Subtext: Oh this is my fav disclaimer, yes there's subtext. Mark the calendars if I don't ever do a subtext story!
Foul Language: Yup, I'll say this contains some cussing but nothing too bad.
Copyright: Xena and Gabrielle are owned by good old RenPics and company. Or do the fans really own them anymore?
Time Frame: Let's see, this is a Uber! Isn't that scary coming from me? Well, its half of a real Uber, taking baby steps.
Started: January 1st 2001, Monday
Mini-Series Two: Today's Partner's of Destiny Story: One
If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at:
Section One
~*Part 1*~
Gabrielle groaned and leaned her head to her right. She stared at the long line in the music store. "Come on," she grumbled under her breath. She peered down at the three CDs in her hands then she looked back up at the five people in front of her. Christ, I can't spend all my time in here.
The small woman put her weight onto her left foot while she continued to wait in line. She glanced to her left at another longer line. She studied the other people in the second line. Her pastel green eyes then got caught up on one particular woman.
The other woman, in the second line, was tall with long, black hair, and looked to have a fairly muscular form.
Gabrielle glanced back at her line and moved up a little. She was even with the taller woman, currently; directly across from her. She examined the woman again, her eyes roaming up and down the tall woman.
Slowly, the tall woman turned her head toward the smaller shorthaired blond. She'd felt those eyes on her.
Gabrielle hadn't noticed the woman was looking at her, she was too busying looking at the tall woman's lower body. She then looked up and realized the taller woman was staring at her now. She widened her eyes. Oh shit! She instantly looked away and went deep red. She saw me checking her out. Oh shit! She closed her eyes and bit back her laughter.
Gabrielle licked her lips, opened her eyes, and tried very hard not to look at the other woman.
The taller woman arched an eyebrow, to herself, before she returned her focus to the line ahead of her.
Gabrielle shivered because she just realized how blue that other woman's eyes were when they locked on her. What is my problem? She laughed inwardly. I'm checking women out now? I'm desperate. She shook her head and noted it was her turn to pay.
The cashier took Gabrielle's CDs and scanned them. He hit subtotal button before he glanced back at the young woman. "Fifty-five dollars and ninety-eight cents, Ma'am."
Gabrielle pulled out her leather wallet and thumbed through the bills. She pulled out three twenties and handed them over. She got her change back plus the CDs in a bag. "Thank you," she said.
"Have a good day." The cashier watched her go then smiled at the next customer.
The shorthaired blond went into the mall and glanced around at the huge crowd. Why did I come here on a Saturday? She groaned but went down the mall. She felt her stomach growl suddenly and well she decided it was best to feed it.
The young woman instantly found a pretzel place and went in. After she waited in a quick line, she had a soft, salty pretzel and raspberry tea. She sat down at one of the booths inside. She slowly ate the pretzel while she relaxed.
Gabrielle glimpsed around in the small restaurant. Her eyes flickered over to the short line of people, her jaw dropped. "Oh great," she muttered.
At the end of the line standing tall, was the same dark woman from the music store.
"What I do? what I do?" mumbled Gabrielle. "Run and hide?" She chuckled at herself. Maybe she just won't notice me. She groaned and sipped on her tea a little. She looked back at the tall woman, glad that she hadn't noticed her. Well, instead of her idea of running and hiding, Gabrielle begun looking over the back of the woman.
Not only was the woman tall, dark, and blue-eyes but Gabrielle noticed how nice her ass was. Damn, she must work out or something, considered Gabrielle.
The young woman leaned forward over the table when a person got in her view of the tall woman. She still could not see the tall woman with this person in front of her. "Come on, move," she growled under her breath. Her hand around the tea tightened in frustration.
Finally, the person moved out of the way. When the person had moved, there was another person before Gabrielle.
"Oh please?" Her eyes had begun lifting up. "Get out of the..." She instantly smiled sheepishly as her eyes locked on rich blue ones. "Way," she finished quietly. "Hi," she greeted while crimson crept up her neck.
The tall woman raised an eyebrow. "Was I in the way of your view?" she asked in a deep tone.
Gabrielle rubbed the back of her neck and she shook her head. "No." More like in my view. "I was just? trying to look? at the menu." She shrugged. "Doesn't matter now," she muttered. I'm toast.
The tall woman nodded, but the tiny twinkle in her eyes said she knew the truth. "Seat taken?" She held her free hand at the empty booth seat.
The blond looked back up instantly, wide eyed. "Um? uuuh? no, go ahead."
"Thanks." The tall woman settled her lemonade and pretzel down. Then she started slowly sitting down.
Gabrielle gazed across and got a face full of cleavage in her view. She blinked, trying not to stare, but? how couldn't she? She dropped her eyes down at the table and bit down on her straw tightly. How many hale Marys is this now? I'm going straight to hell! She chuckled inwardly.
The tall woman put her two bags aside and drank a little of her lemonade.
Gabrielle laughed quietly and asked, "I'm Gabrielle? you're?"
"The name's Xena," answered the dark haired woman.
"Xena," repeated Gabrielle. "Huh? odd name."
Xena corked an eyebrow. "Family name," she stated.
"Hmmm." The younger woman nodded. "I can relate."
The older woman's eyebrow went higher. "Gabrielle is a family name?"
"Actually yeah," answered Gabrielle. She pulled her tea in close and drank some of it.
"What did you buy?" She signaled at Gabrielle's bag of CDs with a nod.
Gabrielle glanced at the bag then back at the older woman. "CDs."
Xena grinned at that. "Really?" she asked in a taunting voice.
The smaller woman cracked up laughing and fell back into the seat. She covered her mouth while she laughed. "I'm sorry?" She dropped her hand and shook her head. "Of course they're CDs, you were there, duh." She combed her short hair back with her fingers then calmed down. "David Gray, Elton John, and Creed."
Xena tilted her head. "Quite a combination."
"I'm versatile."
The older woman grinned. "That's real good to know."
Gabrielle expression masked into surprise. She could have taken that a number of ways. "Well? versatile for the most part," she corrected hastily.
"Ah, I see." Xena sat back and begun eating her warm pretzel in small bits.
"Ummm?" Gabrielle trailed off while she felt the heat of embarrassment arise inside. "Sorry about earlier."
The older woman grinned and finished chewing on the pretzel tidbit. She finally replied, "You were just looking at the CD singles behind me huh?"
"Oh yeah?" The blond chuckled, spotted one of Xena's bags from Victoria Secret, and instantly looked back at Xena. "I hear Sysquo's Thong song is pretty good these days," she joked but then she picked up on what she'd said and went brick red yet again. "Oh god?" She stood up. "I'll be? right back, excuse me."
Xena watched the younger woman migrate to the bathroom. She shook her head, totally amused, and went back to eating her pretzel. "Love them flustered and cute," she mumbled to herself.
Gabrielle came back out with a cool and calm expression. She grabbed her tea and pretzel remains, still standing, and announced, "I gotta go." She paused. "Got a hot date? you know how it is." She leaned over and grabbed her bag of CDs. Hot date my ass? wish the hot date was you, blue eyes. She straightened up with the bag. What am I saying?! "Maybe I'll see you around here again."
Xena nodded. "Maybe," she agreed. "Take care huh?"
"Uh, yeah, you too." Ask for her number? ask for her number? I can't do it! She sighed in frustration. Her eyes locked on the CD bag and Victoria bag Xena had. "Enjoy the thon- CDs," she corrected instantly. "See ya." She gave a gesture with her bag and headed out into the mall after she threw her stuff out.
"See ya," muttered Xena with a grin. She glanced at her Victoria Secret bag. "Now why does everybody assume I buy thongs at that store?" She sighed, finished her lemonade and grabbed the bags.
The small woman strolled through the mall, she went to the nearest bookstore. Why do I feel like I just missed the best thing in my life? She pushed the sad thought away and went into the bookstore. She stopped, once inside, she glanced up at the book topics. "Trashy romance no, biography no, science fiction no, children no, fiction? bingo." She went into that department of the books.
Gabrielle knelt down in front of one of the shelves. She scanned the books with her eyes. She pulled out a book with her free hand. She turned the cover up and smiled. "Beating the Storm? by Gabrielle Troubadour." She grinned at seeing her own name on her own book. "I love being a writer." She chuckled and put the book back in its home. She noted how it was the only copy, the rest sold in a weeks span since she was last here.
After she rose up, Gabrielle left the store with a content feeling about her writing. She glimpsed at her silver watch; it was two-thirty in the afternoon. "Oh crap." She briskly walked through the mall, heading for her car. She went outside a set of double doors and stopped at the walkway edge, she let the cars pass by.
Gabrielle scanned the parking lot while she waited. She spotted her car then she noticed something else. "Oh my god? you've got to be kidding me!" She stepped off the walkway and walked towards her car. "She's stalking me." Her eyes stayed pinned on Xena.
Xena was at the trunk of her car, putting something away. Her car was parked beside Gabrielle's car. She closed the trunk as Gabrielle neared. She caught Gabrielle in the corner of her eye. She turned to the younger woman. "Hi again."
"Did you do this on purpose?" asked the writer. "Park beside my car?"
The older woman laughed quietly and looked at Gabrielle's car. "Yours?"
"Yup." Gabrielle unlocked her car then she tossed her CDs onto the passenger seat. She faced the darker woman. "You rigged this," she stated with a small laugh.
Xena chuckled and shook her head. "Afraid not." She grinned. "I hardly know this area."
The small woman knitted her eyebrows. "How's that?"
"Come here." Xena stared at the back of her car.
Gabrielle came beside the other woman and looked at the tail of the car. The license plate said Wyoming and this was Pennsylvania. "You're a long way from home, Cow Girl," she teased.
The Cow Girl chuckled and nodded. "Yup, just moved here." She peered up. "Looking for all the help I can get."
The writer's head bobbed. "Well? Pennsylvania isn't that bad."
Xena put her hands on her hips. "I take it you've never been to Wyoming."
"Can't say I have."
The tall woman grinned. "Then you don't realize exactly how bad Pennsylvania is? especially in these parts."
Gabrielle chuckled and shook her head. "Lived here for a number of years? I guess I don't." She smiled at the other woman and soon became lost in crisp blue eyes. She snapped to and said, "I've really gotta go." Ask for her number! The thought reentered and tugged hard at Gabrielle.
"Well? like you said, I'll see ya maybe," stated Xena. She walked around her car towards the driver's side.
"Wait um?" Gabrielle trailed off but gave herself more courage. "Got a number? Incase you need some help or something around here."
The older woman nodded. "Sure." She came back around the car. She fished through her jeans' pockets and found a receipt. "Have a pen?"
The writer pulled one out of her back pocket. "A writer always has a pen," she joked.
Xena took the pen and peered up before she wrote anything. "You're a writer huh?" She nodded with a smile. "I'm impressed, that's not easy."
Gabrielle smiled softly. "Thank you? some people don't think so." Her voice was quiet and sad.
"Mmm, as they say? ignorance is bliss." Xena clicked the pen and put the blank side of the receipt on the trunk. She wrote down her name and number. "What's yours?" she asked.
"310? 375? 8021," answered Gabrielle. She received her pen back.
Xena carefully tore the receipt in half and handed her name and number to Gabrielle. "Thank you." She smiled at Gabrielle.
"Thank you too." The writer pulled out her wallet and tucked it away inside. She put her wallet in her back pocket once more. "Let me know if you need? any help around here." She glanced over at the busy highway far off in the distance. "I can see how its confusing around here." She peered back up.
Xena chuckled. "It is? we normally just ride horses around in Wyoming."
"Really?"
The older woman laughed quietly. "No not normally but its been known to happen."
"Let me guess, you're were a rancher."
Xena laughed quietly. "You could say that." She held her hand up. "Nice meeting you, Gabrielle."
The small woman took the large hand and gave a brisk shake. "Nice meeting you too, Xena." She smiled softly as her stomach curled from the warm hand holding hers.
The handshake continued while their eyes stayed locked.
Xena then slowly ended the handshake by lacing her fingers through Gabrielle's. Her arm lowering to her side with Gabrielle's.
Gabrielle's heart raced but she couldn't fight it nor did she want too. She just gave a warmer smile of reassurance.
Xena mirrored the smile and lowered her head closer, her eyes searching Gabrielle's shining, green eyes.
The writer squeezed the other woman's hand. "You're going to? kiss me?" she whispered.
"If you want me to," uttered the older woman with a gentle smile.
"I can't say no," responded Gabrielle.
Xena took that answer and finished the distance. Her smooth lips softly touched Gabrielle's. She had complete control of the kiss, so she made it gentle and seeming like nothing. Just lips pressing against lips then she lifted her head again. It wasn't much of a kiss but she knew what effect it would have on the small woman.
Gabrielle opened her eyes and chuckled faintly. "Okay, that wasn't bad."
"No need to? overwhelm." The tall woman started stepping back while she released the small hand. "I'll let you go."
The writer didn't second that and pulled the other woman back by her hand. "Hold on." What am I doing?! Awe, who's looking? I'm just in the middle of parking lot kissing another woman. She put her left hand behind Xena's head and pulled her back down.
Xena found her lips covered by the silk ones. She wrapped her free arm around Gabrielle's waist and gave into submission with the kiss. Her breath was stolen as a tongue entered her mouth. She glided her tongue into the younger woman's mouth as they tasted each other.
Gabrielle pulled away slowly but the heat was coming more to life with each second spent with this woman. It came to her just how much that kiss took out of her when her knees were weak. She grasped Xena's car's trunk for support and smiled sheepishly.
Xena released the small woman and stepped back a few times. "Well? I better let you go."
The small woman straightened up. "Yeah? I gotta get going." She laughed uneasily while she moved to her driver's door. "Um? Welcome to Pennsylvania." She opened the door.
The older woman grinned and said, "Thanks for the warm welcome." She opened her car door.
Gabrielle pulled out her keys and gave a wave with them. "Anytime, give me a call if you need anything."
"Thanks."
Xena watched the writer get into her car and start it up. She got into her car and started her own car. "I love them cute and flustered." She chuckled before she closed the door and backed out of her spot.
Gabrielle stopped her car at the red light. She hit her steering wheel, missing the horn thankfully. "Damn it, come on." She drummed her fingers on the wheel while she waited. Her mind jumped back to the kisses with Xena a few ago. "I can't believe I did that," she muttered.
With a flick of a switch, she turned on her car radio. She relaxed in her seat, still waiting for the light. She furrowed her eyebrows. "Oh my god? I'm gay!" She broke up laughing.
The light turned green.
"Oh boy." She hit the gas and continued down the three-lane highway. She left the King of Prussia mall and went northeast to Ramblewood.
"I'm not gay," she stated randomly to herself aloud. "One kiss doesn't mean I'm gay or whatever." She chuckled. "Two kisses," she corrected. "I'm straight as a line? curved line." She sighed and paid more attention to her driving. "I'll probably never hear from her again." She shrugged it all off and focused on her driving again.
Three Days Later?
Gabrielle came out of her thoughts as she stared into the computer screen. She grabbed the cordless phone on the desk as it rung. She hit the talk button and lifted the phone. "Hello." She paused. "God, how are you?" She grinned and said, "About the same myself." She shook her head. "No, no I was working on my story." She chuckled. "No, come on over, Eph." She groaned. "Yes, Shannon can come over too." She paused before saying, "Yeah well? you and Shannon still owe me after you both kissed in front of me." She laughed and added, "That's what Shannon gets. Come on over, I'm bored out of my mind." She chuckled. "Yeah, yeah Eph. I'll see ya. Bye." She lowered the phone while she clicked it off.
The writer reread the last paragraph of her story, trying to recall where she was going with it.
The phone rung again.
"I can't get anything done." The small woman groaned and picked up the phone, she turned it on. "Hello." Her eyes went wide. "Hey? uh how are you?" She shivered in her seat from the voice over the phone. "Yeah um sure if you want." She chuckled. "Oh right sorry?" She paused. "I know, well you know where Ramblewood is?" She chuckled. "Yeah just east of there." Her head bobbed. "Yup, you got it. Well I live in a small apartment building. Rambling Wood Apartment Housing." She laughed softly. "I think you're right, it probably was a joke the landlord has on the apartment name." She glanced out the window behind her computer monitor and studied the scene of the fall day. "Right, right that's exactly it. You can't miss the place. I'm on the third floor? apartment three, ten." She smiled to herself. "Alright, drive safely Cow Girl? see ya then." She turned the phone off and chuckled. "That was definitely random."
Gabrielle continued working on her story but stopped after a few moments. She sat back in her seat and reread what she'd written.
The doorbell buzzed of visitors.
The small woman hopped out of her chair as the buzz came again. She rushed over and opened the door and there in front of the door stood two women around Gabrielle's age. "Hey, what took you both?"
"The iiinsane traffic," joked one woman, whom was a little taller than Gabrielle with long dark brown hair and brown eyes. They lived two floors up in the apartment building.
"At least we came, Gabrielle," teased the other woman and she had long dirty-blond curly hair. Her amber eyes lit her face up, as did the smile. "So, gonna invite us in?"
"I guess so, Eph." The writer stepped aside. "Please come into my castle, ladies."
The two women chuckled and shuffled in.
"How's the story going?" asked the curly blond.
"Not bad," answered Gabrielle. She led them over to the main part of the room where the living room was contained. She sat down in a small couch while her friends sat down on a sofa beside each other. She grinned evilly. "So? did you two work through your spat?"
"We did," said the brown haired one arrogantly.
Gabrielle laughed. "You two have a fight a week."
The curly blond grabbed a pillow and threw it at Gabrielle.
The writer caught it and laughed again. "Can't handle the truth, Eph?"
"Hey, don't make Shannon and I kiss again," warned the curly blond.
"Oooh, that is a pretty bad threat," teased Gabrielle. "Watching you two kisses makes me wanna gag."
This time the brown haired woman chucked a pillow at Gabrielle. "Our kissing isn't as bad as when you're kissing-" the doorbell buzzing again cut her off.
"Oops." Gabrielle hopped up. She crossed over to the door through the small kitchen.
"Who is that?" asked the curly blond.
"Um." The writer faltered in her answer as the door buzzed again. "She's this? friend I met just really randomly." She was faintly blushing. "Just? be nice."
The two women exchanged glances when Gabrielle opened the door.
Gabrielle smiled at the tall, dark woman before her. "Hi."
"Howdy? looks like I found the right place." Xena smiled warmly.
"You definitely did, come in."
The brown haired woman leaned towards the curly one. "Look how tall, dark, and gorgeous gets welcomed in so quickly," she whispered with a grin.
The curly blond huffed. "Did you see how Gabrielle blushed?"
"Did I ever. Friend my ass? more like fuck friend."
The curly blond rammed her elbow into the smaller woman's ribs. "Sssh." She nodded at the pair coming over.
Gabrielle peered up at Xena then back at her friends. She held her hand out to the small brown haired female. "Xena this is Shannon." Then she glanced at the curly blond. "And that's Megan? we all call her Eph though? short for Ephiny."
Xena raised an eyebrow at the writer. "Ephiny?"
"Yes, it's a real old family name," answered Megan with a grin. "Goes wwway back. Shannon, Gabrielle, and I did a little family tree research on my side." She paused and grinned. "Came to find out one of my ancestors was Ephiny." She shrugged. "Thought it was a pretty cool name."
Xena chuckled. "What is it about family names?"
Gabrielle grinned. "They're contagious huh?"
"Seem to be."
"Sit down." The writer watched her tall friend take a couch and relax. "Want anything to drink?" she offered.
"No, I'm fine." Xena smiled. "Thanks though."
"No problem." Gabrielle sat back down in her seat and sighed contently.
"Where are you from, Xena?" asked Shannon. "You don't look like you're from these parts."
Xena grinned and laced her hands together in her lap. "I'm from Wyoming."
"Really?" Megan chuckled and shook her head. "A red-blooded, spitten tobacco Wyoming gal?" she teased.
"I wouldn't? quite say that," answered the tall woman.
"Were you a rancher?" asked Gabrielle.
Xena nodded and glanced at her friend. "I worked and lived on a ranch."
"Why'd you leave?" Shannon corked an eyebrow.
The dark woman sighed and responded, "Some issues arouse? my best option was to leave."
Megan narrowed her eyes while she thought, You're looking pretty shady to me, Xena.
Xena glanced at Gabrielle. "How was the story going?"
Megan studied how Xena's eyes warmed to Gabrielle and caused Gabrielle to smile softly. And why are you after my friend?
Shannon saw this and glimpsed at Megan.
"Not too bad," answered Gabrielle.
Megan shook her head in signal to Shannon.
Shannon nodded and gazed back at the pair. Wait till Xena gets the surprise coming soon. She chuckled inwardly.
"How many books do you have out?" asked Xena.
The writer shrugged. "Just have my first out."
"Doing well?"
Gabrielle chuckled but her friends gave the answer for her.
"Yup," answered Megan. "Gabrielle knows how to whip up a real good story."
The tall woman glanced at the two women on the sofa. "What's the title?"
"Beating the Storm," responded Shannon. "You should read it."
"I'll have to look into it," stated Xena.
Gabrielle shrugged. "You may not like it," she mumbled.
The dark woman glanced at Gabrielle again. "I'll read it and let you know." She creased her lips with a smile.
The writer sighed. "Alright? I warned you."
"Its doing real well on the shelves," spoke up Megan as she shot a grin at her friend.
Gabrielle glared back. She was about to say something else but the door to the apartment opened up with a key. She peered across the room and saw a small, young man step in with his officer's uniform on.
The writer got up slowly and cave over. "Hey honey, how was duty?"
"Was nice and quiet," replied the young man. He chuckled and kissed Gabrielle softly on the lips.
Xena glanced over and caught the kiss. She closed her eyes briefly and opened them again to have the officer's badge shine in her eyes. She looked away.
Shannon and Megan watched this reaction the entire time.
Gabrielle took the man's hand and led him over. "Peter, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Xena."
Xena stood up while she forced a smile on her lips. "Hi Peter." She held her hand out.
The small man took the larger hand and gave a shake. "Nice to meet you, Xena." He released Xena's hand. "You don't look like you're from these parts."
"Nope." Xena shook her head. "From a far."
Shannon cut in. "Xena was a rancher from Wyoming." She grinned inwardly.
Megan jabbed her girlfriend in the side. She narrowed her eyes.
"Really?" asked Peter. He folded his arms. "I heard there's been some bad drug problems over in parts of Wyoming."
Xena nodded. "Yeah, there are amazingly." She paused. "Decided I wanted to get away from that."
The officer tilted his head, suspicion kicking in. "Really?" He chuckled amusingly. "There's more drugs here in Philly than all of Wyoming."
"There are more people in Philadelphia than all of Wyoming," countered Xena. "Well?" She glanced at Gabrielle. "I need to head off."
The writer nodded, she felt the thick atmosphere. "I'll walk you to your car."
"Thanks." Xena glanced back at the two women on the sofa. "Catch you both later."
"Later," said Megan and Shannon together.
"Be back," said Gabrielle to Peter.
"Don't take long, babe." Peter watched his girlfriend go to the door. "It's a bit cold out."
"I'm a big girl," Gabrielle teased.
Peter chuckled then he looked at Xena. "Xena? I didn't catch your last name."
Xena faintly lifted an eyebrow. "Dusk? Xena Dusk."
The officer nodded. "Nice meeting you, Xena." He watched her leave with Gabrielle. He turned to the two women. "She's a rancher?"
"That's what she said," replied Megan. She shrugged.
Gabrielle and Xena quietly went to the elevator and went in.
Gabrielle hit the ground floor button. "Were you really a rancher?" she asked quietly.
Xena nodded and stared at the metal door in front of her. "Yup, partner? a rancher." She grinned. "I played with horses and lassos," she joked.
The smaller woman chuckled and peered up. "I could see it." She grinned evilly. "Boots and hat too?"
"The whole nine-yards." The tall woman folded her arms. "The long leather trench coat to my knees." She nodded. "The works."
The writer laughed quietly and touched her stomach at the waist. "Even the huge belt buckle?"
"Oooh yeah." The dark woman showed a grin. "The bigger your buckle the more? prestige you had among the ranchers."
"You're kidding!" Gabrielle shook her head. "You musta had a huge buckle."
Xena grinned. "You? could say that. It was big and black." She winked at her friend.
"Had a gun?" she asked in a small voice.
"Two." The older woman shrugged. "Still have them for protection. They're family heirlooms."
"That's wild." Gabrielle saw the elevator door open and she went out. She strolled over to the doors and went outside. The cold air hit her and it made her shiver. "You may have to pull out the leather jacket soon."
The older woman nodded. "Tell me about it." She walked quickly to her car and hopped in. She put the window down once she started the engine.
"Drive back safely." Gabrielle folded her arms.
"I will." Xena buckled her seatbelt.
The small woman laughed shyly then asked, "Can I come by your place this evening?"
The older woman hesitated but said, "Sure, come by for dinner." She paused. "I'll warn I am no cook."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Order something then. I'm easy."
Xena grinned. "I can do that? come by at six." She lost her grin. "I live in Musser? third place down on the main street."
"Sounds good." The writer was very tempted to lean down and kiss the other woman but considering everything, she wasn't going to. "See you then." She moved out of the way and back up behind another car.
Xena backed her car up and drove off, headed back to her town., Musser.
The small woman sighed and raced back into the apartment building. She went up by the elevator again.
Peter looked up when Gabrielle came in. "Cold enough?" he teased.
Gabrielle sighed dramatically. "Winter is definitely coming."
"Come over here."
The shorthaired blond sat down beside her boyfriend on the sofa. She gazed at her friends across from her. "I hope you two didn't cause any trouble."
Shannon batted her eyes. "Never, Gabrielle." She chuckled.
The writer rolled her eyes. "Cha'right." She glanced at her boyfriend. "This evening I am going over to Xena's place."
The police officer nodded. "Alright, I think I'll take your friends out to dinner."
Shannon and Megan laughed.
"Oooh are you flirting, Peter?" teased Megan.
The young man rolled his eyes. "How can I flirt with you two?"
They both laughed together.
Gabrielle chuckled and shook her head.
"Oh honey." Peter looked at his girlfriend. "Do you have Xena's number or address?" He paused while coming up with an excuse. "Incase I need to call you."
"Yeah sure." The writer got up and went to her desk. She came back over with the old receipt Xena had scratched her number down on. "I'll write it down." She walked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed a note pad. She quickly wrote down the number, tore the paper off, and gave it to Peter.
"Thanks, love." Peter patted the seat beside him.
Gabrielle sat back down. She still held her wallet in one hand and the receipt on the other. She turned the receipt over and noted what the items were. She went deep red after she read the items from Victoria Secret.
Megan corked an eyebrow. She quickly decided a distraction was in hand. "So, where you taking us, Peter?"
Five-Thirty That Day?
Megan entered her friend's bedroom and watched her button up a white blouse. "You're looking nice."
Gabrielle spun around and sighed. "Hey Eph." She sat down on the twin bed and put on her black, dress boots. "Thank you." She peered up. "Is Peter and Shannon waiting out there?"
Megan nodded and sat down beside her friend. "Yup, I'm excited your boyfriend is finally taking us out."
The writer chuckled and grinned. "I guilted him." She chuckled. "Said he had to get along with you two better."
The curly blond chuckled and shook her head. "Yeah? he's getting use to Shannon and I better? that gay couple," she joked.
The shorthaired blond sighed and patted her friend's leg. She had finished putting her boots on. "He's giving you both a chance? consider this dinner a peace offering."
Megan laughed quietly. "Well? Shannon and I will be oh so proper to him."
"Good, that's what he needs to see." Gabrielle stood up and turned to her friend. "How do I look?"
Megan sighed and inquired, "You're not going out on a date, right?"
The small woman rolled her eyes. "No? but I do need to look nice somewhat." She wore a button white up shirt, tight jeans, and a black belt with a silver buckle. "Eph, help me out."
"You look beautiful, darling." Megan stood up. "You know that." She paused and added quietly, "So does Xena."
Gabrielle tilted her head with a confused look. "Eph, what you saying?"
Megan grasped her friend's shoulders. "Let me spell it out for you, Gabrielle." She paused and said seriously, "Xena wants to have sex with you."
The small woman's shoulders dropped and she looked away.
"I'm not joking," whispered Megan hotly. "You're talking to the Queen of Sex Vibes here." She shook her head. "Shannon felt them too." She turned her friend's head back. "Be careful, Gabrielle." She paused and added, "You don't know her that well. You could be messing with fire."
Gabrielle sighed and nodded. "I know." She ran her fingers through her hair. "I trust her."
Megan narrowed her eyes. "I would not trust anybody that's tall, dark, and gorgeous like her." She corked an eyebrow. "She's looking for somebody as beautiful as you to snare." She grinned faintly. "Don't make Shannon and I kick her ass."
The writer chuckled quietly but nodded. "Alright, I'll be careful."
"Thank you." Megan pulled her friend in and hugged her tightly.
"Besides?" Gabrielle grinned. "I'm not gay."
Megan laughed and whispered, "Anything is possible, Gabrielle." She pulled back with a smile. "Alright, get going and be careful."
"Yes, mother." The young blond grinned and left the bedroom with her friend.
Six O'Clock and All's Well?
"Howdy," greeted Xena when she opened her door. "Get in before you freeze."
Gabrielle came in quickly and turned to her friend.
The older woman closed the door and held her hand out to her small home. "Welcome to my humble abode." She grinned.
The writer glanced around and noticed just how humble it was. The house was very modern with the latest gidgets and gadgets. "Wow, do I get a tour?"
Xena chuckled and nodded. "If you hand over your jacket first."
"Right." The small woman got out of her red coat and handed it over.
The tall woman took it and hung it up on the coat rack behind herself. "Easy finding the place?"
"Oh yeah."
"Good." Xena held her hand out to the hallway ahead. "Right this way, we'll start in the kitchen that I'll never use."
Gabrielle laughed and ambled down the hall into the kitchen, which held a small dinning table too. She looked around. It was entirely modern with a chef's table in the middle. "For somebody that doesn't cook, you have all the latest stuff."
"I know." The tall woman sighed. "Didn't have much choice." She nodded to the door at the left. "This way."
They came into the next room, which was the living room. There was a huge flat television with a black leather sofa in front of it and a nice glass table. Under the television was a stereo system, surround sound that included a subwoofer. Then below that was a DVD player and VCR. The shades were down giving it all a dark air.
Gabrielle shook her head. "What do you do for a job?" she asked quietly.
Xena grinned and grasped her friend's shoulder. "Upstairs next." She backed up and walked through the kitchen again. She went through the hall once more and pointed upstairs.
The writer went up and heard her friend's footfall behind. "This is an amazing place."
"It works," stated the older woman nonchalantly.
"I'd like to see your version of impressive."
Xena chuckled lowly. "To the left."
When Gabrielle got up the stairs, she headed left and went into a bedroom. "Yours, I take it?"
"Yup."
The room was fairly large and a huge bed in the center with black sheets over it. Against the opposite wall of the bed was another flat television but smaller and with a VCR player.
The dark woman strolled over to a huge closet.
"You like black? I'll say that." Gabrielle turned around.
"It's a great color," stated Xena. She opened up the closet door. "Come here, you'll like this."
The younger woman came over and peered in. A smile lit up her face. "Now that's wild."
There inside of the closet was a long leather trench coat hanging, on the floor three pairs of cowboy boots then hanging off the left side on hooks were a hat and a belt of bullets with guns.
"Here, hold on." Xena reached in and took the leather jacket out. She tossed it on the bed. "Sit down, I'll put the getup on."
The writer laughed. "You're serious."
"Sure, you'll enjoy it, partner"
"Alright." Gabrielle sat down on the bed.
The Cow Girl collected her jeans, boots, hat, belt with gun and bullets, stirrups, and jacket. She disappeared into the bathroom.
"You wore this all the time?"
"For the most part," called Xena.
"Ha, that's awesome." Gabrielle shook her head. "Didn't think people still wore that stuff."
The older woman chuckled. "The West is caught in time of the old West." She grinned. "Especially Wyoming. They don't have that bucking bronco on the license plate for nothing, partner."
The small woman laughed and shook her head. "I'm noticing."
"Alright? here comes the Cow Girl."
The writer grinned and watched as Xena came back out of the bathroom.
Xena stood tall, her jet, black leather jacket past her knees, her hat was on masking her face. At her waist sparkled and shined a black buckle while the bullets stood out along the belt. Revolvers at both sides and her black, leathered stirrups had tassels all up and down her legs at the sides. She tipped her hat while she said, "Howdy Miss, how do you do?" She grinned at Gabrielle.
Gabrielle laughed hard before she stood up. "Talk about the Wild, Wild West here in Pennsylvania."
The Cow Girl grinned and folded her arms. "You don't beat this stereotypical Cow Girl."
The young woman gave another small laugh. "This is one for my novels." She shifted a smirk on her lips. "How I met a Cow Girl." She peered up into those deep blue eyes under the brim of the hat.
Xena smiled softly. "I'm sure you'll come up with the perfect story."
"I already am," stated Gabrielle. She searched her friend's dangerous, blue eyes. "What was it like over there?"
"Just like in the movies." The Cow Girl took a step closer. "It is the Wild West." She shrugged. "Quite the opposite of here."
"Sounds like it." The writer fell silent. Without care, she grasped Xena's belt buckle and pulled her in closer.
Xena chuckled and grasped her friend's hips.
Without thought, Gabrielle pulled down the older woman's head down. "Come here, Cow Girl." She sealed her lips over Xena's in a long sensual kiss.
The tall woman moaned softly and pulled the other woman in closer. She ended the kiss and whispered, "I thought you had a boyfriend."
"Holy shit." Reality snapped back in Gabrielle. She laughed and jumped back. "Woo, sorry." She blushed deeply. She dropped her head and folded her arms. "Goddamn it," she muttered.
Xena corked an eyebrow. I'm not sorry, but instead she said, "It was the hat." She tipped it. "Trust me, I know." She turned and walked towards the bathroom. It gets all the women, she thought while she changed.
Gabrielle sat back down on the bed and groaned quietly. My ass is going to be grass if I keep this up. She kept repeating that to herself until Xena came back out with a warm smile. She's going to be my downfall. She laughed inwardly.
The Movie After Dinner?
Xena stretched out on the long, leather sofa. She grabbed the remote off the table. "Are you sure?" she yelled.
"Yes, it's a good movie," stated Gabrielle from the kitchen.
The older woman shook her head but hit play on the DVD remote. She watched as the movie previews came up on the screen.
The small woman entered with a glass of tea. She glanced around for a spot to sit. She simply put her tea on the glass table then sat on the floor. She leaned back against the leather sofa's chair arm.
Xena peered down. "You could sit up here."
Gabrielle shook her head. "I'm okay down here." She smiled and held her hand out to the length of the couch Xena was outstretched on. "You're comfortable."
"No, it's not a problem." The older woman started sitting up.
The writer put her hand on her friend's stomach. "Its okay, really." She then realized her hand had slipped under Xena's black fleece sweater and was touching warm skin. She pulled her hand away. "Its fine," she whispered and relaxed back against the chair.
The tall woman chuckled. "Thanks."
They both relaxed and watched the movie.
"I can believe you wanted to see this, Gabrielle," she whispered.
Gabrielle snickered. "I need a good laugh? Plains, Trains, and Automobiles is perfect."
"It's so old."
"It's so good." The writer laughed quietly.
"If you say so." Xena hung her arm off the coach, near Gabrielle.
"Besides? you're the one that owns the movie."
The dark woman chuckled. "You've got a point."
The small woman propped up her legs and slumped down some.
Xena moved her hand over and touched Gabrielle's neck faintly. Her fingertips just brushed the smooth skin there.
"Mmm." Gabrielle leaned into the touch. She felt her friend's thumb come up a little behind her ear.
The older woman kept her hand there, idly caressing Gabrielle's neck.
As the movie went on, Xena's touch became more intoxicating for Gabrielle. She soon found Xena's fingertips gliding over her chest now and again. Then gradually through the movie, Xena's fingers roamed further on her chest and more often.
About halfway through the movie, Gabrielle forgot about it and moaned softly from the relaxing sensation. "Xena," she whispered.
Xena rolled onto her side and lowered her head towards Gabrielle's. She gently kissed the smaller woman as her hand slightly dipped down Gabrielle's blouse. She slowly ended the kiss but kept her head lowered.
Gabrielle moaned again, sat up, and dropped her head back into Xena's breasts.
The dark woman glided her hand down the writer's blouse faintly then came back up. She lowered her head to Gabrielle's neck and kissed her. She then trailed her lips up the smooth neck to Gabrielle's ear. "What about Peter?" she whispered. Her lips grazed over the soft ear. "You love him, right?" While she waited for an answer, she turned the television off.
"Not really." The small woman was breathing heavily. "He's a? more of an? old friend." Xena's hand went even lower this time down her blouse. "Xena," she said in deep tone.
"Come up here."
The writer got up as Xena turned onto her back. She peered down at the older woman and grinned. "I'd be crazy to refuse you." She got on top of Xena and straddled her at the stomach. She slipped her hands up Xena's fleece sweater.
"Oh?" The tall, dark, and dangerous woman grinned with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Yes, you're so damn hot." Gabrielle leaned down and kissed the woman furiously. She lifted her head back up. She sensed Xena's large hands unbuttoning her blouse.
Xena searched the other woman's eyes then she quietly asked, "You're sure?"
It was the first time Gabrielle had seen fear in this stronger woman's eyes. It was fear of rejection and fear of something else that Gabrielle couldn't place. "Yes, I'm sure," she uttered. She gave an evil grin. "I don't know a damn thing about this but?"
"Don't worry." Xena took off the other woman's shirt and put it on the floor. "I do."
"Glad somebody does." The writer chuckled and leaned in for a passionate kiss. She rolled her hips into Xena's body while she moaned.
Xena groaned as Gabrielle's hips kept pressing into her stomach. The fire inside became controlling. She reached up and gradually pulled Gabrielle's bra straps down her shoulders.
The writer brought her lips down to Xena's neck, kissing her softly. She unbuttoned Xena's jeans and slipped her hands down.
Xena arched her hips up and moaned, "Gabrielle." She grinned before she took the small woman's lips in a powerful kiss of passion.