XWP: Awakenings 28 - Love's Return (X/G) 06/28/2022

 

XWP: Awakenings 28 - Love’s Return

Ms. Hunter Ash

ripperbard7@yahoo.com

*Disclaimers

Ownership: Repeat after me: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, etc. I’m borrowing them for entertainment purposes

Violence: major fight scene, character death, attempted assault.

Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship between people of the same gender and of the opposite sex.

Feedback: always welcome and responded to!

Storyline: Gabrielle and Xena are about to leave Greece for their home in Germania when someone has other ideas for Gabrielle. Surprise guests!

The story can stand on its own but it is part of a series and you might want to catch some of the earlier parts to know exactly who is whom.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle tried to resist the tears forming in her eyes as she hugged the tall man tightly.

“You sure you don’t want to travel with us for awhile?” she questioned, her green eyes looking him over carefully.

Eli had made a quick recovery from the slave galleys of the Romans but her critical eyes thought that he was still too thin from the miserable diet of gruel and stale water. Getting a regular schedule of baths and his beard trimmed had helped his appearance greatly too. He was more like the Eli she had once traveled with in search of a chakram.

“Yes, I want to feel the sand of Judea under my feet again but I’m going to take the long way around, no more ships for me!” he grinned and hugged her again. Then he grew serious. “Walk with me?”

“Of course,” she agreed readily and nodded slightly at Xena as the warrior talked over something to do with the blacksmith, something about his business or other. Xena smiled and waved her mate on, she knew Gabrielle wasn’t dealing well with finding Eli after all those years only to part company with their friend so quickly.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk much,” he pointed out.

“No, getting away from Antony and Octavian’s forces as soon as possible seemed the best idea at the time,” Gabrielle smiled.

“I would agree with that,” he nodded. “Your heart is heavier than when I last saw you.”

“Yes, you always could read people, Eli,” Gabrielle commented.

“Want to talk about it?”

“A lot has happened,” she frowned, trying to put her thoughts in order.

“It weighs on you and Xena both,” he said softly.

“Yes, she blames herself for a lot of what happened and I totally take the blame,” Gabrielle smirked. “We both made mistakes, Eli, and it almost cost us both our souls and lives.”

Gabrielle proceeded to tell the mystic about the experiences with the monster Grendel and dying to save Xena, of coming back to life only to face Alti in the spirit realm and vampires in the physical realm. She ended the long tale when they reached the river behind the tavern and took a seat under a familiar tree. Telling him about facing Alti again and being tortured in Bacchu`s’ spiritual Bacchanalia until she gave in.

“And Asher?”

“I asked the Spirits of the Forrest from the North to help me when Xena fell victim to the umpiirs, the vampires, and they granted it - with conditions,” she began.

“They usually have conditions,” he muttered.

“They wouldn’t tell me what the condition was, I had no choice and agreed. We discovered after the Bacchanalia that I was pregnant,” Gabrielle continued explaining and saw the horror developing in his eyes and nodded. She got the same reaction from Hercules when she told him about her pregnancy. “I thought so too, I thought the child was Bacchus’ child and tried to kill myself.”

“Well, obviously that didn’t work, thankfully,” he grumbled.

“No, the Gods stepped in and Xena saved me,” she smiled. “We found out that the child was magically conceived to be from Xena and me by the Forrest Spirits, Bacchus has no claim on the child. Apollo says Asher didn’t inherit my blood lust.”

“May His name be blessed,” Eli muttered. “The child is Xena’s as well?”

“Yes, just like she was my husband,” Gabrielle grinned at the disbelief on the Hebrew’s face.

“Wow, this is truly a miracle!” he joined in her grinning. “You named him Asher.”

“Yes, I had a vision of you being taken by the Romans and Asher being led to the cross just before I went into labor with my child,” Gabrielle said.

“I am honored and Asher must be fuming in Paradise,” he laughed. “He really did like the both of you though.”

“That’s why he tried to put his sword through my chest,” Gabrielle grinned, remembering how awkward it had been when Eli’s religiously fanatic brother caught her feeding from Xena’s wrist in Bacchae hunger. Asher had suspected their relationship was against his religious beliefs but had ignored it since they were helping him and Eli. Seeing Gabrielle drinking blood, complete with fangs and yellow eyes, had totally unhinged him for a moment.

“That’s why he tried,” Eli laughed. “You confused him and made him doubt his thoughts and beliefs; he never did react well to questions he couldn’t answer with a quote from the Torah.”

“Like why he liked me as a person but was convinced I’m going to burn in some sort of demonland when I die?”

“Exactly,” Eli nodded. “He liked you especially but you crossed sexual issues, which is a death penalty in our culture. The blood issue just pushed him over the edge.”

“I didn’t choose it, Eli,” she reminded him, losing her smile.

“I know and you didn’t choose to be tortured and driven nearly insane by your god Bacchus either,” he pointed out.

“No, I didn’t,” Gabrielle agreed.

“Then forgive yourself already, Xena has,” he encouraged her.

“I’m trying, I think it’ll be better when we get back home to our son,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully.

“You know your faith in each other is the greatest surviving miracle of all, your love is meant to survive the ages, Gabrielle,” Eli commented.

“Did I ever mention that we’re immortal?” Gabrielle asked ruefully. “That’s a long time to be playing hero.”

“You didn’t but I guessed it with everything you’ve been through, including being crucified twice,” he said calmly. “Not many people can survive something like that without divine help. As for being a hero for eternity, I think that should be left to the gods and the next generation. Take some time to be a family and a wife, be the bard that’s in your heart.”

“We try and something always comes up,” she complained.

“Send out word that you’ve died, change your names and get out Greece and the Empire. I see nothing but trouble for you if you stay. I think Octavian will be good for Rome but the Empire is too big to sustain itself forever.”

“You and Xena, trying to figure out what’s going to happen in the world,” Gabrielle smiled.

“I’m not good at that except for what is lying in the open and is common sense. I can predict that the Empire is going to have trouble out of Palestine and out of Germania,” Eli grinned, trying to keep a serious face as he made his ‘predictions,’ getting a grin out of Gabrielle.

“That’s easy! Your people are always stirring up rebellion and the Goths love a good fight and despise someone telling them what to do,” she agreed.

“Yes, and you’re already accepted up there and have a home,” he pointed out. “Get out of here and get home as soon as you can. You both need some time.”

“Yes, we both agree on that one,” Gabrielle nodded, leaning against the tree. “Sometimes I wonder if we can have a quiet life, even for a few short years.”

“Afraid that it’s the excitement and danger keeping you two together?”

Gabrielle frowned, thinking carefully.

“No, I don’t believe so,” she mumbled.

“Then what drew you to Xena?”

“Gods, what didn’t?” Gabrielle smiled, her eyes growing distant, remembering the first time she saw the warrior, taking on a band of raiders clad only in a shift. “She was magnificent. I convinced myself I wanted the adventure, the drama, all of it. I learned quickly that wasn’t what drew me to her. Damn, I’m a bard and can’t find the words to describe her and how I feel about her.”

“Sounds like love to me,” Eli grinned.

Gabrielle blushed and nodded. “She was so stern and unbending but I could see beyond it, I could see the wounded woman inside and how lonely she was. Xena needed me and I needed her,” the bard shrugged, trying to describe it.

“Do you ever doubt her love for you?”

“No, we’ve gotten distant a couple of times and had to work through the traumas, but I never doubted she loved me,” Gabrielle said firmly.

“Do you doubt your love for her?”

“No, never,” Gabrielle shook her head. “I sometimes doubt whether I’m good enough but not my love.”

“Remember that during your doubts,” Eli suggested and Gabrielle leaned over on his shoulder while they watched the river run by.

“Thank you, Eli,” she said softly.

“My pleasure,” he nodded.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cyrene tried not to cry as she hugged Xena and Gabrielle goodbye once more and Xena tried not to notice that her mom’s hair was a little more filled with grey and not as lively a red as it once was. The warrior pushed back the observation that her Mom’s hands were hurting her more and more each year and how Cyrene was moving slower this year, noticeably slower.

“Don’t worry about me,” Cyrene admonished her daughter with a smile. “I’ll be fine. Torris and Despesia are taking over more and more of the Tavern and Reija drops by to check on things every season.”

Xena blushed, realizing her mom had known damn well what Xena was thinking.

“Mom, we can’t stay,” Xena said softly. “Especially if Artemis is still mad at Gabrielle.”

“I know, I’ve always known that you couldn’t stay,” Cyrene commented. “I was so glad you tried though when you bought that little place. I love you both but I know you’ll only keep running into trouble in the Empire.”

“We run into trouble no matter where we go,” Xena said bitterly.

“Take Gabrielle home and build a life with her, it’s long past time you two settled down for awhile,” Cyrene advised.

“That’s the plan, Mom,” Xena nodded and hugged her again as Gabrielle walked up to get in on the hugs.

“Take care of her, Gabrielle,” Cyrene said softly.

“Always, Mom,” Gabrielle smiled and the smile widened as she looked up into Xena’s blue eyes.

“Autolycus is traveling with you?” Cyrene asked as she handed Xena a saddlebag of food.

“Yeah, he wants to travel on land for awhile,” Xena grinned.

“That’s good, it’s been years since you’ve seen him,” Cyrene agreed. “Give my love to your family, Gabrielle.”

“Thanks, Mom, I will,” Gabrielle promised as they mounted their horses.

Xena glanced over at the pasture behind the stable and Gabrielle knew the warrior’s heart was breaking that it wasn’t Argo she was mounting. The faithful horse was watching them and whinnied in protest, watching Xena about to leave her behind again.

“We’ll take good care of her, Xena,” Cyrene promised, following her daughter’s eyes.

Xena nodded, not trusting her voice right then.

Autolycus kept quiet as they left Amphipolis, sensing the need for the two women to be with their own thoughts for awhile as they left their home and family once more, maybe never to see Argo or Cyrene again.

# # #

The ride to Gabrielle’s family home was uneventful for once and they arrived two days later on Lila’s doorstep. Briareus, Lila’s husband opened the door with a smile as two children rushed past him and dashed into the pasture next to the farmhouse.

“You must be Xena and Gabrielle, I recognize you from Lila’s descriptions,” he greeted them.

“Yes, is Lila around?” Gabrielle smiled and accepted his hug. “This is Autolycus, a friend.”

“She’s over at your Mom’s place, the next farm over,” he informed his sister-in-law.

“Is everything alright?” Gabrielle asked with a frown.

“Yes, her husband is ill and Lila is helping out around the farm while I take care of this place and the kids,” he explained. “Please come in.”

The three travelers settled in around the dining table as Briareus brought watered down wine.

“How many children do you have now?” Gabrielle asked as another child dashed out of the house.

“Four,” Briareus grinned. “Two boys, two girls. One of them is named Gabrielle after you.”

Xena grinned at Gabrielle’s blush and smile of appreciation.

“And you?” he questioned. “We heard from your mother, Xena, that you both had children now.”

“Yes, you knew about Sasha,” Xena smiled. “She’s fifteen spring seasons now and Gabrielle just had a son, our son.”

“Then you are both blessed by the gods,” he said simply.

“Thank you,” Gabrielle smiled. “How is everything going?”

“It is well,” Briareus grinned. “Everyone but Hecuba’s husband is well. The children are growing like weeds and the farm is doing more than fine.”

“What’s wrong with Echemus?” Xena questioned.

“He had a broken leg but fluid settled in his lungs, the healers aren’t sure he’ll make it,” Briareus explained.

“We should get over there and see Mom,” Gabrielle suggested.

“Why don’t you go on over and see your mom and Lila. We’ll stay here for the night, we don’t want to overwhelm your mom.”

“Okay, don’t let the kids wear you out,” Gabrielle grinned and stood up to kiss her mate and hug her brother-in-law.

“Take care, Little One, and give your mom my love,” Xena said softly.

“You bet.”

Manic brown eyes watched the bard mount her horse as Xena waved at Gabrielle from the doorway.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hecuba and Lila had been delighted to see Gabrielle and had insisted on a large meal. With plenty of time for Gabrielle to catch them up on everything the bard had been through over the last few years since they had seen her.

Like Xena, Gabrielle tried resisting showing her surprise at the realization how much Lila had matured and how much her mother had aged. She knew that they realized it as well by their comments on her ageless beauty and youth.

Even though Gabrielle lightly brushed over the dangers she had been through with Xena, especially the trips to the Spirit Realm facing Alti and Bacchus, she caught Hecuba and Lila exchanging looks. Gabrielle knew they were aware she was glossing some things over but refused to fill them in on the details.

Then Lila and Hecuba took turns filling Gabrielle in on their lives and the bard was delighted with the news.

Briareus was getting ready to take over his father’s blacksmith business in town. The farm was successful enough to hire enough help to keep it going while Briareus was working in town during the day. Hecuba and Echemus’s farm was doing well enough to where they were comfortable and had a hired hand as well.

Despite what the healers predicted, Gabrielle thought that Echemus would recover. She had been around long enough to judge levels of illness and a person’s strength. What she saw in Echemus was a great depth of love for her mother and a stubbornness that his thin frame hid from the general world.

The stories continued well into the night and it felt a little like old times for Gabrielle when she curled up in a bed with Lila. Only this time Lila looked like the older sister between the two.

“Are you happy, Gabrielle?” Lila asked as they settled in the guest bed.

“Not totally,” Gabrielle admitted. “We’ve been through a lot the last few years.”

“You’ve been through a lot before this, what’s different?”

“Maybe it all adds up,” Gabrielle said, dodging the question for a moment. “No, the last few ‘adventures’ were horrible. I was tortured, drugged, crucified and raped by Bacchus and his minions.”

“Oh, Gabrielle,” Lila cried and drew Gabrielle into her arms. “That wasn’t your fault, obviously.”

“Doesn’t help my feelings about it, with the torture, drugs, and wine, I gave in. My body enjoyed some of it,” Gabrielle whispered.

“Gabrielle, you’ve dealt with rape victims before,” Lila protested. “You don’t sound like you had any choices. Did you want to be there?”

“No, never!” Gabrielle said firmly.

“Did you want to get drunk and drugged?” Lila continued.

“No, they forced me,” Gabrielle said softly, looking at her scarred wrists in the moonlight. “They beat me, whipped me and crucified me.”

“Did you want to have sex with anyone but Xena?” Lila asked.

“No, never,” Gabrielle said, fighting back tears.

“Then you weren’t at fault,” Lila said firmly. “And I’m betting that Xena doesn’t blame you for it either.”

“No, it did come between us though,” Gabrielle explained.

“Is that why you’re so anxious to get home, besides to see your son?” her sister asked.

“Yes, we need some time to rebuild,” Gabrielle said. “This last incident with Cleopatra and Antony was a mistake.”

“What are you worried about? From what I hear from the merchants, Antony is losing,” Lila pressed.

“No, Cleopatra knows that we were acting for what was best, even if it hurt her,” Gabrielle explained, her voice thoughtful. “Antony is no longer in power and won’t be able to take revenge against us. No, it’s my patron Goddess that I think might cause us some problems.”

“You mean Art…” Lila was surprised when Gabrielle pressed a hand over her mouth.

“Don’t say it!” Gabrielle hissed. “I have the favor of Apollo and it’s keeping Her at bay right now but I’m not taking any chances. I walked away from fulfilling my blood oath to the Amazons to kill Antony and She was pissed at me. I have to give up my Queenship to the Amazons and I think she’s going to cause trouble over it.”

“What will they do to you?” Lila questioned with a frown.

“Possibly demand my death,” Gabrielle said calmly. “At the very least they’ll banish me.”

“Then don’t go back to them!” Lila protested.

“I have to face it, Lila,” Gabrielle insisted. “Just don’t tell Mom and worry her. I’m probably not going to the Black Forest until mid-spring or summer.”

“You’ll get word to us?”

“Yes, no matter what happens, someone will let you know.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena frowned as she looked at the road once again and added a growl when she didn’t see Gabrielle coming towards the farm. It was almost noon and the warrior knew that the bard wanted to head home as soon as possible. They were still unsure if Apollo would zap them home or if they’d have to take the long way through the first snows.

Briareus came over from the stable and noticed her concerned look.

“Shouldn’t be any problems, there’s been no talk of bandits around and it’s a short distance,” he volunteered.

“I know, this just feels so damned familiar,” Xena grumbled. “When Gabrielle tried to come home for her father’s funeral she was attacked and had to flee to the Amazons for protection. It was a mess.”

“I remember Lila telling me about that,” he mentioned.

“We kinda pissed off one of the Goddesses recently and she might have done something stupid,” Xena explained.

“Then for your sanity, go look for her,” he suggested. “I think Auto is currently in a tree playing with the kids.”

“He’s a kid himself, even after all these years,” Xena grinned.

“We’ll be back,” Xena promised and headed for Hecuba’s farm.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle lifted her head from the forest floor with a groan. The bard growled when she realized she couldn’t move her arms or feet. She began to struggle against the bonds holding her.

Shifting her body around, she was able to take in the sight of her kidnapper as he tended a fire.

“Don’t bother, I learned how to tie up a hostage from Xena,” he grinned. “I hope I didn’t hit you too hard, my love.”

“Draco, have you lost your mind?” she snapped. “Let me go!”

“Well, I wanted a chance to talk to you alone and I knew that Xena wouldn’t agree,” Draco explained.

“Talk about what? I haven’t seen you since that stupid incident with the Virgin priestesses,” Gabrielle growled.

“Now, Gabrielle,” he scolded. “Don’t knock that incident, it was the moment that I realized I was in love with you and couldn’t live without you.”

“Draco! It’s been 16 ½ summers since that happened! You haven’t found someone since then?”

“Of course not, my love!” Draco said cheerfully. “There’s no one but you! It took me forever to find you after I got out… after an unfortunate delay in looking for you.”

“You were in prison?” Gabrielle asked, still working against the bonds.

“Well, actually,” he hesitated and he knelt beside her and stroked her cheek. Gabrielle struggled to get away from his touch. “I was arrested on an old charge from when I was a bad guy, before I met you.”

“Draco, look at me and listen carefully,” Gabrielle said calmly. “I am not in love with you; I will never be in love with you. I am married to Xena, we have kids and I love her very much.”

“I know you were mated with her but I know that once you see how much I love you, you can’t help but return my devotion and depth of love,” Draco said firmly and eagerly.

“Draco, Xena and I are blood bonded, it was approved by the gods themselves,” Gabrielle tried explaining. “You were put under a spell by baby Bliss, he shot you with Cupid’s arrow and you saw me.”

“How can you say that our love is the result of a spell or enchantment?” Draco protested, lying down next to the struggling bard and pulling her body close.

“Draco, please!” Gabrielle pleaded. “I can’t do this!”

Draco pulled back slightly, noting the bard’s beginning tears. “Gabrielle, my love, what troubles you? I know it’s been so long and there’s some gray in my beard and hair but I’ve kept in good shape. My love for you has never waned.”

“Draco, please, I…I was hurt,” Gabrielle whispered.

Instantly, Draco was on his knees and pulled her into a sitting position. “Someone would hurt you?” he demanded. “Tell me who and I will rip out their hearts and show it to them as they die!”

“It was Bacchus,” Gabrielle admitted, hoping to take advantage of his feelings. Either he’d let her go, not wanting to hurt her any further, or he’d go off bent on revenge for her. Going up against Bacchus, the odds were that she wouldn’t see him again. Maybe she would rethink that thought, as much as she was uncomfortable with Draco, she didn’t want him dead.

“Bacchus hurt you?” he demanded. “How?”

“You want details, Draco?” Gabrielle snapped, her green eyes flashing with anger. “If you lift my shirt up you’ll find scars from where he whipped me until my back was in ribbons. Check my neck, you’ll find scars from bacchae bites. Look under my bracers and you’ll find scars from where he crucified me!”

Draco fell backwards onto his tailbone at the level of her anger.

“The scars you can’t see are the worst,” Gabrielle said, feeling the tears falling down her face. “How many times do I have repeat this?” she asked softly. “I was raped, Draco, by Bacchus and by his Bacchae, his Maenads and male servants.”

“Gabrielle, I will spend the rest of our lives making this up to you, I swear it!” Draco promised, getting to his knees.

“Draco, I was a full Bacchae, only my love for Xena and her love for me saved me and brought me back, I am meant to be with her,” Gabrielle tried to explain.

“We are meant to be together,” Draco protested. “I never felt emotions like this, not for anyone. Not even Xena, this must be real and the destiny for both of us!”

“Draco, if you don’t believe that I can’t love you,” Gabrielle tried again. “At least be reasonable! Xena will kill you this time if you don’t let me go.”

“What for?” Draco questioned, his voice sounding genuinely curious. “I’m not going to harm you. I know it’ll take time for you to know me again and realize our love but I’m willing to wait. She has to know that it’s time to let you go now that I’m back.”

“Oh Gods,” Gabrielle muttered, knowing it was useless to try and convince him.

“It is a good point, though,” Draco said thoughtfully, gently stroking her hair and ignoring that she was trying to bite him. “Xena will be coming after us and no one can track like Xena.”

Draco reached into a pouch on his belt and quickly gagged Gabrielle as she screamed and tried to bite him again.

“We’ll have to move fast,” he continued talking, as if to himself. “I think we can slow her down and loose her by taking the ship I’ve chartered. No one knows me after all these years and it’ll be just you and me.”

Gabrielle screamed in protest through her gag as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. She was surprised when he carried her over to a horse and threw her over the saddle and jumped up behind her.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena, having visited Hecuba’s farm, frowned as she followed the tracks she had picked up between the farms. She recognized Gabrielle’s boots, both of them learning each other’s tracks whenever they got new footgear just for this purpose. The tracks were easy to follow and very plain, it was obvious that Gabrielle had been heading back to Lila’s farm and was walking the horse along, enjoying the day in the country.

Then the warrior came to a spot close to the woods where the footprints became scuffle marks and then disappeared. In their place, leading to the woods, was a set of larger boot prints, deep with weight, as if carrying something heavy. Like Gabrielle, Xena growled to herself.

She quickly made her way through the forest and found where the mysterious boot prints stopped at a camp. The experienced warrior could spot where someone had been lying on the ground and there were lots of footprints from the second pair of boots but not the person who had been lying down. Again the boot prints were deeper and led to hoof tracks.

Xena growled, after all this time, her heart was in a panic at the thought of Gabrielle being kidnapped again. This time she was not going to lose her mate.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle began to feel afraid. Draco led the horse over rocky ground for over a candle-mark, doubling back, criss-crossing his trail and brushing over it in parts. She knew that he was well aware of Xena’s famed tracking skills and was doing everything possible to throw Xena off the trail.

After the rocky mountain they had crossed, he had doubled back to a small village. By then it was nightfall and no one came out of their homes or the inn to challenge the stranger and he went directly to the stable.

The bard was grateful for the break to be off the horse when he pulled her from the saddle and dropped her onto a pile of hay.

“If I didn’t want to make time, we would spend the night here and you could get to know me again,” he said regretfully.

Gabrielle screamed her protests through the gag and let him see the anger, not love in her eyes.

Draco merely laughed at her struggles.

She watched as he quickly hitched a horse to a wagon and threw his travel packs into the back of the small transport. Gabrielle’s eyes widened when he pried the top off a travel crate and grinned at her.

The bard screamed in anger, pulled frantically at her bounds and kicked at him when he reached for her.

“I know it’s a little small and something like a coffin, but that way you won’t have room to kick and bang against the sides,” he explained as he lifted her over his shoulder again and dropped her into the box.

The bard shouted, screamed and begged around the gag but Draco merely shrugged and nailed the lid down.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena growled as she lost the tracks on the rocks once again and it was getting dark. The warrior knew luck was turning against her and for Gabrielle.

“Gabrielle,” she whispered softly. “Okay, warrior, think about this,” she scolded herself.

“All right, someone grabbed Gabrielle and she’s probably still alive if they’re going to all this trouble to hide their trail,” Xena muttered, sitting down on a rock. “They know someone’s tracking them; maybe even know who she is and who will be coming after them.”

She frowned. It had been a long time since they had spent any length of time in Greece and most of her old enemies were dead and buried or retired. Even if Callisto had gotten out of Tartarus, this wasn’t her style, the warrior thought.

The only real enemies they had left were fighting a civil war with Octavian and were gods or goddesses. Somehow Xena couldn’t see this being the work of either Mars or Artemis, they would have just taken Gabrielle and wouldn’t have left a trace or trail for her to follow.

That left someone who wanted Gabrielle and didn’t want Xena following them. Xena knew that Callisto had twisted Joxer’s love for Gabrielle but she felt they had made quite a bit of progress in healing those wounds recently and Xena dismissed him as potential suspect.

Xena also didn’t think that if Valesca got out of the lava like Callisto did, that the insane goddess wouldn’t take this much time just to throw Xena off the trail. The former Amazon would most likely just zap her and Gabrielle to ashes rather than play cat and mouse with them.

That didn’t leave anyone, Xena complained to herself. Most of them were long dead or not interested any more.

Interested. Her mind clicked on that word. Who would be interested in anything Xena and/or Gabrielle did after all these years together?

Who could maintain a focus that long? Callisto, Velasca, Mars, Artemis, and Ares. Someone obsessive?

Obsessive, with Gabrielle.

Xena’s eyes narrowed. Obsessive because of an enchantment? she asked herself.

“Draco,” she muttered. Xena became very concerned. A power crazed warlord she could deal with. A love sick warlord was another matter.

Love could make anyone unpredictable. Even Xena, and she knew it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle coughed and rolled over onto her hands and knees as Draco cut her bindings. She pulled the gag out of her mouth and closed her eyes as her stomach finally released its protest at having been on the ocean, even for a short time.

When her stomach finally stopped dry heaving, the blonde collapsed on the sand and rolled over to sit up and look for Draco, automatically feeling for her missing sais.

The former warlord was removing an axe from what remained of the small boat they had used to get to wherever they were. Gabrielle realized, with a feeling that went along with the sinking boat, that they could well be trapped wherever they were.

Draco, satisfied that the boat was no longer sea worthy and couldn’t be repaired, turned with a smile towards the small blonde.

“Welcome to our home, Gabrielle,” he announced. “It’s a small island. Originally there were only a few huts for the fishermen and an old abandoned villa at the top of the house. I spent a couple of months repairing it and making it worthy of you and your beauty. The fishermen are gone and a couple of friends I met in prison are now here. Fishing is easy here, there’s a few sheep and pigs, some olive trees and such. A perfect haven.”

“Draco, you have got to let me go!” Gabrielle snapped. “Not only will Xena kill you but I’m getting damned close!”

“Ah, my love,” he exclaimed, going to his knees in front of her. “My gentle, non-killing bard, please just give the place a chance.”

“Draco…”

He held up his hand in warning. “No more words, Gabrielle, come see your home.”

Gabrielle snapped her jaw shut, knowing it was useless. She ignored his outstretched hand and got to her feet unsteadily. She finally accepted his arm until her legs regained their strength.

The island was indeed beautiful and small. Typical of a Greek island, it was basically a large rock sticking out of the ocean with enough dirt to make the land fertile and green.

The huts were, in fact, well built homes. Gabrielle barely took in the buildings as her eyes scanned the dock for boats, anyway to escape this island. She was dismayed not to see any boats anywhere.

The long trek up the hill around the rocks stretched her legs and other muscles so that by the time they reached the villa, she felt more normal and like herself.

“What about water and supplies?” she asked, curiosity gaining the upper hand when they reached the top.

“A pulley system hauls water and supplies up the hills,” Draco said proudly. “Don’t worry; you’ll never have to haul water jugs up the hill.”

Gabrielle wasn’t sure what she expected from Draco’s description but she certainly didn’t expect the simple but beautiful villa that Draco had obviously worked very hard at fixing up. The walls were freshly clayed and painted, flowers were planted everywhere and the garden was making a comeback from years of neglect. The furniture was simple but comfortable looking. There was even a highly polished piece of bronze for a mirror in the main bedroom.

Gabrielle’s quick mind noted the large bed in the master bedroom and the small, child size bed in the other room. She definitely knew where Draco intended on both of them sleeping. She was not amused but impressed with all his hard work.

It pointed out the depth of his obsession with her and how impossible it was going to be to dampen it or convince him it wasn’t real.

“It’s very nice, Draco,” she said, as she noticed his eager almost puppy dog like expression waiting for her approval. “Draco,” Gabrielle knew it was impossible but she had to try. “I am not in love with you, I never have been. Didn’t you think it strange that Xena was so head over heels in love with you for those couple of days and then was over it in an instant? Baby Bliss had us all under a spell.”

“How can you say it was a spell when I would gladly rip out my spleen and carve your name on it to show my devotion to you?”

“That’s nice,” she commented and gave up trying to convince him.

“I have a cook for us so you don’t have to worry about anything today. Take some time, roam around the island, get to know the place. I’m going to go down and talk with my guys,” he said. “Don’t worry about them, they know that I will personally yank their…their, uh, personal belongings off of them very slowly if they even speak harshly to you and they are loyal.”

“Draco, we cannot spend the rest of our lives on this island, we’ll both go insane!” Gabrielle protested.

“Well, after we hear that Xena has given up searching for you, in a few years, we might start to roam Greece again,” he promised.

“Draco, Xena will never stop looking for me!” Gabrielle insisted and held up her left hand. “See that scar? That is from our wedding, we were blood bonded together by the Gods themselves.”

Draco frowned and refused to look at the scar.

“Hercules and Iolaus were our Kumhdas at our wedding,” Gabrielle pressed on. “Representatives from all the tribes and all the important kingdoms were there to watch the Queen of the Amazons marry her Champion and Consort, Xena. Brutus, Pro-Counsel of Rome was there, Draco.”

“It was a mistake because I wasn’t around,” he muttered.

“Zeus, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, Cupid, Hephaestus, Apollo, and Hecate, all of them were there and gave their blessing,” Gabrielle countered. “They said to the Amazons and our families that Xena and I were fated to be together and it was a soul connection.”

“No, this isn’t possible,” he growled, his eyes beginning to flash angrily.

“Please, Draco, just take me back to land,” Gabrielle pleaded. “Xena and I have been married for years and we have a daughter and a son together. Let me go home to my child.”

“Children? How is that possible?”

“Another blessing from the gods,” Gabrielle said easily. She certainly wasn’t going to tell Draco that Sasha was the result of Xena losing her memory and sleeping with Ares. It was the truth; after all, both children were gifts from gods.

Draco’s frown deepened until he was scowling. He abruptly turned on his heel and stormed out of the villa, slamming the door behind him.

Gabrielle sat down at the kitchen table, trying to get her own thoughts in some sort of order.

“Xena, please, I need a miracle,” Gabrielle whispered.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena growled and cursed the Fates, the Norns and whoever else she could think of as she lost the track once again in the village. Not even the infamous ‘pinch’ could get any information out of the villagers.

All Xena found out was that someone had arrived with a wagon and horse, boarded the wagon for a night and day and it disappeared in the night without anyone seeing the driver or any passenger. The description of the man didn’t help either. He had kept his cloak hood up and spoke in low tones.

Xena knew that on this well traveled road, she’d never track a wagon with no description of the wagon or the man. The warrior also figured that Gabrielle wasn’t cooperating, that meant her mate must be tied up and hidden in the wagon.

“Apollo, will you come?” Xena called to the sunset.

She squinted slightly as a brilliant light filled the area to the side of the road and her horse whinnied in protest. When she looked again, Apollo stood before her.

“Apollo, I’m grateful,” Xena said respectfully, gritting her teeth at having called on one of the gods for help, even if he was Gabrielle’s father. Xena hated dealing with the gods.

“Xena, don’t be grateful yet,” Apollo warned. “I can only stay a moment and long enough to tell you that I can’t help you.”

“Gabrielle, your daughter, has been kidnapped and you can’t help?”

“Xena, take it up with Father, he has had enough of Mars and Artemis complaining about the two of you and has decreed that your fates are your own to make. Zeus has forbidden any of the Olympians to help or harass you.”

“The gods decreed that we were blood bound, Gabrielle being kidnapped can’t be part of their wishes,” Xena protested.

“I’m sorry, Xena,” Apollo said sadly. “I agree totally and would take you there immediately but Zeus is really pissed off after that mess with Antony and Cleopatra.”

“Then go, damnit!” Xena snapped. “I’ll figure it out myself.”

Apollo began to fade from sight. “I’m truly sorry and I will be begging Zeus to let me help you.”

Xena growled something under her breath that didn’t sound like gratitude.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle was a little confused when Draco didn’t return for dinner. The cook refused to talk with her and answer any questions. Gabrielle noticed that after cleaning up from a simple dinner of fish, olives, fruit and lamb shank, the cook left and took all the knives with her.

The bard, hating to eat in silence, and hating someone who wouldn’t talk back even more, paced restlessly back and forth in the villa as the sun set and the night became chilled.

After what seemed like many candle-marks, Gabrielle felt the tension catching up with her and her energy draining rapidly away. She finally relented and went to lay on the small bed in the small room. Under her pillow a length of wood from the pile for the fire.

Gabrielle woke up reaching for the piece of wood and cried out as someone pinned her to the bed, strong male arms holding her wrists. Draco attempted to kiss her as his knee forced her legs apart.

“Damn you! Get off of me!” Gabrielle growled.

“I need you,” he muttered as she threw her head side to side, avoiding his lips, smelling the cheap wine on his breath.

“This isn’t love if you do this!” Gabrielle shouted as one of his hands clawed clumsily at her breast.

Somehow the words seemed to get through to him and he hesitated.

“Love me!” he begged.

“Draco, please, I can’t,” she cried, angry at the tears falling from her eyes. “You’re hurting me, like Bacchus.”

The words had just the affect that Gabrielle was counting on. Draco’s eyes became horrified and he scampered off of her and sat down on the edge of the bed, avoiding her eyes as she pulled down her sleeping tunic.

“I’m so sorry, Gabrielle,” Draco whispered as she sat curled up in the corner against the wall. “I’m not like that. I’ve never forced a woman in my life.”

“Draco, you’re under an enchantment,” Gabrielle said softly, hoping that he could finally hear her. “That’s why it’s so strong.”

“You have to love me,” he growled. “I can’t exist without you anymore.”

“Draco, go to bed,” Gabrielle urged. “I can’t love you and you can’t force those feelings or I would have loved Joxer years ago.”

“He’s not worthy of you,” the former Warlord growled.

“Don’t start, Draco,” Gabrielle warned. “He’s a good man and he certainly didn’t spend any time in a prison!”

Gabrielle felt the warrior stiffen in anger but he apparently held it in check. It was damned hard to talk to him reasonably in the dark, she cursed.

“I’ll find a way!” Draco promised and left her, stumbling in the hallway to the larger room.

“Oh gods,” Gabrielle muttered, her hands shaking so hard she didn’t dare to light a candle. The blonde pulled the pillow to her chest and wrapped her arms around it as the shaking spread to her body. She bit down on the pillow as images forced themselves into her head. Hot tears flowed past her closed eyes as she could “feel” the hands of past rapists all over her body, their bodies demanding ownership over hers, of the pain of being forced.

Draco’s attack had forced Gabrielle into a total and complete flashback of the abuse she had suffered as a Roman slave and as an unwilling participant in the Bacchanalia with Bacchus. Gabrielle whimpered as her muscles twitched, much like she was caught in a nightmare.

Gabrielle, caught in the grip of the terror, sprang out from the bed and dashed out of the villa into the night.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle groaned as she turned over into a patch of sunlight on the bed. Her body ached and she felt chilled to the bone. The blonde frowned as lightning like pain shot from her feet.

The bard pulled the covers back and gave a puzzled look at the bloody bandages covering her feet and the shift covering her body. It was different than the one she was wearing last night.

Gabrielle threw the blanket back over her body as Draco entered the room with a tray of food.

“I’m glad you’re awake,” he said with a soft smile. “I was scared last night.”

“What happened?”

The former Warlord sat the tray down on the bed next to her and sat down on the edge of the bed. He hung his head and wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“I frightened you last night,” he said softly. “I attacked you. Your words stopped me and I went to bed. The cook came running in sometime in the night and said you had run off in the dark.”

Gabrielle frowned, she could remember most of Draco’s attempted assault, including him stopping and leaving but was very fuzzy on what happened next.

“It took forever to find you,” he complained. “By the time we did, you were soaked to the skin, freezing to death and your feet were cut to ribbons on the rocks. You weren’t unconscious but you weren’t aware either. You kept rocking back and forth, crying out for Xena and begging someone not to hurt you anymore.”

Gabrielle closed her eyes, remembering some of the pain she had been reliving the night before.

“Draco, let me go,” she pleaded. “You can see this isn’t going to work. I belong with Xena.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” he said slowly, finally raising his eyes to meet hers. Gabrielle was cautious, his eyes still held that manic light in them when he looked at her.

“Draco,” Gabrielle’s voice was a warning growl but he didn’t seem to hear it.

“I figure without Xena around, then that bond of yours will be broken and you’ll be forced to recognize our love,” he reasoned and Gabrielle was stunned by his twisted logic.

“What?” she whispered, disbelieving he had said what he had said.

“Without Xena around, then you’ll have me,” he smiled, his eyes totally insane. “I’ve even got it angled. I’ll take her out and dedicate the kill to Mars and gain his favor. I can return to being a powerful warrior with his favor and I know he doesn’t like Xena.”

“Draco, have you totally lost your mind?” Gabrielle demanded. “You seriously think I could love you if you kill my wife?”

“Of course, once she’s out of the way, then it’s easy,” he nodded and stood up. “Don’t worry about anything, the cook will take care of you until those feet heal. I’m going to send word to Xena where we are and when she gets here, I’ll kill her,” he explained simply.

“Draco, listen to me very carefully,” she tried again. “This isn’t going to work. You harm even a single hair on Xena and I will personally cut out your throat.”

“My gentle bard, you couldn’t,” he smiled.

“Draco, a lot happened since you were gone,” Gabrielle insisted. “I was taken as a Roman slave and sold to a gladiatorial school. I became a killer, Draco. A trained killer who was good enough to win the wooden sword of freedom in the Circus of Rome.”

Gabrielle nodded firmly at his look of disbelief.

“Caesar himself gave me my freedom because of my killing skills,” she insisted. “The scars you saw on my back are from the lash of my masters and trainers. I can kill, Draco, easily and I could take you.”

Draco’s face softened and Gabrielle wanted to shriek in anger, she wasn’t getting through to him and knew it.

“Not my Gabrielle,” he persisted. “Don’t try and escape, please. I won’t be gone long and then we can begin planning our future once Xena is out of the way.”

Gabrielle screamed in anger when she realized there was a chain around her ankle leading to an iron ring embedded in the wall.

Draco blew her a kiss as he walked out of the room. Gabrielle resisted throwing the tray after him.

Gabrielle had learned a lot while a slave and common sense was among the list. Food and healing was what she needed right then, not a temper tantrum.

“Apollo? Father?” she called softly, concentrating on her father. She chanted an invocation song to him and frowned when he didn’t appear. “Father, I’m in trouble. Please come.”

Gabrielle was puzzled. She knew she didn’t dare call on Artemis for help. The Goddess of the Amazons was probably still mad at her but why didn’t Apollo, her own Father, answer her call?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena had searched the surrounding towns, up and down the coast, and the roads leading away from the town where she had tracked the wagon. She finally settled in at the inn after three days.

The warrior sent word to both Gabrielle’s family and her own about her missing mate. She received word from Lila that Gabrielle hadn’t returned and they had no news on their end either and begged Xena to keep them informed.

Sitting around waiting was driving the warrior crazy but she didn’t know what else to do. Xena put out a description of Gabrielle, even offering a reward for any information leading to her mate. She had threatened a few of the local bandits and was frustrated when they knew even less than she did.

On the fourth evening, the warrior sat in her room sharpening her sword for the 50^th time in two days. A knock caused Xena to narrow her eyes and reach for her chakram.

“Enter,” she called, holding the chakram at the ready.

A young boy, around 12 winters old, stuck his head in cautiously. His eyes widened at the sight of the warrior and the sharp object in her hand. He threw a message tube at her and slammed the door shut behind him.

His footsteps were already echoing on the steps by the time she reached the door and flung it open after him.

Xena gave up any ideas of catching him and turned to the message tube. Securing the door, the warrior broke the seal on the end and pulled out the parchment inside.

“Xena, hello old friend. It’s been a long time, too many years. As you may have gathered, Gabrielle has disappeared from your life. My demand from you is simple: you have two choices.

1. Release her from your bonding so she can recognize her place with me. Send word to her that you are moving on without her. You can have anyone in the world, Xena. Gabrielle and I are meant to be, no one ever touched me like she has and my desire and love hasn’t lessened over the years.

2. Follow the map and you’ll find a boat waiting for you. I have made a home for Gabrielle and myself on a small island. If you cross over then consider yourself hunted half a candle-mark from the time you land. I will kill you, dedicate your death to Mars and gain his favor and Gabrielle will be mine.

Knowing you and your pride, I’ll see you soon, Xena.

Draco”

Xena’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ll see me soon enough, just before I send you to Tartarus this time,” she promised.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gabrielle growled as she worked at the chain again. Rubbing it against the stone floor hadn’t even scratched the links and all attempts at picking the lock had failed over the last two days that Draco had been gone.

The cook had proven extremely loyal to Draco and wouldn’t even talk to Gabrielle despite the bard’s best efforts to draw the older woman into conversation. The woman was very attentive to Gabrielle’s needs but the bard figured it would be easier to get a decent conversation out of a plant than this woman.

Draco ducked when he entered the room and Gabrielle threw a goblet at him, barely missing his head.

He grinned at her enraged face.

“I missed you too, my darling,” he said easily. “Don’t bother with the chain or the lock, both are enchanted. Only the key that hangs in the other room, can unlock that padlock and the chain can’t be broken.”

“Draco, you son of a diseased demon, let me go!” Gabrielle shouted, having lost her patience days before.

“Gabrielle,” Draco shook his head sadly, the tone of his voice sounding like a parent explaining something once again to a stubborn child. “You know this is what the Fates wanted. I never felt anything about anyone before. Oh, I wanted Xena back in my bed, I admit that.”

He sat down on the edge of the bed and caught her wrist as she attempted to hit him. Draco ignored the action as if it hadn’t happened.

“But it’s nothing to compare to what I’ve felt for you all these years,” Draco continued. “Our love has to be.”

“Cupid, I’m going to strangle you,” Gabrielle muttered. One day of a mischievous child left unattended had led to this mess. A child who happened to be the son of Cupid and armed with Cupid’s arrows. Draco falling for Gabrielle, Gabrielle for Joxer, Xena for Draco, Vestal Virgins for bandits and Joxer for Gabrielle. The bard had no idea that the affects of that damned arrow would have such long lasting consequences?

“I sent word to Xena to release you from your bonding or come and face her death,” Draco informed the bard.

“Draco, not that you stand a chance, but if you harm Xena,” Gabrielle growled. “I will kill you and then myself, damnit.”

“No you won’t,” Draco grinned a confident smile. “You said you had a son. I know you, Gabrielle; you won’t kill yourself as long as he lives.”

Draco dove to the floor just in time to avoid her fists heading for his head. The bard lunged off the bed at him and the former warlord had to scramble backwards like a crab to avoid her fingernails, which were now like claws.

He laughed as he slammed the door shut as Gabrielle reached the end of her chain just a couple of feet from the bed.

“Damn you!” she shouted. “Father! Don’t you dare leave me here like this!”

The bard grabbed up a chair and smashed it into pieces when her father, Apollo, didn’t appear to her.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Gabrielle!”

The bard frowned as she blinked in the darkness.

“Gabrielle!”

Gabrielle quickly jumped to her feet and went to the window of her room and leaned out.

A figure stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight and pulled his cloak hood back. Mischievous brown eyes sparkled up at her.

“Auto?” she hissed.

“Are you okay?” he called.

“Yes, just pissed off,” she said just loud enough for him to hear. “This feels too much like old times.”

“Get down here and let’s go!” he hissed.

“I’m chained!” Gabrielle hissed back.

“I’m coming up and get you out of that chain,” he called softly with a grin. “Xena’s waiting with a boat.”

“You can’t!” Gabrielle hissed back. “The lock and chain are enchanted, nothing can break them. The key is now around Draco’s neck and he’s awake.”

“Damnit!” Auto growled.

“Get Xena, her chakram can cut through,” Gabrielle yelled.

“Alright, I’ll be back,” the thief promised and disappeared into the shadows.

Gabrielle waited impatiently, she knew it would take time to get back down to the beach and then back to the villa, even if two years in the galleys had left Autoclysus in good physical shape.

She wanted to pace with her restless energy but was afraid the clanking of the chain might bring Draco back into the room. Gabrielle sat on her bed and tapped her foot impatiently.

“Gabrielle!”

Gabrielle smiled with relief when Auto climbed through the window after a moment. He quickly crossed the small space and picked up the smaller woman in a welcome hug. The thief then pulled out half of the famous chakram with a grin.

“She wouldn’t give me the whole thing,” he explained and Gabrielle felt like laughing for the first time in days. He bent over the chain.

“What’s the plan?” Gabrielle asked.

“I’m going to cut through one of the links, you stay here,” Auto snapped as he worked at the chain. “Xena meets Draco tomorrow morning, kills him and we get out of here.”

“Why can’t we leave tonight and just leave him frustrated and behind?”

“This obsession thing of his is only going to get worse,” Auto shook his head. “He’s willing to kill Xena to prove his love to you, how twisted is that?”

Gabrielle frowned, knowing he was right but not wanting to see anyone else die, including Draco.

“I’m surprised he’s letting you sleep in a small bed and hasn’t forced himself on you,” Auto said seriously.

“He tried but backed off when he realized he was hurting me,” Gabrielle said softly.

Auto merely nodded. “I thought he might have. I’m glad he’s still convinced he loves you enough not to force you. Xena told me about that damned enchantment.”

“Yeah, how is she doing?”

“Going crazy, she was looking all over this region for you and we were covering the rest of Greece. She sent word to Joxer and me when Xena got word from Draco,” Auto smiled.

“Joxer is here?”

“Yeah, he wouldn’t take no when Xena told him to stay home,” Auto explained.

“I don’t like the plan, damnit!” Gabrielle growled.

“Got a better one? Once he finds you missing he’ll just come after you and keep coming until Xena kills him,” Auto shrugged, grinning as he held up the broken link, freeing Gabrielle from the wall. “I personally think she should just sneak up on him tonight and bury the other half of this chakram in the back of his neck.”

“Auto!” Gabrielle protested.

He grinned a rueful smile. “Yeah, that’s what Xena figured, that’s why she’s giving him a fair chance in that hunt he’s set up.”

“It’s still insane,” she complained.

“I know and Xena said that if you’re dead set against it then she’s waiting for you,” Auto said.

“You mean she’s willing to listen to me instead of just planning without me?” Gabrielle smirked.

“Some things don’t change, do they?” Auto laughed softly. “Still treats you like a kid at times?”

Gabrielle, instead of being upset, smiled. “Sometimes, even though our daughter is almost 15 spring seasons old and our son is getting bigger every day.”

“What do you want to do, Gabrielle?”

The bard frowned and sat down on the bed, deep in thought.

“Auto, I can’t just sit here and wait for Xena or Draco to come through that door,” Gabrielle growled. “I’m not some damned prize in a contest. If Xena is going to face Draco, it’ll be with me at her side.”

“Okay, then lets get out of here,” he grinned and gestured to the window.

Gabrielle wasn’t surprised to see a climbing rope hanging from a grappling hook. She quickly scampered over the side and down to the ground. The bard heard Draco telling the cook he was going to sleep and to alert him if Gabrielle tried anything.

Auto twisted the rope and caught the hook before it hit the ground. It wasn’t as fancy as the one he once wore tucked up his sleeve but it did the job. Gabrielle was actually glad to see his skills hadn’t rusted over the years. He had a lot of gray in his hair and moustache but it made him seem more distinguished.

He raised a questioning eyebrow at her appraisal and she grinned.

“Admiring your work,” she commented.

“Like falling off a horse,” he grinned. “Let’s get out of here before your boyfriend finds you missing. I’m afraid I don’t run as fast as I used to and it’s going to rain.”

They had made it about 100 yards when they heard Draco scream Gabrielle’s name.

“Damn!” Gabrielle growled. “Lead the way to Xena.”

“You can’t go running down these cliffs with that chain around your ankle!” Auto protested and was met with a clash of thunder and lightning. Both bard and thief looked up as the sky opened up with a hard driving rain.

“I can carry the chain, lets go!” Gabrielle shouted.

“Gabrielle!” Draco yelled from the doorway of the villa. Both bard and thief ducked down in the shadows and pouring rain. They looked around and scurried behind some large rocks and began to make their way down the steep hill.

Gabrielle and Auto increased their pace when they heard shouts behind them over the sound of the thunder and the rain. The bard almost fell into a large boulder when Auto crashed into her.

“Auto!” she yelled as she turned and he collapsed in her arms.

“Gods, that hurts!” he complained as she gently lowered him to the ground, noting with horror the arrow sticking in his shoulder. “Why do I always get injured whenever I’m around you?”

“Shut up for a minute,” Gabrielle muttered and reached down into his belt.

“Hey! I thought you were married,” he protested and felt his dagger leaving his side.

“In your dreams, Auto,” Gabrielle growled and pulled the knife into her hand and watched the path.

“You have often been in my dreams, Gabrielle,” Auto admitted with a smile as he winced against the pain. “I just got out of prison clothes and now I’m lying in the mud with my new clothes.”

The thief heard shouting behind them and glanced back to see a soldier pounding down the path, arrow notched in his bow. The bandit warrior stopped and took aim but lost his hold on the string when Auto’s dagger sliced into his throat.

Auto looked up at Gabrielle with an amazed look on his face.

“You kill?”

“It’s been a long time since you traveled with us, Auto,” Gabrielle smiled sadly. “I’m a warrior and I’ve been a gladiator.”

“Wow,” Auto muttered. “Can we go now? This kinda hurts.”

Gabrielle bent over him and broke the arrow off without warning as Auto rammed his fist into his mouth to keep from screaming. The bard helped the thief to his feet and held him for a moment while he swayed with the pain and blood loss.

“Listen, I don’t know if I can make it down the hill, you go and get to Xena,” Auto suggested.

“No way, we don’t leave our friends behind,” Gabrielle shook her head and wrapped one arm under his and around his ribs. “Let’s go.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena heard the figures moving in the dark before she saw them. The warrior hissed and caught Joxer’s attention. He nodded when she pointed towards one of the paths leading to the cliffs and rushed forward with his sword drawn, taking a position behind a large rock.

“Xena!” a voice called softly in the dark.

“Gabrielle, here!” Xena called back and darted forward just as Gabrielle came into sight, helping a stumbling Autoclycus down the path. Joxer came out from behind the rock and took the other side of the thief from Gabrielle.

“Into the boat, quick!” Xena growled. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Auto got hit with an arrow,” Gabrielle panted. It had been hard work helping the injured man down a large rocky hill without falling and killing both of them on the rocks below.

“I’ll be fine, just smarts like Tartarus,” the thief growled. “That chakram thing did the trick with the chain.”

“Good, let’s get out of here,” Xena urged, practically dragging Auto across the sand.

Gabrielle was already at the small boat and shoving it back into the beginning waves.

Joxer let Xena help Auto the rest of the way and moved to help Gabrielle with the boat.

At the sound of shouts behind them, Xena dropped Auto into the boat, trying to ignore his cry of pain as she spun and drew her sword.

Joxer and Gabrielle gritted their teeth against the cold water and continued to shove, diving in from the sides as the waves began to grab the boat.

“Xena! Come on!” Joxer shouted.

“Xena! We’ll meet him on the mainland and finish this!” Gabrielle urged. “Not in the dark and not on his land!”

Xena turned to look at her mate and nodded. Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief as the warrior sheathed her sword and jumped into the boat, practically on top of Auto.

Both Joxer and Xena grabbed up oars and began working the small boat further into the water.

After a few moments they could see torches making their way to the beach and the small group of friends could make out Draco and several men watching them angrily.

“Draco!” Xena shouted. “I accept your challenge, only on equal terms!”

“Name them!” he screamed.

“Sunrise on the beach straight east from here, two men only with you,” Xena yelled, never easing up on the rowing.

“Agreed! I’m going to bury you this time, Xena!” Draco threatened. “I always had a soft spot for you but no more! You won’t stand in the way of my undying love for Gabrielle any longer!”

“Undying love?” Xena muttered. “Careful, Draco, you will die for it,” Xena called back and ignored the rest of his threats.

Xena smiled and leaned her cheek on Gabrielle’s hand as the bard touched the warrior’s shoulder.

“Gods, I missed you,” Xena said over the sound of the waves.

“I went crazy without seeing you,” Gabrielle said.

“Did he hurt you?”

Gabrielle heard the tense emotions in her warrior’s voice and squeezed Xena’s shoulder reassuringly.

“No, just made me mad,” Gabrielle said truthfully. “He tried to force it one night but realized he was hurting me and backed off. He truly thinks he loves me.”

“I’m going to have to kill him this time,” Xena said firmly.

“I know,” Gabrielle said sadly. “I wish there was another way but unless that enchantment is removed he’ll just keep coming now.”

“Why haven’t we seen him in all these years?” Joxer asked, smiling at Gabrielle’s welcoming smile.

“He was in prison for his past and just got out,” Gabrielle explained.

“Figures,” Xena muttered. “I knew you wouldn’t wait,” she grinned over her shoulder as Auto moaned.

“You finally gave me choices and options instead of telling me what to do,” Gabrielle teased with a touch of truth.

“Yeah, maybe you can teach an old war dog new tricks,” Xena growled and smiled at Gabrielle’s laughter. “I’ll learn yet.”

“I know, my love,” Gabrielle agreed, wishing she could hug her mate right then. “I love you as you are, frustrating as that can be sometimes.”

“Hey!” Xena protested and even Joxer laughed along with Gabrielle.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Once they had Auto safely on the beach and a cloak under his head, Gabrielle turned and tackled Xena to the sand, kissing her fiercely.

Xena laughed and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman, holding Gabrielle tightly.

“Gods, I missed you, Little One,” Xena whispered as Gabrielle’s lips and teeth explored the warrior’s throat.

Xena heard Gabrielle sigh and let the little bard pull back slightly until they could see each other’s eyes.

“Xena, what about Draco?”

“One of us meets him in the morning and we end this,” Xena said firmly. “Zeus has ordered that none of the gods interfere in our affairs; helping or hindering.”

“That’s why Apollo didn’t come to me,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully, looking up to see Joxer gathering wood for a fire.

“Yes, Artemis was raising all kinds of windstorms about our trip to Egypt and pissed Zeus off,” Xena explained.

“That means Cupid and Aphrodite can’t remove the enchantment off Draco,” Gabrielle complained.

“No, it might not even work after all this time,” Xena nodded.

“Auto is hurt, lets take care of him and we’ll decide about Draco in the morning,” Gabrielle suggested and rolled off her warrior.

Xena grinned, leaped to her feet and reached down to pull Gabrielle up.

“Thank you, Xena,” Gabrielle said softly.

“For what?”

“I noticed you said either you or me will face Draco in the morning, you didn’t automatically order me to stay out of the fight,” Gabrielle said softly.

Xena felt herself blushing and looked down at her feet.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since that mess in Egypt,” the warrior admitted as they began walking towards Autolycus and Joxer. “I know I’ve done a lot of things wrong over the years and mostly because I’m so damned stubborn and don’t listen. You told me you weren’t ready to go into the Spirit Realm again and we both ignored that. I should have listened to you. I didn’t listen when you said you wanted to stay with me in the North, even at the risk of losing the use of your hands. I let the gods trick us into separating us. If I hadn’t done that, we would have learned about your pregnancy together.”

“Xena,” Gabrielle felt tears filling her eyes. “I made mistakes too and I admit it. All I want is to get home to our son, daughter and best friends and spend a few years making it up to you.”

“Back at you,” Xena managed to smile a small smile at her mate. “I can’t wait to see Asher again. I hate being away from him for even a week, let alone a couple of months.”

“I agree!” Gabrielle said firmly. “Did you notice his hair darkening a little before we left?”

“Yeah, he may end up somewhere between our coloring,” Xena nodded, wrapping an arm around Gabrielle’s shoulders. “I think he’s going to be tall though.”

Gabrielle laughed. “You’re just hoping he’s tall so you both can tease me.”

“Yup!” Xena agreed as they squatted down and Joxer brought over a lantern so they could see the broken arrow in Auto’s back.

“Hey, how bad is it?” Auto groaned as Xena ripped the rest of his shirt open.

“Not too bad,” the warrior responded after a few moments of inspecting the wound. “That’s going to hurt coming out, though.”

“Yeah, I know,” he growled and accepted a piece of firewood from Joxer to grip in his hands.

Xena, without warning, shoved the remaining part of the arrow through his shoulder as Gabrielle held him in her lap. Autolycus managed not to scream but his body broke out into a cold sweat in the chilled winter air and he gasped with the pain.

“Auto?” Gabrielle asked softly and the thief nodded that he was okay.

“I’m okay,” he said, breathing heavily as Xena quickly bandaged the shoulder and Joxer made a sling. “Why do I always get injured around you two?”

“You do not!” Gabrielle protested.

“Oh no!” he said loudly. “Broken arm from some psycho Amazon who loved pain! Almost burned to a crisp from some religious box! Nearly assassinated several times from screwball schemes, now I get shot!”

“Auto, calm down,” Xena laughed lightly. “You’ll be fine, old friend. All of those things happened years ago.”

“Yeah, I’ve been hiding as a Roman slave to avoid things like this,” he snapped and found himself lying face down in the sand. “What?” he demanded as Gabrielle walked away.

“She was a Roman slave and gladiator, Auto,” Joxer said softly, his voice angry.

“Oh damn! I forgot that!” Auto muttered. “I’m sorry, Xena, I really am. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I know you didn’t mean to hurt her,” Xena nodded and sighed with relief when the bard walked back towards them.

“Gabrielle! I’m sorry,” Auto said, trying to sit up and wincing with the pain.

“I know, just forget it,” Gabrielle smiled slightly. “Let’s just get some sleep and get ready for Draco in the morning.”

Joxer grabbed the bedrolls and gear out of the boat as Gabrielle and Xena helped Autolycus roll over onto his blankets.

Within a few minutes everyone was curled up near the rocks, trying to avoid the winds along the beach. Gabrielle curled up in Xena’s arms, a smile of contentment on her face.

“I love you, Gabrielle,” Xena said softly as she cut at the chains holding Gabrielle’s wrists.

“I love you, Xena, more than anything,” the bard muttered, feeling safe for the first time in days.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Draco was almost purple with anger as his boat slid up onto the sand.

The small group of Greeks just stood, watching and waiting as he and his men jumped out of the boat.

“Gabrielle! How in Tartarus did you get out of that chain?” he demanded.

“You forgot my chakram, Draco,” Xena smirked. “Made by the gods, it can cut through anything, even things made by Hephaestus. Was easy to cut the chains.”

Draco was so angry that he couldn’t even speak and the two men with him shifted uneasily.

“Draco, I’ll say this one more time,” Gabrielle said firmly, stepping in front of Xena. “I am in love with Xena and have been since I was 17 summers. It is a blood bonding and approved by the gods. Stop chasing me and I’ll walk away. Don’t force me to hurt you to stop you.”

Draco was breathing heavily and Xena growled at the manic light shining in his eyes.

“I can’t move on and I can’t fall in love with anyone while you live,” Draco grumbled. “I thought by getting rid of Xena that we might have a chance, but I see I was wrong. I can smell her all over you!”

Gabrielle’s green eyes flashed as she looked up at the former Warlord.

“She is my wife, Draco,” Gabrielle hissed. “You are nothing to me!”

“Maybe when you’re dead I can love again,” Draco growled. “Don’t force me to do this, Gabrielle. Just come back with me.”

“Never, even if you managed to kill Xena, I would slit your throat the first chance I got,” Gabrielle promised.

Xena reached out and put her hands on Gabrielle’s shoulders and gently pulled the bard back away from Draco.

“Then die here, my love,” Draco growled and turned back to his men.

One of the soldiers stepped forward and dropped the bundle he was carrying in his arms. Xena and Gabrielle frowned as weapons tumbled into view.

Joxer and Auto began protesting loudly.

Xena held up her hand for quiet and knelt down to examine the weapons. She nodded and returned to Gabrielle.

“Let me do this, Little One,” she begged softly.

“No, this fight is mine, Xena,” Gabrielle said firmly.

“Anything that affects you is my fight,” Xena countered and Gabrielle’s face softened.

“I’m sorry, you’re right,” Gabrielle agreed, wrapping her arms around Xena. “He doesn’t realize I’ve become a fighter. He still sees me as the gentle, non-violent bard.”

“So do I,” Xena said softly.

Gabrielle smiled as she looked up into blue eyes.

“Thank you, my love,” Gabrielle whispered. “Draco won’t be expecting me to know how to fight; it’ll be to my advantage. Add to it that he’s totally unstable around me and I’ve got more than a fair chance.”

“Counter that with you are still reluctant to kill and hold back in a fight,” Xena grumbled. “He won’t if he thinks the only escape from the madness is your death.”

“I’ll do what I have to,” Gabrielle growled.

“He’s taller, has a longer reach and has weight on you,” Joxer complained.

“I’ve also been taught how to deal with that,” Gabrielle countered and looked over at an impatient Draco. “I’m Dancer, Champion of Rome.”

“Gabrielle, I love you,” Xena said softly and kissed the bard gently.

“I love you, Xena, no matter what happens,” the bard responded and faced Draco. “You’ll fight me.”

“Good, conditions?” he grinned.

“If you are defeated can you give your word never to seek me or Xena out ever again and disappear from our lives?” Gabrielle questioned.

Draco appeared to think seriously about it for several moments.

“No,” he admitted and Gabrielle closed her eyes as she sighed. Xena could see the sad resignation in her mate’s face and eyes when Gabrielle opened them again.

“Then there’s no conditions because I’ll never come with you willingly,” Gabrielle said, her voice flat.

“Then to the death, my love,” Draco growled.

“So be it,” Gabrielle muttered and looked at the weapons scattered on a cloak.

She picked up her sais from the pile and tossed them at Xena’s feet. “Keep these for me, lover.”

“I’ll keep everything for you,” Xena said softly.

Gabrielle turned and looked over the swords, spears, and maces. There were two of everything and the bard selected one of each quickly. She dropped the mace and planted the spear in the sand near Xena and hefted the sword and twirled it, adjusting to its weight and balance.

Gabrielle glanced around the landscape as the sun rose over the horizon, committing to memory where rocks were, where there were paths leading up the hill, and where the beach ended and the water crashed into rocks, almost a dead end.

Xena, Auto and Joxer moved back while Draco’s men shifted closer to their boat opposite the small group of friends.

Xena saw Gabrielle breathe deeply and then saw a shift in the bard’s face and eyes as her body moved into a fighting stance. The experienced warrior knew she was now watching Dancer preparing for a match.

Xena was worried, though. It had been years since Dancer had been called on by Gabrielle. It had taken a long time for the bard to integrate Dancer, Brie, and Gabrielle, bard, warrior and mother into one entity now known as Gabrielle. Xena wondered if her mate could focus enough to just let Dancer come through and handle business.

Draco moved forward after selecting the sword from his stack of weapons as well. He faced off in front of the bard.

“Last chance, Gabrielle,” he growled. “Either come away with me or die!”

Looking up into his brown eyes, Gabrielle knew that he had lost his sanity from the enchantment with her and merely shook her head no.

Draco screamed in rage and rushed at Gabrielle, surprising her. The bard just barely got her sword up in time to block Draco’s overhead strike as Xena screamed and Joxer held Xena’s arms, trying to keep her calm.

Gabrielle stumbled in the sand and fell over backwards but kept her sword up, her arm and body shaking from absorbing the blows Draco was raining down on her. Finally, the gladiator growled and lashed out with her feet while her sword blocked another sword strike. She managed to tangle Draco’s legs up until the warrior fell backwards himself.

Dancer rolled away from his feet and regained hers. Green eyes flashed angrily as Draco sat up and shouted a war cry of rage at her. Gabrielle shoulder rolled forward, bringing her sword up and out. Draco desperately rolled backwards and to the side to avoid the blow and yelled as he felt the sword glance across his upper arm, drawing blood.

When both warriors regained their feet, they began circling cautiously.

Xena grinned at the puzzled look in Draco’s eyes and the hesitation. He really hadn’t expected the bard to be the fighter she was.

Draco attacked again and Dancer flipped backwards out of reach and turned at a trot to several rocks near the cliff side. Draco growled in anger and followed, slashing at her with his sword. The former gladiator literally ran up the side of one of the huge boulders and back flipped over her opponent as he slashed where she had been. She hit the sand in a crouch behind him and sprang up, using her impressive leg muscles like springs and drove her sword through his side. Dancer had been aiming for the center of his back, but Draco had turned at the last moment and took the sword along his ribs.

Out of an instinctive reaction, Draco backhanded Gabrielle and connected with her jaw, rocking her concentration for the moment. Giving him the chance to complete his turn and get his sword up in a defensive position, his hand holding his ribs.

Dancer moved forward in a series of acrobatic moves that left Joxer breathless and Autolycus with his mouth hanging open in admiration and surprise. Xena grinned at the skill and talent the bard was displaying. Draco, if he hadn’t been left bleeding in several places, would have been impressed.

“By the gods, Xena,” Joxer said softly. “She’s amazing!”

“Yeah, as good as I am or maybe even better,” Xena admitted. She knew that Gabrielle never wanted to learn how to kill but Xena recognized the talent in her mate. The gentle bard had a gift for the physical part: speed, muscles that moved before thought, strength, agility, and a natural talent for the fight.

The warrior frowned when Draco got in a good blow with his sword hilt against Gabrielle’s temple and the bard fell to her knees, dropping her sword.

“Gabrielle!” Joxer yelled and tried to keep from moving forward to help his friend.

Dancer rolled to the side as Draco attempted to overwhelm and overpower her, kicking the bard in the ribs as she rolled away from him. Gabrielle cried out in pain as several of the kicks connected with her ribs. She surprised Draco by reversing her roll and grabbing both his legs.

He rammed the hilt of his sword into the back of her neck, sending her to the sand.

Joxer and Auto held Xena’s arms when they all realized the bard wasn’t moving in the dark sand.

Draco, breathing heavily, stood over the bard and scowled at the friends as he raised the sword in both his hands.

Xena screamed as the sword flashed in the sunlight.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena, Joxer and Autolycus blinked in disbelief as they watched Gabrielle spin in the sand. It took them a moment to realize she had turned over and slapped her hands up just as the sword descended. The blade was caught in between her palms.

Before Draco, also stunned for a moment, could twist the blade and slice the gladiator’s hands to ribbons, Gabrielle kicked up and smacked Draco in the jaw.

As he stumbled backwards, Dancer got to her feet and smacked the sword against the rocks, shattering it.

As Draco tried to comprehend the loss of his weapon, Gabrielle was on him with her fists and feet flying.

It took Draco another full minute to realize that the bard had driven him back and he was left shaking his head from another blow to the temple.

With a growl he finally comprehended that Gabrielle was no longer hitting him but going for her weapons. Draco shouted in anger and dashed for his own weapons.

The former Warlord barely dived into the sand at the base of his weapons and grabbed up the mace when he heard Dancer’s footsteps behind him. Draco turned over and raised the mace up with both hands, barely blocking the blow aimed for his head.

He kicked Gabrielle in the knee, causing it to buckle and the warrior bard to cry out in pain and fall to her other knee. Before she could recover, Draco jumped to his feet and knocked her mace out of her hand and swung his own in a backhand motion, catching Gabrielle along the temple again.

Draco fell to the sand, his head swimming from the blood loss and strength it took to keep fighting at this level. He glanced over and saw Gabrielle trying to get to her hands and knees, blood flowing freely from her scalp.

Xena was screaming and Draco’s men were cautiously keeping an eye on Gabrielle’s mate and friends.

Draco crawled to his feet, the mace still in his hands and stumbled over towards the bard.

“Gabrielle!” Xena screamed but Gabrielle’s eyes were closed and she gently swayed on her hands and knees. It was apparent that she was about to pass out.

“Dancer!” Xena screamed and the bard turned towards the shadow moving over her and threw her arms up in an Amazon defensive position of crossed wrists.

She screamed as her arms absorbed the shock from the blow but she twisted her hands and grabbed the mace out of the unsteady hands of the warrior. Before she could turn it and use it, Draco growled in rage and kicked it from her hand, out of both their reaches.

A blow from a massive fist sent the bard back to the sand and Draco stumbling for Gabrielle’s unbroken sword.

Xena saw everything move into slow motion as Draco grabbed up the sword and Gabrielle regained her feet but swayed unsteadily. The warrior and male friends all could see that Draco would reach Gabrielle before she could reach any weapon.

“No!” Xena screamed as Draco rushed in close for an overhand killing blow.

Dancer shifted her body weight to her back foot and let her ears and senses guide her. As Draco began to lower the sword, Gabrielle dropped her body over to one side, bringing her leg straight up, almost vertical and under Draco’s chin.

Xena grinned; she remembered that move from practicing with Gabrielle in Egypt. She had commented to Gabrielle that move could take someone’s head off with the right momentum.

With the injured knee and lack of strength, it wasn’t enough to take Draco’s head off but everyone heard his jaw crack as he was lifted off his feet and sent flying backwards. Gabrielle fell to her hands and knees and slowly crawled over to the fallen former Warlord.

“End it here, Draco,” she whispered as she grabbed up the mace and held it over his head. “Don’t force me to kill you.”

Draco’s eyes flashed as blood spilled from his broken jaw. Gabrielle could see nothing but hatred and insanity and raised the mace high with both hands as Draco held his arms out to his sides in submission and acceptance of the killing blow as Gabrielle straddled him.

Gabrielle screamed a war cry and hesitated. Xena could see the confusion and pain in her bard’s face and eyes and slowly moved forward out of Joxer and Auto’s hold. Draco’s men approached slowly as well, keeping their hands in plain sight.

Gabrielle’s eyes were closed in mental anguish as she held the mace high for the killing blow.

“Gabrielle,” Xena said softly. “Give me the mace.”

Draco attempted to growl.

“You aren’t Dancer anymore, Gabrielle,” Xena continued softly. “Dancer is there but she doesn’t control you. If he comes after us again, we’ll deal with it then.”

Xena saw Gabrielle’s shoulders slump and gently took the mace from the bard’s hands and then pulled Gabrielle up off of Draco and into her arms. The warrior turned to Draco’s men.

“Take him back to his island and take care of him,” she instructed. “Try and talk some sense into him.”

“Yes, Xena,” they said at the same time and dragged Draco away from the Greeks.

Xena wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle began to cry in her arms and clung desperately to the warrior.

“Shhh, it's okay, Little One,” Xena said softly. “Never cry because you couldn’t kill.”

“No!”

Xena was confused when she heard Joxer and Autolycus scream. She was about to lift the injured Gabrielle into her arms when she looked up and saw Draco rushing at them with a spear.

Everything moved too fast and too slowly, as if in a dream for the couple.

Something flashed by Xena and Gabrielle before the warrior could pull Gabrielle out of the way.

Everyone stared at the sight of the spear sticking through Joxer’s chest.

Xena and Gabrielle screamed as Joxer fell onto his side, grasping the spear shaft, blood spilling over his hands. Gabrielle winced as she heard the familiar sound beside her and looked over at Draco.

The former warlord was trying to hold the blood back into his throat as Xena caught her chakram. Draco’s eyes lost their spark and his hands fell away from his throat.

Gabrielle knew he was dead before he hit the sand face first. The bard stumbled and fell beside Joxer and drew his head into her lap.

Xena and Auto quickly knelt beside the former soldier. Xena looked up into Auto’s brown eyes and shook her head. They all knew what a wound like that meant. Xena looked up at Gabrielle and saw the same knowledge as the bard gently stroked Joxer’s spiky hair.

“Is she safe?” Joxer whispered, coughing on his own blood.

“Yes, Joxer,” Xena answered firmly as Gabrielle closed her eyes and let the tears begin to fall from her eyes. “You saved her.”

“Then I’m happy,” he tried to smile. “Wish I could see Meg just one more time.”

“Don’t worry about it, cute and lanky,” a voice giggled.

Gabrielle opened her eyes with a confused look as Xena and Auto’s mouths hung open in similar surprise.

“’Dite?” Gabrielle asked softly and the Goddess of Love giggled again.

“Hey, Sweetcheeks,” Aphrodite said cheerfully. “Autolcycus, you just get even more handsome with every year.”

“What brings you here, Aphrodite? I thought none of the gods could interfere?” Xena demanded.

“Not with your fate but Joxer’s just got messed up,” Dite said cryptically.

“Artemis said that he was meant to father another child before Death came for him,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully.

“Now its like totally messed up because of a love spell,” Aphrodite tugged impatiently at her pink nightgown, trying to get it to hang right.

Xena shook her head, trying not to be impatient with the self-centered Goddess.

“So because of the love spell on Draco, Joxer’s future has been messed up,” Autolycus repeated, hoping to bring Aphrodite back on track. He noted Xena’s impatient narrowing of her eyes and wanted answers as much as the warrior did. He had come to like Joxer over the last week.

“Yeah, so it’s up to me or Cupid to fix it. Here I am,” ‘Dite grinned.

“So how do you fix it?” Gabrielle demanded as Joxer’s head dropped forward into unconsciousness.

“I take him home, cure his wounds and watch over him until it’s his time,” Aphrodite said simply.

Gabrielle leaned forward and kissed Joxer’s forehead. “Tell him thank you and that we love him,” she said softly.

“Will do, blonde and beautiful,” Aphrodite promised. “Then I’ll be back, zap you home to gather your things and then take you north and get you out of this madhouse that is the Roman Empire right now. Dad can yell at me later.”

Gabrielle sighed gratefully and only jumped slightly when Joxer and the Goddess of Love disappeared.

The bard’s head fell back as hands reached for her to keep her from falling.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xena sighed with relief when Gabrielle began to stir in her sleep. The warrior got up from the fire and lay down next to the bard and gently stroked the blonde’s hair from her forehead.

Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly and smiled when she saw Xena’s face.

“Hey,” she whispered, her voice harsh.

“Hey yourself,” Xena smiled. “You scared me there for a little bit.”

Gabrielle frowned as she realized it was dark and they were by the campfire again.

“Joxer? Draco?” she asked.

“Draco’s men took his body away,” Xena explained. “No threats or anything. Aphrodite returned about a candle-mark ago and said that Joxer will be fine. A couple of days in bed to regain his strength and he’ll be up and running the inn again. She said that she can’t do anything about the illness that’s eating his insides up though.”

“I know, Artemis explained that its part of his fate,” Gabrielle said softly and smiled as Auto brought over a flask of water.

“Sometimes I am very glad that I don’t know what in Tartarus the Fates have in store for me,” Autolycus said firmly. “Would take all the fun and adventure out of it.”

“Auto, you just spent two years as a Roman galley slave for stealing,” Xena laughed. “Haven’t you had enough adventure? If Gabrielle hadn’t been looking for Eli, we never would have found you down in that ship.”

“I know, I know,” he nodded but they could both see his eyes sparkling. “Just think about it though, Xena. I’ve been cooped up for two years and my skills have gotten a little rusty.”

“Gods, Autolycus! You are a handful!” Xena grinned.

“How bad am I hurt?” Gabrielle asked, trying not to laugh.

“Broken knee, cracked skull, a couple of deep cuts, some light cuts and minor bruises,” Xena said.

“How long to heal this time?” Gabrielle asked, her voice almost whining.

“I don’t think you have the energy to heal yourself, so I figure a couple of days for the lights stuff and the skull. Probably a week with that knee,” Xena said thoughtfully.

“Home?”

“Aphrodite will return in the morning and take us to your sister’s place for our stuff and then we’re home to our son and family up north,” Xena smiled.

“Are you coming with us, Auto?” Gabrielle asked.

“Uh, no,” he said slowly. “Your Germans are even less kind to thieves than the Romans. I’ve got some people to look up since I’ve been gone. You’ll tell Herc and Iolaus I’m okay and hello?”

“Of course, and you’d better visit sometime in the future,” Xena declared. “You’ll like our son and daughter.”

“If they look like either of you, then they’re bound to be beautiful,” Auto grinned.

Xena noticed Gabrielle’s eyes closing and wrapped her arm around the little bard.

“She’s quite a fighter, Xena,” Auto said softly.

“Yeah, but killing still isn’t easy for her, thankfully,” Xena responded.

“Yes, somehow she’s never lost that touch of innocence around her,” he said, pulling up his blankets next to Gabrielle after getting a nod from Xena.

The warrior knew that Auto wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Gabrielle but was offering to share his body warmth with his injured friend and shield her body from the shifting winds.

“You told me all that you’ve both been through,” he continued, looking at the stars as he lay back on the bedding. “Kidnapping, rape, torture, gladiator fighting, Ares, gods, Amazons, all of it, yet there’s something about her that is untouched. Her love for you is still so strong and so is yours.”

“Thank you, Auto,” Xena smiled. “She’s my life.”

“What a life you’ve led too,” he grinned. “Not sure I could handle twenty more years around you two,” he joked.

“Did I mention that we’re immortal?” Xena grinned in response.

“Oh gods, which means this could go on forever!”

“Yeah, but with Gabrielle at my side, I can face forever,” Xena said firmly.