little drafts of wind still snuck through the infrequent gaps in the mortar.

"How's she doing?" I asked Xena, seeing the patient on a pallet near the fireplace.

"Nasty fever." "Will she make it?" "Its too soon to say, but if the fever breaks and we can get the fluid out of her lungs, there's a good chance," Xena said, tucking the blankets up high around Rahlna's neck before turning to me with a weird smile on her face. "This place…I…Its wonderful, Gabrielle. Thank you," She said, reaching out a hand to cup my cheek. I leaned into her touch, glad that her hands were warm, unlike my skin. After being out in the snow for so long, I was rather chilled and I saw her realize that as she touched my freezing skin. "Damn, Gabrielle! You're like Ice!" She grabbed the cream blanket I was so fond of and wrapped it around my shoulders before pulling me into a tight embrace and rubbing my back with energy.

I smiled and leaned into her slightly, still aware that she wasn't completely recovered from her bought with the illness she had a few days ago. "Xena, not like I'm not enjoying the attention, but what are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm trying to warm you up so you don't get sick!" she said with some tinge of exasperation in her tone.

I pushed her back a half step and reached up, grabbing her at the base of her neck and drawing her head down to my own. I seized her lips with a passion she hadn't know from me till that very moment. When we finally parted, my skin was just as flushed as hers and I took her hand, pressing it to my cheek. "See? That's all you have to do to warm me up."

She grinned and kissed me quickly before fiddling with the blanket around my shoulders. "Imp," she muttered, smiling my way.

"I try," I said, hugging her and enjoying the quiet moment we shared as the snow fell around us.

"Gab?" she said, breaking the quiet with the low roll of her voice.

"Mm?" "I really mean it. Thanks for the cabin. Its perfect," she said, kissing the top of my head softly.

"I'm glad you like it. I know you haven't had a place to come home to in a long time. Since before Cortese. I wanted you to have that. To have a place to store your gear while we're on the road. You deserve that at least, Xena," I said softly. "No. I don't. I don't deserve a home, Gabrielle. I have burned so many from their houses. I've left so many people without a home. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve you," she said, her hold on me tightening slightly.

I snorted in indignation and took a step back, weaving out of her hold. "Excuse me? Excuse me?!" I said, my fury showing in my stance, no doubt. She made no comment but just hung her head instead. "Xena! This is not a pity party! We've been over this again and again. How dare you assume that just because you were a undeniable terror for many years you haven't made up for it now! You've done so much good, Xena. So much more than you'll ever know! I refuse to let this self pity you have eat you alive. I'm not ready to let you go, damnit," I said, stamping my foot, the blanket falling to the floor. She looked up, obviously shocked at my violent outburst. "I love you too much to let you think of yourself as some monster, Xena. You're not. You're kind and caring and gentle. You're the only person I'd ever trust with my life and I do that on a daily basis. Doesn't that tell you anything? Doesn't the fact that I've happily devoted my life to be with you, roaming the countryside and how I prefer to be with you than any other person in this world show you that you've done something right? What is it going to take to convince you that you're a good person?" My temper tantrum dwindled down as tears of frustration and sadness cascaded down my cheeks. "I can't take this anymore. I just can't!" I whispered to her, going outside and around back of the house, leaning against the wall and crying, feeling the wet tears come close to freezing on my cheeks.

I steadied myself against the wall, my body shaking as I sobbed. My forearms rested against the log wall and my forehead against that as my back was towards the snowy night. How many more nights am I going to do this? I thought, knowing the answer in my heart before my head came up with it. As long as it takes. Every day for the rest of you life if you have to.

I sighed, and took a deep breath, feeling the shaky sobs still in my chest. A weight settled over my shoulders as I let out the air in my lungs and with a quick smell, I knew it to be Xena's cloak around me. "Come back inside," she said softly, her hand tucking a stray lock of my hair behind my ear.

I turned to look at her and I saw the hurt on her face. I didn't know why it was there but all I wanted to do was make it leave. I only wanted her happy. "Xe-" I started, but she shook her head at me, stalling my words.

"Come back inside. It's too cold out here. And its too cold in there without you," she said softly.

I turned and put a pair of fingers on her lips, tracing them as I spoke. "I love you. I always will, Xena. Right now I see this woman who is special. So special that I can't even fathom it. I just don't understand why you can't see all your beauty and love yourself as much as I do." With a cautious step, I leaned up and kissed her cheek. "Let's go inside. My ass is frozen out here," I admitted, feeling her hand go to cover said body part protectively as soon as the words had escaped my lips. The door swung open and we saw a very dazed patient sitting up on her pallet, sweaty hair plastered to her forehead. "Oh, good, you're up," I said, taking 'my' cloak off and hanging it on the hook-rack Toris had hung next to the door. "How you feeling, Rahlna?" I asked, walking over and kneeling next to the pallet, Xena right behind me.

"Who are you? Where am I?" She said, looking around worriedly. As she reached up and fingered an amulet that hung around her neck, she looked relieved to still find it there.

"You were sleeping in my mother's barn. That makes you my responsibility, so you're in our home and you're staying here until you get better," Xena said, her no-nonsense attitude coming through clearly.

"But…"

"Don't argue with her," I said, reaching onto the mantel and pulling down my amulet that matched hers exactly. "As an order from a sister Amazon." Rahlna let her head drop back to the pillow for a moment before she sat up. "My children. They won't know where I am. I've gotta-" She started before Xena put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down.

"Stay," she growled at the red-head.

I chuckled at Xena as she turned to the fire to turn the boiling water into a pot of tea for us all, "Your children are fine. They're both at the inn having a hot dinner courtesy of the house. Toris, Xena's brother, is going to take care of them until you're well enough to travel," I explained.

"Travel?" She said, coughing around the word.

"We're going to take you home."

Xena turned, carefully mixing some healing herbs into a mug. She looked up at Rahlna's confused face. "Amazon country," she explained. "I can't go back," she said softly, slumping against the pillow in exhaustion. "Danic…I can't."

Xena poured her tea and swished around before motioning for me to lift her head. "Drink this," I said softly as she sucked the liquid from the mug. "We'll work something out with Danic, don't worry," I said, pushing the hair from her face and watching as she nodded slowly, giving into the fast acting herbs and her body's complete exhaustion. Her eyes closed and I set her head back gently onto the pillow.

"The fever's gone down a lot since she's been near the fire." Xena commented, washing the mug out in the bucket near the fireplace.

"And yours has gone back up," I said, seeing her eyes a bit glazed. "Get in bed," I said standing and taking the mug from her, turning her towards the bed. "I'll live, Gabrielle," she said.

"Not if you don't get your cute butt in bed right now, Princess. You're sick still and I'm not risking your health just to coddle your pride. Go!" I said, tugging her pants off as we spoke. I turned to get her a fresh tunic and when I turned around, I about swallowed my tongue as she stood naked in front of me.

"What?" she said coyly, a seductive smile on her lips. "That's not fair. We have company," I protested, thrusting the tunic at her and turning to get into my own sleep wear.

"Fine. We'll just wait till we get to the Amazon village where everyone can here me make you scream," she with an evil glint in her eye.

"You forget, Xena," I said, rushing her and knocking her back on the bed with an audible "oof" as air was forced out of her lungs. "You forget that the Amazon's have a very comprehensive library and I can learn a few things about giving as good as I get while I'm there," I said, seeing her eyebrows rise in startled pleasure.

"Sounds like fun!" She said, scooting us over as I pulled the blankets up to our shoulders. I smiled into her skin as I settled myself on top of her, head tucked into my spot on her collarbone.

"Gab?" She said after a few moments of quiet.

"Yeah?" I asked, kissing her neck softly.

"Thanks for giving me a home."

"Thanks for being mine," I replied, hugging her to me in happiness.