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)

Trudge trudge

Slip trudge

Sigh

Green miserable eyes tried to see through the falling snow desperately hoping to see a village or any form of shelter. Gabrielle was extremely cold and starting to worry. Exactly how did one survive on the road in the winter?

Xena was walking behind Gabrielle leading Argo. She suddenly realized that if she was starting to feel the cold that Gabrielle must be absolutely freezing. Her eyes immediately went to the form in front of her. Though they had been traveling together for quite a few months now Xena still thought of Gabrielle as an innocent. Xena kicked herself mentally, "She gives me so much and this is how I repay her."

"Gabrielle! I want you to ride on Argo. Come here."

Startled Gabrielle turned around "Oh no no no. I don't really think that's a good idea. Can't I just walk?"

"No. You are too cold. You need a break. I'll help you up."

Gabrielle tried to guess what Xena might be thinking. "Is she mad? Did I do something wrong?"

"Xena, you know Argo and I don't get along that well ?"

There was no verbal response only strong arms lifting her into the saddle. "And while you're up there ? hold on to this for me."

While Gabrielle had been fearfully eyeing Argo Xena had unpacked one of their sleeping furs. She now threw it around the girl's shoulders.

Gabrielle was just a little bit too cold to think straight but she glanced at Xena and was met by blue compassion tinted with just a little bit of ? guilt?

Xena grabbed Argo's reins and started them moving again. With an unerring sense of direction she led them into the hills and to a cave.

Once they arrived safely at the entrance to the cave Xena discovered the girl was shivering in a restless sleep.

The warlord moved quickly suddenly worried that the girl had fallen ill. She unpacked the rest of their blankets and quickly started a fire. During all this activity Xena's thoughts were whirling. "What am I doing? Why did I allow this naïve girl to follow me? I am far too self-centered. All that will happen is that I will get her killed. Not the best way to find redemption. I should turn us around and take her home where she will be safe, warm and well fed."

She moved back to Argo and reached up to lift the girl down. As she shifted Gabrielle's weight from the horse to her own strong arms, the young girl sighed and snuggled into Xena.

SHOCKED Xena's mind and body stalled.

Pushing away all her confused thoughts she carried Gabrielle close to the fire and gently laid her down. She stood looking down at her then picked up her own blankets and draped them over the girl as well.

Warmth.

Gabrielle's first fuzzy thought was to notice how wonderfully warm she was. "Wait! WARM?? Did I die? Why am I warm in the middle of a snow storm!!??"

Green eyes popped open and she tried to sit up. After throwing aside a multitude of blankets and furs she looked around frantically. Her eyes immediately found Xena's back. "Where are we?"

Xena turned around to find a concerned Gabrielle looking at her. "It's OK. We are in a cave."

"A cave."

"Yes. A cave."

"Xena?"

"Gabrielle?"

"Where did you find a cave? The last thing I remember was a blizzard."

"I have many skills."

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<a season or two later>

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FaWhapp!

Stunned outrage.

Crunch crunch crunch

After wiping the snow from blue eyes the Warrior stormed through the forest after her prey.

In pursuit she could hear her crunching through the snow and altered her path to cut the Bard off.

Seemingly out of nowhere a body came hurtling at Gabrielle. There was nothing she could do to avoid it so she grabbed a hold of the leather and enjoyed the ride.

At the bottom of the hill the large snow ball .. with 2 sets of arms and legs protruding ? came to a giggling halt.

As they disentangled themselves blue eyes met green in a warm smile. Xena brushed snow off the bard's head, and shoulders ? off her back ? and her hips ? and off her shapely ?

"Whoa! Warrior watch your hands!!"

Xena pulled her hands away as fast as she could and almost lost her footing. She was shocked that she had taken such liberties with the beautiful Bard. "Oh please ? don't let her be upset with me", she thought as she dragged her eyes up to meet Gabrielle's.

FaWhapp!

Again.

And Gabrielle was off and running again while laughing loudly.

"Oh, she is getting good.", thought the Warrior as she regained her composure and started the chase anew.

Later that evening, in yet another cave they had taken refuge in, the companions finished their dinner.

"Gabrielle you look cold. Maybe you should go have a nice bath in the hot spring." This particular cave that Xena had led them to had many of the finer amenities; including a storage of dried food, fire pit with ventilation, a bed and naturally fed hot spring.

"Tell me again about this cave, Xena"

"What?"

"You said you stocked it and used it when you were still a warlord."

"Yeeess."

"Why?"

"Even Warlords need a vacation."

"A vacation ? with whom?"

Blue eyes quickly looked away. Silence.

"Xena, that is a DOUBLE bed over there. Don't try to tell me you came here alone."

"How bout that bath!"

Very quietly, "Xena, I asked you a question."

"I know, I know, but maybe I don't want YOU to know."

Silence ? patience ? waiting ?

Because she could refuse the Bard nothing Xena's resistance crumbled, "OK I'll tell you ? but please don't be ? offended. OK?"

"I simply want to know more about you."

Deep breath, "I used to bring lots of different people here, Gabrielle. I was a Warlord and that meant power. And there is nothing like having power over people. Some were equals, most were conquered prisoners or slaves. I am not proud of who I was or what I did ? you know that."

"Will you promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Never bring anyone here again ? but me."

Green understanding. Blue adoration. Comfortable silence.

"I promise."

"Now, show me this bath!!"

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<a season or two later>

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Silent snow falling

Soft Humming

Chuffing breath

With the falling snow came an almost eerie silence in the forest. Argo was carrying three bodies and was starting to get winded.

Xena was ensconced in front of Gabrielle. There was a nice warm fur around both of them and Xena was unconsciously humming.

The snow really was starting to come down hard and the Warrior could tell that Argo was getting tired

"Xena do you know where we are?"

"What? Oh ? yeah. Why?"

"We are going to need to stop soon. You must be getting tired, I know Argo is. Where can we find a cave?"

Xena leaned forward to see out of the fur, "Um ? down there ? follow the river until the bend".

"OK", Gabrielle redirected Argo and pulled Xena back into the warmth of the fur.

After a few moments Gabrielle could see the outline of the cave. Argo stopped and waited patiently for Gabrielle to help Xena down before finding shelter against the side of the cliff.

The warrior carried their supplies into the cave, "Xena sit and rest while I go collect some wood."

"OK", Xena started to set up their camp.

Gabrielle spent a little extra time gathering as much wood as possible. She did not want Xena to get even the slightest chill. As she reentered the cave she saw the most beautiful sight: Xena asleep on their furs with the most peaceful expression on her face. "Gods, she is stunningly gorgeous!"

Gabrielle got a fire started then made some dinner ? actually quite a lot of dinner ? since Xena was eating for two now ? and Gabrielle ALWAYS ate for two ? they needed a lot of food.

After she had a nice warm meal prepared she moved over to Xena and gently kissed the sleeping lips.

The first reaction was a smile and then a return kiss. Followed quickly by arms surrounding the Warrior and pulling her down to the furs.

"Oh ?no you don't Xena", Gabrielle pulled away, "I want you to eat something ? before you get distracted".

"I'm always distracted when you're around." Lecherous blue eyes smiled.

"Well I think you will need to keep up your strength."

"REALLY?!!"

"Oh ? yeah", Gabrielle held a spoonful of broth to Xena's mouth.

The two lovers relaxed in the warmth of the cave and fed each other dinner.

After they had finished Gabrielle said, "I have heated some water, would you like a sponge bath?"

"Does that mean I stink?", slightly hurt blue eyes asked.

"Of course not. It's just an excuse for me to touch you."

"You never needed an excuse before."

"OK forget the bath ? I just thought you would enjoy it ?"

"Wait. Let's not be hasty."

"Xena."

"Gabrielle?"

"I love you."

"Even thought I'm fat?"

"You are not fat ? you're beautiful."

"OK then ? I love you too."

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<a season or two later>

?????????????????????????????????.

Panting

Crashing

Stumbling

"More."

"Don't stop"

"Oh XE ?"

"YES!"

After a few moments for recovery, green eyes glowed with love and a large dose of LUST, "Xena, I didn't think we would ever get away from Eve and Virgil."

"I know. But I am glad we have the whole week alone together."

"This is one of my favorite caves. I'm so glad you brought us back here."

"Maybe we should set up our camp quickly ? I don't know how long I can wait before I need to taste you again."

And with that the Bard was practically running around the cave setting things up. They had only made it inside the mouth of the cave before passion threw them both up against the wall. It would be better if they had a nice soft spot to reacquaint themselves in.

Xena started a fire and glanced outside. It seemed to be snowing even harder now. Their recent tracks were all but covered.

"Gabrielle, I don't know if I have ever told you this ?"

The Bard stopped what she was doing and glanced toward Xena with concern. Xena deliberately had her back to Gabrielle. She waited but Xena didn't continue.

"I'm listening ?"

"Well ? I just need you to know? that I have never known anything like the love I feel for you. I think my heart knew it on that first day. My body caught on long before my brain. But I have truly enjoyed living with you for all these years and watching you grow. Even at the times when our actions seemed contradictory. My heart was always with you."

Xena turned around to find her soulmate speechless.

Gabrielle's eyes were extremely blurry with unshed tears.

Xena slowly approached her. "Gabrielle I want you to have this."

The Bard gave up and wiped her tears so she could see. Xena held out a package.

Instead of taking the package Gabrielle walked into Xena's arms and held her tightly.

After a moment, "Does that mean you don't want your gift?"

A sharp swat on the ass was her answer.

Gabrielle turned in Xena's arms so she could reach the package but not give up the warmth of the Warrior's body. She opened it to find an exquisitely crafted anklet. It was mostly blues and greens.

"It is beautiful Xena, Thank you."

"I wanted it to be something you could always wear without it getting in your way. I also wanted it to be out of sight. Something special just between you and me."

"I don't know what to say. You have totally overwhelmed me. I'm supposed to be the one who is good with words. If I wasn't already madly in love ? this would have done the trick."

Xena led Gabrielle to their bed and sat her down. She knelt and started to unlace the Bard's boot. Once she had removed it she looked up at Gabrielle, "May I put it on?"

"Oh yeah."

Of course if fit perfectly and Xena sealed it with a kiss.

One tender kiss to her ankle and Gabrielle was on fire.

"Xena stand up ? take off that leather ? slowly ? you aren't going to need it for about a week."

"Your wish is my command."

Many, many hours later two naked bodies were still glued to each other. Blue eyes opened and instinctively checked their surroundings.

She kissed Gabrielle's temple and said, "It is still snowing out there. I think we are going to be snowed in."

Gabrielle rolled over on top of Xena. Looking down with a devilish twinkle in her eyes she bent and sucked on Xena's lower lip. "There is no place I'd rather be."