Copyright ~ Well Universal and company own Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrene Ephiny, Solari, Eponin, Velasca, and the rest of the Amazon idea. But I own Joan and Teresa all to myself along with the story line.

Subtext and Mature Stuff ~ Oh yes definitely that women being in-love with each ruckus. ;-) Sex stuff… it may happen it may not, it’s casual.

Violence ~ Will have violence at some point, but nothing to bloody.

Special Dedication ~ The character, Joan, I have created just for Deb. Deb wanted to bring life to Joan in a fashion so I decided to help her out. Deb, I hope you like this version of Joan. ;-) Thank you for giving me a chance to create a new and special character. This story is dedicated to you Deb! And Joan will become a regular character too, hope y’all like her.

Questions? Comments? or Advice? Send it away to me at redhope@redhope.net

Started: Started: October 13th 2000 Friday

Started: July 20^th 2000 on Thursday

Series Three: Putting the Puzzle Together Story: Eight

Solari slumped forward but jerked up from her horse’s trot. She shook her head and looked ahead to see Xena with a stoic form. She quietly mumbled, "How does she do it?"

"Magic Solari." The warrior glanced back sidelong with a grin. "Ready to start galloping?" She looked ahead and saw the dawn’s sun peeking through the forest.

The second in command straightened up in the saddle with a groan. "Sure… let’s knock ourselves out." She laughed. "Well at least me anyway."

Xena quietly chuckled. "You’ll make it… you’ll just be real saddle sore."

"Tell me about it." The Amazon trotted her horse up to Xena’s. "I won’t be able to walk for a week."

The Warrior Princess’s expression was a huge smirk. "You’ll live."

"Maybe." Solari then gradually perked up an eyebrow. "She’s not going out with anybody?"

The warrior rolled her eyes. "Gabrielle is about to lose her second in command."

"I’m just really curious."

"Would you like me to tattoo on my forehead that she isn’t?" Xena leaned towards the Amazon. "You’ve got a real hard head."

"You’re the one to talk." Solari narrowed her eyes at Xena, daring her.

The warrior studied the other woman’s eyes as she swayed in the saddle. A grin broke out across her lips. "I won’t tell." Her eyes widen with mischief and Xena kicked her horse into a gallop.

"I knew you knew!" Solari kicked her horse into a gallop to catch up.

~*~*~*~

"Ephiny?" Eponin came jogging up.

The regent turned her head to the weapons master. "What’s happening?"

"Velasca is free and heading towards the ruins."

Ephiny sighed. "On foot?"

"Yes." Eponin shifted her weight to her other foot. "And Xena and Solari are coming… they’re just outside the territory."

"Good." Ephiny sighed and turned her head away from the morning sun. "Are our scouts still finding Gabrielle and Joan?"

"Yes… they reported they’re close to their trail."

The regent nodded.

"Are we going to do anything?"

"Yes… wait for Xena."

~*~*~*~

Solari sighed in relief. "Home sweet home." She slowed to put her horse into a canter towards the Amazon village.

"We’re not home free yet Solari." Xena slowed Argo to a canter towards the village as well.

Up ahead Solari could see her regent coming out of the gates with Eponin. "Looks like we’re going to get greeted."

"Wonderful." The warrior grinned and kept at a canter.

"Hey Xena!" Eponin smiled warmly and stepped up as the horse came near.

The warrior pulled her mare to a stop and saw Solari come past to dismount with a groan. "Where’s Gabrielle?"

"We believe she’s at the ruins." Ephiny stepped forward to the warrior and her horse. Her hand rested on the horse’s shoulder. "There’s a Celt warrior with her named Joan."

"I heard." Xena sighed and asked, "Where’s Velasca?"

"She’s headed towards Gabrielle at the ruins."

The Warrior Princess turned her horse towards where the ruins laid. "Ephiny, get some of your Amazons together. You remember where the cave is with the ambrosia?"

"Yes of course." The regent furrowed her eyebrows.

"I’m going to get Gabrielle and Joan, we’re going to come past here headed to the cave." Xena shifted the reins in her hands. "I want you and a few Amazons to slow Velasca down again so we can get to this cave and set things up. Got me?"

"Yeah." Ephiny stepped forward again. "Be careful Xena" She shook her head. "Velasca isn’t bright but she can be at points."

"I know, just slow her down Eph. I’ll take care of the rest."

Ephiny nodded. "Good luck Xena."

The warrior nodded seriously and kicked Argo into a gallop headed to the ruins.

~*~*~*~

"No!" Gabrielle sprung forward. "Over here Velasca!" She walked out into the open with her hands up with her staff. Her eyes flickered over to see Joan crawling back behind the ruins. She gazed back to Velasca. "Don’t hurt her Velasca."

"I won’t." The god walked up to the bard a little closer. "So long as I have you." She looked around at the area. "The lava pit… again." Her white eyes rested on the Queen. "Do you think I’d fall for that twice?"

The bard shrugged her shoulders. "Was worth a shot… considering you’re not that smart."

The god narrowed her eyes and stepped closer to Gabrielle. "You’ve grown cocky over the year."

"Yeah well… I live with the best."

"And your point is?"

Gabrielle smirked and lowered her hands with the staff. "My point is, she’ll be here."

"Not before I kill you Gabrielle." Velasca evilly grinned taking another step closer.

"How times have I heard that Velasca?" The Queen stepped back. "If I got a dinar for every time I heard that from a bad guy I’d be rich and have a kingdom."

"You’re bound to run out of luck one day Gabrielle." Velasca narrowed her eyes. "It’s going to be today." She lifted her right hand to shoot off a bolt.

Gabrielle found herself flying through the air on her back. Her staff almost rolled out of her grasp but her fingers curled back around the wood. She moaned and turned her head up.

"Velasca!" Joan reappeared out of the ruins. "I heard you can’t shoot bolts worth a damn!"

The god whirled around at hearing the comment. "You!" She stalked towards the Celt. "You’re going to die."

"But you only kill Amazons right?" Joan twirled her sword. "I’m not an Amazon."

"I’ll make an exception just for you." Velasca narrowed her eyes and raised her index finger.

"What? You’ve gotta shoot bolts at me to kill me?" Joan stepped to her right with her sword up. "Can’t you even fight me like a real female warrior? Or has that godhood shot your courage?"

The god narrowed her eyes. "Alright." She reached behind to unsheathe her sword.

Joan laughed and narrowed her bright green eyes. "Let’s swing lassie."

Velasca growled and went on attack.

Gabrielle slowly stood with her pounding heart. She twirled her staff and slowly came up behind Velasca.

Joan kept fighting the god hoping to make some sort of contact. She felt the injury to her head thumping and the new pain in her left arm stinging deeply. "Moan!"

"You won’t win girl." Velasca gave a hard swipe but missed.

"Whit ji hink I um?" Joan jumped back and twirled her sword. "An idiot like you?" She began to work the god closer to the ruins.

The god sneered and came after the Celtic warrior. She sped past the warrior and turned around with her back to the ruins.

Gabrielle shook her head at Joan’s dialect. She raised her staff and came up behind Velasca. Taking a deep breath, the bard swung her staff hard at the back of the god’s head.

Velasca stopped in mid motion with her head bent forward. She whirled around to hit Gabrielle with her left arm and send Gabrielle sailing on her back.

Gabrielle dropped her head back as she fought the faintness that wanted to take her.

The god’s white eyes turned back to Joan with anger. She gave a hard punch to Joan’s face.

The Celtic warrior went down on her side with her sword still in hand.

Velasca sheathed her sword and turned towards Gabrielle. She raised her right hand to point her finger at Gabrielle.

The bard sat up with her staff in her lap. Her eyes widen at seeing Velasca getting ready to fire a bolt. She had no strength to move.

"Velasca!"

Gabrielle and Velasca whipped their heads towards the forest.

Xena came bursting through the trees on her mare. "Try to get me!" She spurred Argo to go faster.

The god narrowed her eyes and started to shoot bolts at Xena.

The warrior ducked as the bolts exploded behind her mare. "Gabrielle get up!"

The Amazon Queen slowly began to stand up with her staff.

Velasca continued to shoot the lightning at the warrior and mare missing every time as the warrior galloped past.

Xena bent to her left with her right hand taking both the reins.

Gabrielle’s eyes widen as she realized what her partner was about to do. She mentally and physically braced herself.

The Warrior Princess narrowed her eyes and lowered her left arm down while Argo kept at a full gallop. Her right hand grasped the saddle horn and she gritted her teeth. Her head buzzed as the wind whipped by with the air filling with the explosion of the lightning bolts. She had only one chance.

The bard shut her eyes as seeing her partner come right at her.

Xena reached forward and came right up to Gabrielle to grab her by the waist and lift her up. "Gotcha."

"Oh gods!" Gabrielle clung on to her warrior for dear life.

The warrior lifted herself back up with Gabrielle. "Hold on to me."

"Good idea." The bard wanted to laugh but couldn’t. She felt herself placed in the front of the saddle and her hands wrapped around the saddle horn. "We gotta get Joan."

"I know." The warrior wrapped one arm around her bard. "Let’s get Velasca first." She shook her head to get her bangs out of her way. She turned Argo so that she began to do a circle around Velasca.

The god continued to shoot the bolts at the two women on the horse. She slowly rotated as the pair went around her.

Xena glanced up to the remains of a wall to a temple and she noticed the small space between it and Velasca. She headed directly between that space as the bolts continued to explode around them. "Don’t let go of Argo, got me?"

"Yeah." Gabrielle felt herself shivering some. "Don’t you let go of me!"

The warrior grinned. "I’ll try not too." She came right past the wall and heard the bolts strike the ruin wall.

There was a loud crash as the wall broke up into pieces and tumbled over Velasca.

Xena let Argo go a little farther and she pulled the mare to a fast walk. "You okay?"

Gabrielle slumped in the saddle. "I am now."

The older woman chuckled lightly and glanced back to see the rubble of the wall on top of the god. "It won’t hold her long." She turned Argo towards Joan and trotted that way.

"Gods… this just isn’t our month."

Xena sighed in agreement. "Definitely not our month." She came up to the Celtic warrior lying unconscious on the ground. "Stay on Argo." She dismounted and knelt down to the other warrior and took the sword to sheathe it in the Celt’s sheath. She lifted up the redhead warrior and came up to her mare’s rump.

Joan was deposited on the rump of the horse on her stomach.

The warrior turned her head to the large war-horse. "Think you can handle three girl?"

Argo looked back and whined with a nod.

"Good girl, I owe you." Xena mounted her horse behind Gabrielle and wrapped an arm around Gabrielle with her right hand collecting the reins. The warrior did a click and her mare went into a fast walk heading into the woods.

~*~*~*~

The warrior pulled Argo to a stop in the woods. "Come on, let’s make camp." She hopped off and turned towards her partner.

Gabrielle swung her right leg over the saddle, slipped her boot out of the left stirrup, and slid off the saddle next to her warrior.

Xena’s right hand came up to the bard’s shoulder. "You’re sure you are okay?"

The Amazon Queen nodded. "Yeah." Her head turned to Joan. "She’s been guarding me… she’s got a few injuries."

The warrior nodded and released Gabrielle. She came up to Joan and carefully lifted the Celt off the mare’s back.

Argo huffed and let her breath out slowly in relief.

The tall woman grinned and carried Joan over into a clearing. "Get me the med. kit."

Gabrielle nodded and pulled the medical kit out of the saddlebag. She knew her partner was in warrior mode and would take her a few minutes to wind down. She came up by Xena’s side and bent down. "She’s got a wound to the head… a day old and a deep cut down her left arm from today."

Xena nodded and reached up to brush back the red hair from her forehead. "Grab me the wineskin."

The younger woman nodded, went back to Argo, and pulled out an almost empty wineskin. She came back to Xena handing it.

The warrior had a rag out and poured some of the wine onto the rag. She carefully dabbed it along the wound.

"Want me to untack Argo?"

"Yeah, thanks." Xena flashed a smile and turned her head back to Joan.

Gabrielle stood up and walked over to the mare. She began to slowly untack the war-horse. "Thanks girl."

Argo turned her head back and nudged the bard.

"Yes… I’m thanking you."

The warrior grinned to herself listening to her bard’s conversation with the horse. She continued to clean the cut then wrapped it with a few poultices over the wound. After that she went back to the head cut and began to reopen it to clean it right. Xena opened the wound again but quickly put the wine soaked rag over the wound.

A hiss came from Joan and she opened her eyes. "Wahoo, howizitgaun?" She furrowed her eyebrows. "You must be Xena?"

"Yup." The warrior looked into green eyes. "Stop moving your face."

The Celt chuckled and went stiff. "Better?"

"Yeah."

Gabrielle glanced back to see Joan awake. "Welcome back."

The Celt warrior chuckled. "Thanks lass… but I did have a rude awakening."

"Be glad you’re even alive." Xena pulled the cloth away and grabbed another poultice from her bag. "Keep that pressed to your head wound for a few minutes okay?"

"No problem." Joan shifted her right hand up to hold the poultice in place. She began to slowly sit up.

The warrior helped her up and smiled. "How you feel?"

"Like I was hit by a dragon." The Celt groaned. "I must have been since I’ve pumped into nothing but trouble."

Xena patted the other woman’s shoulder. "You’ll live." She grabbed her medical kit and stood up.

"So I’ve been diagnosed as alive." Joan crossed her legs and held the poultice over her head still. "Thank Teufates."

"I don’t think it has anything to do with your god Joan." Gabrielle held the saddlebag in front of her warrior.

The dark warrior came up as well as opened the top to slip her kit inside. "Thanks for untacking Argo."

"No problem." Gabrielle carried the saddlebag over to Joan and placed it there.

Xena came up to her mare. "Let’s get you something to drink huh?" The horse nodded in complete agreement. "Gabrielle, I’m going to get water for Argo and some fish."

The bard turned around. "I’ll get the firewood and watch over Joan."

"Good." The warrior turned her head to the two women with a smirk. "Make sure Joan doesn’t smack into anymore dragons for us… considering they bring trouble."

"Ha, ha." Joan gave a mock glare. She saw Xena leave and she lifted her head up to the bard. "Does she always joke like that?"

"Yup." Gabrielle grinned.

"She’s not very funny." The Celt lowered her head.

"I think she is." The bard’s eyes sparkled. "You just gotta know how to laugh right with her." Her eyes rose up to the direction her warrior went in. She sighed and patted her friend’s shoulder. "I’ll be back, stay away from the dragons."

"Yeah, yeah. I’ll try to find myself some boars."

"What do boars mean?" The small woman walked near the forest’s edge.

The Celt turned her head to Gabrielle. "Strength and courage for warriors."

"Good." The Amazon Queen walked into the forest. "You could use a lot of them right now."

"You’re just a riot lass… just like your friend!" Joan sighed and lifted the poultice from her forehead. She looked at the poultice to see small stains of blood. She groaned yet put it back on her forehead.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle leaned against her staff while her eyes stayed locked on her partner in the water catching fish. "She’s cute huh Argo?"

The horse lifted her head from the water and turned to Gabrielle.

"I’m serious." The bard turned her head to the mare. "She’s cute… in her own way." She chuckled and turned her head away to study the warrior. A sigh escaped while her head leaned against the staff again.

The mare shook her head and went back to drinking her fill of the water.

"Get sidetracked Gabrielle?" The warrior came walking out of the stream with two fish in each hand. She shot a grin up to her bard.

"Just a little." The Amazon Queen smiled warmly. "I was just walking by and saw this incredibly beautiful warrior wading in the water." She shrugged her shoulders. "Got caught up in the scene and moment."

Xena grinned and put her fish near the stream’s edge. She reached behind to undo her hair and it all came flowing down. "So I noticed." She smiled warmly now and stepped up to her partner. "Salmon."

"Sounds good to me." Gabrielle lifted her head up. "Joan didn’t take much of a liking to your joke."

"She doesn’t understand my sense of humor."

"That’s what I told her basically."

The warrior chuckled however went a bit serious. "Glad you’re okay."

Gabrielle nodded and sighed. "Glad you made it here in record time."

"For you?" Xena grinned. "Anytime."

The small woman dropped her eyes. "Thanks." She looked back up. "I was pretty… scared there."

"I know." The warrior sighed sadly. "But we’ll take care of her."

"Yeah." The bard sighed. "She’s my version of Callisto."

Xena groaned. "Don’t remind me."

"Still have that dagger?" Gabrielle gave a smug look.

"I wish." The tall woman shifted her weight to her other foot. "How you feel now?"

"A bit beat." The young woman glanced over to Argo still drinking and her eyes came to Xena again. "You must be too."

"Definitely." Xena shrugged her shoulders. "But… loving every moment."

Gabrielle groaned then rolled her eyes. "Don’t I know."

"Yup." Xena grinned for a moment and took a deep breath. "Come here."

The bard tossed her staff to the ground and stepped into her partner’s arms. "Oh gods."

The tall woman placed a kiss to Gabrielle’s forehead and kept her arms tight around the small woman. She quietly whispered into the bard’s ear, "I love you."

Gabrielle lifted her head up and rested her head against her warrior’s chest. "I love you too." She shut her eyes. "This just really isn’t our month."

"Nope." Xena rested her chin on top of the blond head. "Let’s see… first Hope comes back."

"With Callisto and Ares to boot." Gabrielle sighed and opened her eyes again. "So after they all converge we go after them."

"You end up in a pit."

"Can’t forget that part." The bard took a deep breath. "You end up in Chin with a bunch of fruity Amazons."

The warrior chuckled. "I come back and find you."

"And we find Hope again with her… son." The bard groaned. "No rest for the heroes."

"Never." Xena lifted her head up and smiled warmly.

Gabrielle lifted her head as well plus mirrored the smile back. "But I did get one thing out of all this."

The warrior arched an eyebrow in the sun’s setting rays. "And that is?"

"You." The bard smiled warmly. "I’d do it again if it means I get you."

"I agree." Xena’s right hand came up to brush back Gabrielle’s blond bangs. She smiled with such appreciation for this other woman. And slowly she leaned down towards her bard.

Gabrielle closed her eyes as warm lips touched hers and her body began to warm extremely.

The warrior entered her bard’s mouth with her tongue.

The Amazon Queen slipped her own tongue into the warrior’s mouth as the kiss deepened.

Xena slowly pulled back from the long kiss and nuzzled her cheek against Gabrielle’s. "I’m sorry I wasn’t here."

"No." Gabrielle kept her eyes closed and her cheek resting against Xena’s. "You’re here now, that’s what matters."

The warrior lifted her head with a warm smile. "Yeah." She placed another warm kiss to her partner’s forehead. "I better get back to camp before Joan finds more dragons."

The bard snickered low. "And I’d better get the firewood." She sighed contently. "That was a nice sidetrack."

Xena chuckled and released her partner to walked back down and get the salmon. "Joan will like the salmon."

"How you figure?" Gabrielle straightened up from picking her staff up.

The older woman held the salmon and lifted them while staring at them. "They bring knowledge to the Celts."

"Really?" Gabrielle arched an eyebrow. "That’s interesting… Celts sound interesting."

"They are." Xena lowered the fish and turned her head to her partner. "If you like boar crap."

"Why is that?" The bard leaned against her staff.

"Because some Celts will rub boar… waste on themselves to bring courage."

The Amazon Queen’s head bobbed up and down. "Right… I think I’ll go get some firewood now."

Xena laughed followed by turning her head to her mare. "Come on girl."

The horse came trotting up beside her owner.

The Warrior Princess walked up into the forest and glanced to her bard. "Be careful."

"I will." The small woman smiled. "See you in the camp and keep Joan away from any boar. I don’t wanna be smelling that all night."

Xena chuckled to herself. "Don’t worry." She walked towards the camp with the fish and Argo beside her.

~*~*~*~

"Well that wasn’t to bad." Gabrielle came to sit down next to her partner and placed her staff close to her body.

"Not at all, thanks for the great dinner."

The bard arched an eyebrow. "Since when were you complimenting me on dinners?"

Xena grinned and scouted to the left and leaned back against the log in front of the fire. "Since now."

"Thanks." The bard smiled and leaned back against her partner’s right shoulder. She stretched her legs out with her arms, dropped her arms, and leaned against Xena’s shoulder again.

The warrior looked up at seeing the Celt come into the camp. "Settling down?"

"Yeah." The Celtic warrior came near the woman. "You two doing the watch?"

"I just am." Xena gave a serious look.

Gabrielle peered up at her partner and back to Joan. "Sleep well Joan."

"Yeah, you too lass." Joan stretched out in a bedroll. "Nice night at least."

The bard chuckled. "After today, we should have a good night."

"Really." The Celt sighed. "This Velasca sure does hatter you ay?"

"Hatter isn’t even the word for it Joan."

The Celt dropped her head back to gaze at the two women. "True. She’s just a plain obsessed chap."

Gabrielle quietly laughed. "Go to sleep Joan."

"Yeah, guidnight Xena and Gabrielle."

"Night Joan."

The warrior smiled. "Sleep well."

"Mmm…" Joan muffled through her yawn, "Thanks Xena."

"No problem, get some sleep Joan."

"Yeah." The Celtic warrior dropped her head as she curled up to go to sleep near the fire.

Gabrielle sighed and turned her head towards the fire again. She felt her warrior’s right arm snake around her shoulders next came down to her side. Gabrielle reached with her right hand to grasp the larger hand while lacing their fingers together.

Xena smiled and turned her head to place a kiss to her partner’s temple. She then turned her attention towards the fire again.

The bard’s left hand came over to rest on Xena’s right thigh. "I’m exhausted."

"Get some sleep, I’ll be here."

"I know." Gabrielle sighed faintly. "But not yet."

The warrior chuckled at her stubborn partner.

"Who came and got you?"

"Solari."

The bard nodded a few times.

"By the way… what did you tell Ephiny about us?"

"Why?" Gabrielle looked up with furrowed eyebrows.

Xena lowered her eyes. "The entire ride over here I had Solari ask me, she’s not going out with anybody?"

The bard’s expression dropped. "Oh no."

"Oh yes." The older woman arched an eyebrow. "She told me she heard from Ep whom heard from Ephiny. And I know Ephiny saw us kiss."

The small woman groaned and dropped her head against Xena’s neck. "Great." She sighed sadly. "I did tell Eph a few things."

"Like what?"

Gabrielle lifted her head with a shy smile. "Just a few things."

"Gabrielle."

"Well…" The bard chuckled out of tension. "I sort of told her about how we… got together."

"Oh?" The tall woman turned her head to her bard. "The entire story?"

"Pretty much."

Xena sighed very slowly. "Wonderful."

"But it’s obvious Eph didn’t say anything." Gabrielle tried to find an opening. "I mean, if Solari is asking you whom I am… going out with then Eph must have not told whom."

"True." The tall woman gave a nod. "Solari said she found out during the party."

"The party." The bard’s eyebrows creased together as she thought. "Oh!" She chuckled lightly. "Now I remember, Ep was hitting on me and Ephiny came up saying I was taken." She shrugged her shoulders. "Eponin must have said something to Solari later on."

Xena nodded. "Eponin was hitting on you?"

The Amazon Queen chuckled lightly. "That’s because she was drunk." She laughed and added, "I thought I was going to be drunk off smelling the port on her breath."

The warrior chuckled deeply.

"Oh that reminds me… gods." Gabrielle glanced up to her partner. "You’re not going to like this… but Solari and Ep have this bet going on."

"Oh no… how do I fit into it?"

The bard sighed. "I tried to stop Ep, but she made a bet saying she could jump you."

"In what way?"

"Just jump you."

Xena nodded. "Jump me sexually or just to knock me over?"

"Either."

The older woman took a deep breath and let it out. "That’s it, when this is over we’ll walk past the gates to the village and wave goodbye. We’re not going inside."

Gabrielle chuckled and shook her head. "Xena, we can’t do that."

"Yes we can and we will." The warrior sighed. "I’m not walking into that village to have Eponin jumping on me from my right, Solari on my left asking me, "Who’s she going out with?" and Ephiny standing there gloating with laughter."

"Hey don’t worry." The bard patted her warrior’s leg. "I am the Queen."

Xena huffed at that.

Gabrielle shook her head and said with a light voice. "Then again…"

"It wouldn’t matter," the two women said in unison.

The bard laughed with her best friend and leaned against Xena.

The warrior sighed while shooking her head. "It really wouldn’t."

"I know, that’s the scary part." Gabrielle sat up again with a sigh. "We’ll… fix them."

Xena evilly grinned. "Oooh, you mean this?"

Gabrielle grinned at her partner. "Definitely, we’ll get them for this."

The warrior chuckled evilly. "My imagination is already toying with the idea."

"I know." The bard grinned up to her warrior and sighed slightly. She dropped her head against Xena’s shoulder again.

"Mmm, do your Amazons have to much time?"

"Why?" Gabrielle lifted her head.

"I was just noticing Solari’s… words she used."

"What you mean?" The bard arched an eyebrow.

"Well for example…" Xena turned her head to Gabrielle. "Solari kept saying, hooked up."

Gabrielle nodded. "I guess that she meant in reference to me huh?"

"Yup." The warrior shook her head and lightened her voice to mimic Solari. "Who’s she hooked up with Xena? Come on Xena, did Gabrielle hook up with somebody?" She huffed and rolled her eyes.

"That bad huh?"

"Yeah, that torturing."

The Amazon Queen quietly laughed. "Hooked up… I’ve never heard that. Heard of going out with."

"Me too but not… hooked up." Xena shook her head. "Your Amazons have to much time on their hands."

"They must." Gabrielle chuckled. "I’ll have to inflict some more patrol time."

"Good." The warrior snickered low.

Gabrielle filled her lungs with the night air. "You know what I can’t understand is why they all want to know about my sex life."

"What about sex life?" Joan lifted her head up. "I don’t have one."

Both Xena and Gabrielle leaned forward laughing together.

The Celtic warrior shrugged her shoulders and dropped her head back down. "I know it’s funny, but gee."

"It’s not that." Gabrielle lifted her head back up with a calming breath. "That was just great timing."

The warrior glanced over to the Celtic one. "Sorry Joan."

The Celtic nodded. "I told you both, I see to many dragons." She sighed. "I’ll go back to sleep, I just couldn’t help but hear somebody say, sex life."

Gabrielle grinned. "Sorry Joan."

"S’alright, guidnight again." The Celt shut her eyes.

Xena shook her head. "For three women getting hunted by a god. We’re getting a lot of laughs in."

The bard sighed and leaned her head back. "Thank the gods too. Last time we did this Velasca chaos it was to morbid."

"Mmm, it was." The warrior sighed. "Joan is a lot better then Callisto."

"Really." Gabrielle smiled and slowly her smile went to an evil grin. "I just came up with an idea to our Solari problem."

"What’s that?"

"What if in front of Solari I kissed Ephiny?" The Amazon Queen lifted her head to her partner. "I’m sure Eph would go along with it and I know it would just get Solari’s goat."

"It would." The warrior grinned but dropped it rapidly. "One problem?"

The bard peered up in puzzlement. "What’s that?"

"I’m sure Eph will go with it… but I might not."

"Come on Xena." The bard squeezed her warrior’s right hand. "It’ll be fun… it’ll just be a small kiss. Eph will be fine with it."

"I have no doubt in my mind she won’t be."

"What you saying?"

"I’m saying, that entire village want’s to know about your sex life because they wouldn’t mind being apart of it."

Gabrielle suddenly went bright red while looking away. "That’s true."

The warrior reached up with her left hand to turned Gabrielle’s head back towards her.

"You’re cute when you blush."

That just added to Gabrielle’s redness as she went a shade deeper. She dropped her eyes.

Xena smiled and shifted her hand to glide over to Gabrielle’s cheek. She leaned towards her partner and carefully kissed her.The bard slowly opened her eyes when her warrior pulled back. She smiled warmly and leaned in to nuzzle Xena’s neck. "I like this."

"Mmm." The Warrior Princess kept her hand against the side of Gabrielle’s head. She placed a gentle kiss on Gabrielle’s head. "Me too."

"Ssso… can I do the trick with Eph?"

The older woman sighed and put her hand under Gabrielle’s chin again to lift her head up. She gazed intently into warm green eyes. "Just one?"

The bard chuckled. "Yes, just to floor Solari."

"Okay." The warrior grinned. "Just don’t let Eph take it to far."

"You think she really would?"

"She’s an Amazon and your incredibly sexy." The warrior nodded. "So yes." She lowered her hand to her lap again.

Gabrielle sighed. "Alright. You’ll be there right?"

"Definitely." Xena grinned. "Make it all the better. I’ll be off to the side warding Ep off me."

The bard closed her eyes and started to quietly laugh. "Oh gods." She opened her eyes again and took a deep breath. "I’ll just give Ep two weeks of patrol duty to teach her a lesson to mess with… my girlfriend."

The Warrior Princess laughed and shook her head while looking away. "Great, now I’m your girlfriend."

"That’s one for the Amazons."

"It is." Xena’s lips shifted into a grin. "Don’t tell them."

"No worries." Gabrielle chuckled lightly and leaned her head against the warrior’s shoulder to shut her eyes.

"Get some sleep huh?" Xena reached up with her left hand to caress Gabrielle’s cheek.

"Mmm." Gabrielle opened her eyes then peeked up. "Why don’t you?"

"’Cause you’re tired and I’ll be fine."

The bard raised an eyebrow. "But you rode for an entire day."

"And you walked."

Gabrielle lifted her head. "I’ll be fine."

"There’s no options here Gabrielle." The warrior grinned.

The bard narrowed her eyes with a grin. "No there are no options… you sleep and I keep watch."

"Did you sleep last night?"

"Nnno."

The warrior narrowed her eyes. "Then you’re definitely not keeping watch."

Gabrielle dropped her head back. "Fine… we’ll both keep watch."

Xena sighed. "Stubborn."

"Takes one to know one."

"And birds of a feather flock together."

Gabrielle chuckled at her partner’s words. "That too." Now she went serious. "Go to sleep Xena."

The warrior narrowed her eyes. "No, you need your rest."

"I’ll be fine." The bard dropped her head back. "We’ll both stay up."

The older woman sighed.

Gabrielle then grinned inside of herself. I wonder… She began to move her left hand along Xena’s thigh in a calm relax movement.

Xena moan lightly. "That’s relaxing."

The bard grinned but quickly rid it before Xena saw it. "Xena?" She continued with the movement of her hand.

"Mmm?"

"How was Cyrene?"

The warrior lifted her left hand to run through her hair. "She was well." Her hand came back down to her lap to rest there. Her eyes half-closed.

"What did you do there?"

Xena took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. "Worked on the stable’s roof and I… fixed up my leathers."

"That’s good." Gabrielle lowered her head against her warrior’s shoulder. "Cyrene seen much of Toris?" She kept moving her fingertips over Xena’s thigh seeing the effect it had on her best friend.

The tall woman shook her head in a no and to keep herself awake. "No, she hadn’t seen him in awhile."

"That’s weird."

"Yeah." Xena closed her eyes. "Oh gods."

Gabrielle grinned and soothingly whispered, "Xena, I love you."

"I love you too Gabrielle," whispered the warrior in retort.

The bard felt Xena’s grip on her right hand begun to loosen. "Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"Want me to tell you a short story?"

"Sure." The warrior dropped her head back with her closed eyes.

Gabrielle took a deep breath and continued in her soothing tone with her hand still running along Xena’s warm skin. "I told this to Iolus a long time ago. But, once man had two heads and four legs. Then the Zeus threw down lightening bolts and split everybody in two." The bard glanced up to see Xena’s chest rising slower yet she continued the story. "Now everybody had one head, two arms and legs. Yet the separation left the halves yearning for the other half of their souls." Gabrielle studied her partner’s relaxed face that looked so innocent. "So ever since then, man has spent all his life searching for the other half of his soul." The bard smiled up at Xena being asleep now and she leaned in to place a light kiss on the warrior’s cheek.

Xena moan and whispered out, "Gabrielle?"

"Ssh, I’m right here." The Amazon Queen lifted her left hand to Xena’s opposite cheek and she laid the warrior’s head against her shoulder.

The older woman’s left hand came up to grasp Gabrielle’s hand on her cheek.

Gabrielle smiled as she felt the warm hand take hers and lower to the warrior’s lap. "Sleep well Xena," she ushered and held onto the larger hand.

~*Part 7*~

The morning sun crept between the trees and slowly collected on the warrior’s face.

Xena groaned lightly and reached up with her left hand to run it through her hair. Slowly her hand came back down to her lap to grasp Gabrielle’s hand again. Then she realized and her eyes exploded open. "I didn’t…" She turned her head to her partner still leaning against her shoulder.

"Morning." Gabrielle sheepishly smiled.

"Gabrielle," growled the warrior. "You let me fall asleep?"

"Well…" The Amazon Queen squeezed her warrior’s left hand. "I just made you go to sleep."

The Warrior Princess sighed as she turned her head away to let the anger calm down. "You’re going to be tired today."

"It was either you or me." The bard sighed. "I’d rather it be me. You’re the warrior."

"I know." Xena turned her head back. "But I need you with me." She released the small hand to bring up her left hand to caress Gabrielle’s cheek. She saw exactly how tired Gabrielle was by the way her eyes were half-open, dark, and unfocused.

"I’ll be fine."

The warrior sighed knowing the reality of that statement. "Come on, Velasca has probably gotten out of that rubble and is hot on our trail."

"Yeah." Gabrielle slowly got up first.

Xena looked to her right to grab her partner’s staff and she bounced to her feet.

The Amazon Queen ran her right hand through her hair. "Thanks." She took her staff back. "What’s the plan anyway?" She leaned against her staff.

The warrior checked her sword on her back while speaking. "We’re headed to the ambrosia cave."

Gabrielle furrowed her eyebrows. "To do what?"

"To hopefully trap her inside."

"Wait Xena." The bard shook her head. "You tried that with Callisto and it didn’t work."

"That’s because I didn’t trap Callisto in the heart of the cave."

The young woman reached out to grasp the warrior’s arm. "Xena… that means somebody is going to have to be all the way in that cave to lure Velasca in."

"I know." The Warrior Princess sighed. "Come on, we’ll worry about that later."

The bard sighed herself and let go. "I’ll get Joan."

"Good, I’ll take care of Argo."

Gabrielle nodded and Xena went her own way while Gabrielle did. Within a quarter of a candlemark the group was ready to travel with only a dead fire left behind.

Xena stepped up to her partner. "Gabrielle, I want you to ride."

Joan glanced over to the two women and looked away. "I see dragons now," she whispered.

"Don’t send them my way Joan." The warrior grinned and lowered her eyes back to Gabrielle. "You need to ride."

"No, I’ll be fine Xena."

Xena’s right hand came down to her bard’s chin to lift her head up. "Listen to reason Gabrielle, your body is tired and I’ll need you."

"I said I’ll be fine."

"No you won’t, you’re sluggish." The warrior sighed and lowered her head close to Gabrielle’s. "Please Gabrielle, get on Argo for me?"

The bard studied soft blue eyes. "As long as you help me up."

"Deal." Xena grinned then took Gabrielle’s staff to lash it onto the side of the saddlebags.

The bard mumbled out, "I’m getting soft." She shifted over to the mare’s side and soon was up in the saddle thanks to her friend’s help.

"Okay?"

The Amazon Queen looked down to her partner and gave a nod.

The warrior nodded back as she took Argo’s reins to lead the group.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle’s body shifted to the left and her hands quickly tightened around the saddle horn and she straightened up. With a shake of her head, she tried to focus on staying on the horse. Within a few seconds Gabrielle started leaning to her left again and suddenly a shot went through her body warning her she’d fall off soon. Quickly the bard sat back up and held the saddle horn tightly again. "Xena?"

The warrior stopped walking and glanced back to see what was happening. "Hades." She turned to Joan. "Can you lead Argo for me?"

"Sure thing." The Celtic warrior took the reins.

Xena briskly walked back to the war-horse and mounted the horse behind Gabrielle. "I’m here Gabrielle." She wrapped her arms around the small woman’s midriff.

"Xena?" Gabrielle dropped her head back into her warrior’s shoulder and leaned back into warm leathers.

"I’m here," whispered the warrior lowering her head close to Gabrielle’s ear. "Go to sleep."

"Stupid idea huh?" The bard peered up with sleepy eyes.

Xena grinned a little. "Wasn’t good one." She sighed. "Go to sleep please. I’ll need your help later."

"You’ll be here?" asked the bard.

"Definitely."

Gabrielle smiled and shut her eyes slowly.

The Warrior Princess felt her best friend’s breathing lighten and her grip on the saddle horn loosened. She lifted her eyes to Joan and nodded.

The Celt warrior started walking again with Argo in tow. "You navigate?"

"Yeah." Xena gazed around. "You’re fine now."

"Guid." Joan took a deep breath. "She always that stubborn?"

The tall warrior grinned. "You don’t know the half of it."

The redhead warrior chuckled. "I don’t think I want too."

"Mmm, I enjoy it." Xena smiled to herself and moved her right arm up a little to support Gabrielle better.

Joan glanced back to peek at the bard. "She doesn’t seem like the patient one with certain things."

"Us both." The Warrior Princess grinned.

"Really?" The Celt looked ahead again. "Geesa break?"

The dark warrior chuckled. "Translate."

"Sorry, I forget about me dialect." Joan grinned as well as asked again, "You both run out of patiences in an argument?"

"Yup."

"For Teufates’s sake, how do you two manage to work together?"

"I’m not sure." The warrior sighed and added, "We always work things out."

"That’s guid." Joan nodded.

"Yeah." Xena’s eyes lowered to her bard in her arms. She smiled to herself as she continued to sway slightly in the saddle.

~*~*~*~

"She’s coming." Eponin landed on the tree branch next to her regent.

"Wonderful." Ephiny sighed and straightened up. "Archers ready?" Her head turned to the left.

"Yup." Solari nodded.

"Good." The regent grinned. "Alright girls, get down there and start bickering."

The weapons master grinned. "No problem." Her eyes shifted to the second in command. "I think Solari and I can do a little bickering." She winked at Solari and hopped out of the tree to land on the ground.

Solari chuckled.

Ephiny turned to her second in command. "Be careful."

"I will." Solari leaned towards her regent and lightly kissed her. "Be back." She hopped off the tree.

"Better be." Ephiny called back.

The weapons master turned to Solari. "I’m sick of your centaur crap Solari!"

"Me?" The second in command lifted her right hand to point at herself. "Me?" She sarcastically laughed while dropping her hand. "Screw you Ep, I don’t know how in Hades I got stuck on patrol duty with you!"

"I’d bet you’d like for me to screw you!" Eponin stomped off and whirled around. "Especially considering you’ve screwed every Amazon in the village. And you’re always up between Ephiny’s legs!"

Ephiny cringed and whispered to herself, "Be careful there Ep with Solari."

Solari narrowed her eyes. "To Hades with you Eponin! I don’t go around that village. You get between every Amazon’s legs that you can find!"

Eponin’s eyes went to slits. "I can’t stand anymore of your centaur shit." She reached behind to unsheathe her sword.

"Oh what you gonna do Ep?" Solari lifted her hands and stepped back. "Run yourself through?"

The weapons master opened her mouth to respond but was cut off.

"No girls, we’re all Amazons here."

Both Amazons turned their heads quickly to the newcomer.

"Velasca," Solari sneered. She reached behind to unsheathe her sword. "Didn’t think you were really back."

Ephiny looked to her right to Teresa and nodded.

Teresa nodded back and glanced over to the ten archers and waved.

The archers reached behind to pull out arrows and string them. The aimed them directly at Velasca.

Teresa looked to the ground and waved at two Amazons hidden behind two trees.

The two Amazons on the ground nodded and unsheathed their daggers quietly. Each standing behind a tree that was across from Velasca on either side.

Teresa turned her head to the regent and nodded.

Ephiny grinned, lowered her sights to the two trees to see them cut at the trunks, and her eyes shifted to her second in command and Eponin.

Eponin stepped back.

"Well I can tell you missed me Solari."

The second in command stepped back as well. "I definitely did Velasca."

The god took a step closer.

Eponin glanced to the right and left of Velasca to see her lined up with the two trees on either side. "Velasca, sorry but Solari and I are pressed for time."

"I can see and your time has ran out." Velasca lifted her right finger.

"Now!" Ephiny screamed.

The ten archers let their arrows soar. The arrows quickly sped through the air and sunk into Velasca from all sides.

The god dropped her hand and shut her eyes. "Fools!" Her glowing eyes opened again.

"Time to bolt." Solari jumped into the trees. "No pun intended."

Eponin laughed and ran to flip up into the trees. "That was a blast."

"Now!" The regent yelled again.

There was a loud whack and followed by loud creaking. Those two trees came tumbling down on top of Velasca.

The god was crushed under them in the ground and a groan escaped her lips.

"Awesome." Solari chuckled. "Got her."

"But not for long enough." Eponin sighed.

The second in command shrugged. "Better then nothing." She turned her head to the weapons master. "Nice crap you pulled out of your ass there."

"Thanks." Eponin quietly laughed. "You didn’t do a bad job yourself."

"I know." Solari snickered.

~*~*~*~

"Joan, turn to her left some and head straight that way."

The Celtic warrior compiled and walked to her left some and went straight that way. She glanced back. "Wow, she’s still asleep."

"Yup." Xena glanced down at her partner. "She’d sleep till tomorrow afternoon if I let her."

Joan looked ahead and chuckled. "I can imagine."

The warrior took a deep breath. "If we were to walk through a battle-zone right now she wouldn’t stir."

"Guid god." The Celt looked back. "The hael way through a battle-zone?"

"Yup, whole way." Xena grinned and held back her laughter since it may wake Gabrielle… or it may not.

"That’s amazing."

The tall woman grinned then lifted her blue eyes to the forest around. "We should be near the cave."

"Guid." The Celt sighed. "I’m beat after all the walking."

Xena chuckled. "Thanks for steering Argo for me."

"No problem." Joan flashed a smile back. "I know the lass was tired."

"Yeah, she got me to fall asleep last night."

"Really?" The redhead warrior chuckled. "She must eat a lot of fish."

"Why you say that?"

"Because fish just don’t bring knowledge but secrets too." The Celt grinned back to Xena. "I’d say she knows some guid secrets."

"I think you’re right." The warrior grinned.

Gabrielle’s hand came up to grasp the warrior’s arm lightly. "Xena?"

Xena looked down at hearing her partner mumbled her name in just a whisper. She noticed Gabrielle was still asleep and probably dreaming. "I’m here Gabrielle." She lowered her head close to Gabrielle’s.

"I can’t do it," mumbled the bard.

The Warrior Princess furrowed her eyebrows but replied in a usher, "Why not?"

The bard spoke with a fear. "Because… because I’m not good enough for you."

Xena closed her eyes and whispered back, "You know what?"

"Mmm?" Gabrielle’s voice was still holding fear.

"You’re to good for me Gabrielle." Xena open her eyes slowly. "You’re perfect and you’re safe."

Slowly a smile eased onto the bard’s lips. "I love you Xena." Her voice was barely audible.

The smile mirrored onto Xena’s face. "I love you too."

Gabrielle’s hand slipped from the warrior’s arm as well as her head rested back into Xena’s shoulder.

Xena sighed sadly and lifted her head up.

"She always talk in her sleep?" Joan looked back.

"No." Only when something really bothers her, mentally added the warrior. She began to gaze around. "About another candlemark and we should be there."

"Guid." The Celtic warrior looked forward again.

The small group went on and Gabrielle never stirred again in Xena’s arms. The warrior kept her senses alive while holding her best friend tightly. Joan’s own senses were perked up to keep on warning. She liked these two women to much to let anything happen.

"Okay." Xena glanced around recognizing the area. "We’re good."

Joan nodded and stopped walking. "Thank Teufates." She ambled up to Argo’s side. "Where’s the cave?"

The warrior nodded her head in the direction. "That way past a few trees or so."

The Celt looked that way and back to Xena. "Mind if I go check it out?"

"No." Xena shook her head. "We’ll be here."

"Great, be back." Joan left the reins on Argo and walked through the clearing and into the other side of the woods.

The Warrior Princess watched her go for a second and she glanced to see the sun in the late afternoon horizon. She sighed and dropped her head to her partner. "Gabrielle, come on wake up."

"Mmm." Gabrielle mumbled something else and turned her head the other way to rest her cheek on Xena’s chest.

"Come on, I need your help." Xena brushed her lips over Gabrielle’s soft ear.

"Not yet." Gabrielle’s breathing picked up faintly. "That was good dream."

"Sorry." The warrior rubbed her thumb over her bard’s stomach lightly. "What was the dream about?"

The Amazon Queen opened her eyes slowly and looked up sleepily to Xena. "What was what about?"

Xena grinned. "Your dream?"

"Oh." Gabrielle suddenly started to blush. "It was… just a dream."

"Mmm." Xena’s eyes twinkled. "Erotic dream?"

"Sort of." The small woman chuckled lightly and stayed red.

"With who?"

Gabrielle only went a shade redder. "You."

The tall woman’s voice came out low now. "Let’s hope it comes true."

"Oh… I’m sure it’ll be better then the dream."

"I know it will be." Xena grinned plus lifted her head up a little.

"That was a really nice dream." Gabrielle chuckled as she realized her breathing went from slow to heavy in a span of a few seconds.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

The younger woman glanced up. "Well… have you ever had any erotic dreams about me?"

Xena shrugged. "I forget."

"Xena!" The bard narrowed her eyes with a grin. "That’s not fair."

"Mmm… maybe a few." The warrior dismounted her horse.

"Really?" Gabrielle chuckled. "That’s more then me." She grinned down to Xena. "Thanks."

The older woman broke out laughing and leaned against Argo with her legs out in front of her.

"I’m serious though." The bard hopped off the horse. "That was a good dream." She shifted to straddle her best friend by her upper legs. "It seemed so real."

"How’s that?" Xena rested her arms on her stomach while leaning against her mare.

"Well, your hands were on my shoulders, legs, arms… everywhere."

"I can imagine." The dark woman grinned.

"That’s not my point." Gabrielle chuckled. "It’s just it felt like you were really touching me and your touch was like fire."

Xena lifted her hands to Gabrielle’s sides. "What’s that feel like?"

"Fire." The bard’s lips shifted into a smile.

The tall woman’s right hand moved to press against Gabrielle’s stomach. "And this?"

"Like fire too but…" The bard closed her eyes at feeling her heart pound.

"Like you’re going to have a heart attack?" Xena suggested.

"Yeah." Gabrielle chuckled and sensed her friend’s hand going to her side again. Then she sensed Xena standing up. She felt warm lips claim hers in a light kiss but the bard made it go stronger.

The warrior slowly pulled back and opened her eyes. "And that?"

The Amazon Queen’s eyes drifted open with a smile playing on her lips. "Life."

"I like that." Xena smiled too. "Was never able to put a description to that feeling."

A grin took over Gabrielle’s mouth. "It’s the bard thing."

The warrior laughed lightly and leaned in to take Gabrielle’s lips again.

The bard moaned into the kiss and lifted her right hand to the back of Xena’s head to deepen the kiss. Her left arm went around the warrior’s waist. She slipped her tongue into the warrior’s mouth and Xena’s come into hers. Slowly she pulled back with a grin. "I love kissing."

"I’ve noticed." Xena grinned. "Wait till later."

"Only gets better huh?" An evil smile was in Gabrielle’s expression.

"Oh yeah."

"Good." The small woman pulled Xena’s head back down as she strongly took Xena’s lips into a third kiss.

Xena moaned into the kiss then when that third kiss ended she only began a fourth long one.

A twig snapped loudly.

Gabrielle jumped back from Xena’s embrace and chuckled. She turned her head to the left and saw Joan reappear. "How was the cave?" Her heart pounded like she was a kid caught in a candy jar.

The warrior grinned and turned to the saddle to unlash her friend’s staff.

"Was rather glum lass." Joan ducked under a branch and rose back up to come up to the two women. "Why you so red lass?" She put her hands on her hips with an arched eyebrow.

"Because I’m really hot." Gabrielle raised her hand behind the back of her neck. "It’s hot out."

"Not really lass." Joan shook her head. "Feels guid out."

Xena turned around with the staff. "Well it was hot on Argo, big horse." She spun the staff and handed it to Gabrielle.

The Celt glanced over to the mare. "True." She nodded in accepting that explanation.

The warrior turned to the mare’s rump again to remove the saddle. "Can you do me a favor Joan."

"Sure Xena, which you need?"

"Can you untack my horse for me?" Xena turned around and dropped the saddle into the Celtic warrior’s arms. "I trust you."

"Yeah." Joan nodded and shifted the saddlebag in her arms. "I’ll set camp up too."

"Thanks Joan." Gabrielle smiled while leaning against her staff.

"Now lass… you gotta make sure to bring back dinner."

The Warrior Princess grinned. "No problem."

Gabrielle walked over to the clearing’s edge and into the woods but waited.

Xena came over and glanced back to Joan. "Stay away from the dragons too."

"Right." The Celtic warrior chuckled. "I’ll try to smack into some horses."

"What horses symbolize Joan?" Gabrielle glimpsed back to her friend.

Joan evilly grinned. "Fertility."

Gabrielle’s eyes widen and she fell into a load of laughter and she stumbled forward into the woods.

Xena bit her lower lip.

"Gee, I know that can be funny but never like that." Joan shook her head.

"Long story Joan." The warrior smiled. "Thanks, see you later."

"Bye and watch out for them dragons." The Celt listened to the echo of Xena and Gabrielle’s laughter through the woods. "I definitely am missing something guid here."

"Oh gods that was so funny Xena." The bard felt herself begin to calm with her deep breaths. "That was ironic."

"It was." Xena kept walking through the woods and she stepped closer to her friend.

"Ssso… is that why you ride Argo so much?"

The warrior went red at that question. "Gabrielle," she growled.

"You’re cute when you blush." The bard grinned and stepped closer to her partner to wrap an arm around her warrior’s waist.

Xena sighed then her draped her left arm over Gabrielle’s shoulders.

"Maybe I’ll have to ride Argo more often."

The warrior snickered. "Only with me there."

"Deal." Gabrielle grinned but lost it as she saw the mouth of the cave.

The older woman’s back stiffen as she went stoic. "Let me go first." She released her best friend and walked ahead.

"Yeah." The Amazon Queen stepped behind her partner and entered into the cave behind. "I hate caves," she whispered.

"Watch the steps."

"I remember." Gabrielle reached forward to rest her right hand on her friend’s shoulder. "I’ve always hated caves since…"

"I know." The warrior came to the ground floor and felt her partner beside her. "I made it back though huh?"

"Yeah." Gabrielle smiled to herself and she shook her head. "Why are we standing in the dark?" She lifted her hand in front of her face. "I can’t even see my hand in front of my face."

A small chuckle came from Xena but she was serious again. "I’m trying to remember where that torch and flint stones are."

"I remember." The small woman grasped her partner’s arm. "It was somewhere near here." She walked over to the left and felt the wall. She released Xena’s arm after bending down to one knee with her staff. Her hands began to feel around and they scrape over two rough rocks. "Bingo."

"Let me find the torch." Xena leaned forward over her friend. She felt around at the top of the wall.

Gabrielle slowly began to rise up but her head lightly bumped into armor. "Hi."

The tall woman chuckled and felt the torch. "Found it, how about those stones?" Xena lowered her right hand to her partner’s shoulder.

The young woman lifted the stones to Xena’s hands and handed them over.

"Thanks." Xena lifted the two stones over the torched and smashed them together. Sparkles flew and landed on the torch to light it. "There." She lowered her head to see Gabrielle still tucked under her and that made the warrior chuckle.

Gabrielle sheepishly smiled up at her partner.

"Armor get in the way?"

"Not exactly the armor." The bard evilly grinned.

Xena put her right hand over her breasts. "Knew they were to big."

Gabrielle started to laugh and she shook her head to stand up between the wall, Xena’s arms, and her partner. "Nah, perfect."

"Good." The warrior leaned in to lightly kiss Gabrielle. "Come on before Joan and her dragons show up."

The younger woman snickered and started walking beside Xena to the end of the corridor. "Wahoo, forgot about that." She stepped back at the edge and glanced down at the spikes at the bottom.

"Stay back." Xena held her arm up to keep the smaller female back.

"Yeah." Gabrielle lifted her eyes to the ropes over head. "Skewered bard isn’t on my list to do."

"Nor mine." The dark woman lowered her arm in addition to lifting her narrowed eyes to the ropes.

"What you think?" The bard turned her head to Xena.

The Warrior Princess brought in a deep breath. "We can use these ropes."

"She’ll break those in a second."

"I know… but it’ll give us a few extra seconds we may have not had." The tall woman turned around to gaze back at the entrance.

"Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"What if…" Gabrielle took a deep breath. "If we some how got Velasca skewered on these spears and get the ceiling to cave in on her?" She turned her head to her partner. "Would that work?"

"Yeah." Xena nodded. "Then I think I can get the entrance to cave in as well."

"But."

"But we need to figure out how to get the ceiling to cave in." Xena sighed and turned back around to peer up to the ceiling. "Stay here." She jumped to grasp a rope and she climbed up.

The Amazon Queen watched for a moment and then lowered her eyes. She stared at the torches lining the circular room. "I love how these torches self light," she mumbled to herself. She furrowed her eyebrows. "Light… fire." She looked up. "Xena?"

"Yeah." The warrior gazed down.

"Is there any ambrosia left up in that hole?"

"Why?" Xena swung faintly on the rope. "I’m not in the mood to live forever."

Gabrielle chuckled but went serious. "Remember when we got that Sumerian treasure and we found that ambrosia then?"

"Yeah sure."

"Remember how it exploded in that lava pit when you threw it in?" Gabrielle shook her head. "What if we took some ambrosia and tossed it on some fire to explode the cave. It might work."

The warrior didn’t say anything while she swayed on the rope. "Hold on." She kept climbing up the rope and jumped over to the center rope.

The bard glanced down to the bottom to the spears. "That would be perfect." She grinned to herself.

The Warrior Princess went up a few more on the rope and came right under the open hole. She wrapped her right leg around the rope then with her right hand she reached up into the hole. She felt an edge yet she moved her hand around to touch a jiggly cool object. "We’re in luck."

"Sweet." Gabrielle grinned. "Is there enough."

"Oh yeah." Xena grinned. "We’re going to have to run when this place goes up."

The bard laughed and gazed down to the spears. "You think we should some how light the bottom? So then we only have to toss the ambrosia into the fire and run."

The warrior nodded. "Yeah." She came down the rope a little. "Hey, I’m going to cut a few ropes first and then get the ambrosia."

"Sounds good." Gabrielle walked over to the wall and propped her staff there. She came back the edge and looked up.

Xena was over to her side cutting a rope with her breast dagger. She cut it loose and swung it near Gabrielle.

The smaller woman snatched it to begin to coil the rope up.

The warrior and bard did the same thing over again with two more ropes.

Gabrielle was coiling up the last rope. "Xena, how are we going to light the bottom?"

Xena came under the ambrosia hole again while reaching in. "Wine."

"We have enough."

The older woman pulled out an armload of ambrosia and she tucked it into her left arm. "Definitely, I have three skins."

The Amazon Queen quickly looked up. "You’re kidding me?"

Xena grinned and came down the rope slowly. "Nope."

"Xena… since when did we start traveling with four wineskins?"

"Since I stopped at mother’s." The dark warrior took a deep breath, tightened her hold on the ambrosia, and began to swing. "Gabrielle, move over."

The small woman stepped over to the wall near her staff with the three coiled ropes. "Xena you could…"

The warrior’s war cry echoed through the cavern as she let go of the rope to go spinning down towards the open doorway of the corridor. She rolled in midair and landed on her feet near the edge.

"Or not." Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders.

"That would have been to easy." Xena smirked lightly.

The smaller woman arched an eyebrow. "Showoff."

"Here." The warrior tossed the ambrosia over.

The Amazon Queen moved quickly to catch it. "Gee, thanks."

Xena chuckled and bent down to pick up the three ropes. "Was getting bored carrying it."

"Yeah I can see why." Gabrielle felt it jiggle in her left arm. "Nasty." She grabbed her staff. "So what’s left?"

"We’ll put the wine in tomorrow."

"Sounds good." The bard began walking through the cave. "Dinner?"

"Yup." Xena came up into the light of the sunset.

Gabrielle came out next from the glowing cave mouth.

There suddenly was a howl of wind from the cave.

Both women spun around to see the caves mouth black again.

The younger woman peered up to Xena. "Self lights and self unlights."

Xena laughed. "Truly."

"Xena?"

"Yeah?" The warrior glanced down.

"If we ever settle down…" Gabrielle stared at the mouth of the cave. "We need to get torches like that." She glanced up.

The warrior chuckled quietly and started walking. "Come on." She shifted the ropes over her shoulder plus continued walking back to the camp.

The pair came into the camp. Xena dropped her ropes and disappeared back into the woods to hunt dinner.

"Where’s she going lass?" Joan glanced over to the bard.

"To get something to eat." Gabrielle walked up to her friend and saw the fire going.

"What’s that?" The Celt stood up then walked over as she peered down at the huge red thing in the bard’s arm.

"Ambrosia."

Joan’s eyes averted to Gabrielle. "Seriously?" She poked at it with her index finger to see the ambrosia sway back and forth. "Lass, that’s food of the gods?"

The bard peaked down at the red jiggling sticky stuff. "Yup… impressive huh?"

The Celt laughed. "Right." She shook her head. "That’s sad for food of the gods."

"That’s what I say." Gabrielle chuckled and kept walking into the camp with the ambrosia tucked under her arm.

The Celtic warrior walked over to the ropes and lifted them up. "Tie Velasca up?"

"Yeah." Gabrielle dropped the ambrosia on the ground and turned to her friend. "Just put them here."

Joan nodded and dropped the ropes down with the ambrosia in the center.

"Joan?"

The Celtic warrior looked up with a smile.

"Thanks for everything."

Joan chuckled. "No problem Gabrielle." She sighed slightly. "This has been a great caper."

"Well, let’s hope we survive it tomorrow." The Queen sighed and leaned against her staff. "I don’t know what you’re planning to do after this but…" She smiled warmly now. "You’re more then welcomed to stay with the Amazons." She paused. "I’d love to have you for one of my Amazons."

The Celtic warrior looked away and turned her head back. "I’m honored… despite the constant criticism from your friend."

Gabrielle’s face held a grin. "But you’re understanding it."

"I am." Joan chuckled. "I’m not sure yet." She was serious again. "I’d love to stay… but…"

"Think about it." The Queen shrugged her shoulders. "It sounds like you don’t belong with that clan."

"No." The warrior shook her head. "Maybe… this will be me new clan." A grin tugged at her lips.

"I hope so." The bard smiled warmly. "It would an honor to have a Celtic warrior in my Nation as an Amazon."

Joan quietly laughed. "I’d say I’d fit right in."

"Trust me." Gabrielle shook her head. "You already have."

"Should I be worried?"

"Very Joan." The small woman straightened up walked over to the saddlebags.

"Now I’m not sure." The Celt laughed and walked over to sit down in front of the fire again.

Gabrielle placed her staff down by the saddlebag and began to pull out her cooking supply.

~*~*~*~

Joan lifted her head to the bard. "Gabrielle, where’d you learn to cook?"

The bard glanced over to her friend. "My mother taught me the basics… the rest I sort of just learned on my own."

"You’re good." The Celt nodded and went back to eating her spiced quail.

"So I’ve heard." The cook grinned. "But I only do half the dinner."

The Celtic warrior raised an eyebrow.

Gabrielle chuckled. "Xena does always gets the dinners."

The warrior’s eyes flickered over to her partner then back to her food.

"That’s true." Joan nodded in agreement. "You look better since this morning."

The Amazon Queen groaned. "Don’t remind me."

"Mmm." Joan looked to both women. "That reminds me, how about I take the watch tonight? I haven’t yet and it’ll give you both the chance to catch up on your sleep."

"You sure?" Gabrielle looked up. "I mean I-"

"No!" both warriors said in unison.

"Okay… or I can’t." The bard chuckled. "Gee sorry."

Joan started laughing. "Isn’t that lass. I just think Xena wants you focused for tomorrow."

Gabrielle turned her head to Xena. "Is that it?"

Xena turned her head to her partner on her left. "Yup." She winked.

The bard raised an eyebrow. "Alright," she said as a grin spread across her lips. The grin was wiped away when she turned her head to Joan. "Sounds good to me."

"Guid." Joan smiled.

~*~*~*~

"Do you two always sleep like that?"

Gabrielle looked up into green eyes and she sheepishly smiled. "What you mean?" Her voice was innocent.

Joan tapped her boot on the ground. "In each other’s arms?"

Xena bit her lower lip letting her partner take this one.

"Oh." Gabrielle chuckled. "Yeah… well you see… um… Xena and I always sleep like this when we’re being hunted by obsessed gods." She shrugged her shoulders. "It’s safer this way." She took a deep breath. "When we first started traveling Xena told me we had to do this when we’d start to get hunted." She smiled innocently. "It’s just for protection purposes."

Joan nodded a few times. "Ssso… if say I wanted to sleep tonight do I get to sleep between you guys?"

The bard’s eyebrows shot up. "No… no." She smiled warmly again. "You see, it’s a buddy system." She could now feel her warrior’s frame shaking from the silent laughs. "Only works with two people."

The Celtic warrior nodded a few times while studying sea green eyes. "You see in me clan we’d sleep back to back. Not in each other’s arms."

"Yeah well… this is Greece it’s different here." The Queen shrugged her shoulders. "Besides… I’m not a warrior and Xena is, so she has to protect me."

"Lass, I saw you. You were guid with that staff."

"I know." The bard sighed dramatically. "I sleep hard and never wake up when danger is around. Xena though can hear an ant crawl by ssso…"

"Now that makes sense lass." Joan nodded. "Okay… well guidnight."

"Night Joan and thanks."

The Celtic warrior walked back to the other side of the fire but called back. "Guidnight Xena."

Xena lifted her head after taking a deep breath. "Goodnight Joan, thanks again, and stay away from the dragons tonight."

"Yeah, yeah I’ll try." Joan huffed. "Go to sleep you two."

"We’re trying." Gabrielle yelled back.

The Celtic warrior shook her head and sat down in front of the fire to fall into her thoughts. A sad sigh escaped her lips while she plucked at some of the grass.

The warrior’s blue eyes lowered to Gabrielle. "I never told you that," she whispered.

"Yeah well… what you expect?" The bard grinned and scouted back into her partner’s arms more. "You weren’t helping me."

"Well you laughed and brought Joan over here."

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. "Well if you weren’t making the funnies I wouldn’t have laughed."

Xena narrowed her eyes. "Well if you could control your laughter maybe she wouldn’t have came over here."

The Amazon Queen quickly ducked under the furs and tried to muffle her laughter.

The older woman sighed and shook her head while holding her partner.

Gabrielle’s head popped back out with a grin. "Why am I so giggle anyway?"

"I don’t know." Xena grinned. "It’s nice to hear though."

The small woman took a deep breath. "Yeah… feels good to laugh." Gabrielle shook her head. "You know…" Her eyes locked with Xena’s. "The both of us have been giggle since we…"

"Hooked up?"

"Yeah, hooked up." The bard snickered. "Why is that?"

Xena took a deep breath and went serious. "Something new huh?"

"Yeah." The bard’s eyes suddenly went sad. "Xena…" Her head started to shake. "I hope this doesn’t end up being… a trend thing with us. Where the emotions wear off."

"Gabrielle, I doubt that." Xena’s hand came up to brush back some of Gabrielle’s hair. "Do you really believe that?"

"No." Gabrielle’s voice was pure serious. "Not after the way I felt like I was going to shatter apart when you died. How desperate I became to make it out of that pit to find you."

"Exactly." The warrior smiled warmly. "Two many things have happened that should have kept us apart but they haven’t."

The bard smiled sadly. "True." She leaned in to nuzzle her partner. "So… I’m giggly because I’m excited?"

"Something like that." Xena grinned then pressed her lips against her best friend’s forehead. "Besides, we’ve been to serious the past year."

Gabrielle’s head came back up in a flash. "Don’t remind me."

"Don’t worry, I want to move on anyway."

"Yeah." The Amazon Queen tucked her head under her warrior’s chin.

The pair was silent for a moment.

"Xena?"

"Mmm?"

"Speaking of protective." Gabrielle lifted her head back up with a lifted eyebrow. "Why are you so protective of me lately?"

"I always have been." Xena grinned a little.

"No, not like this." The bard narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "You’re definitely more protective then what you were earlier."

The warrior shrugged her shoulders. "I always have been Gabrielle… maybe I’m showing it more now."

"Why you showing more now?" Gabrielle paused. "Don’t get me wrong I love it… it’s just peculiar."

Xena chuckled. "Maybe because you’re letting me."

Gabrielle opened her mouth to reply to that but nothing came. She closed her jaw to stare into twinkling blue eyes. "Hades."

The Warrior Princess chuckled and brought her right hand up to bring Gabrielle’s head back under her chin. "Go to sleep."

The bard closed her eyes. "I love you."

"I love you Gabrielle." Xena gradually closed her eyes. "Gabrielle?"

"Yeah?"

"And I don’t hear ants crawl by."

Gabrielle broke out in a fit of muffled laughter.