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The characters portrayed in this story, Xena, Gabrielle and Aphrodite, belong to Renaissance Pictures/MCA. If they belonged to me, we would be watching very different Xena:Warrior Princess episodes!

There is explicit sex between two consenting adults who happen to be women. And a bit of violence, if a spanking is to be considered violent. If either of these offend you, or you are underage, leave now, run from the screen...and let those who enjoy this type of fiction hopefully enjoy this story!

The story takes place a short while after the very first episode, Sins of the Past, and has been drawn from my imagination, which can be a pretty scary place!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Portia Richardson, author of the excellent story A Half Moon Before and Two Summers After, for her absolutely invaluable encouragement, suggestions and editing! And also KB, who has continued to encourage me, and kept me moving toward the completion of my story.

The words to two pieces of music are at the end of this story, taken from the Sarah Brightman CD..TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. Xena’s Song is actually titled ‘THERE FOR ME’. Gabrielle’s song is titled ‘NO ONE LIKE YOU’. I have used them here because much of this story was written while listening to this music, and I felt that, at least for me, these two pieces spoke directly to each of these wonderful characters who fill our hearts and minds with such joy, love and adventure. If at all possible, I would suggest that the reader listen to the above mentioned CD if for no other reason than to enjoy some beautiful music.

This work is copyrighted by the author, and consists of 49 pages.

GROUND RULES

BY

TOWANDABABE

Towandababe@aol.com

Continued from here

RULES, WHAT RULES?

They had been riding for a period of time, when Xena felt and heard Gabrielle’s stomach growl. She immediately began looking for a spot where they could stop for a short time.

"Gabrielle, let’s stop here for a bit, so you can eat something. I don’t want you to faint on me due to hunger!"

"I’m OK, let’s just keep on going, is it much farther?"

Xena smiled down at the face that looked back at her.

"Are you getting anxious, little one? Are you getting ‘antsy’ on me? Are you, hmm, are you?"

She tickled the bare middle she’d been caressing all morning...Gabrielle squirmed deliciously in her arms, and Xena began thinking herself that maybe they really didn’t need to stop.

"Can’t we just keep going, we can eat some bread and cheese that’s in the saddlebag while we’re moving."

"Yes, but I have to pee, you probably have to pee, and I do want to give Argo a break...who knows, maybe she needs to pee, too! We’ll just stop for a short while, don’t worry, we’re nearly there."

Xena slid off Argo’s back, Gabrielle followed, sliding right into Xena’s arms. She immediately tilted her head up for another kiss, and was not disappointed. After a few moments Xena pulled back and let out a moan.

"We need to keep focused here woman, or we’ll never make it to that cave! Come on, let’s sit over here and let Argo have a rest...I need to go make a visit to those bushes first, how about you?"

Gabrielle headed off to another clump of bushes, and after finishing walked back to where Argo was chomping on some tall grass.

"What do you think, Argo, do we make a good pair or what?" The mare turned her head and looked at Gabrielle, then turned back to the grass.

"Well, I didn’t expect you to be so excited!" She patted the mare’s neck, and turned back to where Xena was rummaging through the saddlebag for whatever was in there that they could eat. She handed a chunk of cheese to Gabrielle, and pulled some left over bread from the saddlebag. They both sat on a log near where Argo was grazing, and began to eat the meager findings.

"Xena, tell me some more about this cave. How long have you known about it? Have you gone there with anyone else? And who was it? And.."

"Gabrielle, I’ve known about this cave for years. No one else knows about it, no one else has ever been in it...I stop by every few months and make sure the supplies I’ve stored there are still OK...it’s a place that I used to retreat to while I was a.... I used to go there to get my life into some sort of order, sometimes the constant warring... Never mind, just know that it’s a very special place for me, and you’re the only one I’ve ever shared it with. I want it to be our special place, always there, just for us."

Gabrielle knew that Xena had just let her into her private world, her past, her sometimes tormented soul..she realized that this beautiful woman trusted her, and she swore to herself that she would always hold that trust in her heart.

"Xena, do you think we might be able to find a stream or river or lake or something before we get there so we can get clean? I feel really grimy, and I want to be clean and sweet for you."

"I have many skills, Gabrielle...and I’ve another surprise for you. The cave has a warm spring running through one of the back chambers. I built a short stone wall around a part of the stream, so there’s a bath area just waiting for you. The water is constantly warm, and there is a natural opening in the ceiling of the cave, right above the bath!"

"Xena, Argo has eaten enough. I don’t want any more of this moldy cheese and stale bread. Get back up there and help me up. We need to get going!"

Xena smiled and after settling herself once again on Argo’s back, she reached down for her treasure and quickly lifted her to sit in front. A quick nudge caused Argo to set off down the trail, this time the mare was encouraged to walk at a quicker pace, and each time they reached a level, open place on the trail, Xena set Argo into a steady trot.

Gabrielle had never enjoyed riding on Argo, or any horse, for that matter, until now. She only thought about how fast the mare could get them to their destination.

Xena smiled again at the way Gabrielle was expressing her excitement and anticipation in reaching the cave. For a fleeting moment she wondered if Gabrielle’s excitement was about what might happen between them, or just the thought of a warm bath. She knew the answer was all of this and more. Then she started wondering why her little bottomless pit wasn’t asking about what they would eat. Gabrielle’s appetite had been one of the first things Xena had marveled at after they started traveling together. Xena knew the cave was well stocked with supplies; that the area immediately around the cave was abundant with game, but Gabrielle didn’t know that, and it wasn’t like this young woman to not be asking about food. This woman had two hollow legs when it came to eating.

"Gabrielle, you haven’t asked me anything about what we’ll be able to find to eat, once we get there...how come?"...she asked in a teasing voice.

"I know you well enough. You probably have all sorts of good stuff stored in the cave, and there are probably lot’s of rabbits running around right outside the entrance, just begging to be caught by the mighty Warrior Princess..They’re probably wearing little signs, ‘take me first’....I’ll even bet there is a really nice river or lake nearby where you can catch fish...which reminds me, someday I want you to teach me how you do that thing with your fingers...I still can’t figure that one out."

"I plan on teaching you how to do a lot of things with your fingers, and your mouth, and every part of your body."

Gabrielle’s stomach flipped with anticipation, she turned around, and looked with surprise at the beautiful face looking back at her. She saw the love and hunger and longing in those beautiful blue eyes. She felt her lower regions get warm...she felt a tugging feeling in her lower belly...she realized that she was getting wet. She started to squirm in earnest, and turned back to face forward. "Is the saddle making you itchy again?" Xena asked. "Noooo," Gabrielle moaned. She reached up to her midriff and took Xena’s right hand, then slowly brought it down to the edge of her skirt. Xena’s fingers touched her inner thigh, and ever so gently circled her long fingers over the smooth skin. Gabrielle took her own hand, and guided the warriors’ hand up under her skirt, toward the source of her wetness. She shifted her hips slightly so that more of her lower region was accessible to her warrior’s hand. Xena’s fingers lightly skimmed over Gabrielle’s lower lips, barely touching, a hint of what could be, then moving away to touch another spot, never staying in one place for more than a heartbeat.

Gabrielle felt like she couldn’t breathe, she felt like she had forgotten how to breathe, all of her thoughts, all of her senses, were concentrated on Xena’s fingers, and how they were creating this most delicious feeling. "Xen..Xeeennaa...where is thissss damn cave?"

Xena smiled into the young woman’s neck and said, "We’re there!"

Gabrielle refocused her eyes, and saw that they had indeed come upon a rocky outcropping, but she didn’t see a cave entrance.

"Where is it, all I see is a bunch of rocks..."

"Patience sweet one, let me put you down, and I’ll take Argo over to her special place, then I’ll be right back for you. Don’t go anywhere, I’ll just be a minute!"

"Fat chance, Warrior Princess, that I would go anywhere! Hurry, please, hurry. Sorry Argo, but I really do want her to hurry!"

Within a few moments Xena was back and with one continuous motion, picked Gabrielle up in her arms, kissed her lips and started walking toward the rocks. Gabrielle still didn’t see an opening, but she really didn’t care...she was being held in the arms of the woman she loved more than life itself, nothing else mattered. She nuzzled her lips against Xena’s neck, and then suddenly realized that they were inside the cave. Argo was contentedly eating grass in a side area of the cave, where she could go in and out at will. Gabrielle looked around in absolute amazement, the cave was wonderful, it was dry, warm, and she could hear water gurgling in the back of the cave. Firewood was neatly stacked against one wall, and a firepit with a spit was situated with an opening in the ceiling that showed a small piece of the sky. An area had been designed for sleeping, there were thick furs and blankets piled deep. Gabrielle’s mouth just hung open, her eyes were as wide as they could be..she hadn’t said a word....

"Gabrielle, do you like it?"

Gabrielle looked up at Xena, and still couldn’t find words to express what she was seeing. Xena smiled down at her, and set her feet on the floor. Gabrielle walked over to the firepit, noticing the many containers of beans, rice and other staples. She walked back toward the bathing area, and could barely believe her eyes. The pool was huge, it looked nice and deep, and the ceiling did open up to the sky. She walked back toward Xena, passing the sleeping area...she looked down at the beautiful skins and blankets, and then looked back at Xena, a flush creeping up her chest, her neck, and onto her face.

"Xena, this is amazing...I am speechless."

"Well, if this is what it took to shut you up, I should have brought you here a long time ago! Come here, woman, come here to me"

Gabrielle moved quickly to Xena’s arms and was immediately swept up and carried back to the bath area. Xena stood her up, and began unlacing her top...Gabrielle’s eyes never left Xena’s face, as she watched the woman she loved remove her top and look down at her breasts. Xena was barely breathing herself, as she dropped the top to the floor and moved her hands to cup the beautiful mounds of flesh. She lowered her head and swept her lips across the nipple of Gabrielle’s left breast, then moved to the right one. The twin nipples immediately hardened, and Gabrielle moaned softly. Xena then moved her hands down to the skirt, and with little effort, untied it and let it drop to the floor. She dropped to her knees and kissed Gabrielle’s lower belly, then moved down slightly further and nuzzled the curly hairs at the juncture of her thighs. She stopped and looked up at Gabrielle, who was standing so very still, watching every move the warrior made. Xena then sat back on her heels and untied her boots. Gabrielle placed her hand on Xena’s shoulder to balance herself as her boots were removed. When she was standing there, totally naked, Xena stood up and wrapped her in her arms once again.

"Please remove my armor."

Gabrielle reached up and started to unfasten the armored breastplate, as she had done so many times before, and set it aside. She tugged down the straps of Xena’s leathers, releasing those beautiful breasts that she had longed to touch for so very long. Next she tugged the leathers down and off the warrior’s body, leaving her standing there in britches and boots. Gabrielle stopped for a second, taking in the erotic vision before her. She slipped her fingers into the band of Xena’s britches and pulled them off. She kneeled down and unlaced the boots and knee guards, and Xena stepped out of them, too.

Gabrielle reminded herself once again to breathe..as she slid her hands up Xena’s long body, marveling at how smooth the warrior’s skin was, how warm and cool at the same time. She brought her hands to the warrior’s breasts, and held one in each hand, watching the nipples harden. She lifted her head, and looked up into those beautiful blue eyes. She felt herself being lifted up and carried into the pool, Xena’s motions were as fluid as the water they entered. Xena sat in the water and pulled her onto her lap, facing her. The water came to their shoulders, it was warm and smelled sweet. Gabrielle leaned forward and they kissed, tongues intertwining, searching, tasting, testing. Xena’s hands grasped her back, and slid down toward her bottom. She grasped Gabrielle’s beautiful behind, and for a fleeting moment remembered how she had spanked her just a day ago. She kneaded the muscles of Gabrielle’s’ bottom, and was rewarded with a low, slow moan.

"Mmmmmmm...I sure like that a whole lot more than getting spanked!"

Xena playfully nipped at Gabrielle’s neck.

"The best way to avoid that is to be a very good girl. Now you do know how to be a good girl, don’t you?

Gabrielle looked into those blue eyes.

"I think so, but you might need to remind me every now and then. I want to be very good for you, I want to please you in ways that you never dreamed possible, I want you to want me every morning and every night, and maybe a few times during the day, too."

"On the subject of your beautiful little bottom, I don’t think you were all that upset about getting spanked, in fact I think you kind of liked it!" Xena smiled down at Gabrielle, as she watched her try to come up with some sort of denial.

Gabrielle sputtered as she tried to keep from blushing, and then finally looked up at Xena and said, "Well, it hurt, and it hurt for a long time." She looked at Xena with a somewhat defiant pout, and then started to smile, and buried her face in Xena’s neck. "I love you so much, my Warrior Princess."

Xena drew Gabrielle’s face away from under her chin and kissed her again, deeply and tenderly. Gabrielle broke the kiss with a sharp nip to the warriors’ lower lip.

"Do you think we’re clean enough yet..."she asked with a look of pure lust.

Xena wrapped her arms around her woman’s waist and lifted her up out of the water while standing up herself. She held her close and with her left hand, pulled Gabrielle’s right leg up to wrap it around the warrior’s hip. Gabrielle automatically put her left leg around the other hip, and Xena stepped out of the tub. She kissed her as she walked back toward the sleeping area, and Gabrielle clung to the warrior as though they were of one skin.

Xena gently dropped to one knee, and slowly deposited her precious burden on the skins. Gabrielle moaned again, and reached up for her beautiful warrior, pulling her down on top of her. Xena attempted to brace herself on her elbows, so as not to crush her, but Gabrielle moved the warriors’ arms so that her entire long body was covering every inch of her woman. They both just lay there for a moment, luxuriating in the warmth being generated by their two bodies. Then Xena moved slightly to lie on her left side, allowing her right hand to move over Gabrielle, as she began exploring every inch of her body.

"I am going to make love to you, Gabrielle, I am going to show you what love is, and what it does to us. I am going to make love to every inch of your body, I want to feel you and taste you, I want you to know that I love you, and that I’ll always be there for you, no matter what..are you ready for this, are you ready to give me everything?"

Gabrielle looked up into that beautiful face, into those blue eyes, and smiled. "You have no idea how long I have wanted to hear you say that. I want you to make love to me; I want you to make me yours, now and forever. I just hope that I don’t disappoint you, you always say that you have many skills, and ...."

"Woman, you have no idea of the many skills you have." She said, as she started to kiss her face, and neck. Gabrielle moaned and squirmed, obviously wanting more. Xena looked down into those green eyes, and said, "This is going to be long and slow, and I won’t rush. I mean it when I say I am going to taste and kiss and feel every inch of you."

Xena continued to kiss Gabrielle’s lips, her tongue danced around Gabrielle’s, while her hands continued to caress her perfect breasts. She watched as the pink nipples became even more pronounced, then leaned down and took a breast into her mouth, sucking and licking, causing Gabrielle to moan and arch her back in an effort to get even closer, to have even more contact with the warrior’s body. Gabrielle’s hands grasped Xena’s hips, pulling her closer still.

Xena reached down and took the young woman’s hands, stretching her arms above her head.

"I want you to keep your arms above your head, just like this."

"Xena, I want to touch you."

"Have patience, my woman, I have so much to show you, and I can’t have any distractions right now. I won’t hurt you, but you can struggle all you want, you are going to stay right where I put you...do you like what I’m doing? Are you getting wet for me?"

She slid her right hand down and touched Gabrielle’s lower lips, finding them to be dripping with her passion.

"I will be down there soon, I am going to kiss you and lick and suck you...I want you to experience what love feels like, what it feels like when I make love to you. I love the way you look when you are stretched out like this, how your breasts stand up so proud and beautiful. It’s as though you were opening up completely to me, offering me all of you, holding back nothing. And you are, aren’t you? You are completely mine, just as I am completely yours."

Gabrielle listened to Xena’s voice as she tried to do what she was told. Her body felt as though it was vibrating, her senses were nearly overwhelmed by the intense feelings she was experiencing. This was certainly much different than the feelings she had experienced in the past when she pleasured herself. She felt Xena’s mouth on her breast, sucking and licking, driving her nearly to distraction, while the feelings in her lower belly intensified until she felt as though she was going to explode.

Xena continued to caress Gabrielle’s beautiful breasts with her mouth, while her right hand started to move down her body, touching and stroking the smooth skin, working her way down toward the treasure she knew was waiting between Gabrielle’s thighs. Her fingers reached the curly patch of hair; she stroked and patted her fleshy, curly hair covered mound, watching as Gabrielle’s hips thrust up in an attempt to bring the warriors’ skilled hand to the source of her heat.

"Gabrielle, I love you, I love you so very much. I want this to be very special for you, as special as it will be for me."

Xena looked down at Gabrielle, and felt her self melt into those beautiful green eyes. She continued to lightly brush her fingers over Gabrielle’s breasts and down her smooth belly, then back up again, touching her woman’s face, her neck, while kissing her mouth, her nose, her eyes. She felt her own heated center throb with anticipation, and was very aware of the wonderful fluid collecting there, coating her lower lips and inner thighs. The beautiful smell of a woman aroused filled her senses, and she realized that it was a combined smell, hers and Gabrielle’s.

"I think you are very ready for me, Gabrielle. I think you are ready."

Xena slowly leaned over Gabrielle’s body and began kissing every inch of flesh she came in contact with, working her way down toward Gabrielle’s thighs. She began to gently open Gabrielle’s thighs, and then, after kissing the inner part of each of Gabrielle’s upper legs, she carefully moved herself between them, and lifting Gabrielle’s legs, placed a thigh on either of her strong shoulders. Gabrielle’s feet naturally rested on the warrior’s back. She moaned and lifted her head to watch the beautiful woman between her legs. Her legs parted even further, and her hips began to lift in an effort to form contact between herself and her beautiful warrior. Xena watched Gabrielle’s face as she lowered her mouth to gently brush against Gabrielle’s lower lips. As she made the first light contact, Gabrielle cried out, and pushed up on her elbows, straining to see her lover between her legs. Her hands reached down and grabbed Xena’s head, attempting to push the beautiful face into her center.

"Do you want to watch me, little one? Is that what you want? Let me stay here just a while longer, then I will let you watch, is that all right with you? Lay back down now, and then I will let you watch all of the magic of our love."

Xena continued to lick and suck the delicious lips and folds before her, drinking in the beautiful musky juice that was almost pouring from Gabrielle. As she licked, she would fleetingly circle the sensitive little nubbin that was pulsating before her. Each time she touched it, Gabrielle would nearly levitate off the skins. Xena had her strong arms around her lover’s thighs, so that she wouldn’t lose contact as Gabrielle moved. She continued to tease and torment the swollen lips that held so much promise, knowing that Gabrielle was rapidly reaching the delicious point of no return. She was aware of her ragged breathing pattern, the way Gabrielle’s head thrashed back and forth, and the guttural moans coming from that sweet mouth. Gabrielle’s hands were no longer above her head; instead they were flailing and grasping at the furs beneath them, moving constantly. She could feel her self ready to come, and knew that Gabrielle was nearly there, too. She pushed up onto her knees, and in doing so, Gabrielle’s hips were raised higher, giving Xena even more access. She put her mouth over Gabrielle’s center, and plunged her tongue as deep as she could into that beautiful source of loving fluid, while her right thumb began to gently caress the swollen nub, dipping to collect juice and returning quickly to continue touching, rubbing. Her tongue moved with the thrust of Gabrielle’s hips, and she became acutely aware of the fact that Gabrielle was very much a virgin. Xena’s tongue continued to push into Gabrielle’s center, and with each thrust she felt the tightness, the tentative grasping of her muscles around the source of all those fluids. She could feel her own center pulsating, and knew that within moments she would reach her own orgasm. Xena doubled her efforts with her tongue and thumb, and then replaced her tongue with one long finger, moving it slowly and carefully within those lips and folds, until Gabrielle’s thrusting hips left no doubt that she wanted Xena inside. She gently slid her finger into Gabrielle, feeling the tightness give slightly and was rewarded with Gabrielle’s hips moving up so that she was almost off the skins, supported only by Xena’s shoulders holding her thighs, with her own shoulders dug deep into the furs beneath her.

"Can you see me, little one? Can you see what I’m doing? I know you can feel it. I love you so very much; you make my heart feel as though it’s going to burst. You’re giving me everything, Gabrielle, and I love you for it. It feels good, doesn’t it; it makes you know how much I love you. Oh, beautiful one, let it wash over you, you are so ready, let it come, come to me, come to me, come to the one who loves you more than life itself."

Gabrielle’s hips came up even further, and she pushed into Xena’s hands and mouth, making the contact ever stronger. And then it happened, she exploded with a beautiful sensation that she had never known possible.

"UUUNNNNNNNNNGGGGHHHHHHH....XEEEEENNNNNNNNAAAAAA ....oh.ooh.oooohhh..OOOHHH...OOOOOOHHHHH OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH"

Xena felt Gabrielle reach her orgasm, and then felt her own orgasm come crashing down over her. She buried her face in Gabrielle’s center, nearly drowning in the delicious fluid as it flowed over her face and neck. She felt her own center pulsate, and she let the welcome release rush over her, as she listened to Gabrielle scream her name. After a few moments, she gently let Gabrielle’s thighs down off her shoulders and carefully moved up to take her woman into her arms.

Gabrielle grabbed Xena, pulling her closer and closer. She sobbed and cried, her tears washed over her face and onto Xena's breast, while Xena held her and kissed her and rocked her in her arms.

"I love you I love you I love you." Gabrielle repeated the beautiful phrase over and over, while Xena held her tight and continued to kiss her.

"I love you too, my beautiful woman, I have you, I love you, you are mine, you are in my heart forever."

Xena continued to hold Gabrielle until the woman’s sobs diminished.

Gabrielle moved her head to the side, and looked up at Xena.

"By the gods, I never knew that was possible. I don’t know why I’m crying, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to cry." Her voice choked with another sob, and the tears started up again.

"Don’t be sorry, Gabrielle, you cried because it’s another form of release, it isn’t unusual to cry, or even to laugh, it’s very normal, and it means a lot to me. It means that I really moved you, that I loved you completely, and that you know it. It means that you trust me with your entire being, that there is nothing that you wouldn’t open to me."

Xena continued to hold Gabrielle as she talked to her, and again the sobs subsided, replaced by soft breathing. Xena smiled to herself, as she realized that Gabrielle was very relaxed, and almost asleep. She shifted her precious burden slightly, so that they could lie down together, and with Gabrielle in her arms, they both drifted off into a light sleep.

Xena was aroused out of her slumber by the delicious feeling of Gabrielle’s mouth on her breast. She was also aware of Gabrielle’s hand, stroking her belly, and moving down toward her legs.

"Did you have a nice nap?" Xena asked, as she took Gabrielle’s wandering hand in her own and kissed each of the fingers, and ran her tongue over the palm.

"I want to make love to you, Xena, please, I want to love you like you did me."

Gabrielle rolled over on top of Xena, and then sat back on her knees and heels.

"Let me make love to you, please. I want to feel you, please?"

"You’ve already given me more than I could have ever imagined, my sweet little chatterbox."

With that, Xena reached down and grasped Gabrielle’s beautiful round bottom with both hands and literally lifted her and placed her over her face. Gabrielle raised up on her knees, and looked down at Xena under her.

"How can I make love to you like this, Xena?"

Her question was forgotten as Xena pulled her down until her warm center came in contact with Xena’s mouth. She gasped at the exquisite contact, and quickly realized that she could have some control over the amount of pressure that she would feel. Xena used her tongue to apply long, leisurely strokes to Gabrielle’s lower lips, and moved her mouth up and back, causing the woman to twist and squirm as Xena touched that sensitive little nubbin. Gabrielle was so very wet, and kept getting wetter. Xena’s face was covered with the musky, tangy fluid coming from her love. She reached her hands behind Gabrielle, and ran them up and down Gabrielle’s back, finally coming to rest on the cheeks of her behind. She kneaded the muscles of Gabrielle’s bottom, moving closer and closer to the cleft of her behind. As Gabrielle moved up and down on Xena’s face, she moaned and grunted, her eyes never left Xena’s, and as Xena felt her reaching her climax, she once again penetrated Gabrielle’s center with her tongue. At the same time she separated the beautiful cheeks of Gabrielle’s bottom and, using the slippery fluids that covered both of them, gently placed her thumb against Gabrielle’s little puckered hole. Gabrielle stopped for a second, looked down at Xena and then came down onto that thumb, taking it all into her. Her head went back and again she screamed out Xena’s name as she experienced the second complete orgasm of her life.

Gabrielle all but collapsed down onto Xena, who quickly took her other hand and slid a finger deep into Gabrielle. She could feel the thin tissue separating her thumb and finger within her. As the pulsating tremors slowed, she carefully removed her thumb from Gabrielle’s bottom, then she slowly pulled her finger from her. Gabrielle was lying on top of her, and Xena wrapped her long, strong arms around her, just as Gabrielle again started to cry.

"I love you, Gabrielle, I love you so very much. Let me hold you, melt into me, I am here for you, come down to me, let me hold you as you come down to me."

Xena knew she had tears in her own eyes, as she felt Gabrielle’s sobs rack her body and then gradually diminish once again to soft whimpers. She kissed Gabrielle’s head, her neck, her tear stained face, her beautiful lips, anywhere and everywhere she could reach without losing any contact with the beautiful body in her arms.

"Xena, is it always like this?" Gabrielle had lifted her head to look into Xena’s face.

"No, Gabrielle, sometimes it’s better!"

Gabrielle looked at her love’s eyes, and at the smile lighting up that beautiful face.

"I don’t think I could live through it if it got any better than this!"

Xena laughed, and Gabrielle had the distinct impression that she had never heard a more beautiful sound than the sound of that laughter. She pushed herself up to a sitting position, still astride Xena’s body, and shook her hair back out of her face, causing her breasts to quiver ever so wonderfully. Xena’s hands immediately reached up and captured a breast in each hand. She molded them, and ran her palms over the nipples, which responded instantly by becoming hard and definitely kissable. Gabrielle watched Xena’s hands as they squeezed her breasts; she then looked at Xena’s face. The love that was showing in Xena’s beautiful eyes made Gabrielle almost forget to breathe. She leaned down to kiss those lips, and as she did, she could taste herself.

Xena kissed Gabrielle, running her tongue into and out of her mouth, over her teeth, sucking in her lower lip, trying to inhale the very essence of this wonderful person who had entered her life and now occupied her heart.

"That’s you, that’s us that you taste, Gabrielle, that is the delicious fluid you produce when I make love to you. That’s one of the sweetest, most sought after tastes in this world, and probably the next, also. When you taste that, you know you’re one with the person you love."

"I want to taste you, Xena, please, let me make love to you. I think I know what to do, and if I don’t do it right, you can tell me, teach me."

"Let me hold you for just a bit longer, then I think it might be a good idea to have something to eat, because when you do make love to me, I want you to have energy and stamina! We’re going to have a whole lifetime to love one another over and over again. Just come here and let me hold you for a little while...then you can get up and make my dinner, wench!"

Gabrielle flopped down onto Xena and buried her face in the warrior’s neck. She was laughing softly, and Xena reached down and gave a sharp smack to Gabrielle’s bottom.

"What are you laughing about, you little minx? Did you think that I was going to get up and fix something for us to eat? Warriors don’t cook, remember that, and you will do just fine!"

"It’s a good thing that warriors don’t cook, if they did, we’d all be in trouble, sick, or maybe even dead."

Gabrielle started to giggle, and Xena found herself starting to laugh.

For a moment, she thought back to whenever she had last actually laughed...and couldn’t come up with when that might have been. She reached around and started to tickle Gabrielle’s sides, causing her to squirm and twist in an effort to get away from this torture. Then Gabrielle started digging her fingers into the warrior’s ribs, causing the tall, beautiful woman to start to squirm also. They finally collapsed into each other’s arms, laughing and kissing one another while tumbling around on the pile of furs.

Gabrielle ended up sprawled on top of the warrior, with her right leg bent at the knee and covering Xena’s abdomen. They both lay very still just looking into the depths of each other’s eyes. There was a softness they both saw, a softness that is only seen when two people are totally in love with one another. Gabrielle leaned down and, with her eyes wide open, kissed Xena, running her tongue into the warrior’s mouth, sucking on her lower lip, all the while watching Xena’s eyes, as they closed so very slowly. She moved her left hand up to the gorgeous warriors right breast, and closed her fingers over the nipple she found to be beautiful and hard.

Xena moaned softly, and brought her arms up around Gabrielle’s back, then sliding them down to grasp her bottom, caressing and squeezing the firm muscles, kneading them in reflexive response to the pulsating feelings she was experiencing as Gabrielle continued to kiss her, to move her tongue in and around the warriors mouth, to stroke and squeeze her breast. She was very aware of how wet she was, and also of how wet Gabrielle was; she could feel the younger woman’s juices coating her abdomen. She slid her right hand further down Gabrielle’s behind until she could feel those beautiful, soaked lips and folds. She ran her fingers as far forward as she could, and then back again, up into the crack of that beautiful bottom, then forward, bringing juices with her fingers each time she moved back and forth..finally coming to rest against Gabrielle’s tight little puckered opening.

Gabrielle suddenly stopped what she was doing and looked down at Xena. Her hair hung down covering both of them with a beautiful drapery of a mixture of blond, gold, red strands. Her breasts swayed deliciously above the warrior’s face.

"Don’t you dare! I am enjoying myself here, and I don’t want any distractions! Does that sound familiar, Warrior Princess? Unless you want me to stop what I’m doing here, you’d better move that hand!"

Xena smiled up at her beautiful little one, and brought her hand back up onto Gabrielle’s back.

"I don’t want you to stop...farthest thing from my mind.." No, don’t stop, but don’t think I won’t be back, woman.

Gabrielle started kissing Xena’s neck, sucking on the sides of her throat, under her ears, all the while slowly caressing the warrior’s right breast, and then the left. She let her lips slide down, and took her warrior’s right nipple into her mouth, running her teeth over it ever so gently, while still sucking and pulling with her lips. She scooted down so that she could run her kisses under Xena’s breasts, over her stomach, down toward the warm mound of curly hair, and then back up again. Her hands continued to caress, mold squeeze and play with first the right and then the left breast of this woman who meant the world to her.

Xena felt her self being transported to a place she had never been before. She had years of experience, had had many conquests, lovers, but nothing compared with what she was feeling now, in the arms of this woman who was slowly and carefully and erotically driving her right out of her mind.

"Gabrielle, I love you, I’m not good with words, but I love you..I have never..." Her voice stopped, as Gabrielle had reached down with her right hand, and had begun slowly and carefully running her fingers up and down the warrior’s lower lips, teasing the warrior into a shortness of breath, a loss of the ability to put together a coherent thought.

Gabrielle slid down the length of the tall woman’s body, and moved herself into the space created between the warrior’s legs. Xena’s knees came up, and she planted her feet to either side of Gabrielle’s shoulders. Gabrielle pulled her head back slightly and looked at the beauty that was before her. The wet, curly hairs, the pink, glistening folds and lips, the source of the beautiful, sweet fluids coming from her warrior, the little nubbin that peeked through at the top of the lips, coming into view and then retreating, as Xena arched her back, digging her bottom into the furs, in an effort to make contact with Gabrielle and the joy she knew that contact would bring.

Gabrielle lifted her head once more to look up into Xena’s beautiful, flushed face. Their eyes locked, and Xena reached down to touch her blond head...

"Gabrielle, please, I need you to set me free..please.."

Gabrielle pushed her face down into the beauty that was open to her, begging for her, and was immediately immersed in the pleasure that awaited them both. She licked up and back, drawing the little nubbin into her mouth and then moving back down to lick at the source of the fluids running like a delicious stream..coating her face and neck, running into the crack of the warrior’s bottom. She licked and sucked with increasing pressure and heard Xena begin to moan and groan, her head thrashing about on their bed, her hands pounding into the skins, grasping and pushing. Gabrielle moved her right hand around in front of her face, so that she could stroke the now pulsating nubbin with her thumb, well lubricated with the fluids being produced by the warrior. Her right hand moved up Xena’s belly until she could almost reach her gorgeous partner’s left breast...By the gods, this woman is tall!

Gabrielle could feel her own sex pulsating, and realized that she was going to find release as Xena did. She stopped for a quick moment to look again at Xena’s body stretched out before her, moving, writhing in the most delicious way, and then pushed her face down into the warrior’s center, sucking with a vengeance, while bringing her left hand back down and pushing first one, then two, then three fingers as far as they would go into Xena’s glistening opening.

Xena’s back arched even further, pulling Gabrielle’s head up as she tried to hang onto the warrior’s beautiful source of joy and pleasure. She heard the warrior scream her name over and over again, as the beautiful woman found the delicious release Gabrielle had given her. Suddenly Gabrielle realized that Xena’s thighs had clamped around her head, and she felt like she was going to pass out, but she continued to match the warrior’s hip thrusts with her fingers plunged into the deep source of all the passion they were experiencing. She continued to stroke the warrior's nubbin, but slower and with less pressure, as she held on for dear life.

Ever so slowly Xena relaxed her thighs, but before Gabrielle could move her head, they clamped down again, then relaxed, then clamped...Gabrielle stayed right where she was, still slowly licking and touching, but not moving her fingers, which had stayed locked into Xena. She carefully looked up over her source of delight, and saw that Xena was trying to look down at her, but appeared to be having some problem focusing. Her face was flushed, and beaded with sweat. Her hair was tangled, in disarray, but she was beautiful, none the less.

"Gabrielle, I.."

"Ssshhhhh, my beautiful one, don’t talk, just lay back, I have never known such happiness as I have with you, since the day we met, and most certainly these last few hours we have spent in this beautiful new wondrous world we are experiencing."

With that Gabrielle slowly removed her fingers from Xena, and, while still situated between the warrior’s legs, sat back on her heels and without taking her eyes from her lover’s face, slowly and erotically sucked the warrior’s juices from her fingers and hand. She smiled as she cleaned each finger of its precious fluid, then moved forward and laid her face on the beautiful mound of curly hair, still soaked with the passion of their lovemaking. She drew little circles with her index finger against Xena’s right thigh and across her hip.

"So, how did that measure on your warrior scale? Was I able to at least come close to some of your other lovers? Do you still think I’m a little kid, do you still think you need to spank my behind if I misbehave?"

Gabrielle’s tone was teasing, and her expression as she watched her warrior was mischievous. She had a silly little grin on her face, as she acknowledged her newly acquired power to turn this beautiful, strong woman into a quivering mass of want. She was very aware of the fact that she had moved from an inexperienced village girl to a woman of considerable talent in the areas that, certainly at this point in time, were the most important areas of all. The ability to receive and give of herself totally and completely to the one person in the entire universe that meant more to her than life itself.

"Gabrielle, come up here, please, let me hold you, I want to feel your arms around me."

Gabrielle threw herself up into Xena’s arms, and they held each other close. No words were spoken for a time, just the shared feeling of warmth, feeling of each other’s breath, feeling of each other’s heartbeat.

"Xena."

"Yes, Gabrielle, what is it?"

"I want you to tell me about your other lovers, I want to know about your past experiences..you asked me all kinds of questions about me and my experiences, now it’s your turn. I want to know about the people you have been with."

"Gabrielle, that’s not something I want to talk about right now..just know that no one, ever, has taken me where you took me...no one ever has, and no one ever will, except you."

"But Xena, I.."

The warrior had lifted Gabrielle’s head from beneath her chin, and kissed her hard and deep.

"We’re not going to go there now, woman, and that’s final. Isn’t it enough that I’ve told you that you are the only person to move me like this? Don’t you believe me? Please don’t ruin this delicious feeling with questions about the past that don’t matter. The past is just that, the past, and we are now and into the future...Please"

"Alright, I won’t bother you now with my questions, but don’t think for a minute that I won’t get you to tell me, one way or another."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that! I’m sure you will keep at me until I either have to answer you or strangle you! I can’t begin to find the words to describe the love I feel for you, you little chatterbox. I wish I had your way with words. Maybe some of your yammering qualities will rub off on me, and I’ll be able to express exactly how I feel about you, what you mean to me, how I would give you anything, do anything, just to know that you love me, and only me....no...I don’t see myself becoming a chatterbox like you..one in the family is enough....in the family, we are...we are a family...

"Xena, where are you? You haven’t said anything, and you have a strange look in your eyes..what’s wrong?"

"Absolutely nothing is wrong, and I don’t need to say anything, ‘cause you do enough talking for both of us..with some left over!" She smiled up at Gabrielle, and then wrapping her arms tightly around her treasure, she rolled over so that she was on top. She propped herself on her left elbow, while capturing Gabrielle’s wrists with her right hand. She leaned down and laid a big, wet kiss on each of Gabrielle’s eyes, and another on her nose, before capturing her lover’s lips, pushing her tongue deep into Gabrielle’s mouth.

Gabrielle struggled in a half hearted effort to free her hands, then gave up because she knew it was hopeless. She moaned into Xena’s mouth, and squirmed under the warrior’s long, tight body. Her right leg curled up over Xena’s hip, while her left leg stretched out and tried to get under the warrior’s legs. She pushed and squirmed as hard as she could, trying to give as clear access to her sex as possible. Her efforts were not ignored by her warrior, as Xena stopped kissing the wonderful face of her love, and looked into Gabrielle’s eyes, with a small smile playing across her own face...

"What is it, woman, are you ready again? Is there something you want from me? Talk to me, tell me what you want..come on, you always have something to talk about, tell me what you want?"

"I can’t get enough of you, I want more and more, please, don’t tease, let go of my wrists and make my body sing as only you can..Please, Xena, I have such a hunger for you, I feel like I’m going to burst!"

"If I let go of your wrists, what are you going to do with your hands while I am delighting you, and delighting in you!

"Uunnghhh, anything you want, please just go there, pleasepleaseplease...."

Gabrielle squirmed even more, driving Xena to the point of distraction. She could feel her own lower regions becoming more and more heated, the intense pulsating sensations becoming almost more than she could stand. She made an instantaneous decision to teach Gabrielle a way of achieving wondrous, mind blowing simultaneous orgasms.

"Gabrielle, I’m going to let go of your wrists now, but I don’t want you to do anything for a second, until I show you something.."

She released Gabrielle’s hands, then stretched her body out on the large bed, on her back. She reached over and lifted Gabrielle up, turned her around and laid her on her body, with Gabrielle’s face even with the juncture of Xena’s thighs. She separated Gabrielle’s legs, placing one leg along each side of her own head, only to realize that the difference in their heights would be a great disadvantage. She immediately went to plan B...and flipped Gabrielle onto her back, then turned her own long body around, so that she had access to Gabrielle’s sex. By bending her own knees at almost right angles to her body, her own sex came within reach of Gabrielle’s beautiful and talented mouth. Xena’s breasts hung down, touching, dragging across Gabrielle’s tight abdomen. She could feel her nipples harden each time they came in contact with Gabrielle’s skin. The feelings continued to grow in intensity until she felt that she would scream. She quickly reached down, separating Gabrielle’s folds with her fingers, and plunged her face into that warm, slick, beautiful source of joy and happiness.

Gabrielle needed absolutely no directions, and grasped the warrior’s bottom with both hands, pulling her down and as close as possible to her mouth. She had her eyes wide open, and again marveled at how beautiful this part of her lover was, how exquisitely formed to afford sensual, tactile pleasure. She literally latched her mouth onto Xena, pulling as much into her mouth as she could, sucking as hard as she could. She was only somewhat aware of Xena doing the same to her, it felt as though they were one, whatever one was doing, the other felt it and did the same..they both built to their release within minutes of the exquisite feelings, and came at the same time, neither of them releasing their hold on the other, neither of them crying out, but both felt their hearts were going to burst...the rainbow of colors that flashed behind each of their eyes, the unheard sounds that crashed into their heads, they truly experienced an absolute shared orgasm, something that most lovers only dreamed of, and seldom, if ever, achieved.

Xena crashed down onto Gabrielle, but the younger woman didn’t mind at all, even though she felt that she might soon have trouble breathing. Xena’s legs stretched back, moving alongside Gabrielle’s head. The warrior’s legs quivered, then relaxed, then quivered again..each time it lessened by slight degrees, until finally her body relaxed completely. Only then did the warrior realize that she was probably crushing her lover, and started to roll over. Gabrielle’s arms reached up and grabbed the warrior’s behind, and held her tight to her body, as her own quivering aftershocks slowly subsided. Then Gabrielle gave a little light smack to the warrior’s bottom, and Xena rolled off and turned around, reaching for Gabrielle and enveloping her into her strong arms. They held each other, neither saying anything.

"Oh by the gods, that was..." Gabrielle found herself struggling to put the words into a coherent statement...and failed. She let out a delicious sigh, and snuggled her head under Xena’s chin, while tightening even more her arms around her wonderful, beautiful warrior.

Xena was not having the same problem, as she couldn’t talk at all, much less think. All of her senses were concentrated on the warm, delicious woman wrapped in her arms. The world could have slammed to a stop on its axis and Xena would not have been aware, nor would she have cared.

Slowly both lovers became aware of their immediate surroundings, and carefully eased up on holding one another. Gabrielle leaned back slightly, and looked up into that drop dead gorgeous face, those blue eyes, and smiled.....

"Is that what you meant when I asked you if it was always that good, and you said sometimes it’s even better?"

"Yup." Xena smiled down at her precious lover, her heart had never felt so full.

"Xena, I think we need to work on your language skills..."

Gabrielle giggled, and snuggled closer, squeezing the warrior in a warm embrace fueled by the afterglow of great sex, mind blowing sex..and even greater love.

They both moved at once, settling down without a word, and dropped into a collective, well earned rest. They were in the hands of Morpheus within seconds...each of their dreams directed by the experiences they had just shared.

Xena was the first to come up out of the depths of sleep, and as she stirred, Gabrielle mumbled and tried to snuggle even deeper into the warrior’s arms. The warrior reached over with her right hand, and began to lightly tickle her lover’s ribs...carefully bringing her back to consciousness.

Gabrielle came fully awake in an instant, something that Xena had never seen her do, and in one motion, threw herself on top of her lover and began tickling her unmercifully. Xena enjoyed watching Gabrielle’s unfettered breasts bob up and down as the young woman dug her fingers into her lover’s ribs.

Xena finally put a stop to their play, and pulled Gabrielle to her, kissing her one more time, and then standing and lifting her up to stand with her. She wrapped her arms around Gabrielle, and Gabrielle did the same.

Gabrielle smiled up at her lover. She reached up and moved Xena’s sweat soaked hair off her forehead.

"I think it might be a good idea if we go back and soak in the bath a bit, we both could use it!"

"Are you suggesting that we smell bad?"

Gabrielle laughed and poked Xena in the ribs.

"Not bad, but we do have a certain odor about us. Come on, just a quick rinse, and then we can have something to eat. I’m starving."

They walked back to the bath area with their arms around one another, as though they never wanted to let go. Xena stepped down into the water and reached up, lifting Gabrielle and then letting her slide down the length of her body and into the water. They submerged themselves and let the warm, clean water rinse their bodies. After just a few moments, Xena reached her arms around her love and lifted her out of the water. She stepped up and set her precious bundle down on the floor of the cave. Reaching down with one hand, she cupped the little blonde’s chin in her hand.

"I have another couple of surprises for you, some things you didn’t notice when you went on your ‘tour’ of the cave."

"What? Show me!" Gabrielle’s excitement was delicious.

"See that woven basket chest thing over there, go look inside, I think you’ll like what you find."

Gabrielle ran to the basket, and lifted the lid.

"Xena, these are beautiful," she exclaimed, as she pulled one and then another and another silk shift from the basket. The colors were nearly iridescent, beautiful blues, greens, a luminescent pearl white, all the colors of the rainbow, and then some.

"Where did you get these, are you sure no one else has ever been here?"

Gabrielle held a beautiful blue shift up to her body, and realized that the garment would be perfect on Xena’s tall frame, but rather large on herself. She looked over at Xena, who had moved to one side, watching with a smile on her face.

"I told you no one has ever been here but me, and now you...don’t you believe me?" The smile on her face showed Gabrielle that she was teasing her, but also telling her the truth.

"I’m sorry, I do believe you. I didn’t mean to..."

Xena walked over to Gabrielle, wrapping her arms around the little blond, and kissed the top of her head.

"Why don’t you put one of those shifts on, and hand one to me. I still want you to make my dinner, wench, and I can’t have you walking around here in just your gorgeous, sexy naked body."

Gabrielle handed Xena a shift of blue that almost matched the warrior’s eyes, and took one for her self of a pale green color. They both slid the shifts over their bodies, and then looked at one another.

"Oh, this might not work at all, you look even more gorgeous than ever...Get started on our dinner, I have some wine casks in a side room, I’ll go fill some skins with some of the best wine you will ever taste...we can have it with dinner. Now get going, before I change my mind and have my way with you, wench!"

Xena gave a playful smack to Gabrielle’s silk covered behind, and then went back to get the wine.

Gabrielle stood there for a moment, watching the beautiful, tall, dark haired woman walk away into the side room. She couldn’t believe her eyes, her heart. This wonderful human being loved her as no one else ever could. She felt tears come to her eyes, and with a quick swipe at her eyes, turned and walked over to the fire pit. She began rummaging through the supplies, and found some dried vegetables, herbs and dried meat. She grabbed a pot, threw everything she found into the pot, and then gathered some fresh water from the stream that fed the bath area.

Her next challenge would be to start a fire, not exactly her greatest skill. She worked and struggled with the flint and kindling without any success. Her frustration level was growing by leaps and bounds. Then she felt a pair of strong arms reach around her, taking the flint from her hands, and in one sure stroke Xena had a spark that ignited the dry kindling.

"Is there anything that you can’t do?"

"Actually there is something..I really can’t dance very well. I think it’s because I’m so tall, but dancing is definitely not one of my many skills!"

"I can teach you how to dance. You’d be a natural, as athletic as you are, with all the leaping and spinning and flying through the air.."

"Gabrielle, I’m not interested in learning to dance well. It doesn’t fit my image!"

Just then the cave lit up with a brilliant flash of light, and once again Aphrodite was in their midst..wearing a rose/pink diaphanous gown that kept none of her ample charms hidden from view.

"Oh good grief, why are you back here?"

"Xena, be polite, I can see her too..we both can see her at once...Hello your ‘Goddesship’, Xena didn’t mean to be impolite..we’re honored to have you here."

"Speak for yourself, Gabrielle, I am NOT impressed with...."

"Oh, gorgeous warrior and irritating little blond. I just came back to check on you, and to tell you that I was really sorry that I didn’t get back to you, but I had to do a little of my magic on some royals in another valley. I wasn’t able to help you along in your quest for love...but by the looks of you both, I would guess that you managed it anyway."

Xena looked at the Goddess of Love with wide eyes. "You mean you didn’t have anything to do with us, after that one visit?" Oh please, let her say it was just that one visit, and no other interference!

Gabrielle started to squirm..."Uh, Xena, there was more than one visit, Aphrodite came to me while I was soaking in the stream after you spanked me."

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Xena looked down at Gabrielle, and then back at Aphrodite. Her blue eyes were dark with hurt and anger.

"Why did you have to interfere with us, what is it with you gods anyway, you’re always meddling in human affairs...now you’ve ruined everything!"

"Wait just a heartbeat oh ‘gorgeous when you’re angry’ warrior. All I did with Gabrielle was give her a few hints on how to get you to see what was right in front of you all the time." Aphrodite stepped back a few paces, just to be sure to be out of range should Xena explode,as it looked like she might.

"Xena, all she told me was to walk up to you naked after my session in the stream, to try to get you to see me differently than you had in the past. And she did tell me to tell you I love you when we went to sleep, but I swear to you, I would have said it anyway.. I do love you! You have to know I love you!" Gabrielle looked as though she was going to burst into tears any second. She looked up into the warrior’s face, searching for a sign of understanding.

Xena stood perfectly still, obviously trying to maintain some form of control. Her hands were clenched at her sides; she looked like every muscle in her body was strung as tight as the string of Ulysses’ bow. Gabrielle had seen this before, many times, as Xena was about to do battle with thugs and warlords. She knew that if the situation wasn’t diffused quickly, the cave might turn from a warm, loving place of refuge into a bloody battlefield, quite possibly with messy Goddess of Love parts all over the place...

Gabrielle tentatively reached out and placed her hand on Xena’s arm...very lightly at first, and then gradually added pressure. She knew from her limited experience that to touch the Warrior Princess in any form of aggressive manner at a time like this would most likely result in her being backhanded across the cave. As she increased the pressure of her touch, she was aware of the vibrations emanating from the warrior. She slowly placed her other hand on the other arm, and again carefully increased the pressure. She then very slowly moved her entire body into harm’s way, by moving closer to Xena’s body. Eventually she moved in as close as she could, while softly moving her hands and arms up Xena’s arms until they were standing as close as humanly possible. Gabrielle’s arms slowly went around Xena’s shoulders and touched her back, she then carefully moved in even closer, until she had literally enveloped the warrior’s body.

Gabrielle’s head rested under Xena’s chin, and she leaned in and began to softly kiss the neck and upper chest of her lover. Soft, little kisses, covering as much area as possible without breaking contact with the rest of her body. As she continued to kiss every inch of skin she could reach, she softly said "I love you..I love you..I love you.." over and over again. Finally she began to feel a change in Xena’s body, as the muscles began to relax, as the vibrations of tension began to dissipate.

Gabrielle began to relax, she knew the worst was over, for now. She felt Xena’s arms come up around her back and hold her close. They stood that way for what seemed an eternity. Eventually Xena looked down at the beautiful, brave woman who had the courage and strength to soothe Xena from her savage, dark side back into the strong beautiful woman that Gabrielle loved.

Xena leaned down and kissed the top of Gabrielle’s head. "I’m alright now, it’s all right."

Gabrielle looked up into that beautiful face, and smiled. " I love you so very much, you do know that, don’t you? And everything that we have shared today is all of our own doing. Neither Aphrodite nor any other god had anything at all to do with it. Even the gods can’t give us what isn’t already there."

Aphrodite was still standing there, watching all of this. Even as dippy as she was, she recognized the way Gabrielle had soothed Xena out of her anger. I don’t know if I would have gotten that close to that beautiful warrior woman, not when she is like that..oh no, even if I am a god, I still don’t like pain...and that could have made a whole lot of pain! She continued to watch Gabrielle and Xena, as they stood with their arms around one another, as thought she wasn’t even in the area! Hey! Enough already, pay some attention here to me! Hearing Gabrielle assure Xena that she, the Goddess of Love, had nothing to do with their love for one another, was more than she could handle. "Hey, just hold on a minute. I had plenty to do with all of this, why if it wasn’t for.."

Both Xena and Gabrielle looked at Aphrodite and then shouted at once. "Shut Up!" The two lovers looked at one another and started to laugh.

"Gabrielle, I was so worried, I thought that maybe all of this was some goofy idea of fun, some stupid joke that Aphrodite wanted to play around with.."

Gabrielle tightened her grip around the beautiful woman in her arms.

"Xena, she might have had a little to do with our getting started, or maybe more with you getting started, since I, of course, knew exactly what I wanted all along. But it was all just us, really! Don’t even think for a minute that she cast any kind of spell over us."

Xena looked down at Gabrielle, and then over at Aphrodite.

"Isn’t it time for you to disappear in a blast of light or something? This is our cave, and you really aren’t all that welcome here, so why don’t you leave?"

Gabrielle cringed when she heard Xena.

"Oh, Xena, please, we are going to have to work on your social skills, too! Aphrodite, we both thank you for opening up our eyes to what we have here. We are both very appreciative. Please accept our thanks, and if you would allow us some privacy we would be ever so grateful."

"Yeah, I’ll even make an offering..How about a nice rock slide onto your temple, with you inside, of course," the warrior growled.

Gabrielle slid her hand down the warriors’ back, reached under Xena’s shift and pinched the warrior’s backside. She whispered into Xena’s chest...she couldn’t reach the warrior’s ear.

"Will you please be quiet, you are only going to make things worse. Let me handle this, I’m the one with the verbal skills, remember? I do the sensitive talk stuff, OK?"

"Then handle it, get her out of here, or I will." Xena whispered back, into the top of Gabrielle’s head.

"You know, you two, that I can hear everything, including what you might be thinking! It’s one of those god perk thingees! But don’t worry, I know when I’m not wanted..So I will just toddle off for now. But I am still going to include your love as one of my better efforts...I can’t wait to tell Ares and Zeus and...." Seeing the menacing looks that were being directed in her direction by the Warrior Princess and the irritating little blond, Aphrodite decided that it probably was a good time to leave. A blinding flash of light, and she was gone.

"Well, that was fun." Xena smiled down at Gabrielle. "But I am glad to know that she didn’t do anything other than that first visit, while I was spanking your beautiful little behind! And of course there is that other visit...which you didn’t tell me about! Obviously this relationship isn’t going to be built on trust!"

"Xena, I’m sorry, you know you can trust me, I wanted to tell you, but.."

"It’s all right, Gabrielle, I’m just teasing you. I’m so relieved that Aphrodite didn’t have anything more to do with us than those first two encounters, it doesn’t even matter to me. Although I have to tell you, I think I had an idea that you had been coached on what to do when you came back from sitting in the stream! I mean, really, walking around naked, leaning over like that and watching me watch you. Come on, Gabrielle, we both know that is hardly your style!"

"Oh really! And just exactly what is my style?" Gabrielle looked up at the warrior, with a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I want to hear from the all knowing, all seeing great Warrior Princess, just exactly what is my style?"

"All right, all right, maybe it is your style. Whatever it is, it was great! And I can’t wait to see some more. Let’s go have something to eat, and then you can put on a regular show for me!"

"Sounds like a great plan to me. I’m starving!"

"Why am I not surprised?"

THE END

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