At almost midday the fog was still unrelenting. Gabrielle shivered as she continued to walk alongside Xena. The forest was wet and thick on either side of the narrow road.

"You're still cold?" Xena asked her as she placed her arm around the smaller woman's shoulders.

"You know what, Xena?" Gabrielle asked thoughtfully as she looked up at her companion, accepting the warmth of the arm around her.

"What?" Hearing the tremble in her companion's voice, Xena stopped to look at Gabrielle and saw tears pooling in her green eyes. "Sweetheart, you're more than just cold. What's wrong?" She asked pulling Gabrielle tenderly into her arms.

"I want to go home, Xena. Can't we just go home, please?" Gabrielle could no longer hold back her tears. She tightened her arms around Xena and released her pain, resting her head on Xena's breast.

Xena returned the strength of Gabrielle's embrace and stroked her upper back, kissing her forehead lightly in an effort to soothe and comfort her bard. Seeing Gabrielle in pain felt like a knife piercing her own heart.

"Anything for you, my love."

Gabrielle remained in the embrace, turning her face up toward the tall warrior. "Really?"

"Gabrielle" Xena sighed and continued, "There are two of us in this. Truth be told, I'm ready, too. Where home is exactly now is up for discussion. Lot has changed. Amphipolis, Poteidia, Amazonia, I'm not sure where home is for us now after so long, but first, how about we find a cozy inn, a warm dinner, and a well-aged port? You need to heal more. You lost a lot of blood back there. We could both use some rest and a chance to get our bearings. How does that sound?"

"That'd be great." Gabrielle looked expectantly up at the warrior and tightened her grasp around Xena's tall torso. She felt a surge of pain and could not hide her reaction in the tight embrace.

"Baby?" Xena pushed her away to assess the tremor she felt from Gabrielle. She studied the bard's expression closely. "Where?"

"My side." She pointed to the wound site.

Xena carefully pulled the leather skort away from Gabrielle's waist and saw the angry red area surrounding the wound. "Gabrielle, we'll need to find a healer, too. The infection is coming back. It's too foggy for me to look around for what I need now."
"Okay." Xena was beginning to worry. The bard was seldom ever this acquiescent.

Up on her toes, Gabrielle put her arms around Xena's neck and kissed her softly on the cheek. "Thank you. I'm just so tired, Xena, in every way a person can be tired."

"I know. Actually, I've been thinking about this, too. There's always going to be another battle, another crisis. I think we're overdue for some peace, Gabrielle. I know you are." Xena stroked the bard's cheek lightly with her fingertips. " I' love you more than life itself. It's time for us now. Let's make a home somewhere for ourselves. Let's focus on us now, Gabrielle. When we do leave our home, let it be for a festival or to visit friends or some other mundane and ordinary reason. Let's settle down and grow old together. I'm sick of all this wandering and putting things right. I know now that it'll never be right - whatever "right" means. It'll never be right or enough. Gabrielle, I need you and the time we have together. Your love, not battling evil, is my one and only chance of redemption. So, I propose we do this for the two of us - settle down, I mean. I think maybe I can be domesticated?if you're plenty patient and promise to?" Xena tilted Gabrielle's chin upward and kissed her gently. She tasted Gabrielle's tears on her lips and then Gabrielle's lips part as her bard sought more. The kiss intensified quickly and they embraced breathlessly.

"Promise to what, my love?" Gabrielle's green eyes were smoky with passion, the pain in her side forgotten.

"Always love me, always want me like this?" Xena's words entered Gabrielle's parted lips, fading into her warm, waiting tongue and the smoldering passion ignited quickly spreading throughout their bodies. The kiss was long, slow and sweet.

Gabrielle whispered against Xena's wet lips, "Xena, I was born to love you. You are my destiny." The warrior kissed the smaller bard's forehead tenderly and held her close until Xena felt another small shudder.

"I know. Eli was right about this, too." She agreed then carefully broke the embrace, adjusting the cloak around Gabrielle's shoulders. "Let's get out of this place and find that inn I promised."

"One more promise, warrior?" Gabrielle asked as she watched Xena tie the cloak's cords securely.

"Anything for you, my love." Xena secured her chakram and sword then took Gabrielle's arm before they turned down the road.

"Never leave me, Xena. No matter what. Life without you wouldn't be a life for me. Don't do that to me, no matter the cause."

Xena tilted Gabrielle's chin and looked deeply into the emerald eyes she so loved. "I'll never leave you, Gabrielle. I promise."

The sound of a hawk taking off from a nearby tree and the landing of sotted leaves punctuated the stillness. Only the hawk witnessed the kiss that sealed their vows before the two women resumed their journey.

The End

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