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

"Hey lass? How I look?"

Gabrielle put her hands on her hips. "Good Joan, Amazon is you." She grinned and looked up a down her soon Amazon’s length. "Very good."

Joan blushed faintly. "You think Aster will like this?"

"I’m sure she will." Her arms crossed against her chest. She shifted her wait to her right foot.

"Are you going to go get ready my Queen?" Ephiny glanced over to the bard.

"I was considering it." The Queen smirked. She was in the middle of the same hut she’d received her Amazon garb for Queen. It brought back bad memories.

The regent sighed and shifted the gauntlet over Joan’s arm. "The ritual is going to be in like fifteen minutes. You need to get into your leathers."

Joan quickly corked an eyebrow. "Lass, I didn’t know you had leathers."

Gabrielle chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I do." She sighed a bit sadly.

"You okay Gabrielle?" Ephiny gazed at her friend with a worried look.

"Yeah… yeah." The bard shrugged her shoulders. "Hut brings back old memories huh?"

The regent studied her partner and she suddenly realized what memories those were. "They were a long time ago." Her eyes lifted to Joan. "What color feathers?"

"How about green? Bright green?"

"Something to match your eye color." Ephiny nodded and shifted through the hut to find those sorts of feathers. "Gabrielle?" She turned her head to her friend. "Did you and Xena ever talk about that time?"

"A little." Xena came in then put her hands on her partner’s shoulders. "Unfortunately."

The Amazon Queen gazed up into warm blue eyes. "Have plenty of time now."

The warrior smiled. "Definitely." She squeezed her best friend’s shoulders yet gazed over. "Joan, look good."

The Celtic warrior chuckled. "Thanks Xena. I try."

Gabrielle grinned a little. "It’s the green eyes."

A quiet laugh came from the Celt as Ephiny came up behind to put feathers into her hair. "Green eyes are the best."

"They are." Xena smiled warmly.

Gabrielle peeked up to her warrior and she whispered, "Blue is better."

The Warrior Princess’s blue eyes lowered to Gabrielle. "Don’t be so sure."

"Gabrielle, you need to get ready." The regent gave a warning look.

"Alright, alright." Gabrielle sighed. "I’ll go hop into my Amazon ruckus."

Ephiny glared now. "Ha, ha. Those are nice Amazon ruckus."

"Yeah yeah." The Queen smirked and turned to face Xena. "Hi."

Xena grinned. "I’ll come help you." She turned to head out of the hut.

"Great." Gabrielle followed. "See you soon Joan.

"I can’t wait lass." Joan smiled as Ephiny continued to feather her up.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle reached over to get her mask she came over to the door. "Oh Hades, my necklace."

The warrior turned around. "Got it." She went to the table where her friend left it. She came up to Gabrielle. "Turn around."

The Amazon Queen turned her back to Xena. She felt cool metal fall against her chest.

Xena brushed her bard’s hair out of the way and began to tie the necklace on.

"Okay… I gotta remember how to do this right." The Queen was trying to breathe calmly. "I know I’m going to forget something."

"No you won’t." The warrior finished tying the necklace on. She brought Gabrielle’s hair back and walked around to the front. "You’ll be fine. I’ll be right there beside you." She reached forward to adjust Gabrielle’s necklace to lay perfect on her chest. "I promise."

The bard smiled warmly. "Thanks." She reached up to grasp Xena’s larger hand. "I look fine."

The tall woman grinned. "The Queen has to look her best."

The Queen shook her head and sighed. "I don’t know if I can handle not touching you tonight."

"You’ll be fine."

"No I won’t and you know it." Gabrielle corked an eyebrow.

Xena sighed sadly. "Yeah I know, I won’t survive the celebration either."

"So, meet you in the bushes a candlemark after the celebration begins."

Both the older woman’s eyebrows shot up. "Gabrielle."

"I was kidding." The bard grinned. "Kinda."

The warrior sighed and brushed back Gabrielle’s hair. "Come on, we can’t be late."

"Right." Gabrielle went out of the door with her partner in a jog.

~*~*~*~

"Ready?" Ephiny slipped the mask over her head. In her left arm was a mask. She held up her right arm to Joan.

Joan let in a shaky breath. "Yeah." She took the regent’s arm. "Let’s go."

The regent nodded and walked out of the hut escorting the Celtic warrior. She came around a bend and into what was normally an open area. There in the sunset-lit area was the village of Amazons and a podium. On the podium stood the Amazon Queen, second in command, and the Warrior Princess. Between the podium and Ephiny with Joan were piles of Amazons.

Joan turned her head to the regent after seeing Gabrielle, she whispered, "She’s beautiful."

"Gabrielle?"

The Celtic warrior nodded. "Yes."

Ephiny studied the sight of Xena’s twinkling eyes on the Queen. "You’re not the only one that thinks so," she ushered.

The Celt chuckled and kept walking with her stomach turning.

As the pair walked through Amazons, the crowd would easily step out of the way.

Gabrielle’s chest rose high while her hands went to her hips. She felt the feathers on her mask blowing in the wind. Her mask was over her face as was Solari’s.

Xena stood a little off to the side with her arms against her chest.

"Why is Xena up there?" Joan glanced to Ephiny then back to the podium. "I know she’s Xena partner but she isn’t an Amazon."

"Well…" Ephiny took a deep breath. "She’s Gabrielle Champion… protector. Besides…" She was grinning under her mask. "The Queen would kill me if I said her partner couldn’t be up there with her."

The Celtic woman chuckled however went serious when they came to the steps of the podium.

Ephiny led Joan up the steps then in front of Gabrielle. She released the Celtic warrior there in front of Gabrielle. The regent after that walked over to Gabrielle’s left side with the new mask still in her hands.

The Queen lowered her hands from her hips. She spoke loudly. "Joan of Gaul, you’ve come to this Nation as a stranger." She smiled under her mask. "You’ve lived with us for a time as a guest. In the process you only ended up in a… caper with the Queen." She saw Joan’s grin. "Which I will always remain grateful for. In return I have offered you a caste as one of my Amazons and you’ve accepted it. So now I will bestow upon you with Artemis’s approval the caste of an Amazon." She paused to breathe. "Now stand tall and proud Joan of Gaul for you will remain for eternity as one of my Amazons and as an Amazon of Artemis. Embrace your sisters as they will embrace you." The Queen face Ephiny.

The regent faced her Queen and held out the mask.

The Amazon Queen carefully took it and turned back to Joan. She held the mask high over Joan’s head.

A roar of Amazon approval filled the air then went silent.

Slowly the Queen placed the mask over the Celtic warrior’s head with a perfect fit.

The Amazons began to cheer.

Gabrielle reached up to push her mask back with a radiant smile.

Joan pushed her mask back with her excited smile. "This is great lass… I mean my Queen."

The Queen laughed and pulled her new Amazon in for a hug.

Joan hugged tightly back with a chuckle. When she pulled back she still had that huge smile. "I’ve got the jitters now my Queen."

The bard sighed with a smile. "Keep it as lass Joan." She winked and stepped back for Ephiny.

The regent pulled the new Amazon in for a hug. "Welcome home Joan."

Gabrielle nodded and ambled over to her partner. "This is wonderful."

"It is." Xena smiled and glanced back to Joan. "Be right back." She stepped up to the new Amazon.

~*~*~*~

"Hey want any port or wine?" Gabrielle bent down in front of her partner whom was sitting.

"No." Xena shook her head as she smiled. "Don’t want to drown out my feelings."

It was night now and the celebration for the new Amazon had begun in full force.

The bard smiled. She still wore all of her Amazon garb including her mask on top of her head. "Alright. I think I may get some water. Want any?"

"I’ll just have some of yours." The warrior evilly grinned.

Gabrielle quietly laughed. "Be back." She strolled away.

Xena watched with dark eyes. She smiled to herself and turned her gaze over to the dancing Amazons when Gabrielle disappeared.

Ephiny came over to sit beside Xena. "How’s it going Xena?"

"Not bad." The warrior smiled and noticed the regent drinking wine. "How are you and Solari doing?"

"She’s still a little peeved at me." The Amazon sighed. "She’ll be alright in a few days."

"Good." Xena looked up and saw her best friend coming with a mug.

"Hey Eph." Gabrielle smiled warmly. "What you doing over here?"

The regent evilly grinned. "Talking to your woman." Suddenly her expression dropped as she realized what she said. She groaned and mumbled out, "I did it again."

The bard looked intently at her regent. She held her mug out to Xena. "Hold this for me for a sec."

The warrior took the mug and corked an eyebrow wondering what her bard was about to do.

Gabrielle took a step closer to the regent. She bent forward with her hands going to Ephiny’s knees with a tight grip. "Ephiny, it’s alright." She paused as a grin crossed her lips. "And Eph?"

Ephiny looked up into sparkling green eyes.

"She’s not my woman. Xena is my… soulmate." Gabrielle patted the Amazon’s knee and stood up again. She turned her head to Xena. "Feeling like dancing? I have some energy." She noticed the slow beat of music.

Xena stood after placing the mug on the ground. "Definitely." She’d heard the whole conversation and it caused her to shake.

The Queen walked out towards where the Amazons were slow dancing. It made her grin despite how shaky she felt. She turned around to face Xena.

The warrior smiled warmly, placed one hand on Gabrielle’s waist, the other hand grasped Gabrielle’s small hand.

Gabrielle placed her her free hand on the warrior’s shoulder as they begun to move to the slow music. "I never had slow music for my ritual."

"That’s because I asked for it lass." Joan grinned as she came around with Aster in her arms.

Gabrielle laughed and peered over to her Amazon. "You’re great Joan. Good thinking."

The Celtic Amazon grinned. "Lass, I didn’t know you and Xena danced together."

The bard shrugged her shoulders. "It’s in our partnership."

"My lass." Joan chuckled. "You sure do have a lot to that partnership. Sounds like a real guid one."

Xena cut in now. "Trust me it is." She grinned with mischief to Joan and swirled away to get distance. "A true Amazon."

Gabrielle sighed. "I know… bothersome."

The warrior was still grinning. "Very."

The small woman sighed contently. "Well… we only have two more candlemarks to go."

Xena groaned quietly. "Don’t remind me."

"I told you, the bushes."

"Gabrielle." The warrior’s voice was deep.

"Or wait." Gabrielle chuckled with a warm smile.

The tall woman’s lips crept into a smile. Slowly her head began to lean down close to Gabrielle’s as the smile disappeared.

The bard had her eyes locked with her warrior’s twinkling sky swirled eyes. Why was this feeling like the first kiss to come between them? She wasn’t even sure if Xena was about to kiss her even though her pulse raced.

Xena’s lips tugged with a smile. "I want too."

"I know." A fine smile was on the bard’s lips. "Darn Amazons."

The warrior grinned but went a little serious. "Soulmate?"

"Yeah." Gabrielle’s hand squeezed Xena’s tightly. "Is that okay?"

"It’s perfect." Xena’s eyes warmed with depth. "Feels that way."

"It doesn’t just feel that way. I know it’s that way Xena." Gabrielle’s radiant smile was on her lips for the second time. She whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too, forever." Xena closed her eyes and brought her head lower again.

The smaller woman closed her eyes with antcipation.

The music stopped.

Gabrielle opened her eyes to peer into amused blue ones.

Xena started to chuckle.

The bard laughed and shook her head. "Bad timing."

"Come on." The warrior stepped back to release her partner.

The pair walked back to the campfire they came from.

"Did you see that Eph?" Solari glanced to her regent. "I swear they almost kissed."

"You’re seeing things Solari." Ephiny raised her mug to drink more wine.

The second in command huffed and walked off. "My bad."

The regent looked up with a hurt expression. "Solari?"

"I’m going to go find Ep." The second in command disappeared.

"Hades." Ephiny sighed sadly and brushed back her curly hair.

"What’s going on?" Gabrielle looked to her regent with a worried expression.

"Solari just got mad at me again." Ephiny stood up. "I need to get her."

The Queen stepped in front of her friend. "Let me talk to her Eph." She let her breath out slowly. "I owe her an apology too. Okay? Just wait here and she’ll be back." She smiled. "I gurantee."

"Alright, I trust you."

Gabrielle glanced up to her soulmate. "Keep ahold of her ."

Xena grinned. "No problem."

The Queen strolled off to find her second in command.

Solari shook her head. "I don’t know Ep. I’m really angry." She sighed. "Eph wouldn’t tell me why she kissed Gabrielle."

"She didn’t?" Eponin raised and eyebrow. "Why not?"

"I don’t know." The second in command sighed and drank more of her wine. "Confusing."

"Let me shed some light on it." Gabrielle reappeared in front of her two Amazons.

Solari narrowed her eyes slightly. "Come to kiss me now?"

The bard sighed sadly. "No Solari, we need to talk." Her eyes flickered over to her weapons master. "Eponin."

Eponin nodded and stood up. "See you Solari and Gabrielle."

"Bye Ep."

"Thank you Ep." Gabrielle crossed her arms against her chest. "I’m sorry Solari for everything."

The Amazon peered down into her mug. "What’s going on?" She looked up with valnurable eyes.

The Queen sighed and took a step closer. "You want to know why you’re fighting with Eph?"

"Yesss." Solari shook her head. "I love her."

"I know." The small woman took another step and bent down before her Amazon. "It’s because I was a little angry you harressed Xena about whom I’m going out with." She sighed, dropped her eyes, but looked back up. "I should have talked to you instead of playing a trick. I asked Ephiny to kiss me to gear you up." She shrugged. "Get you back for bothering Xena so much."

"For two people that aren’t going out you two sure protect each other."

Gabrielle chuckled lightly. "Yeah, we do huh?"

"You sure you and Xena aren’t…" Solari stopped herself knowing this is what got her here in the first place.

"Look." The Queen brought her hands to her second in command’s knees. "Xena and I may be… we may not. Neither Xena nor I want to say yes or no right now. We’re both trying to get things straightened out after what been happing with Dahak." She paused. "Everybody will know what’s going on when Xena and I are ready… maybe tonight… maybe next year. Whatever." She shrugged her shoulders. "We just want privacy to understand things."

"Ssso, you both are… experminting?" Solari arched an eyebrow.

The bard chuckled. "Yes, no, maybe so."

The second in command sighed. "Alright alright… I’ll lay off."

"Thank you." Gabrielle smiled warmly. "And I apologize again about what happened with Ephiny. She’s really upset but if I know Eph… she thinks she deserves it."

Solari shook her head. "Great, I need to talk to her."

"Definitely." The bard smiled while giving an innocent look. "So you forgive me?"

The Amazon laughed and nodded. "Yeah, sorry about bothering Xena."

"It’s okay, but tell Xena. Trust me, she forgives easily."

"If you say so." Solari grinned.

"Yeah." Gabrielle sighed. "Come back with me and see Eph, please." She grinned. "It’s not everyday you have your Queen on her knees begging you."

The second in command laughed again and nodded. "Alright." She stood up with her mug and walked beside her friend. "Did Ep jump Xena?"

"Yeah but she didn’t make it." Gabrielle grinned. "And she has patrol duty for two weeks."

"What? Why?" Solari arched an eyebrow.

"Because she harrassed my Champion and the Nation’s guest."

Solari snickered. "Basically Ep was screwed from the beginning."

"Yup." Gabrielle grinned and turned her head away. She soon found twinkling blue eyes on her. She smiled warmly as a blush took over. She felt exedling hot now.

"Xena, when was the last time someone slept with you?"

The warrior slowly turned her head to the weapons master. "Awhile and no you can’t." She narrowed her eyes.

Eponin laughed. "I was just joshin."

Xena raised an eyebrow. "You-"

"Better move away from my Champion Ep." The Queen stood with her hands on her hips. "Or you’ll have three weeks of patrol duty."

The weapons master’s mouth dropped. "I was just having a… friendly conversation with Xena."

"Right." Gabrielle smirked. "I heard the conversation."

Eponin sighed with a grin and scouted down the log. "You like threating patrol duty."

The bard sat beside her soulmate. "Because I know how much Amazons hate it."

"Now that’s not true, Teresa loves patrol duty." Eponin drank more of her wine.

"Really?" The Queen grinned. "I’ll make sure you do patrol duty with Teresa so she can teach you to enjoy it."

The weapons master laughed. "Hey, never know."

"Xena?"

The warrior lifted her eyes to the second in command.

"Sorry about bantering you about Gabrielle." Solari held her hand out.

Xena took the offered hand and shook. "It’s alright and thank you." She released the Amazon’s arm.

Solari nodded and walked over to Ephiny. "Hey."

The regent smiled up to her second in command. "Hey."

"Seat taken?" Solari’s lips tugged with a grin.

"Nope." Ephiny patted the spot beside her. "Pop a squat."

The second in command chuckled and sat down. "Thought you hated that phrase?"

"Nah." Ephiny grinned and drank a little of her wine. "Sorry about everything."

"S’alright." Solari sighed. "I had a hand in it."

The regent nodded and leaned forward to place a kiss on the other Amazon’s cheek.

~*~*~*~

Joan laughed hard and sighed contently. "That was a guid caper lass."

Gabrielle nodded. "Tell me about it." She grinned a little. "You have to admit it was boring a little."

The Celtic’s eyes widen. "Lass, you’re kidding me right?" She was grinning now. "I will admit this Velasca woman was a little stupid but… hey she still threatened me life."

"Now have you all heard about Joan’s dragons?" Gabrielle glanced to her Amazons in the group.

The group was comprised of Ephiny, Solari, the Queen, Joan, Aster, Eponin, and Xena.

Solari raised an eyebrow intently. "What about dragons?"

"Well…" The Queen’s eyes averted to Joan. "Ask Joan about her dragons."

The Celtic Amazon soon found everybody’s eyes on her. She sighed with a smile but went into her explanation.

Gabrielle lifted her eyes to her warrior. She whispered, "I’m having a hard time."

"I know." Xena didn’t gazed down at her soulmate. "Those bushes are sounding-"

"Xena." The bard quietly laughed. "Mmm, are we risk takers?"

The warrior evilly grinned now. "Us, definitely."

"I’m gamed for public." Gabrielle grinned. "Definitely at this point." She’d been feeling warm all night due to her soulmate’s presence.

"Same here." Xena grinned.

Joan was in the middle of her conversation when this happened. When it happened she stopped talking and gazed up to the soulmates. Everybody else in the groud did with wide eyes.

Gabrielle was straddling Xena and leaned in to passionately kiss her warrior.

Solari laughed. "Well, that takes all the fun out of my bantering."

Joan sighed with a smile. "That’s one guid partnership."

Gabrielle pulled back with a smile. "Wanna try that dance again?"

Eponin sighed. "I need a woman." She chuckled.

Xena grinned. "Yesss." She stood up with Gabrielle.

The Queen took her soulmate’s hand while walking through the group.

Aster smiled with a sigh. "To cute." She glanced over to Eponin. "Ep, I suggest you visit Teresa." She winked and gazed at Joan. "Let’s go make use of that slow dance."

Joan stood up. "I’m up for it lassie." She smiled.

The regent stood and held her hand to her second in command. "May I have this dance Solari?"

Solari actually felt herself blush. "Yes." She stood the offered hand and was escorted to the dancing area with the slow beat.

The weapons master groaned. "Teresa?" She stood and went to search out the Amazon.

Xena’s smile was one of her rare ones. She lowered her head closer to Gabrielle’s. "How you feel?"

"Increadible. You?"

"Quite the same." The warrior squeezed Gabrielle’s hand and released it. Her arms cirled the Queen’s hips. "Relax into me."

The bard took a second but stepped closer and dropped her head onto Xena’s chest. Her arms shifted to wrap around her soulmate’s stomach. She gazed around in the dancing area to see Solari with Ephiny and Joan with Aster. Her eyes slowly closed. "Why didn’t we do this sooner?"

Xena carefully placed the side of her head on Gabrielle’s head. "Waiting for the right time." Her eyes closed.

The soulmates continued to shift with the slow music becoming lost in it and each other.

Gabrielle sighed happily. "I’m glad we took this slow."

"Me too." The warrior smiled and slowly opened her eyes. "Take a look at this."

The small woman opened her eyes and started to chuckle. "That’s really cute." She studied her weapons master dancing with Teresa. "They fit well."

"Yeah." The older woman closed her eyes again. "One thing left."

"Mmm, yeah." Gabrielle’s drifted close. "We own each other’s souls, hearts, and bodies."

Xena grinned and lifted her head. "Just have to take each other."

Gabrielle lifted her head and smiled. "That’s the fun part." She pulled Xena’s head down for a long kiss.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle felt herself hard pressed against the hut’s door. "Xena," she pleaded.

Xena leaned down to kiss her soulmate deeply. She lifted her head back up slowly with a grin and dark eyes.

The pair were still outside and the party had just ended.

The bard’s eyes went dark as well. She opened the door and went inside with her partner. She took a her mask off and placed it on the table.

Xena closed the door, turned around, came up to her soulmate and grasped her sides. She pressed the smaller woman against the wall. She brought her lips down to Gabrielle’s neck.

The younger woman dropped her head back. "Oh gods." She closed her eyes and whispered, "It’s the right time."

The warrior lifted her head up with a grin but serious eyes. "Does it feel like it?"

"Gods yes." Gabrielle grinned. "You?"

"Oh yeah." Xena leaned down to seal her lips with Gabrielle’s.

The bard slipped her tongue into the warroir’s mouth. Her tongue grazing over Xena’s. When she pulled back she tried to breathe. "You’re… in control."

"You sure?" The older woman’s hands came to Gabrielle’s stomach .

"Yesss." Gabrielle pulled Xena’s head down. "Take me Xena. I’m yours." She kissed the warrior. And Xena’s searing kiss was life being breathed into her. Gabrielle only wanted to take all of Xena.

The dark woman pulled back and moved her hand to press against the bard’s center.

Gabrielle’s eyes shut tightly. She soon was disappearing into her soulmate’s touch and world.

But it never stopped there for Xena followed suit. She never felt this before between her and another lover. She then knew at that point there was no going back. She would find only the most perfect acceptance from Gabrielle.

Gabrielle herself would never find another place of perfection, only in Xena. This was her soulmate she’d give anything to protect and love. She would be left always desiring her soulmate.

~*Part 11*~

"Lass, let me know if you want another partner for those capers." Joan’s lips shifted into a smile.

Gabrielle nodded. "I will." Her eyes lifted to her soulmate. "But, I think I’ve got everything right here." Her left hand patted Xena’s stomach.

The warrior arched an eyebrow. "To say the least," she whispered. She sensed Gabrielle’s hands squeezing her stomach in answer before it left.

"Yes I can see you have a guid partnership." The Celtic Amazon grinned. "I’m hoping Aster and I will too."

"What’s this about me?" Aster came strolling up with her hands on her hips.

"Notten." Joan grinned and hugged Aster.

Aster chuckled and released the Celtic Amazon. "Uh huh." She turned her head to the Queen and warrior. "Leaving?"

"Afraid so." Gabrielle sighed. "Back to the old grind."

"I highly doubt it will be… quite the same." Ephiny walked up with a smug look.

Xena crossed her arms against her chest and asked, "Are you trying to insinuate something Ephiny?"

"Not a thing Xena… not a thing."

Solari came up behind her regent and brought an arm around Ephiny’s waist. "You two migrating out?"

"Yup." The Queen grinned.

The second in command raised an eyebrow. "Got the treaties done and signed?"

"Yup, did that yesterday." Gabrielle nodded. "Eph made sure of that."

"Hades yes." Ephiny shook her head. "I don’t wanna hear from our allies about not having the treaties renewed… especially the centaurs."

The bard chuckled. "They would have lived." She sighed. "Okay, Xena and I wanted to get out of here."

Ephiny arched an eyebrow. "Got ants in your skirt Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle went really red.

"Nothing like the ones you and Solari have." Xena gave a death look to the regent.

The regent’s eyebrows went up high. "Wahoo, if looks could kill." She gazed at her Queen. "I knew she was protective but gods."

"Ah yeah." Gabrielle grinned. "Asked her to be around you guys." She snickered and leaned back into her warrior.

Xena brought her right arm around Gabrielle’s waist. She had stoic expression while standing around the Amazons.

Joan chuckled. "Maybe not a guid partnership more like imposing partnership."

Xena chuckled with her soulmate. "Just a little Joan."

Argo whined and nudged her owner. She moved her head sharply to jerk the reins in Xena’s hands.

"I agree Argo."

Gabrielle laughed and stepped away from her partner. "Okay, we’re out of here." She went to Ephiny to hug her first. After that she made her rounds on the hugs. "Now where is Ep?"

"Coming!" The weapons master grinned. "I can’t miss out on one of the Queen’s hugs."

The Queen laughed and stepped forward to pull her weapons master in for a hug. She pulled back and gazed around at her Amazons. "See you guys later."

Joan sighed. "Come back soon huh?"

"Of course, I can’t stay away to long."

Xena started walking with Argo and glanced back. "Come on Gabrielle."

The bard chuckled and jogged up to her lover. "Bye, take care!"

"Bye Gabrielle!" The Amazons all laughed after saying it in unison.

Joan waved. "Bye Xena!"

The warrior flashed a smile back. "Take care Joan. Thanks for taking care of Gabrielle."

"No problem." Joan smiled.

"Bye Xena." That came from the rest of the Amazons.

"Hey Joan!" Gabrielle gazed back as she got farther away. "Stay away from the dragons!"

Celtic Amazon laughed hard. "I’ll try my Queen!" She evilly grinned now. "And you watch out for them horses lass!"

The Queen’s eyes widen and she went bright red. She started to fall into her laughter.

Xena laughed with her and pulled her partner in close.

Solari sighed happily and studied the soulmates. She turned her head to Ephiny. "They’re just two flowers blossoming in the sun."

Ephiny groaned. "Come on poet." She grabbed the second in command’s hand.

Solari laughed.

Joan sighed. "That really was a guid caper with that lass and her partner."

Aster chuckled and wrapped her arm around the new Amazon’s waist.

The young woman sighed with happiness. "That was a fun."

"A regular riot." Xena grinned down at her soulmate.

The bard quietly laughed and stopped walking to face her soulmate.

Xena did the same and smiled warmly to her partner. "Seems like only a dream."

Gabrielle smiled warmly while bring her hands to her warrior’s hips. "Nope, only reality." She brought Xena’s head down for a soul-filling kiss.

The two soulmates became lost into each other’s worlds. Neither would ever know a greater need or desire then each other.