Subtext ~ Isn't subtext here, it's the real thing here. All maintext. If you can't handle that sorta thing, I feel sorry for you. Just go check out another one of them stories that's general.

Emotional ~ I'll tell y'all this is planned to be emotional. Don't think it'll be like Titanic thing, but it's doing the whole emotional thing.

Copyright ~ Lets see, Universal and MCA both own Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Dahak, Hope, Joxer, Ephiny, Amarice other Amazons. But I own Masika, Gabrielle's horse Torqueo, Teresa, Aster, Logos, and Rodhiya. So don't take my characters or story line, otherwise you'll have a life worth of bad luck.

Note ~ This is fast forward in the seasons compare to the rest of my stories. I think everybody can figure out relatively where I set it. The only thing is, there's two? three differences to the season I'm on. I think you'll be able to figure them out too, real fast.

Started: March 12th 2000 on Sunday

Series: The Binding of the Soulmates of Time Story: Seven

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

redhope@redhope.net

Part 1

Section 1

~*Part 1*~

"It feels so good to be going home."

"Going home in more ways than one."

Gabrielle smiled to her friend, they kept walking. Ahead they heard Amarice and Joxer talking. Both Xena and Gabrielle are glad that pair is ahead.

"Thanks, Gabrielle."

The Amazon Queen looked up to the warrior. "For what?"

"Pointing the way back to my rotten old self."

Gabrielle smiled but a bit of a grin slipped in. "It's a pleasure ... Did I do that?"

Xena nodded, her voice a bit serious now. "I didn't think about it at the time, but when I asked for a sign to show that I was doing the right thing, you showed up."

The smaller woman chuckled. "You know what they say -- timing is everything."

The warrior shrugged her shoulders then grinned. "Yeah, well, not everything."

Gabrielle nodded at that. Neither had much to say after that. The pair kept their pace of walk up but enough to stay behind Joxer and the Amazon.

Gabrielle looked up to the trees then back again. "You know this is a pretty area. The weather is nice too."

Xena looked from the road to her friend. The sterling jewels in her hair twinkled from the sunlight. "It is."

"It's a shame to leave it. But it'll be good to be back in Greece, I've seen enough of Rome's Empire."

The Warrior Princess nodded. "Same here."

Gabrielle nodded her head. She took a deep breath, the air filling her lungs, she slowly released it. Looking to Xena, she took in her friend's clothes. She actually liked them. Xena wearing something different. "You know, you look good in that."

Xena arched an eyebrow at the smaller warrior. "Yeah? You don't think it clashes?"

The Amazon Queen broke out laughing. "Xena since when did you care about how you looked?"

"I thought I'd start now."

Gabrielle nodded with a grin. "Uh huh, right."

"Actually I'm ready to get back into my leathers."

The smaller warrior nodded her head. "Me too."

"Mmm, so you'd prefer my leathers over this?"

Gabrielle stopped walking, as did Xena. The smaller warrior looked up and down the length of Xena. "Yeah I think so." She looked back up to Xena and smiled.

The warrior smiled back. "We find Argo, we find my leathers." She then began to grin. "I like your leathers you picked out."

Gabrielle grinned back. "You don't think it clashes with my short hair?"

Xena chuckled, shook her head, then smiled. "Come on." The warrior brought her right hand up to Gabrielle's back. The pair continued on their journey to Greece. Away from Italy where everything happened.

"We're going to be together ...for Eternity."

Promises are promises. Aren't they?

Xena poked at the fire. She then looked up to see her friend across from the fire. Joxer sat with her on the right, Amarice on the other side. Xena wasn't taking much of a liking to Joxer now. He? threatened her relationship with Gabrielle. But she'd never speak out. No, she'd rather help him because she knew she could only bring pain to Gabrielle's life. Joxer wouldn't do that to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle nodded something to Amarice then looked up to catch Xena's gaze on her. She smiled and stood up from the log. Walking to the other side, she came to stand next to Xena. "Xena?"

The warrior smiled. "Yeah?"

"You think we can head to the Amazons?"

"That's going to be a long trek Gabrielle."

The small warrior nodded her head. "I know but Amarice wants to head back to the Amazons. Besides I think it would be good for us to go back. I'm sure Ephiny is wondering what's happened to us."

The taller woman crossed her arms against her chest. She thought for a moment. "Why don't we stay there for a while too."

Gabrielle brightened up at that. "Yeah? I think we both could use a break."

Xena nodded at that. "Yeah that was my thinking."

The younger woman smiled. "Thanks Xena."

The warrior nodded her head. "I'm going to go get us something to eat. Stay here huh?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Yeah, be careful."

Xena smiled. "Always." The warrior then shifted from the fire and headed into the dark woods. The sun had set about a quarter of a candlemark ago.

Gabrielle watched her go, crossed her arms against her chest. She sighed and turned back to Joxer and Amarice, she slowly walked over to them. Joxer. Gabrielle sighed at the name and man, recalling his words.

"Hi ... um ... Gabrielle ..."

The small woman sighed. "Joxer, about what you said ..."

Joxer quickly cut Gabrielle off, his hands going up defensively. "It's alright, you don't have to say anything. You don't have to say a word. It just ... I ... I ... um ... I just wanted to ... uh ... let you know. I just wanted to let you know. No strings."

The small warrior sighed at that. Right no strings? There're strings for sure. She took a few more steps and sat back down in her seat originally, in the middle.

"What did Xena say?"

Gabrielle looked to Amarice. "She's fine with it."

The Amazon smiled. "Great, I can't wait to get back. Thanks Gabrielle."

The Queen nodded her head. "No problem."

"Hey Gabby?"

"Yes Joxer?" Gabrielle turned to look at the man, her face masked with a fake smile.

"When will we get to the Amazon Nation?"

Gabrielle shrugged. "Probably in five days."

"So that's three days to get back to Greece?"

The small woman nodded. "More or less yeah. Why?"

Joxer's eyes widen. He reached behind to the back of his neck. "Um well?"

"Yeah?"

"Well you see Gabby, I just don't wanna? you know. Go into that Nation."

Amarice leaned forward a little to look to Joxer. "What's wrong with the Amazon Nation?" Her words were in a growl.

Joxer jumped in his seat. "Oh nothing Amarice. Its just?"

The Amazon narrowed her eyes. "Its just what? That there's a bunch of women?"

The man put his hands up. "Oh no no, it isn't that."

Amarice opened her mouth to say something.

Gabrielle cut in, she hates this middle. "Amarice." The Amazon looked to Gabrielle, the small warrior smiled and went on. "What Joxer is trying to say is? well he doesn't like travelling that far. He thinks the Nation is a little to Far Eastern." Gabrielle then looked to Joxer. "Right Joxer?"

The wannabe warrior had a confused look for a moment, then he nodded furiously. "Right Gabby." He looked to Amarice. "That's right, I don't like travelling that far. You see? my mom is in the southern part. I wanna go visit her. You know haven't seen Mom in a while."

Amarice nodded her head slowly. "Okay." She then sat back.

Joxer looked to Gabrielle and gave her a smile in thank you. The small woman just nodded back. Then the air filled with the sound of twigs breaking straight ahead. Gabrielle looked to the woods to see the warrior return. She stood out from her red clothes and the jewel glistening in the moonlight.

Gabrielle stood up from the log and walked over to Xena. "Hey."

Xena smiled. "Hey, got some quail."

The small warrior smiled. "Really?"

The warrior nodded her head. "Yup." Xena then lifted up three sticks in her hands. Skewered on them were eight cleaned quail.

Gabrielle smiled and took them. "Great." She then walked over to the fire, she placed them near the fire. The ends digging into the ground. They'd roast on one side then would be turned later.

The night went on. For everybody, they were tired. Between the fighting and the traveling, it was all catching up. So they went to bed fairly early. Mainly after dinner. Xena and Gabrielle slept beside each other on one side of the fire. The other side was the grumbling Amazon and Joxer.

By morning the group had risen from their furs. The weather thankfully was good. Only a few large clouds here and there, no signs of storms. They had to move early though. Xena for her part figured they'd be back in Greece by mid tomorrow. That was more then fine with her. Right now though, they were walking along a road head southeast. Xena and Gabrielle walked beside each other, a little ways behind was Joxer and Amarice.

Joxer sighed, he looked up to Gabrielle and Xena. He smiled to himself. Picking up his pace he came to walk beside Gabrielle.

"Hey Joxer."

The wannabe warrior looked to Gabrielle with a smile. "Hey Gabby."

"What's up?"

He shrugged his shoulders, his? armor clanking from the movement. "Nothing. I was wondering if I could talk to you? alone?"

The small warrior looked away from Joxer to Xena.

Xena looked to Gabrielle. She sighed and nodded. Her pace slowed up and she came to walk beside Amarice.

Amarice looked from the road to Xena. "How are you?"

Xena kept her eyes pinned on Gabrielle and Joxer. "Alright, you?"

The Amazon nodded her head. "Not to bad."

Silence took over. They kept walking. Xena continued to watch Joxer and her best friend talk. Her eyes narrowed a little.

"What's going on with those two? Are they two love birds now?"

Sapphire eyes looked away from the pair ahead to Amarice. "No they're not."

Amarice's right hand went to her hip. "How you know?"

The warrior looked away. "I just do."

The Amazon kept staring at Xena, sizing her up. She then looked back ahead, her right hand falling back to her side. She studied Joxer and Gabrielle. As she watched the scene she saw Joxer bring up his left hand to grasp Gabrielle's closes arm.

"What's the deal then? Is it one of those, he loves her but she doesn't love him?"

Xena's cold eyes stay pin on Joxer. "Something like that."

"Hmmm." Amarice looked away from the pair ahead to Xena again. She could see Xena's jaw tight, her eyes only slits. "You don't like it either huh?"

The warrior didn't respond right away, she watched as Joxer released Gabrielle's arm. The small warrior in turn crossed her arms against her chest. Xena looked down to Amarice. "No I don't."

The Amazon kept staring up at Xena. "Why does it matter anyway to you Xena? Its-" Amarice stopped talking as she saw Xena's eyes go dark and flash to her. "Okay? never mind." She looked away, Xena doing the same. That's when Amarice knew she was missing a piece of the puzzle. A rather huge piece as we know.

The rest of the day was rather quiet. The group had made good time. The warrior was sure then that they'd be entering Greece. Hopefully that's when Joxer would leave. Although Xena couldn't be sure on that one. In the end, she knew she had to let go of her jealous, it wouldn't do any good. But is it jealous? Or is really ownership?

Gabrielle took a deep breath, she climbed a little higher on the ridge, the road running along the top of the ridge. They'd entered into Greece about a candlemark ago, the weather was looking a little bad. Some dark clouds had moved in, but Xena figured it wouldn't do anything. Just make things a little dark. They all were happy about being in Greece again.

Gabrielle looked down now and sucked in a breath. "Gods. Xena!"

The warrior heard her name being yelled. She broke out into a run, coming up the ridge. Gabrielle had been the first one up there. Once she came up she spotted what her friend was staring at.

Below the ridge was a small town. There were huge screams and yells coming from the town. Smoke rising up with the fire clearly in sight. People running. Men on horses back or on foot with swords, killing whomever they could.

"Hades." Xena then looked back down the road to Amarice and Joxer. "You two hurry up. There's a town below its being attacked. Gabrielle and I are headed down there." She turned her head to look back to Gabrielle. "You ready?"

The small warrior looked to Xena with a grin. "Is there ever a ready around you?"

The Warrior Princess grinned. "Nope. Let's go."

The pair then broke off into a run, heading straight down the ridge. Xena's warrior cry filled the air. As soon as she entered, her chakram was in the air. It struck five riders, sending them to the ground.

Once Gabrielle came into the town, she ducked. A sword swept over her head. She reached to her boots pulling her sais out. She rose back up and kicked, hitting the raider in the stomach. Coming at him, she managed to catch him off balance. Her sai cut him in the arm. He stumbled back then recovered, his sword thrusting forward at Gabrielle. The small warrior stopped the sword with one sai then the other came at his stomach. She just missed. The raider removed his sword. But Gabrielle used that time and did a roundhouse kick. He went reeling through the air and hit a barn, falling down unconscious. She grinned and spotted another raider.

Xena brought up her chakram, it stopped the sword. She then kicked at the raider's sword hand. The sword went flying sky high. She leaped into the air and caught it. Once she landed she placed the tip of the sword to the man's throat. He froze. The warrior laughed evilly. Xena quickly brought the sword down and did a high kick to his face. The raider fell to the ground as he blacked out.

"Watch it Joxer!" Amarice stopped the raider's sword with hers.

Joxer stumbled back a few paces, he pulled his own sword out. It fumbled in his hand for a moment. A raider came at him. "Oh gods," he mumbled. The wannabe warrior stopped his sword.

Amarice punched her raider. He fell to the ground and she stabbed her sword into his chest. She whirled around to see Joxer get his sword knocked from his hand. Amarice shook her head and came up behind Joxer's raider. She brought her sword up and in front of the raider. She slit his throat. "Be careful Joxer!"

Joxer nodded his head as he leaned down to pick up his sword. He looked around quickly for other raiders. Amarice laughed and saw a horseback raider coming at her.

The fight raged on. Xena and Gabrielle stayed near each other, taking care of numerous amount of raiders. Joxer and Amarice paired up. The Amazon for the most part watching Joxer's back. Knowing fully well he was no fighter.

Gabrielle spun around. She was a good distance from Xena. Her emerald eyes scanned around and spotted Xena. She was fighting three raiders at once. She sighed. That's the warrior for you.

Looking to her left she saw a raider on horseback coming, fast too. He had his sword unsheathed. His target, Xena.

"Hades." The small warrior frantically looked around. She looked behind herself and spotted a ladder up to the roof of this barn. She quickly sheathed her sais, climbed the ladder and looked down and off to her left. She saw the raider coming. Looking to the right she saw Xena, still contending with three raiders. The warrior having know idea of this horseback man coming at her.

Gabrielle watched as the horse came, she bent her knees. Her adrenaline filled her blood, her head buzzing. Her mind began to calculate the distance. She sucked in a deep breath. A scream escaped her lips and she ran a little then jumped off the edge of the barn. Her body sailed through the air as she stretched her arms out in front. Her eyes watch as she closed in at the raider.

That's when it all came, the pain. She crashed into the horseback man. They went tumbling to the ground. The horse rearing up and stamping away. Gabrielle then began to feel an immense pain in her left shoulder. She wasn't sure why either. But they rolled a little on the ground. Once they stopped, the small warrior came to find herself on her back.

The raider was on top of her. He brought his head up and glared down at Gabrielle. "Why you little-" He stopped, he brought his right fist down and punch the woman in the face. Her head snapped to the left, but she was still conscious.

The small warrior brought up her right fist to punch him back. He fell onto his back, his legs tangled with Gabrielle's. She untangled her legs, pulled her sais out as she stood. Blood trickled down from her nose as well as from a cut over her forehead.

The raider stood up, he had blood on the top of his sword he held. That's when the Amazon Queen knew where the pain in her left shoulder came from. The raider though, he was a massive man. He made good use of that as he brought his sword down on Gabrielle. The small warrior held her sais up to stop the blade. But he pressure down, pinning her. Gabrielle felt no strength in her body, most of it gone from early. Hence she fell to her knees, still trying to hold the sword up.

The man grinned. He then kicked hard at Gabrielle's face. She went crashing to the ground, her eyes closing. The raider narrowed his eyes at the woman.

"Gabrielle!"

He looked up to see the woman warrior running towards him. Her speed was fast. So that left him no time to kill the small woman. It did though give him time to kick her in the stomach. The raider then turned to his right as Xena's sword came at him. He wouldn't live much longer.

A moan escaped her lips. Her right hand came up to her forehead.

"Don't touch that."

Gabrielle quickly felt the wound on her forehead. She moved her hand back down to her side. Her ivy eyes slowly opened and found sky filled ones staring down at her. "Gods what happened Xena?"

The warrior smiled. "You got knocked out."

"I figured that much out."

Xena grinned. She brought down a cloth soaked in wine. It went to Gabrielle's shoulder wound. Gabrielle hissed and gritted her teeth, her eyes closing again.

"You should have been more careful."

The small warrior opened her eyes again. She talked through clenched teeth. "Right."

The older woman sighed, she dabbed away at the shoulder wound. She saw Gabrielle fighting the pain. "Sorry but it needs to be clean."

Gabrielle slightly nodded her head. "I know."

Xena pulled the wine cloth away. She placed it on a table in front of her. Gabrielle though laid on a smooth wood pallet. The warrior reached into a bowl, pulling out another cloth. She rung out the water then brought the cloth to Gabrielle's shoulder wound.

"How you feel?"

Gabrielle opened her eyes. She looked to Xena, but Xena was looking at the shoulder wound. "Like I got kicked in the head by a centaur."

The warrior grinned, her eyes shifting to Gabrielle. "We'll take care of that in a minute."

The Amazon Queen nodded, her emerald eyes closing again. "Where are we?"

"We're still in the village. This is a healer's hut."

Gabrielle nodded a little. "Where's the other two?"

"They're outside helping people."

Silence took over for a little. Xena stopped dabbing at the shoulder wound, then went to Gabrielle's forehead, cleaning it. The cloth went back in the bowl. The warrior pulled out a wrap.

"Think you can sit up?"

The younger woman opened her eyes. "Yeah I think so." She began to push up with her hands, Xena helping her. Gabrielle then rested her back against the wall of the hut.

Xena reached to the table grasping a small cup filled with water. She handed it to Gabrielle then retrieved two small white pills from the table, hanging that to her small friend. Gabrielle took the pills down, then handed the small cup back to Xena.

The warrior began to use the bandage, wrapping it around the shoulder wound to protect it. "Thanks."

The Amazon Queen looked to Xena. The warrior looking to her. "For what?"

Xena grinned, she looked back to her wrapping. "For stopping that raider. I didn't know he was coming, till I turned around and saw you flying through the air."

Gabrielle chuckled. "Remind me to never do it again."

"I think I will."

The small warrior scowled Xena with a look. "You know I couldn't let him do anything to you."

Xena nodded her head. "I know."

Gabrielle took a deep breath, she quietly whispered out her words now. "Besides that I owe a lot to you."

The warrior stopped wrapping for a second, she looked to Gabrielle. "No you don't." She looked back to the wrap. "If anybody owes anybody, I owe you." Xena finished the wrap.

"Xena for Gods' sakes. We both know that's not true."

Hard blue eyes lifted to Gabrielle. "I don't."

"Xena." Gabrielle's voice came out hard.

"Look Gabrielle, we've been through a lot. You've suffered the brunt of it all."

The younger woman straightened up more against the wall of the hut. "Xena no, I've hurt-"

The warrior's head lifted up in a flash. "Don't try to sway it Gabrielle."

"I'm not swaying it alright. I know the facts." She took a calming breath. "Just? just forget about it. I don't want to talk about." Gabrielle then shifted off the pallet and stomped out of the hut.

Xena closed her eyes. Her right elbow coming to rest on the edge of the pallet. She leaned into her right hand as she ran her fingers through her bangs. The warrior growled in frustration and stood up. Her hands went to her hips as she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath then slowly released it. Sapphire eyes opened again and stared at the small table by the pallet. Xena went about cleaning it. Her expression though began to look like a rock.

Gabrielle sighed as she leaned against the hut. Her lungs filled with air as she calmed her mind and body. Her eyes drifted shut for a moment. She then opened them again, she felt her body shaking as she straightened up from off the hut.

The day of the fight in the town was long over. The rest of the day had passed by without anything else happening. The group had helped the village then left late in the afternoon to make camp a little ways farther southeast. Now it's the following day, late afternoon at that. They were getting rather close to Therra, by tomorrow Xena hoped to be there.

"Xena?"

The warrior looked back to Amarice. "Yeah?"

"Where did you leave Argo?"

"In Therra."

The Amazon nodded her head and she looked away.

The group had risen early in the morning. They all knew it would be a long walk till they entered into Therra.

Gabrielle walked in the front, her arms crossed against her chest. Behind her was Xena. The warrior took not to the fact Gabrielle walked alone and with her arms crossed against her chest. Almost as if in protection. It bothered Xena, which was for sure.

Joxer and Amarice walked behind them, together. The Amazon for her part was getting annoyed with the wannabe warrior and his creaking spaghetti noodle strainer chest cover.

Gabrielle now stopped walking, Xena walked up to stop beside Gabrielle. The other pair behind stopped walking, wondering what was going on.

"You hear that Xena?"

The warrior nodded her head. "It's about fifty paces ahead, around that bend." Xena then looked back to Gabrielle. "It's a horse."

Gabrielle arched an eyebrow at Xena. She then looked back ahead. "Let's go then." The small woman broke off running ahead.

Xena grinned and starting running behind Gabrielle. Amarice and Joxer decided to join in and jogged behind.

The small warrior came around the bend and stopped dead in her tracks, Xena came up beside her and stopped. Within a moment Joxer and Amarice came around the bend, stopping short. They watched the scene.

"Oh gods Xena look." Gabrielle pointed to the horse's left front leg. On it was a huge metal trap. Its teeth cutting into the horse's leg.

The horse nickered at the two women. He then threw his head back and tried to jump up, the trap stopping him. He scuffed at the ground with his hoof.

"Gabrielle, here's what we're gonna do. You slowly walk up to him, try to calm him. I'll try to sneak down and get that trap off his leg."

"Xena, I'm not good with horses."

"You're about to be."

Gabrielle looked to Xena to see her serious. She nodded to the warrior and looked back to the horse. Taking small steps to the horse, Gabrielle made her way closer. "Hey there fella. Everything is going to be fine." She kept moving. The horse jumped up again but not as high. He came back down and threw his head back. "Nobody is going to hurt you here. Its okay." She came closer. The horse seemed to calm some. "Hey." Gabrielle smiled to the large horse and she took another step closer. She held her hand out, palm up.

The horse turned his head from side to side, looking at her. He then lower his nose to the woman's hand, smelling her.

"Hey yeah, that's it. Its okay." Gabrielle began to slowly pet the horse's neck, patting lightly as well. "You'll be okay." Gabrielle looked down to the horse's left leg, Xena was bent down to one knee. She grasped the trap's sides and began to pull. Gabrielle looked back up. "Hang in there huh?"

The horse bobbed its head up and down as if he understood.

The small woman smiled and looked back down.

Xena gritted her teeth and the trap gave in. It wrenched and let go of the horse's leg, it opened up again.

The horse knew. He jumped up feeling himself free from the trap. He jumped up again as he threw his head back.

"Wahoo there. Hold on big fella."

The horse seemed to listen and stopped jumping, he settled back to the ground. His head still bobbing up and down.

Gabrielle smiled and ran her hand down the middle of his face. "Yeah there you go. You're okay now." She kept petting the stallion.

Xena though slowly stood up. She pulled her chakram out and cut the trap from the rope. She then turned to the woods. She hurled the trap at a tree. It snapped closed and fell to the ground. The warrior then followed the rope to find the other end attached to a tree. Cutting the other end with her chakram, she coiled it up. Xena walked back to the horse and her friend.

"Xena, what do we do with him now?"

The warrior looked to Gabrielle with a smile. "Let's find a stream or lake first. Clean up that wound, then we'll figure what to do with him."

The Amazon Queen nodded.

The entire time Joxer and Amarice had been watching. Surprised at how the horse calmed to Gabrielle's words and touch.

Xena ran her hands down her stomach and to her hips. Shifting her shoulders up and down, the leathers and armor adjust to her body. She then brought her right hand to her left wrist, she straightened out her gauntlet. Looking back up, she smiled to her friend.

"She's back."

The warrior chuckled at Gabrielle. "Right."

"You should keep the jewels in your hair Xena."

The Warrior Princess brought up an eyebrow. "Gabrielle, that would not go with the brass in my armor."

The small warrior laughed a little. "They would clash huh?"

"Uh huh." Xena turned around in the stall. She walked to the wall and lifted the face tack for Argo.

Gabrielle took a deep breath. Her arms crossed on top of the stall door, her chin lowering onto her arms. She watched Xena tack up the mare.

"Mmm, be nice now that Joxer is leaving."

Xena had her back to Gabrielle, she grinned to herself. "Yeah?"

The small warrior chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, he's a good guy. But?"

"But what?"

The Amazon Queen grinned. "But there is no words to describe Joxer."

Xena chuckled, she placed the mouth piece in. "True."

"I think Amarice was getting sick of him."

The warrior nodded her head. "We both know she was." Xena put the crown on. She then went back against the wall to get the mare's saddle putting it on with the girdle.

"I don't know what I'm going to do about him."

Xena froze.

"Yeah, your expectations."

A confused looked took over. "Huh?"

The warrior sighed. "See, right now it's all about getting a response from her. If you love her, why don't you just tell her? Don't attach any strings to it. Make it unconditional."

Joxer took a step closer to the tub. "But what if I tell her and she says 'Joxer, what are you thinking?'"

Xena sighed again as she shifted in the water. "Joxer, no strings, alright?"

Joxer quickly nodded "No strings. Got it."

The warrior watched him go, whispering to herself. "Of course, you could just kiss the girl."

The warrior straightened her back out from tightening the girdle. She looked to Gabrielle, that's when the pain entered into the warrior's heart. She took notice to the wrap around Gabrielle's shoulder along with the gash on her forehead. She shoved the pain away. "What do you mean?"

Gabrielle sighed. "Xena, we both know I don't love him? like that. He's like a brother to me."

Xena nodded her head. She went to the stall's wall and hefted her saddlebags up, attaching them to the saddle. "Did you tell him that?"

The small warrior shook her head. "No." Her emerald eyes fell to the hay in the stall. "I need to huh?" She looked back up to Xena.

The warrior kept her hands on the saddlebags, she looked to Gabrielle. "Yeah."

The pair locked eyes.

"Of course, you could just kiss the girl."

Xena broke the contact with Gabrielle. She went back to strapping on the saddlebags.

That was an odd moment. Gabrielle shook the thought, her eyes still staring at Xena. She then looked away.

"Okay I think we're set." Xena came to the front of the mare, she held the reins in hand. "Hey girl good to see you again."

Argo nickered and threw her head up. Xena smiled and patted the horse's head, then rubbed behind Argo's ears. Turning back around the warrior found the stall door open, Gabrielle holding it open. They walked through then out of the stables.

Gabrielle walked to her right, there on a post was a chestnut stallion. His left leg bandaged up. Gabrielle untied the rope from the post and the stallion nudged against Gabrielle's shoulder. She smiled and patted the horse. She looked to Xena. "He needs a name Xena."

The warrior nodded her head. "Torqueo."

The younger woman furrowed her brows. "What?"

"Torqueo, its Latin."

The two friends began to walk into the town. They had to walk to the other end and meet Amarice there.

"Torqueo, I like that. What's it mean?"

"It Latin for wind."

Gabrielle nodded, she looked to the stallion walking beside her. "Torqueo, you like that?"

The horse nickered and threw his head up and down. He then nudged again at Gabrielle's shoulder, twice though.

"Guess so."

Xena smiled at the scene. "Well looks like we're a two horse family."

The smaller woman chuckled. "Yeah, nice."

The three women expected to arrive in the Amazon Nation by midday tomorrow. So far things had been quiet. Joxer had left them, heading south from Therra.

~*Part 2*~

Xena first brought her arms over her head. Gabrielle did next followed by Amarice.

Three Amazons fell from the trees to land neatly on the ground. They stood back up and pushed their masks back over their heads. Just a little sunlight fell to the forest floor considering the brown, orange, and yellowing leaves stopped the light along with the clouds.

"Queen Gabrielle."

Gabrielle smiled. She felt the Amazon engulf her in a hug. "Its good to see you too Teresa."

The Amazon pulled back and smiled. "We haven't seen you since the battle with Pompey."

They released each other. Gabrielle nodded her head. "I know, we thought we'd come back for awhile."

Teresa smiled. "That's great, Ephiny will be happy to see you."

The Queen grinned. "I know." She then looked beyond Teresa to the other two Amazons.

Teresa quickly caught this and looked to the Amazons. "Gabrielle this is Aster."

Aster was a normal height Amazon, gorgeous smile, which brighten even more. She had dirty blond hair and brown eyes. "Nice to meet you Queen Gabrielle."

Gabrielle nodded. "Please call me Gabrielle."

Aster nodded back.

Teresa looked to the other Amazon. "And this is Rodhiya."

Now this Amazon was interesting. She had dark red hair, straight that reached to her shoulders. Her face was constructed so to show anger. But her eyes told differently more soft and filled with sorrow. But as soon as she smiled to Gabrielle, her face seemed to light up. "Its great to meet you Queen Gabrielle. I've heard much of you from my tribe."

Gabrielle nodded. "My name seems to get around for some reason." Everybody chuckled. "It's just Gabrielle please."

Rodhiya nodded her head. Amarice then stepped up and looked to Rodhiya with a grin.

The other Amazon smiled to Amarice. "Its good to see you Amarice."

Amarice grinned, she then dropped it, her hands going to her hips. Her tone came out hard. "Yeah well I thought I'd catch you here Rodhiya. I don't know why you came."

Rodhiya shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I should leave."

Amarice chuckled. "I'd hope not sister."

Rodhiya laughed and stepped forward. The two Amazons hugged tightly.

Gabrielle shook her head. "Should have known." She then looked back to Xena. "Hey you coming?"

The warrior nodded, her face was plain, it said nothing of her emotions. She held the reins to Argo and rope of Torqueo. She came up to Gabrielle's side and handed the rope to her. Gabrielle took it.

Teresa looked to Gabrielle. "Nice horse. Yours?"

The small warrior looked to the stallion then back to Teresa. "Yeah, his names Torqueo."

Teresa smiled. "That's a good name." The Amazon then spotted the bandage. "Look like he ran into a problem."

The Queen nodded. "Yeah we found him and his leg was caught in a trap. He seems fine now."

The Amazon nodded with a smile. "That's good you saved him from that." She then looked to her Amazon patrol friends. "I think we'll head off my Queen." She then looks back to Gabrielle. "Or would you like us to escort you into the village?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "Oh no, I think we'll be fine. Thanks though Teresa."

"Welcome my Queen. Talk to you later." Teresa then disappeared up into the trees.

Aster looked to the Queen. "It was great meeting you Queen Gabrielle. Goodbye." She also leaped and disappeared in the trees.

Rodhiya smiled to the Queen. "Bye my Queen." She then looked to Amarice. "I'll see you soon Amarice."

Amarice smiled. "See you sis."

Rodhiya then was gone. The three females began their trek to the village. Gabrielle quickly had picked up how quiet Xena was. Not to mention none of the Amazons acknowledged her. As she kept thinking about that, Gabrielle's temper began to increase. She was not about to stay in the Amazon Nation when they wouldn't accept Xena.

As soon as they entered into the village they spotted Ephiny and Solari talking to each other.

"Why don't you go see Ephiny, I'll take care of Torqueo."

Gabrielle looked to the warrior and nodded. She handed Xena the rope.

"I'll come and help Xena."

The Warrior Princess nodded her head to Amarice. They went to the stables.

Gabrielle walked across the village to where Solari and Ephiny stood. Ephiny had her back to Gabrielle, Solari though could see Gabrielle coming. As she came near she placed her finger up to her lips at Solari. The second in command looked to her then back to Ephiny.

"I agree Eph."

"Good. I think when Amarice returns we should send her back."

Gabrielle came up to stand next to Ephiny. "Actually Solari, I do not want Amarice sent back to her tribe. Especially considering her sister is here. That would cause some trouble."

Solari nodded her head. "As you wish Queen Gabrielle." The Amazon then grinned.

Gabrielle grinned back and she looked to the regent. "Ephiny, once two sisters are together. It's not a good idea to separate them."

Ephiny grinned at the Queen. "I agree. But every time my sister comes, she seems to leave to go gallivanting across the countryside with her best friend. All to fight evil."

The Queen grinned. "That's why she came to visit."

The regent chuckled, she then grabbed the other woman. They hugged. "Damn good to see you Gabrielle."

They pulled back in the embrace. The small warrior smiled to the Amazon. "It's great to see you to Eph." She then looked to Solari. "Solari?"

"My Queen." The second in command bowed her head a little.

Gabrielle chuckled and took a step forward. She pulled the Amazon in for a tight hug. "How are you Solari?"

"I'm wonderful." Released each other and smiled. "How are you Gabrielle?"

The Queen nodded her head. "Not to bad. Been? busy."

"It's great to have you here." Solari then looked to the regent. "But I need to head off. Is there anything else you need Eph?"

The regent shook her head. "No that's everything Solari. Thanks."

The second in command nodded her head. "Okay great. Bye." The Amazon turned around and headed off.

Ephiny looked to her friend. "How have you been?"

Gabrielle crossed her arms against her chest. "Okay I suppose."

The regent nodded her head. "How are you and Xena doing together?"

The small warrior sighed. "We're? we're hanging in there."

"Better than before Gabrielle."

The small woman's eyes fell to the ground then looked back up to Ephiny. "Yeah I know. We've come a long way."

Ephiny let her right hand fall onto her own hip. "Yeah? How's Xena handling things?"

"She's surviving, we both are."

The regent then leaned forward a little, her right hand going up to Gabrielle's forehead. "How'd you manage that? Nice shoulder too."

Gabrielle chuckled as she opened her eyes once her friend's hand left her forehead. "I had a bad run in with a raider. It'll heal over soon"

The Amazon nodded. "Interesting idea. You win?"

The Queen chuckled. "Sorta, Xena took care of him for me."

Ephiny smiled. "Good." The regent stared into her friend's eyes. She saw that deep sorrow in them. Ephiny then found it a good time to brighten things. So she grinned. "Nice leathers."

Gabrielle chuckled. She took a step back. "You like these?"

Ephiny nodded her head. "They look good on you. The deep red brings out your hair." Ephiny then looked farther down, she noticed the weapons. She looked back up to Gabrielle. "Sais Gabrielle?"

The small warrior shrugged her shoulders. "A change in weapons. I like them."

Ephiny nodded her head. She then narrowed her eyes a little. "By the way, I meant to ask you last time. But things did get a little? crazy."

"Understatment."

"Mmm, I agree." A pause. "So what happened to your staff? The one I gave you with the Amazon markings."

"Um." Gabrielle brought up her right hand behind her neck. "I kind of left it in India."

The regent nodded. She crossed her arms against her chest. "You left it or you lost it?"

"Kind of neither really Eph."

"Hmmm. So exactly what happened to it?"

The Queen took a deep breath. "Well uh? it's a long story."

"Oh I've got lots of time Gabrielle. Please share."

"Ephiny."

The regent took a step closer but quickly stopped as she noticed somebody tall, dark, and dangerous grin to her directly behind Gabrielle.

"Hi Ephiny."

The Amazon smiled. "Hi Xena. How are you?" She took a step back to her original spot.

Gabrielle took a deep breath and looked up to Xena with an appreciate smile.

The warrior looked down to Gabrielle nodded and looked back to Ephiny. "I'm fine thanks. You?"

"I'm wonderful."

Xena nodded her head. "So you wanted to know what happened to Gabrielle's staff huh?"

Ephiny arched an eyebrow. "Yes actually."

The warrior grinned as she crossed her arms against her chest. "Let's just say Ephiny, it should be floating back here real soon."

The regent's face dropped. "It's in a river?" She looked to Gabrielle. "Gabrielle."

The Queen smiled. "Excuse me, I need to? go settle into my hut." A pause. "Bye Eph." The small warrior turned around a power walked off.

Ephiny reopened her eyes and looked up to Xena. "Did she really?"

"Uh huh."

"On purpose or by accident?"

"On purpose."

The regent's head bobbed up and down as her tongue ran across the front of her teeth. "Right." She turned around on her heals and stomped off. "Talk to you later Xena."

Xena grinned at the leaving Amazon. "Bye Eph." The warrior then quickly went after Gabrielle.

Gabrielle held out an apple. The horse sniffed it then took a step back, he threw up his head.

"Come on Torqueo. It's just an apple." She leaned more against the stable door. Torqueo took a step back again.

Gabrielle sighed. She then dropped her arms. "Okay, fine. If you don't want the apple, I won't give it to you." She then began to take steps out of the stable, baby steps. "Bye." She kept listening to the horse. He didn't make any noise or protest. The small warrior then slowly made it to the doorway of the barn. She stopped there and dropped her shoulders. Whirling around she locked eyes with the stallion. "What you want huh? A bigger apple or something?"

"I know what he wants."

Gabrielle sighed at the familiar voice. She looked up to the warrior as she entered. "What's that?"

The warrior held out her hand. Gabrielle handed over the apple to Xena. Xena then reached up between her breasts to pull out her dagger. She then began to cut the apple up into slivers.

"Oh you've gotta be kidding me Xena?"

The older woman looked down to Gabrielle. "No." She grinned and handed the slices to Gabrielle. "Go try it again."

The Amazon Queen looked down at the apple slivers in her hands then to Torqueo. She sighed and walked back to the horse's stall door. She picked up an apple slice from her palm and held it out to the stallion.

He nickered and took a few steps closer to Gabrielle. He then removed the slice from the small woman's hands.

"This is insane."

Xena chuckled at her partner's words. She came up to stand beside Gabrielle as she fed the horse. The warrior's breast dagger went back into its home. "Some horses get picky about that sort of thing."

The small woman looked up to Xena. "I can't believe you know this."

Xena grinned. "Well Argo likes her apples sliced in half then fed to her."

Gabrielle chuckled and looked back to Torqueo. "Good thing to know. Bonus points with your horse huh?"

The warrior nodded. "Uh huh." Xena then took a deep breath. "How about tomorrow we take Argo and Torqueo for a run?"

The younger woman looked up. "Yeah?" She looked back to Torqueo. "You think he'll be ready?"

"Yeah, we'll go steal some tack for him."

Gabrielle chuckled. "Sounds good." A pause. "Should we keep the bandage on his leg?"

Xena nodded. "Yeah keep it protect for awhile longer till it scabs over."

The small woman nodded. She looked up to Xena and smiled. The warrior looked down and smiled back. They locked eyes for the second time of the day. Oh gods how they felt that strong pull to each other.

"Of course, you could just kiss the girl."

Her own voice and words came to life clear in the warrior's head. She closed her eyes and looked away from Gabrielle. She opened her sapphire eyes again to stare at the stallion. "He'll be good for you. And you both already have a bond."

The small woman sighed as she looked back to her horse. A bond right. I remember those. I still feel it Xena. Don't you? But those words didn't pass her lips. "Yeah we definitely have a bond. They always make things easier."

The warrior nodded her head. "Yup." Were we talking about the horse? Or each other? She looked to Gabrielle. The horse. "Ready to go get something to eat?"

The small woman nodded her head, she still stared at the horse. "Yeah, let's go." They left the stables to head to the food hut.

Gabrielle nodded her head. "Well it only took five days."

Epinion crossed her arms against her chest. "Really? You four must walk fast." She then grinned.

The small warrior chuckled. "Yeah, well we all have to keep up with Xena."

The weapons master grinned. "I can imagine that one. Those long legs."

The Queen nodded her head. "Yup."

Epinion then sighed. "How you and Xena doing?"

Gabrielle looked to the floor of the hut. Then back up to her Amazon friend. "We're doing okay."

The Amazon nodded her head. "Yeah that's what I figured. Is she causing any problems?"

The Amazon Queen's eyes went a little hard now. "No. Why?"

"I was just wondering." She shrugged her shoulders. "There's a lot of things going around you know."

"Like what?"

"Just things Gabrielle."

"They're not good huh?"

The weapons master shook her head. "No they're not really." She sighed. "I actually been worried about them. They're rumors, people take them more as truth then anything."

Gabrielle's eyes narrowed. "Who's been starting these?"

"Nobody really. But?" The Amazon sighed. "Masika helps them along, I can tell you that much."

Gabrielle sighed. "Great." She then smiled a little to Epinion. "Thanks for telling me."

The weapons master nodded her head. "Yeah. Ephiny, Solari and myself have been trying to stop them. Especially Eph. We all know what's really going on."

The small warrior smiled a little more. "Thanks."

Epinion smiled back. "No problem, we figured you didn't want that centaur crap being spread."

"No." Gabrielle stared at the ground. "Anybody talk to Masika?" She then looked up to Epinion.

"Eph might have, I'm not sure really. You'd be better off asking her."

Gabrielle nodded. "Yeah. I think I'll go find her."

Epinion nodded. "I'll talk to you later Gabrielle."

"See you Ep. Thanks again." The Queen then disappeared through the crowd of Amazons. They were in the hut eating. Some had finished and were milling around, talking to each other. Gabrielle for her part had eaten and not much at that. For her stomach still hurt from the raider kicking her. She didn't feel like having her food come back up later tonight, so she ate lightly.

She shifted through the crowds of people. She then spotted a curly blond Amazon at a bench table eating. Making her way over to Ephiny, Gabrielle grabbed her by the shoulder. "Hey can I talk you?"

The regent looked away from food and up to Gabrielle. "Yeah sure." She got up from her seat.

Solari had been sitting across from Ephiny. She'd gotten up to and made her way to the other side of the hut to get rid of her plate and utensils.

Gabrielle and the regent though went to the wall of the hut to talk.

"What's up?"

The small warrior sighed. "Are there rumors being spread about Xena and I?"

Ephiny nodded sadly. "Yeah there are. Solari, Ep, and I have been trying to stop them. But we're having little luck."

"That's what Ep told me. You talk to Masika?"

The regent shook her head. "I'm never able to catch up with her when I stop at her hut."

Gabrielle nodded, she reflected then looked back to Ephiny. "I'll take care of her." Her eyes then shifted beyond the regent to the other side of the hut. She spotted Xena leaning against the hut, she was talking to Solari. The Queen looked back to Ephiny. "Does Xena know?"

"I haven't told her. I know Ep and Solari won't tell her either."

The smaller woman nodded. "Well make sure Xena doesn't find out Eph." She looked away from Xena to the regent. "She doesn't need to hear that."

Ephiny sighed. She stared at the floor for a moment she then looked back to Gabrielle. "Gabrielle, she's not stupid. She'll figure it out for herself."

Gabrielle nodded, she crossed her arms against her chest. "I know Eph. Let's just not get it rubbed in."

"Well she'll notice Gabrielle. I think she already knows. Everybody has been ignoring her."

"I know." It came out low. Ephiny almost winced at it. Gabrielle stared at Xena across the hut for a moment. The warrior hiding back in a dark spot. The small warrior looked back to Ephiny. "We just can't let it get worse Ephiny. Okay?"

The regent nodded. "Alright." She took a deep breath. "Gabrielle, you do realize those rumors won't ever settle really. Especially since the second to last time we saw you both, Xena was dragging you out of here behind her horse."

Gabrielle's eyes closed for a moment then opened again. "Yeah I know. But keep reminding everybody that she helped us stop Pompey. None of us would be here now if it wasn't for her."

Ephiny smiled a little at that. "If neither of you were here Gabrielle." A pause. "I know Solari and I wouldn't be alive right now."

A lopsided smiled crossed Gabrielle's lip. "We had some timing huh?"

The regent chuckled. "Yeah. If the two of you had been a day later I would have been dead with a sword in my chest."

The small warrior nodded. "Mmm, I think Solari is still counting her blessings that Xena stopped that one soldier from trying to kill her."

Ephiny chuckled. "Oh she is, trust me I know."

Gabrielle grinned. "Really, I don't wanna know."

The regent chuckled. "Sure." A deep breath. "Speaking of which, I think I'm going to go find her. Get out of here."

The Queen nodded. "Don't blame you, bit crowded. She was talking to Xena, but went to the right a second ago." A smile formed. "Thanks Eph."

The Amazon smiled back. "Hey no problem." The regent took a step forward and pulled Gabrielle into a hug. "Hang in there huh?"

Gabrielle nodded as she released her friend. "Yeah. Talk to you later."

"Bye."

The small warrior watched Ephiny leave. Her emerald eyes then drifted to Xena in the dark side of the corner. The warrior was looking at her. Should I go over there? Gabrielle sighed. She's not mine anymore. She started walking, heading for the exit of the hut.

As soon as she came outside, the brisk air surrounded her. She felt a shiver ripple up her back Her arms crossed against her chest and she started walking to the backside of the hut. Walking a ways till she came to a dark spot. She leaned against the hut, hiding in the shadows. Her eyes shifted to stare up at the stars.

She then spotted three bright stars in front of her. She closed her eyes.

"See those three bright stars a little ways above the tree line?"

Dazzling sea eyes looked up to those three stars. "The three that are right in a row?"

"Yup all about the same brightness." Xena released one arm and pointed to relatively near the three aligned stars. "Now look down a little see those other two." A nod of the small head. "Then looked above them you see the three almost make a triangle."

"Yeah?it sort of looks like a person."

The warrior's lips formed into a grin. "Look at the star to the far right, then there are five other slightly faint stars that seem to make out a sword or a club?"

"Oh wow, I see it now."

Xena's large arm snaked back around the bard's waist. "It always reminded me of a warrior or a hunter." A deep breath from the warrior. "The three stars look like a belt."

Gabrielle's emerald eyes opened again. She stared up at those three same stars. She saw that warrior up in the night sky. Her eyes began to burn.

"It does, when did you notice it?"

A shrug of the shoulders. "Back when I was a pirate. I always used those set of stars to know when fall was coming."

"How?"

The tall woman grinned to herself over her curious bard. "Well when I saw the constellation I began to always look to it and began to notice during the fall season they would touch the southern horizon fast at night." A pause. "But by summer the stars were never around unless it was right before dawn."

Gabrielle stared at the diamonds caught in the sky that formed a warrior to her. She began to really like it, deciding the constellation will always remind her of her soulmate. "I guess that was helpful huh?"

"Yes, considering my ship could be at seas for months never seeing land to catch sight of the leaves turning."

The younger woman nodded her head and Xena lifted her head back up and ever so carefully Xena rested her chin on top of strawberry-blond hair.

The small woman ran her right hand through her short hair. She took a deep breath, she felt a lump in her throat. Her eyes were watery but she held back. Her hand dropped from her hair, going back against her chest.

"Hey."

Gabrielle looked to her right to see Xena standing in the moonlight. "Hi."

The warrior smiled a little, she took a few more steps and stood close to Gabrielle. "You okay?"

The smaller warrior nodded her head. "Yeah." A sigh. "I think I'm just tired."

Xena nodded her head. "Saw you leave the hut, thought something was up since you didn't come get me."

A shrug of the shoulders. "No? just figured you could take care of yourself huh?" Gabrielle then looked up to Xena.

But the warrior didn't looked down. "Yeah." She then looked down to Gabrielle. "How's the shoulder?"

"It's okay."

Xena nodded her head. "I'll change the wrap when we get back to the hut."

The small warrior nodded her head. Her green eyes then drifted back to the night sky.

The older woman noticed goosebumps on her friend's arms. "Kind of cold huh?"

"Yeah, winter will be here soon huh?"

Xena nodded her head. "Yeah, probably be a real cold one."

Gabrielle now nodded. "Figured as much." She took a deep breath, the cold air burned at her throat.

The warrior looked to Gabrielle. "We should head back to the hut huh?"

The Amazon Queen nodded, she lifted herself off the hut. She then began to move, Xena directly behind her.

The warrior's large hands went to her friend's shoulders. "Time to pull out the cloaks." She then lifted her hands from Gabrielle's shoulders.

Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment as Xena came to her side, they kept walking. Her body though had gone from being cold to low roast. Her shoulders burned and that heat had swept through her body. Gods after everything she still can do that. But Gabrielle dare not let her thoughts develop around that. Only because she had no right to, so she felt she didn't. Not only that but she didn't want to get involved with Xena knowing she'd only hurt the older woman. "Guess it's that time."

The warrior nodded. They were silent as they kept walking back to the hut.

"Xena?"

"Yeah?" She looked to Gabrielle.

"I wanna apologize."

The warrior furrowed her eyebrows. "For what?"

The younger woman took a deep breath. "For how the Amazons have been treating you."

"Gabrielle, you're not responsible for their actions."

The small warrior looked up. "I am Xena, they're my Amazons."

"Gabrielle-"

The Queen cut her off. "No Xena. They're my Amazons, they're treating you wrong. I will not stand for something like that. I represent them and their actions. So I apologize for what they're doing."

Xena looked away. She knew there was no arguing with her friend. Better to just go with it. "Thank you Gabrielle."

The smaller female nodded her head. They entered into the hut. Gabrielle soon found her wounds checked over. Then the pair went to bed. Sleep though, that's a fascinating idea.

~*Part 3*~

Gabrielle felt the weight of the sword in her hand. She looked up from it to see whom stood in front of her.

"How could you Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle furrowed her brows as she stared at Xena.

"How could I what Xena? I don't? don't understand."

Xena slowly morphed into a demon angel. Gabrielle then realized that she had wings and armor on. She stared down at the armor then looked back up to Xena, the demon angel.

The demon angel glared at Gabrielle. "How could you betrayed me again? You've betray me three times now!"

"W-what? I? I don't? how did I betray you?" She took a step back from the demon angel.

The demon angel though came closer to Gabrielle. She growled out the words. "You choose the greater good over me! You promised to me you'd never choose the greater good over me."

"No." Gabrielle shook her head. "No Xena it wasn't like that."

"Then how was it Gabrielle. Enlighten me? You choose Michael and Callisto over me!"

"Xena I didn't choose them over you." Gabrielle quickly noticed she was floating in clouds. "Xena I didn't. Gods please believe me!"

The demon angel narrowed her eyes. "How can I believe you? After you've betray me." The demon angel took another step closer. Her next words came out low and hard as she bent forward close to Gabrielle. "I'd soon as kill before I trust you." The demon angel straightened back up and turned around, taking steps away. "I wanted to spend eternity with you."

Gabrielle gathered her wits. "In Hell Xena? Never."

The demon angel whirled around. "What difference does it make Gabrielle? We would be together for eternity! All you can think of is whether its Heaven or Hell! You choose other things and people over me."

"No Xena, I just?"

"Want the best for me?" The demon angel took a step closer. "Or the best for you? For yourself Gabrielle?" The demon angel took steps closer to Gabrielle. "For you Gabrielle?" She came right up into Gabrielle's face. "For yourself? Gabrielle?" The demon angel took a deep breath. "I'm that important? aren't I?" The demon angel smiled and backed away from Gabrielle.

Gabrielle though closed her eyes, tears began to roll. She dropped her sword from her hands. It fell and fell through the clouds, it never hit the bottom. "Xena? I?"

"No Gabrielle. I don't want your excuses. I use to think Callisto was my greatest enemy or Caesar maybe even Ares. Now I know whom it truly is." The demon angel began to come back to Gabrielle. "Do you know who my greatest enemy is? Do you?" The demon angel grinned. "I'm looking right at her." A pause.

"You."

The demon angel kept her grin, her eyes twinkling. The demon angel then began to walk around Gabrielle in circles. "First you betrayed me by almost stopping me from killing Ming T'ien. Then after that? well lets see." The demon angel kept circling around Gabrielle.

Gabrielle had dropped her head. She closed her eyes. "I didn't mean all those things."

"Oh wait your turn Gabrielle. I haven't even gone down the list. After you betrayed me with Ming T'ien as soon as we get back to Greece I find out about Hope. Oh what a bundle of joy that was. Not only had you lied to me that you'd killed her but she killed my son." The demon angel took a deep breath as she kept circling. "Then quick to follow you tried to throw me over a ledge. But I will admit, it was a small nice jester of you to kill Hope. Throwing yourself in the pit like that. Oh that's right, she really didn't die. Then I had to take care of killing her. I don't know why I bothered to seek you out after you went over that pit."

The demon angel stopped circling and came to face Gabrielle. Gabrielle kept her head down as tears came out. The demon angel then lowered her hand under Gabrielle's chin, she lifted Gabrielle's head. "You know what I never told you?" The demon angel leaned down close. "I never told you how much I enjoyed killing your daughter." The demon angel grinned. "I could have stood there all day watching your daughter's blood seep out of her limp body. That was the only time I wanted to stand there and watch a carcass rot to its bones." Gabrielle closed her eyes. "That was a grand day."

The demon angel pulled her hand roughly from under Gabrielle's chin. She began to circle Gabrielle again. "So we went through all of this, rather I should say I went through all of this. Then we both ended up in Heaven together. Which I must say is wrong, you should have been in Hell more then anything." Silence took some of the time as the demon angel kept encircling Gabrielle. "What I find odd is I was the angel first and I go down to the depths of Hell to find you. You're saved but I'm left there as a demon no less. But you do not even come down there to save me. I asked you to join me. But you refused and choose Heaven over your soulmate. You'd leave me to walk the depths of Hell? alone." The demon took a deep breath as she grinned. "I ask you why Gabrielle? Why? I ask you this in your defense. Why?!"

Gabrielle closed her eyes tighter then before. "I don't know Xena." A pause. "I'm so sorry? Sorry."

"Oh you're sorry? I got that response earlier. First it was 'I can't' then it was 'I'm sorry.' And the answer still stays the same."

"I don't know why Xena. All I can say is I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"You didn't want to? Right Gabrielle. You keep telling yourself that and you might just believe it. I know I never will." The demon angel stopped circling and stood in front of Gabrielle again. "You're selfish Gabrielle. And you know what else?" The demon angel reached down and lifted Gabrielle's head up. They locked eyes. The demon angel leaned down close to Gabrielle's face. Their lips almost touching. "You're not my soulmate." The demon angel's red eyes narrowed. "You never were and never will be." The demon angel's eyes narrowed a little more as Gabrielle closed her eyes, millions of tears escaped. "You're not my soulmate Gabrielle."

"You're not my soulmate Gabrielle."

"You're not my soulmate Gabrielle."

"You're not my soulmate Gabrielle."

Gabrielle flew up and sat in the bed. She leaned forward and began to cry.

"Gabrielle?" The small warrior felt a warm hand fall onto her back. "Gabrielle are you okay?"

The Amazon Queen lifted her head. "Yeah I'm fine." She looked to the other woman. "I'm fine, just a bad dream you know."

Xena smiled sadly in the darkness. "Okay" A pause. "You need anything?" The warrior rubbed the smaller woman's back in comfort.

Gabrielle shook her head. "No, no thanks. I can take care of myself huh?"

Xena nodded her head as the needles of pain all crashed into her body at what Gabrielle said. She then whispered back. "Yeah." A pause. "Try to go back to sleep huh?"

The small warrior nodded her head. Xena nodded back and lay back into the bed.

Gabrielle took a shaky breath and looked up, she stared at the door to their hut. Her eyes closed again.

"You're not my soulmate Gabrielle."

"Maybe its true." Gabrielle had whispered that so low, Xena might not have even heard it. Her eyes opened again. She took another shaky breath and wiped away at her tears. She lay back in the bed beside her friend. Closing her eyes she tried to sleep, even though she really didn't want too.

Xena, Xena on the other hand. She knew what happened. But knew in another way. Her dreams had came the same way, but Gabrielle persecuting her. The warrior was all to happy for the darkness to not show her red eyes from crying.

The idea of sleep never was comforting to either of the women. They hated nights, hated sleep, hated dreams. Dreams are their form of torture during the long nights. That is if they ever slept.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle rolled out of bed. She looked to her right to see Xena still sleeping. She sighed and walked over to the end of the bed to put her boots on. After putting them on she went to the table, she found her sais there and inserted them into the catch on the sides of her boots.

"You're not my soulmate Gabrielle."

The small warrior's eyes closed for a moment then opened again. She looked from the wood table to Xena.

Her small hands went up to her left shoulder, she began to undo the wrap. Once it was off she noticed it was scabbed over. She figured it was about time to let it breath, it'd heal faster then. The bandage was tossed in a small trashcan by the door. She then opened the door and went through. As soon as she closed the door, Xena's voice filled her mind.

"How could you betray me again? You've betray me three times now!"

Anger grew in Gabrielle. She hated herself more and more each day.

"You choose the greater good over me!"

The small warrior looked up to the sky. It was early dawn. She sighed and noticed not to many people up and about. She then headed out of the village and into the woods.

"Xena, the greater good."

"I don't care about the greater good when it comes to you. We'll walk out of here one way or another if you want too."

"Okay Xena. I don't want to leave this one, nor probably any others later on. I couldn't?"

"But Xena?"

"Yes?"

"Just let me know if you ever want to walk away from any one of these adventures of ours. Alright?"

"Okay?thank you."

Gabrielle picked up her pace through the woods. She stopped then and spotted a nice size tree.

"Do you know who my greatest enemy is? Do you?"

"You."

The small warrior narrowed her eyes. She began to pace back and forth in front of this tree. "Gods I'm so stupid." Her hands clenched up into fists.

"I can't."

"Why not? Gabrielle, the love that we have, it's stronger than Heaven or Hell. It transcends Good or Evil. It's an end in itself. Our souls are destined to be together. Gabrielle, you can't let me walk through Hell alone."

Gabrielle stopped pacing. Her right hand went up to her forehead. "Oh gods." She bent down. "We could have saved each other." She closed her eyes. "Our love transcends Good, Evil, Heaven, or Hell. And I treated it like it was nothing, nothing." She dropped her head forward, droplets began to slid down Gabrielle's face. Her voice was weak. "I betrayed Xena again. Gods."

Gabrielle growled and reached down to her right boot. She sprung up and threw the sai at the tree. It embedded directly in the middle. Reaching back down she pulled out the other one in her left boot. She threw it with her anger.

She stomped back to the tree and removed the sais. She tossed them up and down in her hands as she walked away from the tree. Turning back around with a whirl she threw one sai in. "Gabrielle you're stupid, you're a selfish bitch." The other sai dug into the tree. "You don't deserve Xena." She yanked the sais from the oak tree. Taking steps away from it. "I do belong in Hell." Both sais went sailing through the air with such force.

Gabrielle walked up to the tree again. She grabbed the handles of the sais. Her eyes stung. "You're not her soulmate Gabrielle." The small woman closed her eyes, she tightly clutched the handles. "I'm not her soulmate." Slowly her hands slipped from the handles. Her back leaned against the tree now, she slid down the tree. "I'm not Xena's soulmate. How could I be?" Tears came from Gabrielle's eyes. Her throat hurt while her body shook. She leaned forward as she propped her legs up.

"You're not my soulmate Gabrielle."

Gabrielle looked up. She took a deep breath and stopped her crying, although her body hurt. She stood up again and jerked the sais out. She took steps back and turned to the tree. She tossed one hard. "You deserve it Gabrielle." The other sai embedded into the tree. "Why'd I do it? You're so stupid to think you could protect her." The sais came out of the tree again. She took steps back again. "I betrayed her again. Ahhh!" Gabrielle threw both sais into the tree once more.

That's when she heard tree branch snap. Gabrielle whirled around to see Xena standing there.

"Hey."

Gabrielle nodded. "Hey." Her back went ridged as her mind went stoic. How long were you there for Xena?

The warrior stepped up beside Gabrielle. She quickly noticed Gabrielle's red eyes. Averting her eyes to the tree she spotted the sais in them. "A little practice?"

The smaller warrior shook her head. She walked over to the tree, pulling out the sais. "Sort of. Getting a little? anger out."

Xena nodded her head. She then moved to sit down on the ground. Gabrielle turned around from the tree. The warrior patted the ground beside herself. The Amazon Queen shifted to sit beside Xena.

"You know I had that problem too this morning."

"Anger?"

The warrior nodded her head. "Yeah, but instead of?" She looked to the tree. "Hacking a tree." She looked back to Gabrielle with a small grin. "I did something you told me a long time ago to try."

The younger woman arched an eyebrow. "Yeah? What was that?"

Xena smiled warmly. "I thought about a good memory."

"Oh gods. What memory was that?"

Xena began to grin. "When you got into that henbane."

Gabrielle groaned. "Oh gods I remember that. Well not really."

The warrior kept her grin. "Oh I definitely remember it all quite clearly."

The smaller woman shook her head and chuckled. "All I remember was being in that cave with Icus one minute then the next I was falling down a well."

Xena nodded her head. "Yeah? well you said a lot of? interesting stuff under that henbane."

Gabrielle looked away from the tree and back to Xena. "Yeah? Centaur poop, you never told me anything about what happened."

The warrior nodded her head. "Well we never fell down that well so I couldn't tell you."

The Amazon Queen began to chuckle. "Gods, you remember me climbing over your body once we got to the top of the well."

Xena laughed. "Yes, then you fell to the ground."

"Oh no but I bounced back up, ready to go."

The warrior chuckled. "You did and mostly because you weren't hauling your butt up that rope."

Gabrielle grinned. "I know." A pause. "What did I say anyway?"

Xena grinned. "Wellll."

"Xena."

The warrior chuckled. "Let me think." She took a deep breath. "I remember when I first came into the cave, you were on the ground. Thought you were dead at first, scary. When I rushed down to you, I found out you were high on the henbane." Xena took a deep breath. "I lifted you into my lap and you came to? sort of." The warrior grinned to Gabrielle. "I asked if you were alright. Then you said 'I'm great. I can't see, but I'm good.' Then I said something like 'Try using both eyes.' You were drugged, you said-"

"Wait a minute, I think I remember Xena. I said? Oh, yeah, that's better."

"Think you can stand?"

Gabrielle chuckled and responded. "You mean I'm not?"

Xena nodded and grinned. "C'mon? there ya go."

The Amazon Queen thought for a moment then looked back to Xena from the ground. She blushed a little. "By the gods? you are beautiful. As I plopped down on the ground again." Gabrielle laughed at her own words.

The warrior grinned as she nodded. "You fell square on your ass. And you are drugged? with henbane if I'm not mistaken, so the effects should be temporary. But, we've got to get you? walking? come back here? Gabrielle? I need you to concentrate."

The Amazon Queen shook her head. "Okay I think I remember?Okay, yeah, but I think this is a big waste of time because I've been walking since I was one. You were holding me right Xena?"

The warrior nodded. "Yeah by the shoulders." A pause. "This is not about walking, Gabrielle, its about Icus. You do remember Icus, don't you?"

Gabrielle started to laugh. "Oh gods, and I remember your hard tone." She took a deep breath. "Okay I said something like? Of course I remember Icus."

"Good. Do you know where he is?"

"Where?"

"No, I'm asking you."

Gabrielle started to laugh. "I really was high on that henbane."

Xena nodded. "I'll agree to that."

The smaller woman arched an eyebrow. "You would." A pause as Gabrielle furrows her brows. "What was that whole 'others' thing Xena?"

The Warrior Princess started laugh again. "You mean your army? chorus? rocks?"

Gabrielle groaned again. "I didn't do what I think? did I?"

Xena took a deep breath, she grinned. "Hold on? I was leaving the cave."

The small warrior brightened up. "I think I remember? Um I said?What are we waiting for? Let's go! The rest of you follow me."

"Hold it."

"At ease. Yeah?" Gabrielle started to laugh.

"I've got a better idea. I'll go and get Icus while you and the? others try to? um?"

Gabrielle took some deep breaths. "I can't believe I was saying this." A deep breath. "Mmm work on our song? Yeah. Just between you and me, the altos are slightly flat."

Xena started to chuckled. She grinned. "Perfect. Gabrielle, don't let anyone leave the cave, understand? Stay here and wait for me to get back. Have I made myself clear?"

"No. You're a little fuzzy around the edges, so you keep trying, you'll get there."

Both the women started to laugh hard.

Gabrielle took a deep breath. "Gods Xena, like I said, if you ever catch me doing henbane again just kill me."

Xena took a long breath and looked back to Gabrielle. "Oh no, I'd rather watch you."

The younger woman sighed. "Gods that was so funny. I don't know why you kept me around."

The warrior smiled. "I knew what I had then, still do."

The small warrior did a double take. She just nodded her head.

The taller woman smiled. "Come on, let's go get some food and take the horses out."

They began to stand up.

Gabrielle looked to her friend. "Thanks Xena."

Xena smiled and wrapped an arm behind Gabrielle's upper back. "Anytime, that's what friend are for huh?" They left the small open area to head back into the village.

"Yeah." The smaller woman then slightly nodded.

Gabrielle pulled back on her reins. She looked ahead to the mountains, it was late morning. She'd been riding for a good candlemark.

Xena pulled Argo to a halt as the mare stepped up beside the other horse. "Beautiful mountains."

The small warrior smiled and looked to Xena. "Yeah." She looked back to them. "They always are." Gabrielle sighed. "Remember when we fought Okeanos near here?"

The warrior nodded her head. "Yeah, seems like a long time ago."

The other woman nodded her head too. "Yeah it does." She sighed yet again.

Silence was heard.

Xena then looked to her friend again. "Wanna take a break?"

Gabrielle looked to her partner. "Sure."

The pair began to dismount. Gabrielle was first on the ground, she towed her stallion over to a tree. She tied the reins to the tree, Xena then did the same with Argo. The two women then made their way from the horses, they sat down on the ground beside each other.

"He's a good horse."

Xena looked to her friend, she crossed her legs. "He seems to be."

The small warrior smiled. She propped her legs up, her arms then circled around her legs. "Yeah I like him."

"He's got some good speed."

Gabrielle chuckled. "The name must have gone to his head."

Xena grinned. "Must have."

"How old you think he is Xena?"

The warrior looked at Gabrielle, she then turned her head back to Torqueo. "He's probably about eight or nine." She looked back to Gabrielle. "Your lucky."

The Amazon Queen furrowed her brow. "Why you say that?"

"That he's that well trained for such a young age."

"You think he's been trained?"

Xena nodded. "He wouldn't be that obedient Gabrielle if he hadn't been trained."

Gabrielle nodded her head. She dropped her chin onto her arms.

Xena looked away from her partner and stared up to the mountains. She took a deep breath. Her eyes drifted back to Gabrielle. Xena took note of how Gabrielle sat. "You sit like that a lot."

The younger woman lifted her head from her arms, she looked to Xena. "Yeah I know." She looked away to the mountains again. "It makes me feel protected."

The warrior closed her eyes as she turned her head back to the mountains. Her eyes opened again, she sighed. "It makes me feel protected." Gabrielle's voice filled Xena's head. She took a deep breath, that one stung.

The small warrior took in a large amount of air, she then slowly released it. Her eyes were captured on the mountains and the beauty of them. She began to speak, out of thought more then anything. "Don't you ever get the feeling that time might have forgotten about you?" Gabrielle then looked to Xena. "That you might not really have a destiny."

The warrior was staring at her best friend. She didn't know what to make of those words. She just simply nodded. They both then looked back to the mountains. The only thing that could be heard was the rustling of the leaves high in the trees.

"Hey you ready to get back?" After her words, the Warrior Princess looked to her friend.

A nod. "Yeah." She looked to Xena with a small smile. "I'll race ya?"

Xena brought up an eyebrow. "Oh really?"

Gabrielle grinned devilishly. "Yeah, I bet Torqueo could beat your old warhorse."

The warrior felt the back of her molars. "Really?"

The small woman began to stand up. She looked down at Xena. "Oh definitely." Her hands went to her hips.

Xena began to slowly stand, her back straightening up. Her large strong body towered over Gabrielle. "You're on." Her sky eyes twinkled down at Gabrielle.

The small warrior just grinned up to Xena, the intimidation wasn't working. "Good." Gabrielle's voice seeped with mischief. "Ready?" She brought up her hands. Her body tense, ready to run in a split second.

The warrior broke out sprinting. "Go!"

"Hades!" The Amazon Queen broke out running to her horse right behind Xena. "I'll get you for that one Xena!" She watched as Xena flipped up onto her horse. She reached forward jerking the reins from the tree. Gabrielle undid Torqueo's reins.

She was climbing into the saddle as Xena looked to her. "Sure you can Gabrielle, even if you can get on that horse." The warrior laughed and kicked the mare in the sides. Argo broke out into a gallop.

The small warrior shook her head as she frantically gathered the reins into her hands. She kicked the stallion into a fast gallop. She was right behind Xena. "We gotta beat her Torqueo." Gabrielle patted her horse on the neck then brought her left hand to the reins.

The horse seemed to understand. He leaped over a fallen log. Once his hoofs hit the forest floor he seemed to pick up speed. His breath was clear in the air, his head bobbing up and down.

Gabrielle pulled a little on the left rein, Torqueo gallop to the left some then went straight again. Gabrielle looked to her right to see Xena just a little ahead of her. "I'm catching up to you Xena!"

The warrior looked to her left at her friend. She grinned. "Right!" Xena spurred Argo a little, the mare picked up speed. "Let's go girl."

The Amazon Queen grumbled. "Come on Torqueo. Don't let that old warhorse beat you. You're younger. Come on boy. I know you can do it."

The stallion closed his eyes for a moment then opened them quickly again. He began to pour everything into his gallop. His breathing picked up.

The wind whipped by, blowing Gabrielle's hair back. She began to notice she was starting to become equal with the warrior and Argo. She laughed. "Hey Xena!" She waved to the warrior. Gabrielle kept her eyes on Xena.

The Warrior Princess shook her head. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch!" Xena then looked ahead of her partner's trail. Her eyes widen. "Gabrielle!"

Gabrielle's quickly looked ahead. "Sweet mother of Zeus!" She frantically grabbed at her horse's mane. She went flying through the air with Torqueo a good high amount. They landed to the ground and Gabrielle took a deep breath. She looked back behind to see the fallen tree, she turned back around. They kept galloping. "Oh gods, never again."

Xena took a deep breath and sighed. "Don't get yourself hurt over this!"

The younger woman grinned as she looked across to her friend. "No worries Xena! Just testing you! I knew it was coming!"

"Right Gabrielle!" Xena looked back ahead. She spurred her mare again. "Let's go girl."

The smaller woman narrowed her eyes. "We can do this Torqueo. Give it your everything. I'll be slicing tons of apples for you. Promise." The horse nickered. He liked the sounds of that. Torqueo then went ahead of Argo, speeding past. "Yeah go Torqueo!" Gabrielle looked back to Xena. "Bye Xena! See you in the village!" She then waved to Xena.

The warrior groaned. "Damn youngsters huh Argo?" Argo huffed. "I agree. Let them go this time." The mare's head bobbed up and down. The warhorse then slowed a little. "Round one Gabrielle." Xena grinned to herself.