CopyRight: Universal/MCA and Renaissance Pictures own all Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Toris, and Cyrene not mine damn it. The story line as always is all mine as well as the characters, Ferus, Potestas, and Saada so don't let the thought cross your mind to use them. You will receive hell from me if you mess with my story or characters.

Subtext: Oh defiantly, wouldn't be good otherwise, hehe. But not sex written between the soulmates…read another story if you want that.

Author's Note here: I want to thank every last single person that e-mailed me and has made some comment or another on my story(s). I really appreciate that! I've received small comments to lengthy ones that all have deeply touched me. Others have even pointed out to me large or small little things I should probably change in my writing style. This section of the story that I have written is for the people whom have e-mailed me and asked to change a bit of writing style and to spell one word right. *L I am definitely trying to better my stories for all my readers. Thank you again everybody for the e-mails, they keep me wanting to write!

-Red Hope

Started: January 15, 2000 Saturday

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

redhope@redhope.net

Part 2

Section 2

~*Part 6*~

The bard sat up in the bed, she was shaking some. Taking a deep breath her nerves calmed down along with her pounding heart. Quick to follow was the warrior sitting up in the bed beside the bard.

"Dream?" Gabrielle nodded her head. The warrior's large hand went to Gabrielle's back, rubbing it lightly. Gabrielle dropped her head forward, she tried to ease her body as Xena comforted her. She took another deep breath and looked to Xena, she smiled a light one. The warrior smiled back. "You okay now?"

"Yeah I think so…thanks" Xena nodded her head. Gabrielle then turned to face Xena and crawled into the warrior's arms. The older woman pulled her small soulmate in tightly and lay back in the bed, Gabrielle on top of Xena.

"Try to get a little more sleep"

The bard sighed as she felt her soulmate pull the covers back over the two of them. "When are we leaving Xena?"

"In about two candlemarks, it'll be close to dawn"

The Amazon Queen faintly nodded her head and tightened her arms at the warrior's sides. The soulmates shifted back into their dreamscapes.

Xena slowly came out of her dream state. Her eyes opened and looked to the window, it was still night out. She then looked to the bard on top of her, the warrior's arms tighten more securely around Gabrielle.

It hadn't been a bad few days for our heroes, not at all. The only thing this pair had to contend to is a small band of raiders. Hopefully that wouldn't be a bad engagement they would have to confront. At least the soulmates hoped it wouldn't take much time to disperse them, Xena didn't think it would. But then there was always the bard who kept in mind that things can always go wrong, even with the warrior's perfect plans.

As of now, we have little guess as to what this pair's Solstice vacation will be. We know the beginning but we have yet to find out the end. But knowing our pair, it will be something quite incredible. It is easy to assume Gabrielle has yet to fully heal from Poteidaia's destruction. And we can see that Xena has little words these days to take away the pain, which is all too normal for the warrior. So in turn Xena compensates for this by doing physical things. Sometimes words don't hold enough power to do one's bidding, so that's when we resort to the physical, which can talk as well in it's own language. And in that physical language much can be told and done, especially for Xena. Hence Gabrielle feels the affect of Xena's efforts and they have immense differences in her healing process.

But now it is time for our heroes to roll out of bed, to confront yet another day. Consequently Xena began to run her right hand through the bard's strawberry-blond hair. Gabrielle groaned a little then lifted her head, a lopsided smile to her lips.

"Morning love" The bard stretched her legs and dropped her face to Xena's chest. "We need to get moving"

The bard grumbled then lifted her head to look at the warrior. "It's too early"

The warrior chuckled at her soulmate's words. "I agree"

The Amazon Queen arched an eyebrow at her soulmate. "Really?" Xena nodded her head, the bard grinned. "Well we'll make up for it later tiger" Xena grinned then Gabrielle began to shifted off the bed and her soulmate. Once her feet were on the wood floor, the bard stretched her arms, the large white shift moving up with her shoulders. Xena then bounced off the bed, fully awake and ready for action, she still had on her leathers. "How do you do that?"

The warrior looked to her partner, Xena grinned. "It's not that hard after several years"

Gabrielle looked to her warrior skeptically. "It doesn't matter how early or late I wake up, I still can't just bounce around like that"

Xena smirked. "Well you're not much for the mornings to begin with"

Gabrielle huffed at that. She made her way to the table where her normal attire lay. The pair got dressed in relatively silence, the bard slow about her attempts to dress, Xena dressing rapidly. The warrior finished first in her normal attire, cloak on as well, she then leaned against the door, staring at her soulmate. The bard turned around, her hands up lacing her top, she looked to her warrior and grinned. "I assume Toris is suppose to be up?"

The warrior nod. "Better be"

Gabrielle looked up from her top to the warrior, arched eyebrow. Gabrielle grinned a little then quickly finished lacing her top. She then gathered her cloak up and hefted it on, whirling around she plucked her staff up from against the wall. Xena opened the door and the pair headed out and down the stairs. As soon as they reached the final step did Toris look up from the bar, he sat on a stool.

"Morning Sis and Gabrielle"

The warrior smirked at her groggy brother and replied in a sarcastic tone. "Good morning Toris"

Toris rolled his eyes and stood up from the seat. The warrior and her partner padded over closer to Toris.

"Are we ready?"

Xena nodded her head. "Yeah, we need to head over to Ferus' office. You ready?"

Toris nodded his head and the three people made their way out of the tavern then to Ferus' office.

"Come in!" The Warrior Princess opened the door to the building and inside was Ferus sitting behind his desk. "Morning to you three" Everybody smiled a little to the Constable.

"Are the rest of the men ready?"

Ferus nodded his head to Xena and then answered as well. "They're just about"

"What about the oil jars?"

The Constable slightly grinned. "Those are prepared too"

The warrior nodded her head "Sounds good, we better move before dawn hits"

Ferus nodded his head in agreement, everybody migrated out of the office. As soon as they did they found themselves surrounded by a dozen other villagers. They all had swords with them, a few with bows and arrows, two men with lit torches and two other men with bags on their backs.

"Is everybody prepared?" All the villagers nodded in response to Ferus' question. The Constable looked to Xena then back to the villagers. "Everybody, you will be following my orders and Xena's. We must be careful, we are outnumbered and there are twenty-three raiders exactly. Each of you do understand the plan?" All the villagers nodded their heads or answer yes. "Follow Xena then"

Xena led the group through the town, Gabrielle, Toris, and Ferus at her side. The group made their way through the dark woods in the night, the torches lighting the way some. Then Xena knew she was close to the cave, so she stopped as did everybody else. She turned to the group and spoke in a low but stern voice.

"Here is how its going to work. There will be two of you to go back a ways in the woods, there are then the group of horses, round them up. Gabrielle and you four men with the oil jars and torches will go near the mouth of the cave when I say so. Then you will proceed to light the oil jars and throw them into the cave. That will smoke out the raiders then once they come out I want the rest of you men to surround the entrance of the cave with the raiders, that'll hold them in one spot. I'll take care of stopping the leader and we hope that will scare the rest of the raiders off. Does everybody understand?" The twelve villagers nodded their heads quickly. "Good, keep quiet and to whispers. Now I want two of you to go retrieve the raider's horses"

Two men quickly nodded their heads and shifted their way through the people to the front. Xena looked down to them, she then turned to the cave. She pointed in a general direction. "If you go that way for about three hundred paces you'll see them"

"It's taken care of"

The warrior smiled to the man and then the two men shuffled off in the darkness relatively close. Xena looked down to her soulmate. "You know what to do?"

The bard looked up with a small grin. "No problem"

Xena nodded with a grin too. "Be careful alright?" Gabrielle nodded. "Go get set up and don't start till I signal"

The bard nodded again and the four men with torches and oil jars came through the other people. "Follow me you four" The four men stepped in line behind Gabrielle. The barb's group mingled their way through the woods about a good two hundred paces away from the entrance of the cave. They all squatted down and the two men with the packs soundless removed the packs. Opening them, the oil jars with wicks appeared inside. Gabrielle grinned at this and she looked up to the direction Xena was.

The warrior's eyes narrowed at the direction Gabrielle went, she turned her head back to face her group. "Alright listen up. Four of you will be with me, the other four you will be with Toris and Constable Ferus. Each group will go on each side of the cave. Once Gabrielle's group starts throwing in the oil jars the raiders will come out. Once they do that, we are to encircle them, weapons at the ready. Let's go"

With that said, everybody split up into their groups. Xena's group went to the close side of the cave while Toris' and Ferus' group went to the farthest side, so they had to be quiet. Xena looked to her right, the sun's light was beginning to fill this world. The warrior just made out the lines of horses, she could hear them nickering. She turned her head forward where Gabrielle waited. Quietly unsheathing her sword Xena watched the sun's rays filter slowly through the woods, she turned her blade to face the increasing sun. The rays were reflected off the blade.

Gabrielle grinned. She looked to her four men with her. "That's the signal, let's get those oil jars lit and flying"

Everybody in Gabrielle's group hustled. The two men with the torches bent down next to the packs, pulling out the jars and lighting them. The other two men stood beside the torch men, they took the lit jars and hurled them into the cave's mouth. Gabrielle stood up as she watched the jars flying through the air and rolling into the cave. She lifted her staff up in a defensive stance.

Soon yelling and screaming could be heard from men. It echoed in the cave. There was the sound of metal clanking, men shuffling around yelling out fire. Then within a few heartbeats and about ten jars inside, raiders began to flow out of the cave's mouth.

Xena counted. Ten, eleven, fourteen, seventeen, twenty-one, almost there, now the magic number twenty-three. The warrior leaped up from the ground, her warrior cry escaping from her lips. All the raiders froze in place from the movement of other people. They coughed as well, smoke rising from inside of the cave out the entrance. Some raiders had sword and promptly drew them, but knew it wasn't worth their time.

Now the scene was quite different from earlier that morning. Here we have this cave letting smoke ripple out with twenty-three raiders half-dressed, half armed just outside of the cave surrounded by eight villagers, one Constable, and two warriors.

Xena stepped out from the ring around the raiders. "Good morning boys"

All the raiders looked to the tall warrior, they were a bit shocked. Somebody coughed from with in the band of raiders and pushed through the raiders to Xena. He was a big guy, bit angry to say the least, fully dressed and armed, and hasn't bathed in to long. He glared at Xena. "Who in Hades are you?"

The Warrior Princess grinned devilishly. "The name's Xena"

The raider's face dropped. "You're Xena?"

"Yup and I hate it when people mess with my town"

The lead raider gulp, then he found his backbone again. His eyes narrowed. "Well then, we'll just have to put that to the test. I personally hate being rudely awoken in the morning" He drew his sword and leapt forward at Xena, the warrior quite prepared for that.

She stopped his sword blow, the raider took a step back with a grin. Xena flashed her own grin, she laughed with a flick of her sword and drove forward. Her sword was stopped, but not her high kick she delivered. The kick sent the raider back coughing, he almost fell into his comrades behind him. He shook his head and stepped back up to Xena.

"Is that all you have?"

The raider growled at Xena and plunged forward at her. Xena jumped off to the side, the raider rushed past her and came to a stop. He turned back around and glared at her, he was hot tempered. The warrior laughed at him. Their swords then met again over their heads, then lower, followed by off to the right side a little. That's when Xena punched the raider in the face. He stumbled back and then recovered with the pair's swords meeting.

Everybody watched from around, raiders and villagers. Gabrielle had moved a little closer to watch her soulmate. The bard had then realized that her soulmate was toying with the raider, she grinned inwardly then shook her head. Even the raiders and inexperienced villagers knew Xena was toying with the raider. The only one not to know was the raider himself considering he was too consumed by his anger to know the difference.

Xena parried the raider's sword stab, she then kicked him in the stomach. He was stunned so Xena kicked his sword out of hand, it landed to the ground. The raider looked up to the grinning warrior, the next thing to follow was the warrior doing a round house kick. The raider went sprawling through the air and onto his back. The Warrior Princess walked up beside him and placed her sword tip to his throat.

"Now then, I highly recommend you leave here"

The raider blinked and looked up into dark blue eyes. The sword was pressed hard against his throat, he replied but it was choked out. "We'll leave"

Xena grinned to the man. "Good" The warrior bent down, her face going close to his. She continued speaking now but in a deep growl. "Don't come any where near these parts again" Silence for a few heartbeats. "Got me?"

The raider nodded. "No problem"

Xena smiled cynically. "Great, get out of here…now" The warrior stood back up and removed her sword from his throat. The raider stumbled up onto his feet, he looked to his friends and nodded to them. Xena looked to her right where Ferus and Toris were standing in the circle, she nodded to them. The Constable and Toris moved out of the way as did a few villagers. The raiders walked through with their leader in the back. Everybody watched the raiders leave, especially Xena. The band began to climb the ridge and disappear over it, the leader still in sight. Gabrielle walked up beside Xena, they smiled to each other. Xena then looked back up to the where the raiders went, her face dropped.

The leader had stopped walking and currently had his right arm moving forward, dagger in hand and aimed at one individual. Xena looked to Ferus, then to the raider, the dagger gone from the raider's hand. The warrior moved to Ferus at an incredible speed. She reached out forward, her breath caught in her throat. Her fingers wrapped around cold metal and stopped the blade in midair, it's tip only inches from Ferus' throat.

The Constable's stunned eyes turned to Xena. "Thanks"

Xena smiled a little. "No problem" She then looked to the raider, he still stood there glaring, Xena smirked and reached to her side. Her chakram came off her side with a cling and she threw it. The chakram went whistling through the air, bounced off a tree to the right, lowered in angel and came right at the raider. It struck him at the waist and the chakram was redirected back to Xena. The warrior snatch it out of midair once in was near enough, she hooked it back on.

There near the ridge's edge was a raider with his pants down. Everybody broke out laughing with the exception of Xena who snickered then just grinned. The raider pulled up his pants rather briskly and hurried himself over the ridge and out of sight.

~*Part 7*~

"Xena I can't believe you did that"

The warrior closed the door behind her and looked to her soulmate, she grinned. "He's lucky he only got that"

The bard chuckled, shook her head then proceeded to remove her cloak. "Have to admit it was funny even though what the raider tried to do"

Xena nodded at that in agreement, the warrior also taking off her cloak. She tossed it on the made bed beside Gabrielle's. The warrior then unclipped her sword and took off her chakram, she dropped them on top of her cloak.

Gabrielle placed her staff up against the wall and turned to Xena. "Now can we go get something to eat?"

Xena looked up from the bed and then grinned. "Yeah I'm quite hungry too"

The bard chuckled and shifted closer to her soulmate. "Xena?"

"Mmm?"

"Don't you think we should sit down with your mom and talk to her about us?"

Xena dropped her eyes to the floor and thought. Her blue eyes then shifted back to look at Gabrielle. "Yeah you're right, we better. Knowing Mother she probably already suspects"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "That's my guess too" The bard then chuckled.

The warrior grinned. "Come on let's go" The soulmates padded out of the room and ambled down the steps to see an empty tavern. "Go sit down. I'll go see Mother"

The bard nodded to her soulmate then headed over to sit at a table. She sighed. She still felt sleepy after waking so early. But she still had her growling stomach to make happy, which she had every intentions of doing. Gabrielle turned her head to the left to see Xena coming out of the kitchen, Cyrene right behind her. The mother and daughter came over to Gabrielle's table.

"Good morning sweetie"

"Morning Mom"

Xena sat down beside her soulmate. Cyrene looked to both the pair now. "So I hear you two want some breakfast?"

Gabrielle grinned. "I could go for anything right about now"

The innkeeper chuckled. "Alright, I'll make something up for you both"

"Afterwards Mother, Gabrielle and I would like to talk to you"

The tavern owner looked to her daughter, expression serious as Xena's. "Alright dear" With that Cyrene turned around and headed back into the kitchen to make breakfast.

Xena's sapphire eyes turned from the kitchen door to the bard. "Sleepy huh?"

Gabrielle looked up to her partner. She nodded then responded. "Yeah afraid so"

The warrior nodded. "Get some sleep after you eat"

The bard stretched out her legs under the table, her legs falling on top of Xena's legs. Gabrielle chuckled and looked to Xena, the warrior grinned. The warrior lifted her own legs up and in turn the smaller woman's legs were lifted up. The bard smirked and Xena dropped her legs, but Gabrielle never moved her legs from over top of Xena's, the warrior not at all minding.

"You know I think I might just go take a nap after breakfast"

Xena chuckled. "I figured as much"

The Amazon Queen arched an eyebrow at her best friend. "Oh? And you're not going to join me?"

The older woman folded her hands in her lap. "I will but I have to do something first"

"And what's that?"

"Ferus wants to speak with me"

Gabrielle nodded then dropped her head against the chair's back. "Then you'll join me?"

Sparkling sky splashed eyes shifted to the bard. "Of course"

The bard fiendishly grinned. "Good"

The kitchen door opened and Cyrene came out, two plates in hand. She placed one in front of each of the soulmates. "Drinks?"

Gabrielle looked up. "Do you have orange juice?"

Cyrene smiled. "Of course, freshly squeezed every morning dear" The innkeeper looked to her daughter. "You dear?"

The warrior smiled "The same"

The tavern owner nodded her head, reached into large pockets in her dress. She produced two forks and knifes placing them on the table for the soulmates. Cyrene then headed behind the bar, filling up two mugs with orange juice. Once she returned she handed them to the pair.

"I'm going to go back into the kitchen to clean up, then I'll be back. Go ahead and eat" Xena and Gabrielle both nodded and Cyrene smiled. She disappeared into the kitchen while the soulmates began to eat.

"You know I feel real bad your mom is cooking everything"

Xena looked up from her plate, she swallowed some of her food. "She loves cooking"

Gabrielle grinned. "I can relate"

The warrior arched an eyebrow. "I can't"

The bard chuckled at that. She took a sip of the rich orange juice. "I think tonight I'll try and help her with the crowd"

Xena smiled to her soulmate. "She'd like that" Gabrielle nodded her head and went on eating. Xena then drank down some orange juice. "She'd probably also love it if you'd tell a story or two one night"

The younger woman let her fork's tip sink into the food as she held the top, she looked to Xena. "I don't know"

The warrior nodded her head. "I know…try it when you're ready"

Gabrielle sadly smiled. She wanted to be a bard again. "I will"

The bard's soulmate smiled deeply and went on eating, the pair being quiet for the remainder of the meal. Once they were finished Cyrene on cue came shuffling out of the kitchen. She sat down at a chair facing the soulmates.

"Looks like you enjoyed breakfast" The plates were clean.

Gabrielle grinned. "It was great Mom. Do you think tonight I can help you cook for the dinner crowd?"

The innkeeper smiled. "I could always use the extra help sweetie" Cyrene then pulled out a seat and sat down, still looking to the bard.

"Great, then I'll help"

Cyrene nodded with a smile then she focussed on both of the soulmates. "So what do you dears need to speak with me about?"

The warrior sat straight in the seat, Gabrielle's legs moving from over top of Xena's. "Well Gabrielle and I have something to tell you Mother" The warrior looked to her bard, Gabrielle to Xena.

The bard interpreted the look. Sensitive chats. Gabrielle looked to Cyrene. "You see Cyrene um how do you put this right?" Gabrielle looked to her soulmate. Xena arched an eyebrow then crossed her arms against her chest. The bard looked back to the innkeeper. "Well you see, Xena and I are…um…"

"Lovers"

Gabrielle looked to her soulmate, her mouth hanging open from Xena's one single word. The warrior shrugged her shoulders then grinned.

Cyrene looked from the bard to where her daughter sat after hearing Xena's…explanation. Cyrene simply nodded her head and rest back into the wood chair. She smiled deeply to the soulmates. "I knew"

The bard looked back to Cyrene. "You knew?" The innkeeper nodded at Gabrielle's question. "Well why didn't you ask Xena or I?"

The tavern owner smiled and leaned forward, her arms resting on the table. "I wanted you two to tell me when you were ready to"

Gabrielle nodded and Xena kept smiling. "How long Mother?"

The innkeeper crossed her arms against her chest and reflected. "I suppose since the beginning when you both stepped in here"

The warrior arched an eyebrow. "The two days ago or the year and a half ago?"

Cyrene chuckled. "Well I do have to say I noticed it in the making from the very beginning. Mothers know these things. But I could tell you both confessed it to each other when you stepped in here two days ago. The love you hold for each other just fills the space around you both"

Both soulmates looked to each other and Xena arched an eyebrow.

Gabrielle laughed at her partner. "Xena, it wasn't my fault"

The warrior's face went into question at the bard's statement. "Oh? And you're saying its mine?"

The bard nodded with a grin. "Yes you were the first one to make a move"

Xena grinned to her soulmate. "And who's to say you didn't make the first move back in that grove over a year ago?"

Gabrielle coughed then looked to Cyrene.

The innkeeper grinned at the pair. "Xena and Gabrielle" Both the soulmates went serious at Cyrene's serious tone, the innkeeper continuing. "I'm very happy for you both. I can tell that the other has helped you both tremendously. I can't be more proud…of you both" The tavern owner smiled very deeply, the kind of smile Gabrielle had seen only on Xena's lips at precious times.

Gabrielle smiled back very warmly. "Thank you Cyrene. I know that means a lot to me and Xena…for us"

The warrior looked to her partner, smiled brightly and Gabrielle smiled back.

Xena looked to her mother again. "I have to say Mother, I was very skeptical about telling you. I wasn't sure what your reaction would have been. But I'm really happy we did, thank you"

Cyrene nodded with her warm smile. "I want the best for you both and I know having each other is one of the best things…for each of you"

Gabrielle then stood up from her seat and moved to Cyrene. The innkeeper stood up and the two women wrapped their arms tightly around each other. "Thanks again Mom"

Xena's mother squeezed a little hardier. The two women pulled back a little from the embrace to gaze at each other. "No thank you sweetie"

Gabrielle nodded her head, understanding what Cyrene meant by that. They broke the embrace and Xena now stood up. Mother and daughter now hugged strongly.

The tavern owner patted Xena's back. The warrior sighed and they broke the hug, smiling to each other. "Thanks Mother"

Cyrene nodded lightly then responded back. "Xena, no matter what I'll always love you"

The warrior nodded, her face constructed into a sad happiness. Gabrielle wanted to rush over and hug her soulmate, but knew it wasn't the right moment.

"I'm sorry for everything Mother"

"It's over with Xena, lets just move on" Xena nodded and Cyrene sadly smiled. "Why don't you two go get some rest like Toris"

Gabrielle stepped around from the table to stand closer to Xena.

"Yeah we will Mother"

The tavern keeper nodded to her daughter. "Good. Sleep well" With that Cyrene shuffled off into the kitchen, the soulmates heading upstairs to their room. As soon as the door to their room shut, Xena found Gabrielle in her arms. The side of the bard's face rested on the warrior's chest, Xena dropping her head onto the smaller woman's head. They stayed like that for minutes, letting time pass. There was such strength and protection in this for the pair. It is as if no man could ever break this invisible barrier around them, this invisible barrier known as love.

Xena took a deep breath, her eyes closed. "I should go" Gabrielle tightened her arms more around Xena. The warrior chuckled. "I take that as a no I shouldn't go"

The bard grinned, Xena feeling the grin form against her chest. "No don't go"

Silence loomed for a few heartbeats. They both enjoyed this more then anything.

Xena then groaned. "Gabrielle…" It came out as a low rumble and Gabrielle had felt her name vibrated through Xena's body.

The Amazon Queen chuckled a little. "Okay…okay" The younger woman released the warrior, Gabrielle looked up with a small grin.

Xena smiled back. "I'll be back soon"

The bard nodded. "All right" Gabrielle then shifted over to the bed, she lifted up Xena's cloak. She tossed it to the warrior. "Don't forget that, I don't want you getting sick"

The Warrior Princess grinned as she put on the heavy cloak. "Always looking after me huh?"

Gabrielle nodded with a grin. "Always"

Xena nodded with a smile, her eyes ever so slightly twinkling. Gabrielle couldn't help but wonder why too.

"Go hop in bed, I'll be back soon as I can"

"Yes Mom"

The warrior arched an eyebrow at her partner, Xena opened the door. The bard smirked to her soulmate, her arms crossing against her chest. Xena stepped through the doorway and looked back to her best friend, she wink to the bard then disappeared through the door. The door closed and Gabrielle sighed, her cheeks felt rather warm as did the rest of her body. The bard looked down at the floor, she chuckled, shook her head with a grin and mumbled to herself. "How does she do that?"

Gabrielle shifted a little on the bed. Her quill went back to the diary. The small bard lay on her stomach on the bed, her legs up crossed at the ankles in the air. The bard faced the door, her diary right at the edge of the bed. She took a deep breath and went on writing.

Well Xena and I told Cyrene about our relationship. It went really well, thank the gods. I could tell Xena was really worried about how her mother would react. I have to say I was really worried as well for Xena and Cyrene. But Cyrene seemed quite supportive of the relationship, I figured she would be. I think Xena and Cyrene are trying to make up for the past. I know Xena never wanted any of her past to happen but figured it to be to late once she was pulled in. Now though she knows it's never to late to change. Thankfully Cyrene knows that too. Its so wonderful to seem them back together as mother daughter. I can tell something has come back to life in Xena. Her eyes appear to soften a little each day.

Then Toris showed up yesterday, last night. He seemed well too. Said he'd been passing through the area and dropped in. Supposedly he has some kind of job he needs to do then he plans to be back on Solstice. I'm sure that made Cyrene happy. Toris seems happier then the last time I saw him, more at easy.

But Xena, myself, Toris, Constable Ferus of Amphipolis and a few villagers had to scare off some raiders. There were twenty-three raiders south of Amphipolis, Xena had found their horse's tracks. So we found them in a cave not to far away and earlier this morning we smoked them out. Xena then fought the leader and the band of raiders ran after Xena defeated him.

The bard looked up to see a tall dark form standing in the doorway, Gabrielle grinned. "Back already?"

Xena nodded with a grin, she stepped into the room and closed the door. "Yeah, didn't take long" The warrior made her way over to the bed. The warrior bent down to one knee and became eye level with her soulmate. "So why aren't you in bed?"

Gabrielle dropped her quill on the diary. "I am" Xena arched an eyebrow at the Amazon Queen. "What? I am"

Xena grinned. "Uh huh you know what I mean"

The bard huffed. "Such a mother hen"

The warrior chuckled, she brought up her right hand to Gabrielle's cheek. Gabrielle sighed and leaned more into Xena's touch. The warrior smiled. "I love you"

The younger woman sighed, her spring eyes closed then opened slowly again. "I love you too Xena"

Xena smiled lovingly, her soft fingertips glided from the bard's cheek to under her chin. Xena leaned in very slowly as the bard closed her eyes. Xena's crystal blue eyes closed as the soulmate's lips met. The kiss was so ever gentle yet the love poured through the light kiss.

The Warrior Princess pulled away slowly again their eyes opening and locking. Xena's fingertips still under Gabrielle's chin. The warrior's thumb delicately grazed across Gabrielle's full lips. The warrior felt how warm, soft and incredible perfect those red lips were. Xena began to stand back up, she saw how those incredible glimmering forest eyes began to ache from Xena backing away. The warrior grinned a little to the bard.

Xena pulled her cloak off and tossed it to the wood table off to the left where her weapons and the bard's cloak lay. She then turned back to Gabrielle and reached down, her large hands lifting up the diary and quill. Xena closed the book and moved to place it on the table, green eyes on her the entire time. The bard then rolled off her stomach and onto her knees near the edge of the bed, Xena came to Gabrielle again.

Without warning, Xena captured the bard's lips. This kiss was completely opposite of the other one, it was strong with an urging passion. The bard melted to the kiss and moaned.

"I thought you were tired Gabrielle?" The warrior's lips moved to Gabrielle's neck now.

The bard moaned some, her hands going into the warrior's hair. "Oh no…I'm quite awake"

Xena grinned against Gabrielle's skin. The bard then brought her hands to the warrior's straps, she pulled on them. The warrior followed the physical signal and began to climb onto the bed.

"Xena, what about your bother? Isn't he up here?"

The warrior chuckled deeply, her large hands going to Gabrielle's stomach, her lips slowly moving down to the bard's chest.

"He is and I don't care"

Gabrielle laughed some but then all thoughts of laughing left as the warrior's lips came to her mouth again. Xena's hand shifting to the green top.

Slowly emerald eyes opened, her eyes looking up to the ceiling. Her body was tingling all over like prickle pears. Resting on Gabrielle's chest was the warrior's head, one of Xena's arms wrapped around Gabrielle's stomach while the other was under her neck. The bard had her right arm under the warrior's back her hand rest on Xena's side. Her other hand resting on top of Xena's hand. The warrior is sleeping on her side as their legs are intertwined, their nude bodies touching.

Gabrielle took a deep breath, Xena's head rising from the movement. Very slowly the bard released her breath, her mind drifting. Drifting to many things, many things that she had questions about but hardly answers to.

"What you thinking about?"

Gabrielle lifted her head to look down to Xena, seeing a smile form on the warrior's lips, blue eyes still closed. The bard dropped her head back down with a smile. "Nothing really"

"Uh huh, why don't I believe that?" The warrior listened to Gabrielle's heartbeat, she really liked that. Silence hung in the air for a few minutes so Xena intertwined her fingers with Gabrielle's.

The bard smiled at that and took another deep breath. "Just thinking about some stuff I suppose"

"Mmm like what?"

"I don't know" Gabrielle paused. "A little bit about the bard thing"

Xena nodded a little against the smaller woman's chest. "Yeah? Like which part?"

The bard didn't respond right away, she began to let her fingers caress Xena's warm skin at her side. "How much I miss it"

The warrior lifted her head from the bard's chest and looked to Gabrielle. "Why don't you try tell a story tonight?"

The younger woman broke eye contact with Xena. "Something doesn't feel right yet to do that Xen"

Xena nodded her head lightly, she still wasn't satisfied. But she dropped her head back down on the bard's chest. "What about starting out with your writing again?"

Gabrielle began to smile to herself. "Yeah"

Xena smiled too and closed her eyes again. She then felt Gabrielle begin to move, her body coming down. Xena opened her eyes and looked into emerald ones. The bard ducked in closer to kiss Xena lightly. Pulling back, Xena brought her hand around to the back of her soulmate's head. She pulled the bard's head in under her chin. The warrior tightly held her soulmate.

Neither soulmate spoke for a few moments, they just let time move. Xena took a deep breath, opened her eyes and then leaned in a little to kiss the bard on the forehead. Emerald eyes fluttered open and Gabrielle grinned to her soulmate.

Xena grinned back with her warm eyes. "I think we better get up love"

The bard sighed and snuggled her face back into Xena's neck. "Not yet"

The warrior chuckled at the younger woman. Xena's large hand moving down to lightly caress the smaller woman's back. "We need to. I want to see if Mother needs anything done around here"

"Yeah and I promised Mom that I'd help her with the cooking"

The warrior's eyes began to twinkle right then. "Are you planning to pick up on anything new?"

The Amazon Queen lifted her head from under Xena's chin and looked into twinkling sapphire eyes. "Why?"

Xena grinned to her soulmate. "Just wondering"

Gabrielle chuckled and responded. "Uh huh, what recipe do you want me to find out?"

The Warrior Princess chuckled. "Well Mother happens to make these little eggs with the yolk whipped up in them. They're really good. Think you could get that out of her?"

The bard laughed a few times, took a deep breath. "Deviled eggs Xena?" Emerald eyes shut while the bard chuckled a few more times, she then looked back to her soulmate. "I'll try to swindle them out of her…just for you" The small form took a breath as she saw Xena's lips for into a grin. "Mmm I think I'll try to get that honey marinated chicken recipe. It was so good"

Xena nodded in agreement too. "Yeah I really loved that"

The bard then devilishly grinned. "So when you think you'll come back there in the kitchen and join the cooking fest?"

A dark eyebrow arched very high up. "Cook…Gabrielle. Not-"

"Not one of your many skills?" Xena nodded. "Well Xen, I think you should add it to your list"

"Oh no my bard. That's your department"

"Oh? You fight while I cook?"

"Okay fine, you fight and I'll cook. Deal?"

The bard's eyes widen rather quickly. "No thank you! I prefer my food scorched free"

Xena's eyes narrowed while a grin formed on her smooth lips. The bard's face dropped as she quickly realized what was going to happen. Small hands quickly shot out to catch Xena's larger hands. "Xena!"

The warrior laughed as those small hands tried hold back Xena's stronger hands. Unfortunately for our bard she couldn't keep it up. The warrior's hands went to Gabrielle's ribs and began to tickle her. The younger woman squealed and began to try and roll away from Xena getting no where. The bed sheets were quickly turned into balls at the foot of the bed.

The bard was breathing hard as she giggled uncontrollable. Gabrielle knew she couldn't stop her attacker by holding Xena's hands back. Her mind quickly came up with another idea, so she preformed it. The bard pushed her body against Xena's forcing the warrior onto her back. The Amazon Queen rolled on top of Xena and warm lips claimed Xena's.

Those hands that were tickling earlier now began to caress the bard's bare sides. Once Gabrielle broke the kiss she leaped off the bed and naked soulmate. Xena was caught completely off guard by this sudden change. She sat up in the bed to see her nude soulmate at the foot of the bed, hands down to the bed sheets. Gabrielle grinned at the momentarily stunned warrior. Her small hands lifted up the ball of bed sheets and tossed them at Xena.

The older woman quickly found the bed sheets smacking into her face and then falling into her lap. Gabrielle broke out laughing at the warrior. Xena shook her head and grinned.

"Oh Gods I'm a bad bard" After saying that Gabrielle winked at the warrior and sauntered across the room to retrieve her cloths.

Xena still didn't move or say anything, she just stared at her soulmate, her mind working rather quickly. Then a very cat like smile formed on Xena's lips as her very twinkling eyes narrowed at the bard's back. The Warrior Princess tossed the bed sheets to her right on the bed. In one quick fluent motion she hopped out of bed. Gabrielle turned around to look at her soulmate, seeing her out of the bed.

Xena's back was ridged, her eyes still twinkling with mischief. Her black hair flowed down but had a certain wildness to it that made her look lecherous. Slowly and with grace Xena strutted over near the bard where her leathers are also located. Gabrielle watched with intent, her skirt on and green top on, not laced though.

"Excuse me, I forgot my leathers over here"

Gabrielle raised an eyebrow skeptically at Xena. She watched as that strong warrior leaned down to lift up her leathers. Her emerald eyes were filled with the view of seeing the muscles move along Xena's body as she bent down and straightened back up. Xena looked to Gabrielle and flashed a sexy smile then ambled to the opposite side of the room.

The Amazon Queen continued to lace her top up ever so slowly as she watched Xena ever so slow slip into her leathers. Gabrielle grinned to herself. How do we do this to each other? Sighing inwardly the bard knew exactly why too. She continued to lace up her top as she watched her warrior, her emerald eyes becoming dark as olives.

Xena pulled the last strap over her right shoulder. She turned to her left to the table, she picked up her armor and began to put it on. Second to last clip, she moves on to the last clip over her shoulder, done. She then reaches behind, pulling her hair up then letting it drop freely on her back. Blue eyes then shifted to the floor to find her boots. Lacing them up rather quickly, Xena turned to her fully dressed bard with boots on.

"Xena?"

"Hmmm?"

"You forgot something else over here"

The warrior brought up one eyebrow at Gabrielle. "And what was that?"

The bard grinned. "Your soulmate"

Xena smiled and walked over to Gabrielle. Two large hands rested on the bard's hips, Xena peering down into deep ivy eyes. "Mmm, I was just saving the best for last" The warrior slowly bent her head down to Gabrielle's face, only mere inches from each other, nose about to touch. The bard closed her eyes, complete anticipation of something.

Xena grinned, letting it stay that way for a heartbeat. She then whispered to her soulmate. "Gabrielle?"

The smaller woman's eyes opened back up slowly. "Xena…"

"Let's go" The warrior then brought her head back up and released Gabrielle. Xena moved over to the door and turned back to an annoyed bard. "Coming?"

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes for a moment. "Ohhh bad warrior"

Xena chuckled. "What comes around goes around"

The bard arched an eyebrow. She then walked up to Xena's side, looked up to the warrior with a grin. "Mmm…we'll see" Gabrielle smirked, opened the door and stepped through.

Xena watched her soulmate turned to her right and walked down the hall, the warrior closing the door as she stepped into the hall.

Cyrene brought a knife down to cut the last bit of carrot, the kitchen door then swung open. Her eyes lifted to see a warrior and bard enter in.

"Hi dears"

Xena smiled. "Mother"

The bard walked past Xena and came up near Cyrene. "Need any help?"

The innkeeper looked to the bard with a grin. "Always sweetie"

"Mother, do you happen to need any wood chopped?" The tavern owner looked up to Xena with a smile. "I mean it is going to be winter soon"

Cyrene kept her smile as she replied. "Actually dear, I do need some of that done. Have loads of wood, just never gone and done anything about it"

Xena nodded her head. "Axe out there as always?"

The innkeeper nodded. "It should be, nothing much changes around here"

Again the warrior nodded. "Alright, I'll take care of that" Blue eyes then looked to the silent bard. "Gabrielle?"

The Amazon Queen looked up from the chief's table to Xena, the bard smiled with certain fiendishness. "Yes?"

A cork grin from Xena. "When you're done here. Why don't we do some sparring?"

"Love too"

"Good, just come out with your staff and my sword when you're done here"

Gabrielle nodded and Xena ambled out of the kitchen to leave Cyrene and Gabrielle alone. The innkeeper reached forward to grasp another carrot. The bard still watched the door Xena went out, she sighed and looked to Cyrene.

"She's a mess"

The bard looked to Cyrene after the innkeeper's words. "Yeah she is. I don't know how you handled Xena when she was young"

The older woman chuckled, shook her head and continued to cut the carrot. "I don't know either Gabrielle, she was a hand full"

"I can imagine" The small bard then spotted all the vegetables on the table. "Soup?"

The innkeeper nodded. "Knives right over there" Cyrene pointed straight across the kitchen.

Emerald eyes followed her gaze to see the rack of knives. She walked over to them.

The kitchen was a large wood table in the center. In the back of the building is where the oven with fire is located. Behind Cyrene were racks of pots and pans and a cleaning area. Where the bard stood to retrieve a knife is a counter with stacks of clean plates, bowls, mugs, utensils, smaller plates, and an array of items.

Her small hands lifted a knife and she turned around back to the center chief's table. She came up to it, and grabbed a vegetable. Off to her right was a huge pot. Cyrene gathered up her carrot bits and tossed them into that pot.

"So have any Xena stories you care to share Mom?"

The innkeeper looked up from her cutting to Gabrielle. She grinned and responded. "Of course sweetie. Where would you like to begin?"

The bard chuckled, she is cutting up a potato. "How about with that doll? I'd love to know the history behind it"

Cyrene grinned and let her past drift back to the present. "You see Gabrielle, Xena was rather protective of that doll"

The bard nodded her had. "That's what I gathered"

Cyrene nodded her head, she then went on. "Like I told you sweetie Toris always tried to take that doll from her. It normally started out with Toris saying something like 'I'll take that doll.' Of course Xena would just huff and say 'No you won't'"

The bard chuckled. "I can just imagine that"

The innkeeper grinned. "Yes well it never ended there normally Toris would say 'Who says I won't?' Then you know how Xena gets those devilish grins?"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "All to well I know those, nothing but trouble"

Xena's mother chuckled. "Quite, she'd get one of those grins and reply to Toris in a sarcastic tone with 'I'd like to see you try Toris.' Constantly those two were at it, normally that's how I knew"

The Amazon Queen grinned, letting her mind imagine her soulmate doing this. The tavern owner grinned as more of her memories came to life from ages ago. Her voice filled the room as she went on telling the bard the tales behind that little well loved doll. Gabrielle listens and records every last detail into her memory.

The warrior brought the axe down a little lightly onto the tree stump, the blade sinking in. Xena straightened up and reached to her wrists, she removed her gauntlets and tossed them to the ground. She took a deep breath and released it into the air. Her breath was visible in the cool air even though she felt hot from chopping the wood.

She stretched her arms out in front of her body. Xena then grabbed the axe again and lifted a large piece of wood on the ground. She placed it in the center of the tree stump, the axe came down on it splitting the wood in half.

Her large hands reached down to place another thing of wood in the middle of the stump, the halves from earlier on the ground. Xena then heard somebody coming up behind her, she knew whom from years' past.

"Hey Sis" Toris stepped up beside his sister and smiled to her. He was dressed in his normal attire, warm cloak on over top.

"Hi Toris. Finally decided to get up huh?"

Toris grinned and replied. "Oh it's only early afternoon Xena. It's not so bad"

The warrior shook her head and grinned. She brought the axe up then back down on the wood. The slivers dropping to the ground on top of other cut wood. "Sleep well?"

Xena's brother nodded. "Yeah, feels good to be in that old room"

Xena looked to her brother with a grin. "Yeah I know what you mean"

Toris chuckled. "So Mother asked you to chop wood?"

The tall woman centered another piece of wood. "Nope" Axe came down. "Asked her"

The older sibling nodded his head. "Nice of you"

Xena grinned up to her brother. "Uh huh" She chopped another wood piece in half.

"Uh…so how long are you and Gabrielle here for?"

The warrior arched an eyebrow as she lifted a lumber. "However long we want. Why?"

Toris shrugged his shoulders. "No reason"

"Mmm"

Silence fell over as the warrior chopped a few more pieces. By then she'd done plenty, so she stopped. Her large hands drove the axe into the tree stump. She leaned on it with her elbow and looked to Toris. "So why did you ask?"

"No reason Xena"

The warrior grinned. "No body asks things for shits and giggles Toris. Why?"

Toris brought up one hand to rub the back of his head for a moment. "Was just wondering. That's all"

The warrior nodded. "Okay"

He dropped his hand and smiled to Xena. "By any chance is Gabrielle married?"

One of the tall woman's dark eyebrows arched up. "Why Toris?"

"Thought I'd just ask"

Xena sighed. "She was"

"Was?"

The Warrior Princess nodded. "Yeah, while back ago. Long story"

"Who was it?"

"A young man from her village, Perdicus"

"What happened?"

Xena crossed her arms against her chest. "He died"

Toris dropped his eyes. "Ah sorry"

"Don't tell me that, I didn't go through it"

Xena's brother looked up. "Yeah I know. I'm sure that was rough huh?"

Xena nodded. "It was for her" Xena then bent down to the ground and started to lift up some of the wood. She turned to Toris and tossed the wood into his arms. "Takes some of these over to the oven back outside"

"Sure"

The warrior grinned and began to stake up some of the wood into Toris' arms.

"Xena?"

"What?" Xena placed a few more pieces of wood into the stack in his arms. Her hand still held one more, waiting for Toris to talk.

"Did…did uh Gabrielle ever mention anything about me after she first met me?"

One of the Warrior Princess' eyebrows went up again. "If she did Toris I don't remember" Xena slammed the piece of wood hard, down onto the stack in his arms.

Toris made a humph noise as he tried not to drop the wood. "Getting touchy aren't you?"

Xena's eyes picked up a faint hint of darkness to them. "Just go take that wood back there would you?"

"Of course sister dear"

Toris turned to his right and walked down along the side of the tavern to the back. Xena watched him go, her body untensed once he was out of sight. The warrior took a deep breath and began to collect the remaining wood. Once she had all she could collect, Xena went inside of the tavern. Her blue eyes shifted to the fireplace and she headed straight for it, dropping the wood near it. She then went back outside to chop more wood.

~*Part 8*~

Gabrielle walked around the corner, her left arm loaded with Xena's cloak and sword. The bard had her own staff in her right hand and her cotton-leather cloak on. She stopped and leaned against the corner of the tavern, her eyes locked on her soulmate. She watched as Xena chopped two pieces of wood. Brought the axe hard down into the tree stump. Xena then proceeded to stack up the wood on the ground. Once Gabrielle saw she was done she stalked over to the warrior.

"Finished?"

Xena looked up to her soulmate. "Was going to ask you the same thing just a second ago"

Gabrielle blushed, caught red handed. "Yeah well, I like watching you"

The warrior grinned. "So I noticed" Xena then bent down to the ground collecting her gauntlets and put them on.

The bard though blushed another shade at Xena's words. "So uh" Gabrielle a bit flustered, so she cleared her throat. "You ready to do so sparring?"

The older woman nodded and smiled. "Yeah. You done helping Mother?"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "Yeah. Here would you put this on, I don't want you getting cold for Gods' sakes" The bard handed the warrior her cloak and sword.

Xena took the sword first, clipping it to her back. She then put on her dark heavy cloak, it felt good. "Thanks"

"No problem"

"Come on, let's go do some sparring before it gets to late. I know a good spot"

Gabrielle nodded her head. Xena then started walking behind the tavern, her soulmate right beside her. "Yeah I told your mom that I'd help waitress tonight, give Saada the night off"

Xena nodded then smiled. "That's nice of you"

The bard chuckled. "Yeah well it was a bit of a deal" The pair entered into the woods of Amphipolis.

"Deal?"

"Yeah"

"A deal about what?"

"Uh…just something or another"

"Gabrielle" It was another low rumble.

Gabrielle chuckled as her staff hit the ground. "What?"

Blue eyes looked to the bard. "What was the deal?"

The smaller woman shrugged her shoulders, she replied in a casual voice. "Oh just that I'd do some waitressing if she told me some stories"

"Stories about who?"

"Um you know, just some of those old stories" The pair entered into a clearing in the woods, the ground covered in brown leaves.

"Really? How many of these old stories did she tell you?"

"Just a few"

"That many huh?"

For a responds Xena got some chuckles from Gabrielle. The bard took a few steps back and lifted her staff up in defense

"Come on warrior. We both need a little work out"

The warrior grinned and chuckled as she unsheathed her sword. "After Mother's food yup"

"So you just gonna stand there and look pretty with that sword or fight?"

Xena laughed while the bard grinned. That's when the sparring started from that little competitive question.

The bard's staff dropped out of her left hand, the butt end landing to the ground. She leaned against the staff in her right hand and grinned. "That wasn't to bad"

The warrior arched an eyebrow at her soulmate, her sword in her right hand pointed tip down. "Thanks"

Gabrielle laughed a little and then smiled to Xena. "For me that is"

Xena grinned and spun her sword, she then brought the sword to her back, sheathing it. Metal scrapping against metal rung through the air. "So you ready to get dinner?"

"Definitely"

The warrior chuckled and the bard stepped up closer to her soulmate. The pair made their trek through the woods and back to the tavern. Soon they entered inside, it was already bustling with people. Xena nodded to her partner and Gabrielle nodded back. They mingled through the people and ascended the stairs going to their room. Once inside they both removed their cloaks, tossing them to the wood tables.

Xena reached behind unclipping her sword. "You planning to help Mother with serving?"

Gabrielle turned around from propping her staff up against the wall, she faced Xena. "Yes, I think she'll need it"

The older woman nodded her head and stepped up to Gabrielle. The bard looked up to her soulmate with a smile.

A warm smiled eased its way onto the warrior's lips. "I forgot something again"

The Amazon Queen arched an eyebrow in questioning. "Oh? And what was that?"

"This" Xena leaned down and sealed her lips with the bard's. As the kiss went on, one of the taller woman's large hands went up to the bard's cheek. Gabrielle's hands grasping the warrior's leather hips.

They both melted to the kiss, it was long and searing. Their bodies came to life like a fire burning brightly in the night. The air around them softened incredible.

Slowly they pulled away from the kiss, Gabrielle's forest eyes peacefully opened. "I'll make sure to remind you for now on"

The warrior grinned. "I'm counting on it"

The bard chuckled at her lover's words. "Are we ready to go now?"

The older woman's brow went up while her voice came out low and rich. "Are we?"

Gabrielle blushed some and she replied in a low voice. "Yeah"

Xena smiled to her soulmate, her same hand from earlier came up and brushed some of Gabrielle's hair back. "Come on"

The smaller woman nodded and the soulmates left the room, coming back down to the busy tavern.

"Mother is probably in the kitchen"

Gabrielle looked up to Xena and smiled. "Yeah that's what I figure too" The bard looked around in the tavern then back to Xena. "Go sit down Xena"

The warrior looked away from the people to her soulmate. "You sure?"

The bard nodded her head. "Yeah, I'll go talk to Mom"

Xena nodded her head. The warrior went one way and Gabrielle the other way. The Warrior Princess went to the fireplace, noticing there wasn't any fire going. So she stooped down by the side, picked up five logs and tossed them into the fireplace. Rising back up the warrior spotted a torch against the wall to her right. She ambled over to it and took it then returned back to the fireplace. She proceeded to light the wood and once the fire came to life she put the torch back in it's home.

Looking around, Xena tried to find a decent spot. To her right she spotted a table in the corner, out of the way. Stalking over to it the warrior sat down, her arms crossing against her chest. She eyed the people, studying them all. Some she actually recognized from her childhood, others she'd never seen before.

Her eyes drifted up, she spotted her soulmate sifting through the tables coming towards her. Gabrielle caught Xena's dark eyes, the bard smiled. The warrior smiled back only to her, those blue eyes sparkling in the fire lit tavern.

The bard stepped up to the table and kept her smile to Xena. "What can I do for you Ma'am?"

Xena grinned up at her soulmate's from hearing that question. She uncrossed her arms and leaned forward on the table. "Well what I want I don't believe you have on the menu"

Immediately Gabrielle's face became the shade of the fire. She coughed then responded. "Well that's the special…the dessert special at that"

The warrior smirked, leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms against her chest again. "I'll remember that for later"

"You do that"

"So, what did Mother say?"

The bard looked to the table and placed her left hand on the table, leaning a little on the table. She looked back to Xena. "Said she'll probably only need my help for about two and half candlemarks. And that when you start dinner I could take a break with you"

Xena nodded her head. "Sounds good"

The bard smiled and straightens back up, her hand going back to her side. "So what can I start you out with to drink?"

The older woman chuckled. "The usual"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "Be right back" She began to walk off.

"Thanks Gabrielle"

The bard looked back and flashed the warrior a bright smile. She drifted through the tables.

The tavern is certainly busy, the noise dimming up into the air. Xena sighed and studied the people again. Stretching her legs out under the table, she looked to her left by the stairs. There she saw Toris reappear.

He looked around in the crowded tavern then he spotted the Warrior Princess. He smiled and made is way to the warrior's table. "Hey Xena"

Xena looked up with a small smile. "Care to join Toris?"

Toris nodded his head with his pleasant smile. "Love to" The man pulled out a seat across from the warrior. He brought up his hands to the table and clasped them together.

"Sleep the rest of the afternoon?"

Toris chuckled and replied back. "Nah, just relaxed…haven't done that in awhile"

The tall woman nodded her head in agreement. She took a deep breath and leaned back more into her chair. "So where did you come from?"

Toris smiled a little. "Not to far I was just in Stagira. I think in a few days I'm going to be moving on to Neapolis"

The warrior nodded her head. "Then you'll be back here?"

Toris nodded his head. He took his hands off the table and leaned against the back of the chair. "That's the plan"

"What you doing in Neapolis?"

"Visiting an old friend"

The warrior's dark eyes narrowed for a moment as she looked away. She shifted a little in her seat and looked back to her brother. "How long you think you'll be?"

The man shrugged his shoulders. "Ah probably three days there. Then it's about a good two day ride there"

Xena nodded her head and looked down to her boots as she responded. "So you'll be gone for seven days huh?" Her blue eyes looked back up to Toris.

"That's the plan"

Xena's eyes tore away from her brother and looked up to an approaching woman. Xena smiled some and Toris turned to see the bard coming.

He looked back to his sister. "You really care about her eh?"

Cold sapphire eyes lowered from the bard to Toris. "I do"

The man felt a chill ripple through his body. "Right"

Gabrielle stepped up to the table with a mug in her hands. She stepped closer to Xena and placed the mug down in front of her older soulmate. She smiled to Xena then to Toris. "Finally decided to come down and join the crowd Toris?"

The man looked to Gabrielle and grinned. "Figured I better or Mother would drag me down by my ear"

The bard chuckled, she smiled as she replied. "Well I'm helping Cyrene with the crowd. So I'm your server"

Toris grinned even more then before. "Really?" He quickly took note of the off-white apron the bard had on around her waist. "So I see"

"So what can I get you to drink Toris?"

The man relaxed in his seat more then replied. "Just some port would be great"

The bard nodded her head. She then looked to her soulmate. "Mom says thank you for starting up the fireplace" The warrior nodded with a warm smile and Gabrielle went on. "Do you want to order dinner now Xena?"

The tall woman reflected for a moment then looked back to her partner. "I'll wait a little longer"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "Alright I'll be back in a flash" The small woman disappeared through the tables and back to the bar.

"She's amazing"

The warrior's blue eyes moved from her soulmate to Toris, they went hard as she replied. "Really?"

Toris smiled some. "Oh come on Xena. You've been travelling with her for what? Over a year, you should notice something like that"

"Trust me Toris, I do"

"You hardly act like you do"

Xena grinned a little, she leaned forward and whispered to the man in a low voice. "Toris, let me put it this way. I know every little thing about Gabrielle. You don't"

Xena's brother arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms against his chest. "Who says I won't?"

Now it was the warrior's turn to cross her arms against her chest as she leaned back into the chair. "I'd like to see you try Toris "

Toris grinned slyly. He never responded but kept his cat grin. Xena for her part was on edge, she want to put her brother into his place. But then another side of her had some ideas on how to toy with Toris. She grinned inwardly at that. Not to mention the warrior couldn't wait to see her bard's reaction to Toris trying to bother her. Xena knew it wouldn't be the reaction Toris would be hoping for knowing her soulmate.

Speaking of which, Gabrielle came through the tables to Xena's and Toris' table with another mug. She placed it in front of Toris and looked to the pair.

"Dinner now?"

Toris looked up to the bard with a very warm smile. "What's cooking back there?"

Gabrielle looked to Toris. "Well we do have a soup Cyrene and I made. Homemade beef stew"

Toris nodded his head as he thought. Gabrielle looked over to her soulmate, Xena grinned. The bard arched an eyebrow at the warrior. Xena winked back and the bard's eyes narrowed in suspicion. The bard's soulmate just smiled warmly, it was the sort of smile the bard got when things were going to be fine.

"Well" Gabrielle quickly turned her head back to Toris after hearing him speak. "I think I could go for the stew to start. What else is there?"

"Your mother also prepared roasted pork cooked in onions and sage. With it is some peas, mashed potatoes, and corn bread"

Toris nodded his head. "Sounds wonderful, I'll have that too"

The bard looked to her soulmate. "Xena?"

The warrior smiled and replied back. "Skip the soup and I'll just have the main course"

Gabrielle nodded her head, she was about to move. But Toris spoke to the bard stopping her.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes Toris?"

Xena's brother looked up with a warm smile and replied. "I was wondering if you're going to tell some stories tonight?"

The bard smiled but just a little. "No I wasn't planning on it"

"Well you should. You're quite good"

The Amazon Queen's smile broadened some. "Thanks but I'm not in the right…mood to"

"Oh come on, what could be stopping you?"

Gabrielle's hands went from being by her sides to resting on her sides, her face quite serious. "You wouldn't understand Toris"

"What's there to understand? You're an excellent storyteller and you should do a story"

Gabrielle arched an eyebrow. She looked to her older soulmate for a moment. She caught the warrior's eyes cold and staring at Toris. The bard knew Xena was letting her handle this, it would be worse if Xena did.

Gabrielle looked back to Xena's brother. "Another time Toris I might"

The man nodded his head. "I'll hold that on you"

The bard nodded then smiled with annoyance to her lips. "Great, excuse me" Gabrielle turned her back to Toris and walked over to another table with a smile. She started taking orders from those customers at her other table.

Xena sighed and relaxed her body some in the seat. She crossed her legs at the ankles.

Toris looked to his sister. "So why doesn't she tell a story or two?"

The warrior looked to his brother. "Long story"

"I've got time"

"I don't nor the patience"

"Right"

Silence loomed between the siblings. Toris for his part could not quite understand why his sister was being a little…hostile towards him. He just shrugged it off and began to looked around in the tavern. He watched the bard head into the kitchen from a distant table. She went in and Cyrene came out with plates in hand heading to a table. Toris hadn't seen the tavern this busy since he was a child. Cyrene must be making good money from something like this.

He sighed and grasped his port, taking a drink from it. Turning to Xena again, he smiled some. "So have any adventures to tell?"

Xena brought up an eyebrow in response. Her fingers ran up and down the handle of her mug. "You're asking the wrong person"

Toris huffed and rolled his eyes. He replied in a hard tone. "I thought I just asked the right person earlier but it seems I didn't"

The warrior grinned, she took a sip of her port then placed the mug back done. She quickly replied. "You just didn't ask right"

Toris sighed and took some more of his port down.

Gabrielle then came back to the table, she smiled to her soulmate. "Mom said I could take a break" The bard grinned a little. "She'll bring out the food"

Xena nodded and the Amazon Queen pulled a seat out from under the table next to Xena. Both women now faced Toris.

The bard looked to her soulmate whom was drinking from her mug. "Hey you never told me what you talked to Ferus about?"

The warrior was caught in the middle of her drink. She swallowed it down and placed the mug back to the table. "He wanted to go over the dispersing of the raiders we did"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "That was it?"

The warrior nodded her head. "Pretty much"

Emerald eyes looked straight to Xena. Gabrielle narrowed her eyes a little in skepticism. There was something going on she couldn't figure out. The warrior smiled but something was twinkling deep in those sky splashed eyes. They twinkled so strongly that it made the bard's stomach flutter and zap through her body. Oh yeah there is definitely something going on with that warrior of mine.

Gabrielle sighed and looked to Toris again. "So where you headed to Toris?"

"You mean my trip?" Gabrielle nodded and Toris went on. "Headed to Neapolis. Visiting an old friend that lives there"

The bard nodded her head. "That's nice"

Toris shrugged his shoulders. "Suppose so" He pause then questioned the bard. "So you still using your staff?"

Gabrielle nodded with a smile. "I am, have been for quite a while"

"Becoming good with it?"

"I am"

"Well if you ever want a sparring partner, I'm always free"

The bard wanted to laugh at that but she refrained herself. "That's alright Toris, thanks though"

"Gabrielle it's good to have a change in sparring partners"

The bard grinned and crossed her arms in her lap. "Toris, Xena is the only one I'll spar with considering she's the best around…you can't get anybody better so anybody else isn't worth my time"

Toris looked to Xena, the warrior grinned to him sardonically. He looked back to Gabrielle and smiled a little. "Ouch, well let me know if you change your mind. Sometimes a man can do you good"

The bard chuckled a little. "I'll remember that"

"Please do. I'd love to see that body of yours in fighting motion"

Gabrielle arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? Well you had the chance about a year ago"

Toris grinned with a chuckle. "Sorry I was in space then"

"Mmm you should have kept it that way" That line came out low from the bard's lips. So Toris didn't hear but Xena certainly did, it almost made her laugh.

Cyrene had arrived then with three plates. She carefully removed one from her right hand then the second off her left arm. The third was last and deposited in front of Toris. She then removed utensils to eat with and she looked to the bard. "Sweetie, you want anything to drink?"

"Oh I could really go for some of your warm cider Mom"

The tavern owner grinned and replied back. "Sure sweetie, be back in a sec with it"

Gabrielle nodded and the tavern owner headed back to the bar.

The rest of the evening was busy at first with the tavern's customers. But as the night wore on and the fireplace died a little in intensity, did the people begin to disappear. Gabrielle after her meal had went on helping the tavern owner with the crowd while Toris and Xena talked. They talked about the past some and the local happenings. Toris stayed away from the topic of the bard as much as possible knowing it is one of Xena's protective buttons. By late evening Toris, Xena, Cyrene and Gabrielle were all collected around the one table, talking. The customers had all left leaving this family here.

The bard stiffened a yawn, her body slipping down in the seat some.

Blue eyes shifted to her and then Xena grinned. "Tired?"

Gabrielle looked to her soulmate with a tired smile. "Yeah, that wore me out. I'm getting old" Toris and Cyrene talking back and forth some as the warrior and bard talked.

The warrior shook her head. "That's my excuse not yours"

The bard chuckled and she sighed. Cyrene and Toris both looked to the bard.

Cyrene smiled to the bard. "Sleepy sweetie?"

The bard nodded then tried to stop a yawn. "Just a little"

"Go get some sleep sweetie. It was a long day, thanks for the help"

Gabrielle smiled. "Anytime Mom. It was fun"

"Well you were a great help" Cyrene then looked to her son. "Go get some sleep dear"

Toris nodded his head, stretched his legs and stood up. "I think I will. Goodnight"

Everybody smiled to Toris.

"Night brother"

"Sleep well Toris"

"Goodnight dear, don't let the bugs bite"

Toris shook his head at his mother then headed to the stairs, disappearing up them.

The innkeeper looked back to the two women. "Well I'm headed to bed myself dears. You both better get up there soon. Especially you little one"

Gabrielle grinned to Cyrene. "I will, goodnight Mom"

"Night sweetie"

"Sleep well Mother"

The tavern owner stood up from the seat and looked to her daughter. "Night Xena, don't keep her up"

Xena chuckled and replied back with a grin. "I won't"

Cyrene sternly nodded. "Good" She then migrated up the stairs to her bedroom, opposite end from where the soulmates slept.

Gabrielle looked from the stairs to her soulmate. It was becoming dark in the tavern from the dying fire and half-lit torches. "That was a nice evening"

Xena looked to her soulmate and smiled. She shrugged her shoulder then responded. "For the most part, yeah"

"Most part?"

The warrior sighed and straightened up in her seat. "One word, Toris"

Gabrielle chuckled then dropped her head against the back of the chair. "Tell me about it. What's with him anyway?"

"Mmm he thinks he can take you from me"

The bard raised an eyebrow as she looked to her soulmate. "He knows?"

"No"

"Then…"

"Competition, runs in the family"

Gabrielle groaned. "Great"

The warrior chuckled, she then smiled to her partner. "Come here"

Gabrielle smiled, and was close enough to Xena's chair to just crawl over into the warrior's lap. The Warrior Princess securely wrapped one arm around the bard's back to support her as she sat in the warrior's lap, her right side leaning into Xena. The bard's own right arm was wrapped back behind the warrior and her small hand resting on Xena's opposite shoulder. Xena's right hand resting on Gabrielle's thighs.

She took a deep breath and dropped her head against Xena's left shoulder. "I think I'm going to try and write tomorrow"

"Yeah?"

The bard nodded her head. "I want to…need to"

The warrior smiled. "Good. Just relax tomorrow and work on your stories"

Gabrielle smiled her free left hand reaching to Xena's hand on her thigh. Their hands intertwined together. "What you going to do?"

Xena shrugged her shoulders. "I'll find something…or Mother will find me something"

The younger woman chuckled. "That's for sure" Gabrielle tried to stop a yawn, only partially successful.

"Let's go"

Gabrielle was about to get off her soulmate's lap. But she was to late, Xena had stood up with Gabrielle in her arms.

Xena grinned at the slightly shocked bard. The warrior began to ascend the stairs and talked in a light airy voice. "Top floor…rooms, baths, attic, bedrooms, and the love room"

Gabrielle went into a fit of laughter over her partner's words and voice. She buried her face into her soulmate's chest as she laughed, trying to be quiet but with little victory. They soon found themselves in the love room and piling into the bed for needed sleep.

Times passed on for our characters and for us. We watch Xena and her soulmate enjoy their time in Amphipolis. Gabrielle's face was constructed into numerous smiles, her light voice filling the air around along with her laughter.

Xena even for her part was laughing and smiling more then she had since her childhood. Now her memories of Amphipolis were added onto, not just of her childhood or of the time when Cortese sacked her home. But now of her days she relaxed with her soulmate. On occasions the warrior would leave the tavern to ride Argo, spar with her soulmate, do odd jobs for Cyrene or do errands that Gabrielle knew little about.

The bard didn't remember the last time she was this quite happy. She'd began writing again, she hadn't written a single story since the day Perdicus died. There were a number of stories she wanted to write. That need in her soul built up in her again to write.

She needs a source of assuagement for her soul, and one is writing. Her imagination reeled as she wrote scrolls on Perdicus' death, she'd cry when writing it but she needed too. Not only to write it but to heal from her past. She'd labeled that scroll Return of Callisto the next story quick to follow was Warrior…Princess…Tramp which had the bard laughing. The next two were hardier when she dealt with Xena being in Callisto's body, those two entitled, Intimate Stranger and Ten Little Warlords. As of now the young bard was writing her story on the warrior's death and rebirth. This was not as an easy topic and it was slow progress but she knew she'd finish it no matter what. For the future and for herself.

The days were short as they rolled on, becoming closer and closer to Solstice. The bard was becoming excited to have Solstice with her soulmate and in Amphipolis. The bard could tell her own soulmate was becoming excited even though she didn't care to admit it. But Gabrielle could tell by the way they both always spoke about their past memories with Solstice. The warrior becomes quite involved in the conversation with her eyes twinkling.

Toris had left seven days ago, they'd expected him back later on this day or into the evening. Gabrielle now was on her bed, writing as she leaned against the headboard. The warrior had disappeared into the village in the snow, it was about mid-day. And yes there was snow, it was the first day of snow. The bard had leaped out of the bed early in the morning when she saw it falling, the warrior had joined her at the window. They'd stared out the window for awhile, enjoying the scene and each other.

But now the bard lay on the bed writing, a table had been moved close to the bed with an ink well contained on top. Gabrielle chewed on the tip of her quill looked to her left and placed the tip of the quill into the ink. She brought it back out, she continued writing, her eyes were a bit red. She sniffed as she wrote.

The door then opened up. Gabrielle stopped writing and looked up to see her soulmate in the room, the door closed. Xena stood in her leathers with armor, cloak over top but she had left her weapons inside of the room earlier.

"Now where did you disappear to?"

Xena grinned at her soulmate and replied. "Just had to do something in town, nothing much"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "Mmm" Her eyes drifted from the partially wet warrior back to her scroll.

Xena grinned and walked up to the side of the bed the bard is closes to. "Feel like going for a walk?"

The bard's quill wrote something then Gabrielle looked up with a curious face. "Where to?"

"I thought maybe on the ridge. Can watch the snow fall over the town"

The bard smiled. "Yeah, hold on" She placed the quill on the table by the ink well and rolled the scroll up, placing it also on the table. She hopped out of the bed and went to the other side of the room. She grabbed her cloak and proceeded to put it on, Xena shifted back to the door. The smaller woman came up beside Xena. "Ready"

The warrior nodded with a smile and opened the door. The soulmates went down stairs and into the empty tavern, out the tavern. The pair made their way through the town and a little ways through the woods. It was cool but not enough to freeze a person just nip. Nip away at exposed skin making Gabrielle's cheeks red. The rest of her body was warm from the cloak as is Xena's body.

The ground was a bright white that glistened ever so slightly. The snow fell down like feathers and it was thick and light. The bard loved this type of snow, it was gorgeous and made her mind describe it. Describe it such as the ground being masked with something so white and looks light, a fluffiness. Yet it is of a thing of coldness. Everything is sheeted with this blinding white entity. It brings about a sense of crispness, bringing almost a burning sensation to the lungs. Life waiting to live again underneath.

~*Part 9*~

Xena's soulmate took a deep breath, her warm breath could be seen in the clean cool air. Xena looked to her soulmate with a smile. Gabrielle looked up and smiled back. That same twinkle was back. Gabrielle's heart skipped a beat, her stomach twisted in suspense.

The soulmates walked out onto the ridge that over looked Amphipolis. Gabrielle stood in front of Xena, her arms crossed against her chest to keep her hands warm. The snow fell and slowly at that. Gabrielle sucked in a breath.

Xena grinned to herself, she reached into her cloak with her right hand. Her fingers going to a small leather pouch attached to her side. She opened it and removed an article, her large hand holding the article inside, concealing it from the world around. Her right hand coming back out and falling to her side, her hand still fisted up.

Gabrielle looked back to her soulmate with a smile. "Its beautiful"

"Isn't it? I always loved the scenery from up here"

Gabrielle nodded her head, Xena stepped up to her soulmate and wrapped her arms around her soulmate's small waist. Gabrielle leaned into Xena.

"Warm enough?"

Gabrielle's emerald eyes tore away from the scene and looked up to Xena. "I'll be fine"

Xena grinned. She then opened her cloak with her left hand and her right hand as best as she could. Enveloping her younger soulmate inside of her large heavy dark cloak. Gabrielle sighed as she felt Xena's warm body heat on her back, she pressed her skin up against the warm leather. Xena wrapped her arms around the bard again from the outside. Gabrielle crossing her arms against her chest inside of her soulmate's cloak.

The soulmates stayed like that for moments on end. Gabrielle studied the sight of Amphipolis being swept with white snow. Watched the forest behind be caressed by the snow. It was breath taking for her, she'd never forget it.

She looked up to her soulmate with a smile. "You know what this reminds me of Xen?"

"Hmmm?"

Gabrielle looked back to the scene in front of her. "Reminds me of those small little glass balls. That you turn up side down and the snow falls down on the little town inside of it"

Xena grinned then responded back. "Yeah it reminds me of that too" She then chuckled thinking more of her younger soulmate's words. Xena then let her right hand slip in between the folds of the jacket and rest against Gabrielle's hands, her hand still closed up.

Gabrielle felt that warm hand and with her left hand she lightly caressed her soulmate's smooth hand. That's when Gabrielle felt her soulmate's pulse pick up, she didn't know quite why either. But her heart rate had certainly picked up, Gabrielle's own heart began to pound now, her knees a bit shaky, just a bit though. She couldn't figure out as to why.

"I think somebody definitely turned us upside down"

Xena chuckled at Gabrielle's words, but the little joke didn't ease things.

"Maybe they did"

Now it was Gabrielle chuckling as she conjured that. But Xena's breathing was a little heavy so Gabrielle looked up to her. Xena smiled very deeply and Gabrielle smiled back just as warmly.

Her heart fluttered in that instant as Xena's warm right hand opened up inside of the cloak. Then something very smooth like metal and warm slipped onto a finger on Gabrielle's left hand. Gabrielle's eyes widen up at her soulmate, Xena grinned. Gabrielle looked back down to her hand as she brought her hand out from under her soulmate's cloak. Gabrielle's heart skipped a beat at the sight, she took a deep breath.

There on Gabrielle's left ring finger was a gorgeous ring, even in this cloudy day the ring's gems glimmer. It was a band ring, in the center of the band wrapped around were two gem types. One a brilliant green that sparkled, the other half of the ring held a deep twinkling blue, an emerald and sapphire. The stones inside of the center of the band are protected from the outside world. The trim of the band was a lustrous gold that glistened.

Xena bent her head down to Gabrielle's and whispered into her soulmate's ear with a warm voice. "Will you marry me Gabrielle?"

Continued in Part 3.