~ Day Off ~
by Red Hope

Disclaimers: Violence ~ No violence, it can happen.

Subtext ~ That's the only thing I know how to write, hehe.

Copyright ~ Lets see, Universal and MCA both own Xena, Argo, and Gabrielle. But the plot of the story is all mine.

Started: June 13th 2000 on Tuesday

Finished: June 27th 2000 on Tuesday

Series: Putting the Puzzle Together Story: Five

If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at:

redhope@redhope.net

Section 1

~*Part 1*~

"Xena I just thought of a really good game we could play."

The warrior raised an eyebrow while turning her head to the right to her best friend. "And what would that be?"

Gabrielle grinned. "Um… I didn't give it a name quite yet." Her staff tapped along the gravel road.

Xena gazed ahead. "How you play?"

The bard smiled at seeing her best friend's interest. "Okay, what we do is…"

The pair had been traveling south through Greece. Heading any where to do anything. Right now nothing had happened this day. And they both considered it one of their rare days off. Personally, Xena was hoping they soon would bump into a town to stay at for the night. She figured they would, knowing how much she and Gabrielle earned some needed relaxation.

"So you want to go first?"

Xena shook her head. "No, you go first." She shifted the reins in her left hand slightly.

The bard grinned and thought for a moment. "Truth or stake?"

"Truth."

Gabrielle's grin disappeared as she thought. "Okay… truth. How old were you when you first kissed?"

The older woman chuckled. "Gods, like I can remember." She gazed over at her partner. "Young."

"Young?" The bard shook her head. "Xena that's like asking what's the weather like and saying it's seasonal." An urging grin. "Come on. Rough guess."

"Ten sound good?"

The younger woman sigh. "Alright alright. Now it's your turn."

"Truth or stake?"

Gabrielle pondered for a second. "Truth."

Xena nodded and stared ahead while she came up with a question. "Have you ever written a love story?"

The bard's head quickly whipped up to stare at Xena. "You're kidding?"

"Answer Gabrielle."

"Hades."

"Gabrielle."

Gabrielle chuckled. "Yes I have." A faint blush came over her.

"Mmm interesting." The warrior had an amused look at seeing her friend blush.

The bard sighed. "Truth or stake?"

Xena turned her head to her mare and patted Argo. "Truth."

"Oh come on Xena. Do stake."

The warrior lowered her hand and gave her attention to her partner. "No, since you'll have me do something dramatic."

Gabrielle's jaw dropped with a hurt look. "Never Xena. I would never." A small grin.

"Right. What's your question?"

The Amazon Queen nodded while looking away. "Okay." Two can play at this game. Those were her ever revolving thought for this game now. "Are you in-love with somebody now?"

Xena almost lost her reins, almost. Her eyes were faintly wide. "Um… yes." She never let herself make eye contact with Gabrielle.

The bard grinned devilishly. "Who?"

The tall woman narrowed her eyes. "Only one question Gabrielle."

"Hades?" The young woman sighed. "Fine."

"Truth or stake Gabrielle?"

"I'll stick with truth."

The warrior nodded and considered Gabrielle's last question. Two can play at this game. Now it became Xena's thought as well. "When was the last time you kissed somebody Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle thought, going over her recent days and her memory filtered all the way back to when she became Amazon Queen. "The last time about two months ago."

The Warrior Princess's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to recall what was happening at that time. That was when she'd died and came back to life. It smacked her from a blind spot. Gabrielle's last kiss was from me. She took a deep breath to calm down. "Are you going to ask?"

"Right." The bard knew her friend was remembering the period, she hid her grin. "Truth or stake?"

"Truth."

Gabrielle sighed. "Alright, I can work with this." She gazed up to her friend with a grin. "How do you… prefer to be kissed?"

"What?" Xena stopped walking and looked down to her friend. "What kind of a question is that?"

The bard snickered. "Xena, answer."

"Gabrielle."

"Come on Xena. I'm playing by the rules, you have to also."

The warrior narrowed her eyes for a moment. "What you mean by how?"

The smaller woman shrugged her shoulders. "I mean do you like… passionate kisses, gentle ones, powerful…" A wrinkle of the nose. "Messy ones." She grinned. "That's what I mean by how."

Xena's head bobbed up and down for a few seconds. "Alright. You really want to know?"

"Yup." Gabrielle had to put her left hand on her hip. She wanted to hear this one badly.

Xena's lips went into a cat grin as she narrowed her twinkling eyes. "The kiss has to be passionate with a lot of tongue action." She straightened up and started walking off with Argo by her side.

The bard took a deep breath. She watched her best friend's back. "Amen to that," was whispered from her lips. Gabrielle jogged ahead to catch up. "Your turn!"

~*Part 2*~

"Meet here when you're done. Alright?"

Gabrielle nodded as she tied the pouch of dinars to her side. "I can handle that."

The warrior grinned. "In a half of a candlemark."

"Got it." The bard smiled. "Then dinner right?"

"Yup." Always that appetite to think of huh? Xena wanted to laugh but didn't. The warrior smiled and started walking off in her direction. "Bye Gabrielle."

"Bye Xena." The young woman watched her partner disappear in the town. She then glanced up to read the name of the stable again. She sighed and walked off.

Gabrielle soon found herself in the busy market of the town. She and Xena entered into the town about a candlemark before dusk. And the bard planned to use that time to shop. As she shopped though, she only became picky about the prices and about the products. Either something was partially broke or torn or dented or bad quality, the list went on. This kept discouraging Gabrielle as she went along.

Stopping at one stand, she looked through leather products. But out of the corner of her eye she noticed a certain man. She'd seen him when she left the stables and broke away from Xena. Her eyes narrowed and she straightened up to get a full view of the man.

The man was young and a little taller then Gabrielle, well muscular with leathers on. He looked a little to rough and tough for the bard's liking. She saw him walk by and act like she wasn't there.

Gabrielle left the leather stand and started going through the market.

The man followed right behind. He sped up his pace as Gabrielle walked faster.

The Amazon Queen knew then quickly that this man was after her or her money, maybe both. So she decided to find her best friend.

~*~*~*~

Xena straightened up from gazing at the weapons in the case. She grinned knowing she really didn't need them. She sighed and ambled out of the weapons store. Walking along the streets in the town she gazed around for a place to eat at with Gabrielle. Thankfully the street wasn't piled with masses of people.

Suddenly she felt her body pick up on somebody heavily breathing and coming up behind her. Glancing back she saw her best friend power walking towards her. Xena slowed her pace.

Gabrielle came right up to Xena's side and rather close.

"What's up?"

The bard sighed and continued to walk close to the warrior. "Nothing much."

"Uh huh. And why did you come find me?"

Gabrielle's eyes averted away from Xena and scanned the streets. Ahead she saw that same man walking ahead of them a little. "See that man?" She pointed.

The warrior glanced over in that direction. "Yes." Her eyes narrowed at the shifty fella.

"He's been following me since we split up." The bard watched the man slow his pace down to come more even with them both.

Xena grinned. "Well let's try to get rid of him." She turned her head to her friend. "Wrap your arm around my waist."

The young woman raised an eyebrow but switched the staff into her left hand and did as she was told.

The warrior wrapped her left arm around her best friend's waist as well. Lifting her head, she glanced over to the man. "Hey you!"

The man glanced over to the two women then away. He turned his head to them again. "Hey!"

Xena grinned very evilly. "I know what you're trying to do." Her eyes narrowed. "And don't."

The man narrowed his eyes and turned down an alley to his right and away from the women.

Gabrielle chuckled. "My hero."

The warrior grinned. "Always."

"Very funny." The Amazon Queen tightened her arms around Xena's waist for a second. "So what was the purpose of the arms around the waists?"

The tall woman shrugged her shoulders. "To show ownership."

"Oohhh." Gabrielle laughed. "Am I your girlfriend now?"

"Hardy har har Gabrielle." She began to release her friend.

"Hey wait, I was kidding."

The warrior's hand was at Gabrielle's mid back. She was debating whether it was a smart idea to keep her arm around Gabrielle's back or not. Who would die because of it? Xena would. Well Xena went ahead and slipped her arm back around and pulled her friend in close. "Happy?"

The young woman smiled. "Yes."

"Good." Xena shifted her attention back ahead, still scanning for a tavern. "We need to find a place to eat."

Gabrielle nodded and searched the buildings' signs looking for a place that served food. "Well what you feel like?"

The warrior quietly laughed. "Anything. You?"

"Mmm." The bard thought for a moment. "Seafood."

"I think I can do that." Xena then spotted the perfect place. "Come here." The tavern's name was Water Stop.

The pair climbed the stairs to the tavern and saw a menu. They shifted over to it and read.

Gabrielle grinned. "They have salmon."

Xena chuckled. "And scallops."

"Look they have swordfish Xena." The young woman sighed happily. "I am going to be fat tonight."

The warrior laughed as she kept scanning the menu.

The Amazon Queen suddenly spotted something on the other side of the tavern wall. Her arm slipped from around her friend's waist and she walked over there. Her face quickly brightened up. "Xena?"

"Yeah?" Xena ambled over to her partner's side to look at the parchment on the tavern's wall. "A play huh? So?" She grinned down at her friend.

Gabrielle poked Xena in the side with her elbow. "Funny." She smiled up to the warrior. "Come on, let's go see it. It's free anyway."

The tall woman kept reading the advertisement. "Sophocles's Oedipus Rex." A grin came over as she glanced down to the smaller woman. "Is Sophocles supposed to be good or something?"

"Smartass."

Xena laughed but went serious. "Well either way it's about to start in a few minutes. And I have no idea where the amphitheater is here."

The bard was about to respond but saw a woman come out of the tavern "Excuse me ma'am?" She sidestepped the warrior.

"Yes?"

Gabrielle smiled to the older woman. "We were wondering if you could tell us where the amphitheater is around here? We're travelers."

The old lady smiled warmly. "Of course. You take a right onto this street. Walk down it till you get to the street named Theaterway. Take a left on it, walk down there for a ways, and you'll be there."

"Great thank you."

"You're quite welcome. Enjoy the play, it's very good."

"We will." Gabrielle kept her smile seeing the woman leave. She turned around to peer up to Xena. "So?"

Xena grinned and sighed a little. "Let's go."

"Sweet." The bard jumped down the steps of the tavern and waited for Xena to come down.

The pair headed directly to the theater and found the perfect seats. Not to close nor that far.

The warrior crossed her legs at the ankle as she saw the play begin. It was dark and torches were lined around the stage.

Gabrielle smiled as she saw the actors begin. "Nothing like a good play."

Xena chuckled. "Nothing like a good tragedy."

The bard glared at her partner. "That's all Greeks do."

"True." The warrior then piped in quietly. "Except you."

Gabrielle gazed up forgetting about the play. "Good thing?" A low whisper and not because of the play.

Xena smiled lovingly. "Of course."

The small woman smiled. "Thanks." She gazed back to the play and relaxed.

The older female did the same and let herself become lost into the play's story for once. How many chances would she have to relax at a play with her best friend? Not many were her guesses if at all any more.

~*~*~*~

The pair was halfway through the play.

Gabrielle was very lost into the play. She was amazed by it then she was also a bit disgusted by the story line. She bent towards her partner. "Could you imagine ever marrying your own father?"

The warrior looked away from the stage and to her friend. "No and I don't want to think about it."

The bard chuckled and peered up. "Sorry."

"It's alright." Xena smiled warmly and gazed back to the stage.

Gabrielle did the same but whispered a last comment. "I'd rather be dead then do that." A sigh and a last whisper. "But I love it right here."

Xena's attention on the play was lost. Love it right here? The warrior figured out the meaning rapidly. She smiled and took a quick glimpse at Gabrielle. A glimpse at her best friend and partner. She saw her friend in a different light that moment. But her eyes went back to the play as an idea came to her.

Xena took a deep breath and carefully lifted her right hand. Her heart pounded while she became suddenly hot. Reaching over she slowly let her hand settle on top of Gabrielle's left hand.

The bard quickly glanced up to Xena with a surprised look.

The warrior didn't look over but let a smile come into play.

Gabrielle smiled herself and gazed back to the stage. She turned her left palm up to clasp Xena's hand and let her fingers intertwine with her friend's. She squeezed the warrior's hand for a second and received one back.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle chuckled and shook her head. "That's to funny." She took a deep breath.

Xena grinned and squeezed her friend's hand.

They were heading back to that same tavern to have a dinner. The play was over but they both refused to release each other's hands.

The bard took a deep breath. "It's your turn to ask."

The warrior nodded. "Truth or stake?"

The young woman closed her eyes as she walked along in the quiet street. "Stake." She opened her eyes slowly. "I'll regret this."

The older woman laughed and smiled. Her eyes stay pinned on the road. She studied the quiet street in the torch lit town. "Your stake is…" She lost that smile. "To kiss me."

The Amazon Queen quickly stopped in her tracks and turned to Xena.

The warrior had stopped and faced her friend.

Gabrielle searched her best friend's eyes and they held only love in them. Those blue eyes were twinkling and only for her. She smiled and brought her right hand up behind Xena's head.

Xena closed her eyes and lowered her head.

Gabrielle did the same and felt Xena brush her lips lightly against hers. Her stomach filled with butterflies and she couldn't help but remember this was her stake. And Xena's words of the how she likes to be kissed came back to her. So she locked lips with Xena and started the kiss gentle. But she ran her tongue against the warrior's teeth.

The warrior opened her mouth and felt Gabrielle's tongue slip in. The kiss just went deeper. Now Xena felt that dying need to have Gabrielle. To have everything that is Gabrielle. And why? She couldn't help but wonder.

Slowly Gabrielle pulled away with a dreamy look. She smiled warmly at her partner.

Xena lifted her head up with that same smile.

"My turn again Xena." Gabrielle grinned. "Truth or stake?"

The taller female grinned. "Stake?"

"Kiss me."

Xena wrapped her left arm around Gabrielle's waist. She still kept her other hand locked with her partner's. Ever so slowly she lowered her head down to Gabrielle's.

Gabrielle closed her eyes feeling the anticipation and the shots through her body. Then the warrior's soft lips touched hers. Xena's lips touched hers and took her. Gabrielle became lost in the gentle and loving kiss that she was given.

The warrior carefully pulled away but kept her arm around her friend's waist and hand locked. "We should have done stake sooner."

The bard chuckled and opened her eye slowly. "Better late then never."

Xena's lips creased into a grin. "Very true." She then sighed a little unhappily. "We better get to that tavern before it gets any later."

"Yeah." Gabrielle felt the warrior's arm leave her waist. Food wasn't her top priority anymore. But she felt Xena's thumb rub against hers, their hands still locked.

"Come on." The warrior winked and started walking beside her partner.

~*Part 3*~

Gabrielle drank a good gulp of her wine. She sighed while placing the mug back down on the table. She sat back in her seat and slouched in the wood chair.

Xena sat on the opposite side of the square table. She had her back to the wall while Gabrielle's was to the tavern. She normally would gaze about the tavern, watching. But this time she was gazing about Gabrielle, watching.

The bard didn't mind for once having her back to the tavern. She knew Xena was looking after her, Xena always was. So she stretched her legs out and dropped them down and they landed on the warrior's long legs. "Whoops, sorry."

The warrior grinned. "It's okay." She uncrossed her legs at the ankle and clamped her ankles over the smaller woman's left ankle and tugged. Tonight for once, she wasn't caring about her image. What was image without happiness? She was letting go and her wine was helping her do just that.

Gabrielle had stopped herself from being pulled off her seat by putting her hands on her chair. "Watch it warrior." She glared up to her partner.

Xena grinned back to her. "You're messing with my personal space."

The small woman chuckled. "Good." She then wrapped her ankles up with Xena's.

The older woman smiled and let it happen. "Comfortable now?"

"Yup." The bard grinned and sat back in her seat with a happy smile. "That play wasn't to bad."

"For a Greek tragedy it was perfect."

Gabrielle chuckled. "Yeah well I have to agree. The son marrying his mother isn't the most wonderful thing. But it was good irony."

"True." Xena reached up to drink some of her wine.

The bard did the same. As soon as the mug went back to the table Gabrielle started to giggle. "I wish I'd made up that game sooner."

The warrior laughed and smiled. "Better then never." She then went serious. "Truth or stake?"

Gabrielle raised an eyebrow. "Truth."

Xena clasped her hands together in her lap. "When did you fall in-love with me?"

The bard's eyes lowered to the table as she truly thought. "Since…" Her eyes came back up. "I first saw you."

The warrior nodded. She then drank more wine.

"Truth or stake?"

Xena grinned. "Truth."

Gabrielle nodded. "Night or day?"

The Warrior Princes furrowed her eyebrows but answered. "Night."

The Amazon Queen grinned. "Good." She drank the remains of her wine. "I'll just take truth now."

The warrior chuckled. Yet a very cat grin came again and she leaned towards Gabrielle. "Where would you like me to start on your body?"

The small female's eyes widen and a blush came over her. Her face went red right along with her chest and shoulders. "Um…"

"Answer Gabrielle."

Their waitress came up and gazed over at the red bard. "More wine?"

Gabrielle looked up. "Please, definitely."

The tavern maid picked up the mug and walked off.

Gabrielle gazed back to Xena. "Start huh?" A grin was on her lips. "My lips and working down."

Xena nodded and grinned. "I figured."

The bard smirked. "How about you?"

There went the game, just flat out truth.

"Mmm." The warrior sat back with a content look. "Anywhere when it's you."

Gabrielle chuckled. "You must have had some dreams."

The warrior went bright red and she looked away.

"Xena, how many dreams?"

The older woman glanced back. "Including day dreams?" An evil smirk.

"Oh definitely."

"Mmm probably thirty or so different types… so far."

The Amazon Queen snickered. "Ohh I see."

"How many for you Gabrielle? You're the bard."

Gabrielle laughed. "I lost count." She saw Xena stop from lifting her mug. "I can't wait to do them all."

Xena closed her eyes for a second and opened again to drink a lot of her wine. "We're not going to make it through dinner."

"Oh yes we are." Gabrielle smirked and saw the waitress come back with a full mug. After the waitress left, she took the mug and drank her strong wine.

~*~*~*~

Both women leaned back into their chairs as they laughed hard, their stomachs full.

Gabrielle took a deep breath and sighed happily. "Gods, could you have done worse?"

"I am sure I could have." The warrior smirked and reached for her fourth mug of wine, finishing it.

The bard snickered and lifted her own fourth wine mug and drank half of it. "I can just imagine it now." She slightly sighed herself. "Why didn't I know you then?"

Xena went serious. "'Cause it wasn't me."

Gabrielle shook her head. "No that's you, the darkness. It's just you have light now too."

The warrior grinned. "I am looking at my light."

The young woman shyly glimpsed away. "I could never understand that." Her attention went back to Xena. "What you saw in me."

Xena smiled warmly and pushed her empty plate away. "I see in you what you see in me. It's that simple."

Gabrielle considered that and decided it was true, very true. "Definitely." She took a deep breath. "So dessert or what?"

The warrior grinned. "I thought we'd… do dessert in our room."

The bard evilly grinned now. "Really? Let's go."

Xena chuckled. "Let's wait for the bill huh?"

"Ohh Hades." Gabrielle sighed and relaxed in her seat.

Then within a second the waitress came ambling up to lift the empty plates. "Good dinner?"

Gabrielle smiled. "It was excellent. Thanks."

"You're welcome." The barmaid smiled.

"How much is it?"

The barmaid gazed over to the warrior. "Ten dinars."

Xena nodded and sat up in her seat to create ten dinars in her right hand. She handed it up to the waitress.

The waitress easily took it and slipped the coins into her front pockets on her skirt. "Thank you."

Gabrielle smiled to her partner. She stood up from her seat and soon she found herself in Xena's lap in the dark tavern.

Xena smiled up to her best friend. "Not here."

"Image?" The bard wrapped her left arm back behind the other woman's shoulders.

The warrior grinned. "No, I just don't like to have others stare at you."

Gabrielle leaned her forehead against Xena's. "Mmm, there are certain things I want people to stare at." She brought her lips against the warrior's.

Xena brought her right hand behind her partner's head and made the kiss wilder. How she loved kissing Gabrielle, she just couldn't wait to place the kisses every where else on Gabrielle.

The bard pulled back. "We need to go."

"Definitely."

Gabrielle stood and grabbed her staff off the wall.

The pair left the tavern walking out onto the porch.

The Amazon Queen went down the steps first and quickly found it difficult. "Wahoo."

Xena laughed and grabbed her friend's shoulders. "A bit tipsy?"

Gabrielle settled down on the last step and dropped her head back to stare into blue eyes. "Of course not. I'm glad I ate something."

The warrior smirked. "Same here." Xena stepped down and came beside Gabrielle. "Come on." She wrapped her right arm around Gabrielle's shoulders and helped support her.

The pair made it back to the stables where they left Argo and where the inn was they planned to stay in.

The bard was inside first. "Do we need to get a room?"

"Nope, took care of that earlier." Xena nodded her head towards the stairs. "Up there."

Gabrielle walked over that way and began to climb them.

Xena was directly behind and she lifted her hands to the bard's sides.

The young woman grinned and kept going up the stairs. "Which door?"

"The third on the right."

The small bard came to the door and felt Xena turn her around. Xena's lips soon came down and sealed over hers. Gabrielle grinned in the kiss.

Xena ended the kiss after a few seconds and grabbed her bard's hands. Her soft lips came to Gabrielle's neck while pressing the bard more against the door.

"Oh gods." Gabrielle's head fell back against the door while she closed her eyes.

The older woman grinned and lifted her head back, her hands with Gabrielle's went up over the door. She had her deep grin and spoke in a low octave. "Truth or stake?"

The younger woman groaned at the change but answered. "Stake."

The warrior brought her arms down with Gabrielle's to lean her head closer to her small partner. Xena then purred out in a whisper, "Sleep with me."

Gabrielle's sparkling green eyes flew open, her mouth was a daring smirk. "That's not a stake, that's a pleasure." Reaching over with her left hand she opened the door and slipped in.

Xena kept her eyes pinned on her friend while standing in the doorway. With a grin she padded into the room and shut the door behind.

The bard propped her staff against the wall. "Why did it take so long?" Gabrielle whirled around with her sparkling eyes.

"Too scared." Xena gradually stepped up to her bard.

"And now?"

The warrior brought her hands to Gabrielle's belt. "Possessed by love and desire for you." Her fingers slipped down between the belt and the bard's soft skin.

The Amazon Queen's stomach rippled in reaction at the fire touch. She shut her eyes because her partner's fingers came gliding up her stomach to under her halter-top. "Truth… or stake?" She could barely get the words out.

Xena's eyes filled with a twinkle and her response was a purr. "Stake."

"Take me Xena."

Xena quickly leaned forward and invaded the bard's mouth with her tongue. Soon the warrior's tongue wasn't only invading the bard's mouth but the rest of Gabrielle. Gabrielle's entire body was flooded with desire and passion. Gabrielle's soul filled with the passion and desire and the only way she knew how to let it go was to wash it over Xena. By the end of the night the two women owned each other.

~*Part 4*~

Gabrielle moaned in the kiss and gradually opened her eyes.

The warrior pulled back from the light kiss and pressed her lips to her partner's forehead. "Morning."

The younger woman lifted her eyes up to Xena. "Morning already?"

"No." Xena had a small grin. "More like afternoon."

Gabrielle's eyes widen. "You're kidding? What time is it?"

"About midday."

"Ohh gods." The bard groaned and shut her eyes. "That's to late."

"Not really."

The bard lifted her head and studied her lover. "Not really? You are not minding how late it is are you?"

Xena laughed and smiled. "Not at all." A small shrug of the shoulders. "We have no plans."

"No?" A darkness took over Gabrielle's eyes. "No plans?"

"Mmm." The warrior moved to have her body over top of Gabrielle's, her hands at each side of Gabrielle's head. Her knees were down near Gabrielle's thighs digging into the bed. "Just plans for… usss."

The smaller woman felt the heat shoot through her body and take her. Reaching up with both hands, her palms ran up and down the warrior's stomach.

"Gabrielle… I'm going to fall on you."

"Why?" The Amazon Queen had a smirk.

Xena closed her eyes tightly and hung her head down. "I am not strong enough against your touch."

Her small hand went behind Xena's head. She pulled Xena's head down. "Come here." She took over the warrior's mouth.

The tall woman lowered herself down on top of her lover with her body bursting into flames from the contact.

Gabrielle deepened the kiss and lifted her right knee between Xena's legs. She pressed hard against her partner's center and made Xena moan deeply.

~*~*~*~

"So, any other games you have?"

Gabrielle kicked at a pebble on the road. Her staff hit the road and lifted it back up, she continued to walk down the road. "Yesss, but we can't… play them till tonight."

Xena's response was a laugh. "I can't wait."

Argo turned her head to the two women and seemed to study them in misunderstanding. She nickered.

The warrior quietly laughed. "Long story Argo. Ask the bard."

"Hey!" Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. "Don't start anything warrior."

The Warrior Princess stopped walking and straightened her back out. "What you going to do if I am… bard?"

The Amazon Queen shifted her staff into her left hand. "I'll make you scream my name." She laughed and without warning she reached forward to snatch Xena's chakram. In rapid motion Gabrielle was lifting her staff and breaking out into a fast run. "New game Xena! Catch the bard and chakram… if you can!"

Xena threw the reins over Argo's head. "Stay here girl. I have a bard to catch." She disappeared into a fast sprint and catching up to her lover. "Gabrielle!" The bard was right, she was screaming her name.

Gabrielle glimpsed back to see Xena coming and fast. Her eyes widen and she began to pour everything into her run. "Oh Hades, I am in for it now."

The End