If you think this will be too descriptive : Don't read it

Timeline - you place it

No Spoilers No Violence

(I read the Ex-guards/Bard's Village challenge and this was my second attempt)

"I say we go stay with the Amazons!"

"I say we go stay in Amphipolis!"

The argument reverberated off the cave walls. The opponents were bound and determined to have their way and NOT give in.

"Dammit Xena! I always defer to you. It should be MY turn to decide."

"You have GOT to be kidding! I cave in to your every whim!"

"I can't ? I WON'T ? discuss this with you anymore ? Goodnight."

Angry blue eyes watched the Bard grab a blanket and lay down on one of their furs. She very deliberately turned her back to the Warrior. With that action all anger drained away leaving Xena with doubt and fear.

"She's right. We should do what she wants. What if she is so angry she decides to go on her own?! Maybe I should tell her now I'll go wherever she wants. Oh Gods, it doesn't matter where we spend the winter ?as long as we are together. If I had any courage I would tell her how I feel. I'll let her calm down then I'll tell her in the morning." Ironically the same thoughts ran through both minds.

A very quiet and cold night passed. Both Bard and Warrior slept fitfully.

Morning broke and both women feigned sleep. They were both afraid to look the other in the eye. Both feared seeing rejection.

Finally, "Xena, I know you are awake."

Very quietly, "Yes Gabrielle."

"Well ? shall we get started for the Amazons?"

"What are you saying?", Xena sat up and looked toward the Bard.

"You were right Xena. The Amazons will be the best place to spend the winter."

"I ? I ? I was going to say that YOU were right ? spending some time in Amphipolis would be good."

Green eyes met blue eyes hesitantly.

"I think I'm confused." They both said at the same time.

"Xena, I know talking is not your strong suit ? but I really don't know what you are thinking ? will you tell me?"

"Only if you will come over here and join me."

The Bard was on her feet dragging her blankets before Xena finished the sentence. As she passed the fire she added a couple more logs.

As Gabrielle approached Xena opened up her arms and blankets making it very clear that she expected the Bard to join her IN bed.

Gabrielle climbed right into Xena's blankets ? adding her own to the nest ? and fell into Xena's arms.

"Nothing scares me more than fighting with you, Gabrielle", whispered Xena.

"Why?"

"I don't think that I can live without you. When we disagree I'm always so scared that you will leave me."

"Why can't you live without me?"

Xena's head dropped as an inner battle waged. She had kept her feelings hidden for so long ? did she dare tell the Bard now? Did she dare NOT???

"Tell me why Xena.", Gabrielle whispered directly into Xena's ear causing a thrill down the Warrior's spine.

"I ? didn't want to stay with my Mother ? because ? she can read me too well ? she knows ?"

Xena took a couple of deep breaths before continuing, " She knows that ? I'm in love with you ? and she is constantly after me to admit it to you ?"

Gabrielle laughed quietly, "Oh Xena ? I didn't want to stay with the Amazons ? because they all guessed long ago that I was madly in love with you ? I didn't want to deal with them either."

Xena leaned back far enough to gaze into green eyes, "I am saying "I'm in love with you" ? did you just say the same thing??"

"Oh yeah."

"Um ? what do we do now?"

"Well first we eat breakfast! The we discuss this more while we travel today. OK?"

A quick hug was her answer and Xena got up to go check on Argo. Gabrielle sorted through their supplies and found a suitable breakfast. "Did she really say she loves me?? I never thought this would happen. WHAT do we do now?" While the Bard should have been relieved their feelings were finally out in the open, instead she felt worried and nervous. "This changes every thing."

There was a slight noise as Xena returned and Gabrielle glanced up, "I hope last nights stew is OK for breakfast." But as she looked at Xena she noticed the odd expression on her face.

"Xena? What's wrong??"

"It was starting to snow when we arrived here last night."

"Yes, I remember."

"Well ? It never stopped ? Argo had to move inside the mouth of the cave ? The snow is so deep there is NO way we can travel through it ? we are stuck here."

Xena actually looked worried and that scared the Bard.

"OK ? well we have plenty of food since you just went hunting ? and we have a good supply of wood ? so we should be OK ? for a while ? right?? ? Xena? ? what's wrong??"

"I ? I'm ? not sure."

Gabrielle felt very cold, "Is she worried about the weather or what we discussed this morning? Maybe she didn't really mean what she said. Oh no, what do I do?"

"Xena sit down and have something to eat before it gets cold again."

The Warrior was almost grateful for the command. She never expected to admit her true feelings to the Bard and she certainly did NOT know what to do now. "What if Gabrielle was just being nice and trying not to hurt my feelings? What if she doesn't really ? love me?"

So they both sat in silence and had doubt for breakfast.

After they had cleaned up the meal, they both looked around for something to do ? but there really wasn't anything and their eyes met.

"Xena can we talk some more?"

"Yeah OK ? it's just that ? I don't really know where we stand now?"

Gabrielle held out her hand. The Warrior had no choice but to take it and be led back to their bed.

As they sat they both tried to gather their thoughts.

"Xena, I said I love you ? and I meant it ? but ?"

"You did? You meant it?"

"Of course!"

"But????"

"If you don't want us to be together I'll underst?"

"NO!! I mean YES!! I mean ?"

A pained expression crossed Xena's face, "Why can't I get this right?"

Blue eyes met green and Xena reached out and covered the Bard's mouth with her hand.

"I love you. I want to be with you. You are my life. I'm just scared and can't get my words right."

Xena continued, " If that is not what you want I will respect your wishes ? but I needed you to know how I felt."

A hot tongue licked her palm and she gasped as she instinctively pulled her hand away.

"Can I talk now?"

"Yes Gabrielle."

"Ditto."

"Excuse me?"

'Ditto ? What you said ? that's what I feel."

Xena smiled.

Gabrielle smiled.

"Then we agree?"

"Yes we do."

"Shouldn't we seal it ? with a kiss ? or something?"

"We'll start with the kiss and work our way down to "or something"."

They had kissed before. But this was a lover's kiss. It was slow and gentle.

After a few moments Xena pulled back a little and rested her forehead on Gabrielle's, "I'm sorry I panicked. I have never been so completely in love before. In the past I only had physical relationships. That is not what I want with you."

Green eyes blinked in surprise.

"Um ? you don't??"

Xena pulled her close so she could whisper directly in the Bard's ear, "No. I want so much more. I want to give you my heart and soul. I want intimacy." Pause for effect. "That will make the SEX that much HOTTER!!", this was punctuated by licking the Bard's ear.

Gabrielle felt a jolt of lightening from head to toe. She groaned loudly and grabbed Xena with all her strength. "Are you trying to kill me??"

"Oh ... no ? that comes later", purred Xena.