Subtext: That's always a, yes.

Copyright: I don't own X&G but I own the story line. And as far as the other characters go, they own themselves. <laugh>

Dedication: This story is for Murphy. The one person that can not stand a tease, especially from me. Murphy, see, I did write a complete story for you in less than four days. Don't ever ask for me to do it again! <laugh> I am exhausted! So enjoy this one, girl, its for you.

Started: January 10^th 2001, Wednesday

Series: Other

Red Hope strolls along into the village. She sighs contently while taking in the cool air around. "Love it here." She passes by some bards and readers in the village. "Hey, hey Mark!"

Mark flashes a smile back and says, "Nineteen-forty."

The short bard rolls her eyes. "Nineteen-forty four, hun."

Mark Annetts sticks his tongue out for a brief instant.

Red Hope laughs quietly. "One of these days, Mark." She shows a grin but keeps strolling to her hut. Before she gets that far, she spots Sam Ruskin strolling along. Red Hope suddenly sprints towards the other bard. "Sam," she says in a taunting voice.

Sam Ruskin stops dead in her tracks as the smaller bard engulfs her in her daily hug. "Thanks, Red."

Red Hope chuckles and releases Sam. "There's your hug. Catch you later."

"Bye, sweetie."

The small bard grins and makes a beeline for her hut again. She reaches her hut door, and grasps the handle.

"Red!" called Susan Rice.

The short bard glances down at Susan. "Heya, Sue. What's up?" She then notices how Susan has been running; breathing hard. "What's wrong?"

Susan Rice sighs dramatically and shakes her head. "Mom..." she rasps.

The shorthaired bard releases the handle and turns to her friend. "What about MomBard?"

Susan takes a deep breath and peers up. "She's been... singing... again." She stresses the again part.

Red Hope groans dramatically. "Oh no… when?"

"Just now, she was in my hut... singing." Susan shakes her head. "Lady and I just escaped." She grins at the other bard.

Red Hope chuckles but asks, "Where's Lady?"

Susan glances back and sees the husky coming. "Here she is now." She reaches down and pets her dog gingerly. "Well..." she looks up. "Thought I'd come and warn you. MomBard is in a real singing rampage."

Red Hope shakes her head. "But its not Saturday... tomorrow is Singsong Saturday." She snickers.

Susan chuckles and replies, "MomBard is a day ahead of schedule. Actually on her own personal schedule. You know how she is."

The short bard rolls her marble, blue eyes. "Yup, we both do." She sighs. "Alright, I need to get back to my writing. Need to hide in my hut?"

Susan shakes her head. "Nah, Lady wants a walk and I may go visit Lu. Hopefully when I get back, MomBard will have stopped." She shrugs.

"Probably not."

"Thanks for the optimism," deadpanned Susan as she strolls away with her dog.

Red Hope laughs and shrugs. "I try." She opens her door. "See ya, Sue. Thanks for the warning."

"See ya, Red."

The short bard comes into her hut, and she turns on the lights. "Boy am I glad we finally got electricity in the village. Ssso glad our Queen decided to install that as her Christmas gift to the Village." She grins while she closes her door. "Now if we could just get LJ to install flushing toilets, we'll be in business," she mutters to herself. After she closes the doors, she walks over to her desk and pulls out the chair. Flopping down in it, she pulls out one of her unfinished stories. "Let's see, The Sunrise of Heroes... yeah I need to work on that one." She reaches up and pulls her quill out of the ink well. Right when the tip of the quill touches the parchment, a knock came at the door.

Red Hope groans and closes her eyes. "Come in," she says forcefully while opening her eyes.

The door swings open, and there in all of her glory, stands MomBard.

"You're truuuue colors!" MomBard comes twirling in while singing, "The darkness inside of you. Makes you feel so small." She stops and stands tall, as her short height will let her. She grins at Red Hope and takes a deep breath. Again she sings, "But I see your truuuuue colors! Ssshhhining through. See your true colors." She pauses for a second and points her finger at Red Hope then, as loudly as she could, she sings, "And that's why I love youuuuu!"

Red Hope sits in her seat, completely terrified by this crazy woman singing in her hut. "MomBard!" she screams.

MomBard starts swaying her hips and singing, "Show me your colors! Show me your rainbow!"

Red Hope leaps out of her seat and covers the other bard's mouth in a flash. "Oh my god, no!" She breathes heavily. "Mom, don't sing in my hut," she warns. "Especially not a good Phil Collin's song like that," she begs.

MomBard just grins as her eyes gleam with mischief. "Chan yo phove yo fan?"

"If you promise not to sing in my hut?" The small bard raises an eyebrow. "Promise?"

The older bard considers for a moment but nods. "Fromise."

"Okay." Red Hope removes her hand.

"Your truuuu-" MomBard is cut off by the hand over her mouth again.

"Mom, you promised."

The older woman snickers behind the hand. "I phont shing sno shore."

The younger bard sighs, removes her hand, and hears... nothing. She smiles softly. "Thank you."

MomBard chuckles and watches her friend sit back at her seat. "So, what you up to, Red?" She mingles over to the other bard's desk.

"Workin' on the sequel to A World Away." She peers up at MomBard. "Why'd you stop by... other than to terrorize me with your singing talent?"

"Well..." The older bard blushes faintly and looks down at her feet. She lifts her right foot and turns her shoe tip on the floor like a kid.

"Uh oh... what?" inquires Red Hope.

MomBard chuckles while she kicks at the floor as if there is a stone. "Can I burrow one of your stories?"

"Which one?"

"How I met a Cow Girl."

"Mom!" yells the younger bard. She laughs and shakes her head. "You just read it the other day."

"Yeah... I know." The older woman holds up her hands, bends her knees slightly as a begging look comes on her faces. "Please? Can I help it that you write well... you're just brilliant, marvelous. Sweetie, please!" She folds her hands together and bats her eyes. "Don't make this old woman beg."

Red Hope laughs and shakes her head. "Alright... alright. Just don't lose the scrolls, okay?"

"I promise." MomBard bounces up on her feet in excitement. "You know you can trust me. I'd neva upset you."

"I know." The shorthaired bard opens her drawer of recent stories. She hunts through them and pulls out, what she thinks, are the three sections of How I met a Cow Girl. She smiles up at her friend. "Here you go, be nnnice to them."

MomBard carefully takes them and nods. "I promise, I'll bring them back soon." She rushes to the door.

"Just don't copy them!" Red Hope calls. "I remember that trick you pulled last time with A World Away."

The older bard laughs from the doorway. She glances back over her shoulder. "Sorry, it was for a good cause."

"Like what?"

"Like to keep me off your hands from begging for the story." MomBard snickers and disappears out of the hut while closing the door behind.

Red Hope groans dramatically. "Friends... can't live with them... can't live without them." She chuckles and goes back to her story. "Especially MomBard," she mutters under her breath. She starts writing her first sentence and once she finishes, another knock came. "Oh lord, now who?" She drops her quill and glances back to the door. "Come in."

Slowly, the door opens and in pokes a head. "Heya, Red."

Red Hope smiles softly at the tall bard. "What's up, Murph?"

Murphy grins, comes in, and closes the door behind. "Working on any good stories?"

"Of course, I gotta keep teasing you," taunts the smaller bard.

Murphy huffs. "Don't I know." She folds her arms while standing very tall in the low ceiling hut.

"Need something?" Red Hope grins.

"Just a complete story," states Murphy with a very hubris attitude.

The smaller woman chuckles and replies, "I'd give you one if I could write." A sparkle enters her eyes.

"Awe, you don't have any now?" begs Murphy.

Red Hope takes a deep breath, lifting her shoulders and ponders. "Mmmmm… maybe."

"Give." Murphy chuckles and grins. "Come on, Red... you've hardly been posting stories out there lately. What you've been doing?"

"Fartin' around," teases the tiny bard. She bounces to her feet. "Alright, I have one done... I haven't posted it yet sssso... you'll get a preview." She signals her bed. "Sit down and I'll read it to you."

"Sweet." Murphy's grin gets larger and she strolls over to the bed. She hops up on it and crosses her legs, settling in. She glances over at her friend by her desk. "You'll post it today though?"

"Yeah sure." Red Hope keeps roaming through her scrolls in her drawer, trying to find the two scrolls. "Its post day, right?"

"Yup, Friday," responds the tall bard on the bed. "Don't keep track of the days?" she teases.

Red Hope laughs and straightens up with her two written-in scrolls. "Nope, I just rely on you screaming out every morning that it's post day." She strolls over to the bed.

Murphy laughs deeply and asks, "Not me and the others running around in the nude?"

The shorter bard widens her eyes. "Nnnnno, I hide." She hops up onto her bed and faces her friend.

"Awe shucks... we'll have to come storm in here." Murphy's grin becomes very evil. "And jump on you."

Red Hope raises the two scrolls in either hand. "Do you want me to read these?" She points the ends at the older bard.

"Yes."

"Then don't ever... ever jump on me while you're nude."

The older bard laughs evilly yet she nods. "I'll... be nice." For now, she added mentally.

The small bard chuckles and unrolls her first scroll. "Okay, I'll tell you the time frame." She peers up. "Its right after The Return of the Vaulkyrie."

0Murphy nods and settles in more, getting excited. "What's the title?"

Red Hope takes a deep breath, lowers the scroll in her lap. "Its titled Becoming One Forever."

The taller bard laughs deeply and asks, "A classic Red Romance?" A sly grin takes her lips.

"Murph," warns Red Hope. She chuckles but stops. "Ready?

"Yup, weave the tale."

The small bard takes another huge breath then proceeds to read her story.

"After Xena and Gabrielle had returned the Rhinegold to the Rhine maidens, they decided to travel for a few candlemarks. They'd shrugged on their cloaks, collected packs of food from the local village, and started the trek south bound.

Gabrielle had finally felt herself relaxed after getting her soul mate back. That single year of being asleep was nothing but the purest torture for her mind, body... and soul. It was a repeated cycle of a nightmare. Each time, she was so close to capturing Xena but something would stop her. Another wall… another barrier, it was an endless cycle or so she thought. Then one nightmare started changing more into a heavenly dream. And the next thing she knew, her lips were gently being claimed by her soul mate.

The small warrior had arisen from her nightmares and found the most royal blue set of eyes loving her. She'd return to the world of breathing, feeling, and touching... to be complete again with Xena. But at what price had this all cost them, this adventure? Another year- wasted away from yet another god. Gabrielle was purely sick of this, sick of the gods and their stupid games.

"Hey, how you doing?" questioned the warrior softly.

Gabrielle came out of her thoughts. "Okay," she whispered. She peered up at the older woman with a smile. "You?"

"A lot better," replied Xena. "A lot better," she repeated more quietly.

The warrior-bard chuckled and…"

Red Hope stops and peers up at her friend. "I forgot to mention… Xena and Gabrielle aren't lovers yet."

Murphy is bug eye. "This is the sixth season and they're not together?"

The smaller bard chuckles, moves her head in a now, and she answers, "Nope, which's what makes it interesting."

The older woman slowly nods. "Alright… keep going," she orders with a smug look forming.

Red Hope laughs quietly while her eyes focus back on her small handwriting.

"The warrior-bard chuckled and nodded in agreement. She sighed deeply, and she studied her surroundings of the forest. "You know, I can't wait to get home," mentioned the small warrior.

Xena smiled softly at that. "To the warm air?" she teased.

Gabrielle shivered just at the thought of being so cold. "Basically, yeah." She combed her fingers through her long hair. She chuckled, while she lowered her hand. "Its odd having long hair again."

The warrior stopped walking suddenly.

The warrior-bard did the same and raised an eyebrow in question.

The Warrior Princess grinned, faced her friend, and took a few steps back. She examined her friend with the long blond hair again. Her head bobbed.

"What?" asked the younger woman shyly.

"The short hair," replied Xena, "like that better."

The small woman considered her partners words then smiled. "Me too."

"So…" Xena folded her arms. "Want me to cut it again?" She grinned.

Gabrielle formed her own grin. "Can I trust you not to mess it up?"

"I have many skills," replied the older woman.

"You still didn't answer my question," provoked Gabrielle. "Can I trust you?"

Xena chuckled and countered, "Can you?"

Gabrielle laughed a lightly patted her friend's stomach. "Come on." She continued their journey towards Greece.

The warrior grinned, tugged her cloak closer, and followed after her friend. "So what'd you think of the flying horses?" She questioned as she walked briskly, trying to catch up.

The warrior-bard spun around, walked backwards, and replied, "It was different." She shot a grin.

Xena laughed deeply and asked, "Good or bad?" She caught up with her friend.

The short warrior spun around on her feet and strolled along side Xena. "Not sure yet."

The Warrior Princess smirked and taunted, "You hhhhated it."

"Hate is a strong word," murmured the younger woman. "It was different," she stated once more.

The tall woman shook her head. "I'll just… take you on another ride… someday."

Gabrielle grinned. "Don't you dare."

"Then it was a bad difference."

"I didn't say that. Now did I?" The warrior-bard gazed up at her soul mate. "Don't put words in my mouth," she teased.

"I was simply making a conclusion on your… emotions towards flying horses," replied Xena.

"Uh huh." The small woman walked a little closer to her friend. "Don't assume anything." She grinned. "I don't like being made an ass."

The tall woman huffed but smiled none the less. "You liked it," she decided aloud.

Gabrielle's shoulders drop. "It was a flying horse without wings!" She threw up her arms. "Does that! not seem odd to you in the slightest?"

Xena sucked in a breath, thought, started nodding, then she said, "No." She grinned. "Considering what we've been through."

The small woman opened her mouth to debate that but well… she really could not. "Alright… you've got a point," she grumbled.

"I know," stated Xena. "I mean, what? We've only fought harpies, dryads, gods, goddesses…"

"Bacchae, giants, Titans…"

The warrior tilted her head, "Cyclopes, cannibals, centaurs, the Fates…"

"Time," mumbled the small warrior.

"Well…" Xena smirked at her partner. "We've only been through a few supernatural things huh?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes then she grinned. "Not to mention Grinhilda as a monster," added Gabrielle with a small laugh.

The Warrior Princess laughed deeply. "Yup, I can see how flying horses is sssso out of the ordinary for us," she mocked.

The warrior-bard growled faintly and pushed her soul mate away. "Don't talk to me," she teased.

Xena laughed and walked closer again. "Rrrright," she drew out. She sighed then gazed around the area. "Feel like stopping for the night?"

"Yeah," agreed Gabrielle. She noted the sun low in the west. "Just enough time to make camp."

"Yup." The warrior stopped suddenly and put her hands on her hips.

Gabrielle stood there- she waited. She peered up with amused eyes. She loved watching how her partner work. She rubbed her neck a little and inquired, "Find that perfect spot?" She grinned at Xena when blue eyes lowered to her.

Xena chuckled and nodded. "This way… partner," she teased. Once past Gabrielle, Xena led the way off the trail they'd been following. Xena went past some pine wood trees and into a small clearing. "Walla, look good?" She spun around with her arms out.

The warrior-bard's head moved up and down in approval. "Not too shabby."

"Yeah well, it won't be my fault if you find pine needles up your-"

"Alright." Gabrielle raised a hand. "Don't say it… the visual is baaad enough." She chuckled.

The warrior snickered quietly before she neared her friend. "You take care of the fire-"

"You take care of dinner," finished Gabrielle. "Let's get cracking." She patted her friend's stomach.

The tall woman nodded, took her pack off, left it on the ground, and she disappeared into the sunset-lit forest.

The short warrior took a shaky breath as her breath formed in the air. She watched it vaporize before she took her pack off as well. After the pack was on top of Xena's, she headed into the nearing edge of the forest and collect the wood. Within a few minutes she was done and squatting in the middle of the soon campsite. She worked on putting the fire together.

Xena strolled back towards the camp with three quails in hand. She stopped short on the camp's edge. She stood there and studied her best friend starting the fire. Her heart filled with a yearning as she watched her friend. Her friend, her sister, her soul mate but no never her lover. Lover was still words she only whispered inside herself and in her dreams. Conceived in her heart, seen through her eyes, but she'd never shown it physically. That was the funny part in their relationship, they were everything to each other except lovers. It always struck Xena odd, considering the numerous years they'd been friends.

To Xena, it was the piece of the puzzle she was missing to be complete. Yet, she would not dare push her friend into anything. For she didn't know how Gabrielle viewed her these days. So here she stood, on the edge of the campsite, still dreaming, still yearning, to make sense of this flame inside herself.

Gabrielle finally had the fire burning the wood. She stared into the tiny flame, it couldn't match the fire inside of herself. She slowly rose up with her cloak falling down in protection from the cold. Gabrielle folded her arms, still having not noticed Xena off to her side. But then it was as if something in her told her that Xena was there. Slowly a smile eased across her lips, she turned her head towards Xena.

The smile spread across Xena's lips at a slow pace.

The soul mates stared into each other eyes across the camp. They stared and searched for answers to questions they'd already answered without knowing it.

Xena tilted her head faintly. Maybe it is magic, she reconsidered the Rhine maiden's words, the magic is Gabrielle. She breathed deeply then she joined her friend by the fire. "Look good?" She signaled the quail.

"Oh yeah," whispered Gabrielle. She studied the quail momentarily before she glimpsed up at her best friend.

The older woman bit her lower lip, she could see that need in her friend's eyes. She bent forward, settled the quail on the ground, and turned back to her friend. "Come here," she whispered.

Gabrielle moved in and instantly wrapped her arms around her soul mate.

Xena pulled her partner in closely. Her arms tightly holding her soul mate and protecting her. She kissed Gabrielle's forehead and then dug her head down into Gabrielle's.

The small warrior closed her eyes and swayed her body with Xena's. "Another year, Xena."

"I know… I know… at least it was not another twenty-five years," whispered the warrior.

"That was bad enough," replied Gabrielle quietly. "Plus another year now?" Her voice was filled with pain. "What?" She lifted her head. "I'm thirty-one now?" She laughed bitterly. "You're thirty-four." She shook her head.

"If you calculate in the twenty-five, we could be looking at our early fifties, Gabrielle." The tall warrior searched her friend's eyes. "I'd take this one year over the twenty-five we were froze through."

The small woman shook her head. "We missed Eve's childhood," she uttered.

"But we'll be there to see the rest of her life… considering how young we are ourselves." Xena tried giving a smile despite she hated this topic herself. "She'll be growing gray hairs with us."

Gabrielle chuckled a little but sighed sadly. "I still can't believe it." She scanned her soul mate's eyes. "We lost another year between each other."

Xena just realized she'd found the opening she'd needed. The opening to find out exactly what Gabrielle wanted from her. "And as they say Gabrielle… don't take things for granted." She held onto her friend's arms. "Don't expect things… people will always be there."

The small woman lowered her eyes. "I know," she whispered. "I know but I never follow through with my own morals half the time." She laughed at herself. "Oooh god," she groaned and ran her hands through her hair. She relaxed and said, "It could have been worse huh?"

"It really could have," agreed Xena. "We could be dead."

Gabrielle chuckled. "We could be a lot of things."

"But we're not," stated Xena. "We're right here, right now, trying to do the right things."

The warrior-bard nodded and smiled softly at her partner. "Thank you," she whispered.

Xena chuckled and said, "Repaying you for all those pep talks you've given me." She grinned.

The small woman smiled and nodded. "Tell me about it." She sighed. "Alright, I better get dinner going here."

The Warrior Princess gazed west and noted the sun almost gone. "Yeah… good idea." She brought her attention back to Gabrielle. "Come here." She pulled her friend in for a strong hug.

Gabrielle returned the huge hug. She still had things to discuss with her best friend, but this was not the right moment. Yet, she best not wait too long.

Xena squeezed a little hard and whispered, "I love you."

Gabrielle smiled and released a small laugh. "I love you too." She gave a hard squeeze then let go of her friend.

"Oh damn," mumbled the warrior. "Would have helped if I skinned them huh?"

The warrior-bard lifted the dangling quail. "Just a little." She crinkled up her nose with a smile.

The older woman sighed quite dramatically but took the quail. "Be back." She went into the forest again and skinned them in the last rays of light.

Within an hour the pair had eaten a roast quail dinner, which left them pretty filled. By the end of dinner they were sitting near the fire, knee pressed against knee.

"You know what Brunnhilda said to me while you were fighting the Valkyrie?"

"When I had the ring on?" questioned Xena softly.

Gabrielle nodded.

The warrior considered the entire adventure from start to finish then she whispered, "She was in-love with you?"

The younger woman nodded and gave a heavy sigh. "Yeah… while I was trying to get back to you. She kept telling me how much she loved me since the moment we'd met. She asked me to be with her."

"What did you say back?" asked Xena quietly.

"Well not yes, obviously." Gabrielle grinned at her soul mate then stared into the fire once more. "Just that I belong with you. You know, that you and I didn't mean to be soul mates but its destiny." She paused then added, "She was pretty jealous at first."

Xena huffed. "Everybody is jealous that we're soul mates," she teased.

Gabrielle chuckled and nodded. "Isn't it the truth?"

The Warrior Princess leaned towards her friend, she bumped her shoulders against Gabrielle's. "Eeeeverybody has the hots for my soul mate," she teased with a grin.

The small woman rolled her eyes. "I think they're more after you than me."

"Nah… people prefer green eyes than blue."

"Whatever," grumbled the small woman. "Its like…" she put her hands on the ground, turned her body to face her partner. "Its like we walk into a tavern, I'll come in." She grinned. "Then… you come in. Everybody's jaws drop open at the tall, dark, blue-eyed and dangerous one."

Xena shook her head. "No, its more like I walk in… everybody shudders and turns their gaze away." She grinned. "Then you walk in, everybody looks and not only does their jaws open but they hit the floor," she teased, "at the muscular, tanned, shorthaired blond, with green eyes."

Gabrielle rolled those green eyes. "They don't."

"Hmmm, you'd be surprised," replied the warrior. "I see and hear things that you don't."

"Like what?" inquired the warrior-bard.

Xena shrugged and looked away. "Just… stuff." A grin creased her lips.

"No, tell me," urged the small woman. "Come on, tell me."

The warrior shook her head and looked away. "You don't want to know… not even I did." She sighed.

"That bad huh?" whispered Gabrielle. She nodded. "Sounds about right."

"Why you say that?" questioned the older woman.

The short warrior sighed this time. "I think I've lost count on how many people I've slugged for what they've said about you." She gave a grin to her friend.

"Gabrielle," warned the older woman, "you could have-"

"Nah," cut off the warrior-bard. "They didn't hurt me after they saw how angry I was… and you weren't too far away." She laughed faintly. "Kinda finny now."

"I guess," muttered Xena.

The younger warrior leaned against her friend. "Cut my hair tomorrow?"

"If you want," replied the warrior.

"Yeah." The warrior-bard closed her eyes as her head leaned on her soul mate's shoulder. "Be nice to have short hair again."

Xena chuckled then asked, "Are you really that tired?" She teased a grin on her lips. "You've only been sleeping for… a year."

Gabrielle snickered lowly. "Hey, I had a lot of catching up to do after how many times you woke me up early."

The older woman grinned but sighed contently. "Ready for bed?"

"Hmmm yeah." The warrior-bard sat up straight and got to her feet.

The tall warrior stood up as well, she trudged over to the bedrolls on the other side of the fire.

Gabrielle followed along side, once by the bedrolls, she knelt down and took her sais out. She placed them in arms reach from her bedroll.

Xena worked her armor off at a slow pace. "God, I think I'm finally getting sick of this armor," she muttered.

The smaller warrior snickered got up, and she helped her friend. "Here."

The Warrior Princess dropped her hands and let her friend take care of the clasps. She closed her eyes while the tired, drained feeling washed over her.

"Tired huh?" whispered Gabrielle.

"Well… I didn't have a years sleep like somebody did," teased the older woman.

"Oh is that what it is?" taunted the warrior-bard, "Thought it was your… age."

"No," growled the warrior. She started shrugging out of her armor and put it on the ground, out of the way. She then bent down and picked up her cloak.

Gabrielle helped her soul mate put the cloak back on. She knew they'd needed their cloaks to sleep with considering out cool it was out.

Xena had already removed her chakram and sword, they rested above the bedrolls. She carefully crawled down into the bedrolls.

The younger woman followed suit and got under the furs next to her friend. She was closer to the fire because Xena always said that she keep herself warmer than Gabrielle. So that's how their sleeping arrangement worked out during the cold times. She sucked in a deep breath and studied the stars far up.

The warrior did the same exact thing.

As the pair silently stared at the stars, they realized this was one of the ways their friendship had first grown. They'd always did star gazing together since their first year together.

For a certain reason, that struck a cord in Gabrielle. She turned towards her partner, and without asking, she simply laid on her friend.

The warrior was a little worried; she pulled the fur over their bodies then she pulled her small partner in closer. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," whispered Gabrielle. She pushed the side of her head under her soul mate's chin and clung to her.

Xena considered this, and figured the year of being apart had taken a larger toll on the warrior-bard than she cared to admit. But she couldn't disagree; the year without Gabrielle had caused her to take another step closer to Gabrielle. She was growing more dependent and more in-love with her friend.

"Are you okay?" asked Gabrielle quietly.

The older woman broke out of her thoughts. "Yeah."

The warrior-bard chewed on her lower lip. "Xena?"

"Hmmm?"

The small woman breathed steadily and said, "I know we haven't really talked about it." She stopped then asked, "But do you… do you think we're soul mates?"

Oh boy, thought the warrior, this could be touchy ground if I say the wrong things. She breathed in then released the air carefully. "Yes," she stated sincerely.

Gabrielle faintly nodded.

"Why?" questioned Xena in concern. "Are you… doubting?"

"No, definitely not." Gabrielle chuckled then she said, "Just want to make sure you agreed." Her eyes casually opened. "I guess… I'm just wondering how we know… can be sure."

"You don't question it, Gabrielle." The warrior ran her fingers through the long blond hair. "You accept it because its destiny talking." She leaned her head against Gabrielle's. "Its just how it is, always will be."

The small woman nodded slowly and closed her eyes. She said nothing more that night, too immersed in her thoughts and emotions.

But sleep soon caught up to her and also up to Xena.

~*~*~*~

The sun just peeked over the horizon, her rays instantly warmed the air around. The darkness from the night fled in defeat of the sun's rebirth.

Within two hours after the sunrise, Gabrielle awoke in her friend's arms. She sighed contently opened her eyes and stared at the dead fire.

Xena had been awake already, she just wasn't about to move or release her friend until she had to. "Morning," she whispered.

"Mornin'," grumbled the younger warrior.

"How'd you sleep?"

Gabrielle chuckled. "Was mighty comfortable on this bed." She moved her hands and pushed her hands down against the stomach under her own.

The warrior laughed lightly. "Oh I see, this is what I'm good for huh?"

"Oh yeah." The small warrior shut her eyes. "A portable bed." She grinned to herself. "We'll have to do this again, sometime."

"Oh joy," deadpanned the older woman.

"Hmmm, wonder how it feels the other way." Carefully and slowly, Gabrielle turned herself over and her back pressed into the other woman's body. There was a small crack as Gabrielle's spine realigned. "Oooh… damn."

"Here, sit up." The warrior sat up with her friend and she repositioned Gabrielle a little in her lap. "Think you can take your cloak off?" she asked carefully.

"Yeah." The warrior-bard removed her cloak and set it aside near her sais. She then reorganized the furs in her lap. She then felt large fingers press into her lower back and started massaging. "Oooh, that's real nice."

"Just relax," whispered Xena.

Gabrielle grinned and lowered her shoulder, breathed at a normal rate as she relaxed her mind. "See what a sleeping a year on a rock does?"

The tall woman huffed. "Now I can understand why you'd find my body comfortable."

"Uh huh." The small woman's eyes drifted shut as the massaging completely mellowed her. "Mmm, have to do this more often," she murmured.

Xena grinned as her hands slowly roamed up the muscular back. She tried steadying her breathing from being so close to her friend.

"God… I really missed you, Xena," whispered the younger warrior.

"I know," replied the warrior softly. "I missed you… without even knowing it at the time." She leaned forward a little and kissed her soul mate's shoulder. After she leaned back, she continued the soothing massage. "I had so many dreams about you." She shook her head. "Flashbacks."

Gabrielle nodded and held back a moan that formed in her throat. Her friend's touch was more than just relaxing now, more intoxicating than anything. "I know… I kept coming after you."

Xena sighed and worked her partner's shoulders. "But in the visions you at least had short hair," she teased, in hopes of detouring the sexual air forming between them.

The small woman chuckled. "You need to cut my hair this morning."

"I will," promised the warrior. "Exact same way?"

"Definitely."

The Warrior Princess picked up on how her soul mate was in a very physical mode. Only due to the fact they hadn't been around each other in a year. Gabrielle wanted to feel her close to reassure herself that Xena was beside her again.

Xena, well, she wasn't going to argue because she felt the same way. So, she finished massaging her friend's shoulders and neck. She then wrapped her arms around her friend's waist casually and laid back down.

Gabrielle went with it and stretched her body over her partner's. "Talk about a leisure morning," she mentioned.

The tall woman laughed deeply. "Why not? After what's happened, a little quiet time together is something I think we both need…?"

"Mmm, yes… can't go against that… won't." Gabrielle grinned and folded her hands on top of her lower stomach. She then sensed larger hands covering her own. "You know, its amazing how far we've both come since our first year together."

"We have… together we have." Xena moved one of her hands off Gabrielle's. She idly had begun trailing her fingertips over her soul mate's stomach.

The warrior-bard closed her eyes as the one single hand over hers seemed to burn her skin. But the fingertips grazing over her stomach sent tiny shots through her body. She attempted ignoring it but could not fully reject the sensual feelings. "Remember when I first started using the staff?"

Xena grinned devilishly. "Did you ever keep count of how many times you hit yourself?"

Gabrielle growled, "No."

"I know I didn't… couldn't keep count."

"Alright, I hear ya, grump."

The older woman furrowed her eyebrows. "What's that suppose to mean?" Her voice was casual.

"Ooooh, you were such the grump in our first year." The warrior-bard chuckled. "Gabrielle, don't do this, don't do that, sssh don't say that, stay here, keep out of trouble, don't talk to strangers, stay close to me, don't touch my chakram, don't go somewhere without me…" She sighed melodramatically. "You were ssso damn stinge."

Xena laughed then thought as she kept running her fingertips over her friend's stomach. "What'd you expect… I mean you were just a kid," she mocked.

"Ha, ha." Gabrielle smirked and said, "I was one smart kid though."

"If you say so."

"Okay that's it, no more bonding time." The small warrior started sitting up but didn't get far before Xena pulled her back down.

"Not yet," growled the warrior as a grin crossed her expression.

Gabrielle's shoulders drooped while she settled back in her soul mate's arms. "I get nnnno credit."

"No, you were very… spunky back then."

The warrior-bard laughed and asked, "Spunky… okay… how is that?"

"You had a lot of energy, Gabrielle… a lot. I couldn't figure out where in the Hell you got it all from."

"I don't understand how you see that, I mean by the end of the days, I was exhausted. Trying to keep up with you along with the traveling."

Xena shrugged. "You were wired, Gabrielle." She grinned. "You asked questions non-stop."

"And talked non-stop," added the small woman. "I've really settled down since then huh?"

"Wouldn't say settled down," replied the warrior. "You've just changed a lot over the years." She smiled softly while her hand came up and gingerly brushed Gabrielle's hair behind her ear. "You've become quite the beautiful woman," she whispered. "Each day you seem to glow more."

Gabrielle took the words to heart and it made her tingle on every spot of her body. "You know, you've changed so much since the first year?"

"Oh?"

"Oh yeah," responded the younger warrior. "Think about it." She smiled brightly. "If you were the same person then right now. Do you think you'd be holding me right now?" she asked gently. Holding me right now, repeated Gabrielle mentally. She's holding me… we've never really done this before. So why now? Gabrielle shook the thoughts and put them way; not really sure if she wanted to understand it at all.

"True," answered Xena. "I've gone soft huh?"

"Yup," replied the short warrior. "You're so perfect like that. On one hand you can be very soft and caring. But on the other, you can be a real-"

"Hard core, bitchy warrior," finished Xena.

"Now, I wasn't going to say that," stated the small woman.

"I did," declared that warrior.

Gabrielle laughed faintly. "Well, either way… you have that balance… finally."

"Finally is right," agreed Xena, "Finally and thankfully."

"Uh huh." The small woman smiled. "Nobody beats my soul mate." She patted her friend's leg before she sat up. "Let's get the day rolling huh?"

"Yeeeah." Xena stretched then got on her feet after her friend was up. "Breakfast or hair cut first?" She revealed her amusing grin to her partner.

Gabrielle chuckled and replied, "Breakfast."

~*~*~*~

The warrior-bard slipped the tiny mirror back into her pack. She closed up her pack and swung it on. "It looks just as it did," she stated while she ran her hand through her short blond hair.

Xena turned around with a grin. "Of course."

"Didn't think you were a hair dresser," taunted the small woman.

The warrior laughed and picked up her pack. She slung it on. "I have many skills," she joked.

"God! that line is old," she teased her friend.

The tall warrior neared her friend and pushed away by the shoulder. "You love it."

Gabrielle stumbled faintly away from Xena after the push. "Oh yeah, will ya say it more often?" She rolled her eyes.

"I have-" Xena was instantly cut off when two hands came over her mouth.

"Don’t you dare," breathed Gabrielle hotly yet she was smirking. "I can't take much more of it after five. Count them five years of you saying that line." She lifted an eyebrow. "Get a new line." She removed her hands.

"What you want me to say?" inquired the warrior. "I have many talents? Sounds real lame."

"And you don't think the skills is after so many times?" chided the short warrior. She started traveling. "Try a totally new line."

The Warrior Princess laughed lightly and shook her head. "Wouldn't be the same." She peered over at her friend. "It'd be like changing my warcry… it doesn't happen."

Gabrielle's head swayed left and right while her lips pressed together. "Aaah, I can see that." She studied her friend briefly then put her focus on the forest around. "Alright, don't change it."

"Thank you," stated the warrior. She arched an eyebrow at her friend. "Why don't you change your name?"

"What?" roared the small woman.

Xena shrugged her shoulders. "It's getting old after… thirty-one years." She grinned. "Same boring name." Her eyes twinkled with such glee of laughter.

"Yeah well, so is the name Xena," snapped the small woman.

"Oooh? I thought it was a little unusual myself. I don't know any other Xena." The warrior's grin became very evil. "Gabrielle is as common as… dirt," she purred.

A growl rumbled up from the small warrior's throat. She stopped dead in her tracks. "Your name is about to become dirt." Her green eyes flashed.

The tall warrior faced her friend, straightened her back out, and put on her warrior mask. She slowly lowered her head and got in her partner's face. "Now… you understand why I won't change my lame line." Her hard expression went smug.

Gabrielle took a deep breath, ready to debate that but stopped short. "Shit," she grumbled.

Xena patted her soul mate's shoulder and straightened up. "Made my point." She walked on.

The warrior-bard, however, was still hot; her hands fisted up.

The warrior noticed her friend not coming, she stopped and turned back. She sighed at seeing her soul mate still angry. She came back, smiled at her best friend, and lifted her hand. "Come on," she offered.

Gabrielle sighed and un-fisted her hands. She took the much larger hand before she walked along with Xena.

Xena squeezed the small hand and carefully said, "I didn’t waste a year away to come together again and get into a fight over lame lines."

The younger warrior lowered her shoulders and squeezed back her friend's hand. "Sorry," she apologized.

"I provoked you."

"No, I provoked you first," countered Gabrielle.

Once more, the warrior stopped and faced her friend- she still held the small hand. "We're both sorry." She grinned but went serious. "Let's just not… take each other for granted for now on huh?"

Gabrielle nodded and smiled. "You're right."

Xena lowered her head and pressed her lips against her friend's forehead. "Thank you," she whispered.

The small woman's smile eased into a deep warmth. "I love you," she uttered sincerely.

The warrior peered into her serene, ivy eyes. She saw that love and really studied it; she realized it was that love of full acceptance. That's when Xena knew, she just knew she could become Gabrielle's lover. Why wasn't she already? Because she was simply too worried about her friend's reaction. Yet here before her was the most accepting, understanding person she'd ever find. The one person that yearned to be everything to Xena even though she faltered to voice it. It was just a matter of pulling the new perspective out of the shadows.

So, Xena went into the shadows and grasped the idea. She slowly came out with it and showed this by leaning down. Her lips then carefully, faintly touched Gabrielle's lips.

Gabrielle's heart pounded as the smooth lips brushed hers. She'd experienced it before, twice now. This time around, not only could she not breathe but her body screamed with searing heat.

The warrior pulled back and opened her eyes. She revealed all her passion in her eyes that she held for her soul mate physically.

The small warrior could only stare, completely caught off guard by her friend's openness of desires. But she wasn't scared, she was more relieved than anything to see it. Although, for her it was so much at once she needed breathing space and she squeezed her friend's hand.

Xena picked up on the signal. She closed her eyes briefly then opened them again once her emotions were back under an iron fist. "We'll talk about it later huh?" she reassured.

"Yeah," replied Gabrielle, "just need to… think."

"Don't be scared," whispered the warrior. She kissed her friend's cheek then fully straightened up. She started releasing the small hand.

Gabrielle refused that, and she tightened her grasp. "I'm not," she finally spoke up.

Xena smiled and readjust her hold on the small hand. She begun traveling again along side her friend. She felt content in her actions, assured they were the best ones she'd done in a long time. At least she thought, she didn't quite feel that way, however.

Now, they only had to talk. Express the truth and every last emotion. Xena just wasn't quite completely sure though that Gabrielle wanted to be with her. There was always, always that powerful doubt inside her. There were numerous good reasons for Gabrielle to easily refuse Xena, numerous. Too, too many that it truly left Xena feeling sinking down and regretting her actions earlier. There were just numerous good reasons why not.

Continue to Section Two."

Red Hope peers up with a smile. "Ready for the next part?"

Murphy frantically nods. "It's on a cliff hanger. Come on, hurry up."

The short bard laughs quietly and rolls up the first scroll. She puts it aside then grasps the other one. "You're sure?" she asks teasingly while opening the second scroll.

"Yes," growls Murphy but she was grinning from ear to ear. "You know I hate teasing."

The small woman huffs and moves her head back and forth. "Don't I," she mutters. Slowly, her eyes lower to the second scroll in her lap. She opens her mouth, about to recite the lines, but falls short. "Uh oh," she whispers.

"What you mean, uh oh?" inquires the older woman.

"Wrong scroll," replies Red Hope. "Hold on…" she jumps off her bed and rushes over to her desk. She hastily opens her drawers, searching for the second section of her story. She opens all her scrolls partially, checking the titles, and once through all of her scrolls, she realizes she doesn't have the scroll. "Oh Hell," she mumbles.

"What?" Murphy uncrosses her legs and gets up. "You can't find it?"

Red Hope turns around with her right hand behind her neck. "Um… MomBard must have it." She holds up the scroll in her left hand. "This is the second section of How I met a Cow Girl, sssso MomBard must have the rest of my other story." She sheepishly grins. "Sorry, Murph."

"Well, let's go get the rest of the story," states Murphy. "I have to find out what happens!" She folds her arms. "We're going to go get it," she declares.

The smaller bard drops her freehand down. "Welp… not rrreally, Murph." She leans against her desk. "I am not 'bout to go into MomBard's hut." She shakes her head. "No way, no how. Not when she's reading one of my scrolls." She pauses then explains, "She hates, hates to be disturbed." Her eyes stare at the floor while a grin shapes her lips. "Besides that, she's in a singing mode." A shiver ripples up and down her back.

"Red," whines the tall bard. "I gotta know what happens. This is worse than you not having a complete story." She throws up her arms. "Its complete and I can't read it!"

Red Hope shrugs. "Go ask MomBard for the rest."

"Come with me," Murphy begs.

"Ooooh no," states Red Hope. "You couldn't pay me." She grins. "You're going to have to go get it from her." She folds her arms with the scroll for her other story. "I'd recommend emailing her first… just don't walk into her hut and disrupt her. She wouldn't give you the scroll then." She chuckles.

"Red," whines Murphy again. "Please!"

"Nope." The small bard shakes her head. "You're the one that wants the rest of the story. So you can go ask her for it." She reveals a smug look. "Good luck," she taunts.

"You're evil, woman." Murphy grumbles to herself then she goes to the door. "Email her first huh?"

"Yes, definitely," states Red Hope. "Go back to your hut and email her. I promise you, if you email her asking for it, she'll give it up."

The tall woman nods, opens the door and almost leaves but stops and glances at her friend. "She'll give me the scroll, you prrromise?"

Red Hope chuckles yet she nods. "I swear, just email her."

Murphy breathes deeply before she leaves, closing the door behind.

Red Hope laughs quietly while she strolls back to her desk. "Murph better email MomBard." She sits at her desk; settling the scroll back into her drawer. "'Cause I know I don't have a copy." She shrugs, picks up her quill and continues writing.