ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Timeless

by Goesome

Disclaimer:  The characters of Xena: Warrior Princess and all others associated with the TV series of the same name are owned by Renaissance Pictures and Studios USA.  This is a work of fan fiction.  No copyright infringement or profit is intended.

Sexual Content:  This offering portrays two adult women in love.  If you have a problem with that, you’re under 18, or it’s illegal where you live, please move on… 

Profanity:  PG-rated

Feedback:  I am a first time bard, so if you don’t like it, I don’t want to know.  Constructive criticism is fine.  If you do like it I’ll take all the encouragement I can get!

This story takes place in the present and the past.  In the past we have those we have come to know and love.  In the present, their names have changed, and yet they exist in familiar hearts and faces.  By doing so they give us hope that contrary to conventional wisdom, all good things do not have to come to an end.  Some things are timeless…

“Thanks for having lunch with me,” he said, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.

“Thank you for asking me,” she replied smiling.  It was a weekday and the fishing pier was deserted.  They walked side by side silently, comfortably, until they were halfway down the pier and then she continued.  “So, when are you going to ask me?”

“Ask you what?”

She rolled her eyes at him and laughed.  “Come on Phillip.  You know as well as I do that this wasn’t a social lunch.”

“We ate, we laughed, we had conversation – we were social!”

“Yeah, and the whole time you were stalling, waiting for the opportunity to ask me how the book is coming.”

“No, I wasn’t gonna ask.  Really.”

“Okay, good…” And she left it hanging there.  The silence hovered between them until he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Since you mentioned it,” (she began shaking her head) “have you been writing?  Not that I’m worried, mind you.  But, well, it’s been eight months since we announced the final book in your series and some people…”

“Like your boss,” she interjected.

“For example; some people are getting a little anxious.  Not me, of course.”

“Of course not,” she smugly agreed.

“But if I could at least tell him I’d seen the first few chapters he might relax.”

“You could see the first few chapters…”

This caused him to leap in front of her, prepared to engage in an overzealous hug.  “That would be great!”

“…if I had them written.”

Terror seized his face.  “None?  None!  Katherine!”  His voice escalated with every word.

“I know, I know…” She folded her arms across her stomach and turned to stare out over the water.  “Nothing works.  Either I type all day and then realize that evening that it’s all horrible or I sit and stare at a blinking cursor on a blank screen for hours on end. (Hesitating)  I can’t find it.”

“Find what?”

“I can’t find a way to say goodbye.”  Wiping a tear away, she drew a big breath.  “These characters are a part of me.  For everyone else they’ve lived on printed pages, but they’ve lived in my head since I was a little girl.”

“And you’re afraid to let them go.”

“I’m afraid to let them down.”

Phillip paused, looking out over the waves.  He was as much friend as editor, and if things were different…  “How are things at home?”

“Quiet.”  Sadness shadowed across her face.  “Lonely.”

“Are things between you and Andy still…?”

“I don’t know what things between us are anymore.  Andy’s working on some big case and is gone all the time.  When we are together it’s like we don’t have anything to say to each other.  We’re strangers walking around the same house.”  She suddenly sounded very tired, “It feels like I’m losing everyone I love at once.”

“Katie, it was your decision to end the series, so the only thing you can do is make this goodbye one you can live with.  As far as Andy goes, I see two choices.”

Katherine looked up at Phillip.  She loved his sincerity and kind heart.  It was one of the qualities that had always reminded her of Joxer.  “What are they?”

“You either fight to save the relationship,”

“Or?”

“…or you make this a goodbye you can live with.”

After many years of battle, Xena and Gabrielle have finally entered into a time of peace.  Their days are joyful and filled with laughter as they travel the countryside.  Their reputations frequently precede them, affording them hospitality from village to village as warrior princess and bard.  Eventually their travels lead them to a small kingdom ruled by Darien, a kind and generous king greatly loved by his people.  As he moves into his third decade and still remains unmarried his citizens grow more and more anxious that he has not produced an heir.  Should he die without leaving an heir, Christopher, his temperamental and self-indulgent younger brother, would inherit the throne.  Darien, however, remained convinced that one day his patience would be rewarded.

Xena and Gabrielle entered the main gates of a small but beautiful city.  They admired clean streets, smiling people, and the flowers growing everywhere.  Music filled the air along with the fragrance of the flowers.  To their right a market offered carts of fresh produce, clothing, and almost anything else you could imagine. It almost seemed to good to be true.

“Xena, can you believe how beautiful this city is?”

“Yeah, they’ve done a nice job…”

“’They’ve done a nice job.’  Is that all you can say?”

“Nope.  I’m hungry.”  Xena began to scan the area like she was hunting prey.

“Well I knew that.”

“How’d you know?” looking surprised.

“Because you’re grumpy; you’re always grumpy when you’re hungry,” Gabrielle said, laughing at her friend.

“Then why are you making me stand here looking at all these flowers?  Here’s the market.  Let’s get something to eat.”  With that Xena took off toward the food carts, mumbling to herself about not being the one that’s always hungry, leaving Gabrielle still laughing as she watched her walk away.

As Xena began to select her lunch, Gabrielle began sifting through clothing on a neighboring cart.  “These clothes are absolutely wonderful!”

“Yes, they are, aren’t they?  The woman who crafts them is named Julia.  She makes some of the finest women’s clothes in the city.”  Gabrielle turned to look at the woman who had engaged her in conversation.  She was a very attractive woman, almost thirty, with long, curly, auburn colored hair that tumbled down her back.  Her eyes were a startling green.  “Hello, my name is Vanita.”

“Hello.  My name is Gabrielle.”  She held out her hand as she spoke.  “My friend and I just arrived in your city.  It’s unbelievable!  What’s it called?”

“Garden City.”

“That’s appropriate.  Do you live here in the city?”

“Yes.  I am the head of our ruler’s household.  His name is Darien and he is a wonderful king.”

“He must be to provide such a place for his citizens to live.” 

At this point Xena walks up with an armload of fruit, two smoked turkey legs in one hand and a loaf of bread in the other.  “The flowers are okay, but this market is great!”

“I’m glad you found us lunch,” Gabrielle said, surveying the food Xena was carrying.

“Oh, did you want something too?”

Gabrielle just chuckled silently to herself, shaking her head.  “That’s okay.  I’ll get myself something in a minute.  First I want you to meet Vanita.  She runs the king’s household.”  Then, turning, “Vanita, this is my friend Xena.”

“Xena?  It can’t be…  The warrior princess?”

“That’s right,” Xena replied somewhat apprehensively.  After all these years, she was still never sure how people would greet her.

“We have scrolls in our library telling of your mighty deeds.  I read them growing up, but I never believed the tale of Ares freezing you two for 25 years.  I can’t believe it’s really true!”  With that she faced Gabrielle again.  “That means that you are Gabrielle, the warrior bard.  It is an honor to meet you.”

“You have copies of my scrolls in your library?”

“Oh, yes.  We read them in school as children.”

“You here that (elbowing Xena)?  The school children read my scrolls.  Unlike some people I know…”

“I’m sorry.  I am so excited that you have come to our city, but I must return to the main house.  Please tell me you will be staying in Garden City for some time.”

Xena began, ”Well, we’re never really sure…”

Gabrielle interrupted.  “I think we’ll be here at least for a few days,” looking insistently at Xena, who relented by shrugging her shoulders.

“That’s wonderful!  I would love to talk with you again.”

“I’d like that too,” Gabrielle responded.  “Maybe you could take me to the library so I could see my scrolls.”

Xena rolled her eyes, then interrupted.  “Since we’ll be staying (eyeing Gabrielle), could you recommend a place to find lodging?”

“Of course.”  Vanita gave them a name and instructions on how to get there.  “There’s a park on the way there where you could eat your lunch.  I’ll visit you later today to make sure you found it all right.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I really must go.”  With that she hurried out of the market and out of sight.

“Well, let’s go,” Xena announced.

“Okay, just let me get something to eat.” Gabrielle paused as she started to walk off and shot back, “You did leave some food at the stand, right?”

“Very funny.  Now hurry up and get your lunch Warrior Bard, I’m still hungry.”

Half an hour later the two friends were sitting under a tree in the park finishing their lunch when Vanita hurried up to them.  “I’m so glad I found you!”

“Why, what’s wrong?” Gabrielle asked, looking concerned.

“Nothing’s wrong.  When I returned to the house I told Darien of your arrival.  He is very excited and would like to meet you both.  He sent me to offer you an invitation of lodging at his residence.”

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged looks.  Xena had never been too impressed with royalty, but could tell by the look on Gabrielle’s face that she really wanted to go.  That “warrior bard” title had really gotten to her. Returning her gaze to Vanita she answered, “That’s very kind of your king.  Are you sure it’s no trouble?”

“Trouble?  To have the two legendary women warriors of Greece staying in our home?  Absolutely not!”

“You live there too?” Gabrielle asked.

“Yes.  After all, it’s much easier to run a household if you live in it.   So please, won’t you join us?  It will please my king very much.”

Xena nodded at Gabrielle, who accepted the invitation.

As it turned out, the “house” was a palace with long hallways lined with countless doors that led to huge, airy rooms.  They were each given a bedroom and the opportunity to bathe in their separate, private baths.  For supper that evening they were both provided with beautiful new dresses.  Vanita escorted them into a small private dining room.  There were three seats arranged around a small table that was elaborately decorated with flowers and candles.  Moments after they had been seated a tall man about thirty years of age strode into the room.  He had short, dark brown hair and even darker blue eyes.  He didn’t look older than his age, but lines at the corners of his eyes told of the burdens that came with leadership.  Seeing his two guests, he smiled a brilliant smile that was both weary and genuine.  “Finally!  Ladies, I apologize for keeping you waiting.  I have truly been trying to meet you all afternoon, but the day has been unmercifully busy.”  The two women stood to greet their host.  “If the scrolls are correctly translated, you must be Xena (shaking her hand) and you must be…” You could almost hear his breath as it was stolen away, “Gabrielle.”  His eyes locked with hers for a moment that was suddenly uncomfortably long.  “Please, sit down.”  He moved behind her to get the back of her chair.  Xena watched from across the table, wondering if she had unknowingly fallen off the face of the earth.

Just after the main course had been served a man with sandy colored hair and those same dark blue eyes burst into the room.  “Brother!  I see the rumors are true.”

“And what rumors would those be, Brother.”  By his tone, this was clearly an unwelcome intrusion.

“That you are entertaining two beautiful women and that by some error, I was not invited.”

“There was no error as I was hoping to make a good first impression, but now that you are here, allow me to introduce you to my guests before you leave.”

“Brother, you wound me deeply.”

Darien ignored the sarcasm and introduced Xena and Gabrielle to Christopher, his younger brother.

“Younger brother and heir apparent to the throne since my brother has not been able to find a woman that will have him,” added Christopher.

“On the contrary, I have simply been waiting for a woman I would have, (turning toward Gabrielle) not only as my wife, but as queen to our people and mother to my heir.”

“Of course, I stand corrected.”  With that Christopher made an attempt at pleasantry and then excused himself, but not without noticing his brother’s attraction.

“I apologize for my brother’s intrusion,” Darien offered after Christopher’s exit.  “He seems to be the only thing in my kingdom that I am destined not to be able to repair.”

With that they resumed their dinner.  Darien made every effort to include Xena in the conversation and broach topics that she would find interesting, but his attentions were clearly drawn to Gabrielle.  Xena wasn’t annoyed by this, but did find it amusing.  He was a moth to a flame.

Katie leaned back in her chair and moved her stiff neck from side to side as she read what she had just written.  “It’s a better start than I’ve had in a long time,” she thought as she e-mailed a copy to Phillip.  After it was sent she paused to relax for a moment.  Looking at the wall above her computer she surveyed awards and framed mock book covers and comic book covers, all depicting a raven-haired heroine with striking blue eyes and a sword.  Most also included a petite blonde in various stages of dress and hair length.  Originally Andy had hung the display there to inspire her as she worked.  Suffering from writer’s block during the past months, it had taunted her more than inspired her.

Exhausted, she turned off the monitor and headed to bed.  As she passed through the dining room she saw the navy blue jacket with FBI written across the back in tall golden letters.  Lifting it off the back of the chair, she hugged it and breathed deeply.  No scent of another woman.  It just smelled like Andy; that was enough to send a wave of emotions through her.  She replaced the jacket and headed silently toward their bedroom.  Once there, she removed her robe and climbed softly into bed.  The room was so quiet she could hear Andy breathing.  The rhythm of it made her want to cuddle.  Instead she lay there motionless, staring at the ceiling, longing to be touched.  Moments later Andy’s hand found Katie’s beneath the blankets and softly held it.  After her heart stopped racing, she drifted off to sleep.

The days that followed at the palace were a whirlwind of activities.  A parade of people marched through the house to meet the king’s famous guests.  Gabrielle was completely caught up in the excitement, visiting local schools and entertaining time and again with renditions of their many adventures together.  The new celebrity avoided controversial subjects, for example Hope, and yet seemed to never tire of the storytelling.  Darien, who suddenly seemed to be finding a great deal of spare time, never seemed to tire of listening to her.  Xena, on the other hand, was bored.  Darien noticed this and asked her if she would mind working with the chief of house security and later an elite force of his troops, lending her unique expertise to their improvement.  It wasn’t exactly war, but it was good exercise and gave her something to do besides listening to the stories she had already lived through.  Days turned into weeks and then the announcement of a great ball was made.  Neighboring royalty, local celebrities and military leaders were invited.  Vanita was nearly overwhelmed with the details of the dinner, decorations, and entertainment. Still, she worked tirelessly to make sure her king’s evening would be perfect.

That evening Xena and Gabrielle entered the room in exquisite long gowns to a roar of thunderous applause.  Gabrielle was gracious; Xena was embarrassed.  Darien left his seat at the head table to escort Gabrielle to the seat on his right.  The Captain of the Guard escorted Xena to the seat next to Gabrielle.  Christopher was already sitting on his brother’s left.

After dinner was served and cleared from the tables, Darien rose from his seat.  “Let me thank you this evening for attending.  Before the dancing begins, allow me to take this opportunity to make two announcements.  First, Xena, Gabrielle has told me of your extensive travels over the past many years.  I have watched you with the house guard and my troops the last few weeks and have found that even Gabrielle’s wondrous tales of your adventures cannot do your abilities justice.  It is my sincere hope that you might consider making Garden City your home and assume the position of General over my army.  My prayer is that we will never need to call upon your battle experience, but if we do, there is no one better to be in command.”  This brought a roar of applause from the crowd, in spite of the shocked look on Xena’s face.  Then Darien continued.  “Speaking of hope,” Darien paused and turned to Gabrielle, and then dropped to one knee, “it is with a great hope in my heart that I ask this of you tonight.  I have always known that there was one woman somewhere strong enough to be my equal and wise enough to be my queen and that someday she would be brought to me.  And now she has been.  I love you, Gabrielle.  Please do me the great honor of marrying me.”  The crowd didn’t wait for a response to cheer.  They assumed she would say yes.  Based on the looks shadowing Christopher and Xena’s faces, so did they.

Over the roar of the crowd, Darien leaned forward and said in Gabrielle’s ear, “You don’t have to answer now.  I know this is sudden, but I am very sure of how I feel.  Please take your time and be certain of your feelings as well.”

Still stunned, Gabrielle vaguely nodded her head and managed, “Thank you.”

Both Gabrielle and Xena had managed to make reasonably early, but separate exits from the evening’s festivities.  When Xena entered Gabrielle’s bedroom, she found her sitting on the balcony, staring at the midnight sky.  They waited in each other’s company for some time before either spoke, both trying to absorb the impact of the evening’s events.

Finally, Xena spoke quietly.  “Well, I’ll say one thing for him; he knows how to throw a party.”  Her attempt at levity wasn’t lost on Gabrielle, who smiled faintly at the observation.

“Especially if it’s a surprise party.”

“Do you get the feeling we were the only ones truly surprised tonight?”

“Definitely.”  With that Gabrielle turned back to the stars, knowing there was no way to avoid the conversation that was coming.  The soft breeze lifted the scent of lilacs growing under her balcony, dancing it around the two friends gently.  Xena looked at her sitting in the moonlight and tried to remember a moment when Gabrielle had ever looked more beautiful.  She braced herself for the answer that might follow and asked the question, her heart racing.

“Do you love him?”

“I think so,” Gabrielle breathed.

“Don’t you think you should be more sure than that to marry him?”

“I’m not sure I’m going to marry him.”  Those were the words Xena’s heart had hoped to hear.  But then she continued.  “But I think I could do a lot of good as his queen.  And I know I care for him.  I’m sure whatever feelings haven’t developed yet would come over time.  Besides…” With that she stopped talking, either unable or unwilling to say what needed to come next.

“Besides what?” Xena urged carefully.

“It’s just that I didn’t realize how tired I was of traveling.  It has been so wonderful to be in one place, this beautiful place, long enough to rest and get to know the people and find a sense of (she hesitated again) home.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“I’m not sure I realized it until we came here.  Until now, home has always been wherever you were.”

The silence that followed was heartbreaking.  Finally Xena took Gabrielle’s hand and gazed into her eyes.  She managed the familiar loving smile she had given her so many times.  “Gabrielle, I can’t tell you what to do.  This has to be your decision.  All I want is for you to be happy, so whatever you decide, just follow your heart.”  With that she leaned in, kissed her softly on the forehead, and walked away.

Katie was sitting at her computer when she heard the keys opening the front door.  She waited until the noise moved to the kitchen before she called out.  “Andy?”

“Yeah.  Hi!”

“How was your day?”

“Long.  How’s it going in there?”

“Great!  Come in here and I’ll show you.”

“No, if things are going that well I don’t want to interrupt the creative flow.  Besides, I’m beat.  I’m going to bed.”

Katie opened her mouth to voice an argument, but stopped short.  Disappointed, she saved the recent work and faxed it to Phillip’s home office.  Taking a deep breath, she arched her back to stretch and then started typing again.

The middle of the night found Xena trying to write a letter that said goodbye.  It wished Gabrielle every happiness in her new life with Darien.  She was sure Gabrielle will be a wonderful queen; they’re lucky to have her.  He’s lucky to have her. Of course, she never could stay in one place too long.  The boredom would make her crazy.  But she promises to visit.  Probably not for the wedding, but soon…

Xena’s breath trembled as she began to pack her bag.  The letter lay on the bed, waiting to be delivered.  Suddenly, Aphrodite appeared on the bed beside it.  “What are you doing?” she insisted.

“Hello, Aphrodite.  Nice to see you, too…  I’m leaving.”

“Well, duh…Why?”

“Because I can’t stay.”

“Okay, you can’t stay.  But why are you leaving Gabrielle?  She loves you.”

“I know she loves me.”

“Then why are you leaving her?”

“Because she’s going to marry Darien.”

“She told you that?”

“Basically.”

“That’s your fault.”

Xena’s ice blue eyes glared at Aphrodite.  “How do you figure that?”

“Because you didn’t tell her how you feel.”

“She knows I love her.”

“That’s not what I said.  You didn’t tell her how you feel.”  Aphrodite put space between every word for emphasis.

“Aphrodite, I’m leaving.  It’s the right thing to do.”

“Are you sure?”

Xena stopped packing and answered through gritted teeth. “Yes.”

“Okay, play the martyr.  I tried.”  And with that, Aphrodite disappeared.

The ringing phone made Katie jump.  She answered before the next ring to avoid waking up Andy.  “Hello?”

“Hiya kid.”

“Phillip?”

“Yeah.  I got your fax.  I gotta tell you, this is not what I expected.”

“I thought it was pretty good.”

“I didn’t say it wasn’t good.  I just said it isn’t what I expected.”

“Well, it isn’t what I expected either.”

Silence hung on the line.  Finally he asked, “How are things around your house?”

“Goodnight Phillip,” and she hung up the phone.

Xena had been miles from Garden City by the time Gabrielle found the note slipped under her door.  The weeks since she crept away in the darkness had been long and lonely.  There was an ache in her heart that passed all previous pain, including the death of Solan.  She had wandered without thought or purpose just trying to get away from it, but to no avail.  What she sensed next was not going to improve things at all.

“All right Ares.  I know you’re out there.  I can smell ya.”

He appeared from a flame in front of her.  “Now, is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“How many times I gotta tell ya?  We’re not friends.”

“But we could be now.”  His voice took a very seductive tone, “Very, very good friends.”  She was sure in the back of his mind he really believed that line would work someday.  Talk about slow learners…

“Go away Ares.”

“Come on Xena.  Think about it.  Now that Blondie’s out of the picture, it could be just like old times.”

Angered, Xena took a swing at him.  “Old times?  I’ve spent years trying to repay the world for old times.  Now get outta my way.”  She brushed past angrily, knowing full well he’d follow.

“Okay, good point.  So how about making a new start, you and me.”  He grabbed her arm from behind and spun her into his arms.  He looked into her eyes intensely and continued.  “You know how good it would be between us.  You’ve thought about it too many times to count over the years and just don’t want to admit it.”

“Ares, how many times do you have to hear that we are never going to be together?  There will never be an ‘us’.  Now leave me the hell alone.”  She placed her hands on his chest and shoved.  He regained his balance and came right back at her.

“Oh, you’d like that wouldn’t you.  But…no, I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” she hissed.

“Because you’re doing the one thing I never thought I’d see you do…”

“What’s that?”

“Running from a fight.”

“What are you talking about?” she demanded.

“You know damn well what I’m talking about.  You gave her up without a fight!”

Stunned, she lowered her voice in defeat.  “It wasn’t a fight I could win.”

“How do you know that?  You didn’t even try.  You took the coward’s exit in the middle of the night.”

“I had to leave her so she could be free to decide to marry Darien.”

“You didn’t let her decide; you made her decision for her.  You ran.”  He spit the word at her in a way that could only pass between warriors.

“What else could I do?”

“Well, um, I don’t know… Maybe tell her the truth.”  His sarcastic edge was razor sharp.

“And what truth is that?”

“Xena, what do you really want?”

“I want her to be happy.”

“No.  What do you really want?”

Turning from him, she could feel the tears start to burn trails down her cheeks.  It hurt to breath.  Every heartbeat shocked her with how much pain it carried.  “I want my heart to stop hurting,” she choked out.

“And what will make that happen?”

She tried to hold back the answer, but even struggling she could not, finally blurting out, “How can I go back and ask her to choose me?  How can I be that selfish?”

“How can you walk away from the one fight, the only fight of your entire life, that will bring you happiness?”

Xena turned toward him, completely dismayed by what he had just done.  As if reading her mind he continued, “Hey, if I can’t have you, it might as well be Blondie.  She loves you as much as I do.”  With that he disappeared in a burst of flame.  Xena collected herself for a moment and then headed back to Garden City.  From a distant ridge, Ares and Aphrodite watched her start her journey back to Gabrielle.  Slipping her arm through his, Aphrodite pulled him to her and delivered a hug.  “Thank you, Brother.”  He only sighed…

Satisfied, Katie pushed her chair away from the computer and started to go to bed, but then had another thought.  She pulled stationary and a pen from a drawer and began to compose a note to Andy - a love note.  Sexy.  Steamy.  Romantic.  When she finished she went into the dining room and found the FBI jacket at it’s home on the back of one of the chairs.  Hopefully, she kissed the folded paper and slipped it into Andy’s pocket.  Phillip had been right, but there was no goodbye she could live with.

It was early afternoon by the time Katie woke up.  She called Phillip and asked if she could come by to go over what she’d written so far.  After a shower she printed up the final pages from last night and headed out the door.  At Phillip’s office they poured over the turns the story had taken so far.  They ordered dinner in.  No, she wasn’t sure how it was going to end yet, but she could feel it coming.   It was after midnight when they finished.

Katie entered the apartment quietly and headed for a hot shower.  There would be no new writing tonight.  After the shower she slipped into the bedroom and carefully pulled back the covers.  Sitting on the bed, she reached out her hand to adjust her pillow before lying down.  On it she found a rose.

From where she was standing, Xena could see the back of Gabrielle’s head and bare shoulders above the top of the hot tub.  Sensing her presence, Gabrielle stopped moving.  Still facing away she said, “You left without saying goodbye.”  The anger was gone, but the disappointment remained.  Slowly she turned to face Xena, who had dropped her head upon that greeting.

“I didn’t know how to.”

“Why did you go?”

“I didn’t want to be in the way of your decision.”

“You weren’t.  You wasted a trip.”

“Why?”

“You left before I could tell you that I had decided not to marry Darien.”

Xena jerked her face up to look at her friend.  “You what?”

“I decided not to marry Darien.”

“How did he take it?”

“After you left I didn’t tell him.  I wasn’t ready to leave because I didn’t know where to go.”

“You could’ve found me.  You’ve done it before.”

“Exactly.  I have done it before.  I thought after what I said maybe you were ready to be without me and I wasn’t going to chase you to find out.  I knew this time you were the only one who could find you.  You said you’d come back.  I decided to wait.”

“It could’ve been a long wait.”

“It was…”

Xena quickly assessed that the conversation was not going where she needed it to go.  “Why did you decide to turn him down?”

“After you left the balcony that night it became clear to me exactly what I want.”  She moved toward the edge of the hot tub closest to Xena, “…who I want.”  She held Xena’s gaze as she motioned to her right.  “Get me that towel, will you?”

Xena picked up the towel and unfolded it, holding it with both hands in front of her, never taking her eyes off Gabrielle.  Slowly Gabrielle climbed out of the hot tub, her body rising in front of Xena’s eyes.  She noticed the look on Xena’s face.  There was love and adoration, but there was also something else.  Xena’s blue eyes watched the steam rise off of heated skin, tracking the water dripping down her body.  She followed the streams all the way down as they crossed supple breasts and silky hips and then back up again as Gabrielle stepped down the steps on the outside of the tub.  It was lust. 

Xena held the towel out in front of her.  Instead of taking it, Gabrielle walked into it, stopping inches away from Xena, wrapping her arms around Xena’s neck.  The pull of the towel wrapped Xena’s arms around Gabrielle’s back.  “The question is Xena, what do you want?”  The question was just a whisper as the two women stood in each other’s arms.  Staring into Xena’s eyes, Gabrielle smiled faintly and then pulled away to walk past her, leaving her holding the towel.  Xena turned and followed.  Her pounding heart made it difficult to speak.

“That’s why I came back.”

Gabrielle had stopped facing the bed.  She asked again, “So, what do you want?”

The towel fell to the floor.  Xena reached out with her hands, running them softly down Gabrielle’s back, sending chills across her skin.  She traced the lines of her back, fascinated, mesmerized.  Her hands came to rest on Gabrielle’s hips.  Closing the distance between them, she leaned toward Gabrielle until her lips brushed her ear and finally said it.  “I want you.”

Gabrielle turned to face Xena.  There were no more questions, only answers in her eyes.  Slowly, she began unhooking Xena’s breastplate.  As it came loose she held it to the side and let it fall to the floor.  Insistently, she turned Xena around to loosen the lacing on the back of her bodice.  When it hung precariously, Gabrielle walked around to Xena’s front.  Her left hand grasped Xena’s right.  Carefully, Gabrielle lifted her right hand, tenderly stroking that beautiful face.  There were no more moments to hang between them.  Pushing up on her toes, Gabrielle lifted her trembling lips toward Xena’s.

Suddenly Darien and Christopher burst into the room with an escort of guards.  Startled, Xena stepped protectively in front of Gabrielle, who picked up the towel Xena had dropped only moments ago to cover herself.

“You see Brother, I told you she wasn’t what she seemed to be!”  Christopher gloated.

Darien just stared, his mouth open in dismay.  “Gabrielle, what are you doing?  What are you doing with her?”

“Darien, I’m sorry.  I never wanted to hurt you and I tried, I really tried to fall in love with you, but I wasn’t meant to be with you.”

“I don’t understand.”  The sadness in his voice made it sound as if he had the whole world standing on his chest.

Wrapping the towel around her Gabrielle stepped from behind Xena toward Darien.  “I know it’s hard to understand.  We just barely understand it ourselves most of the time.”  Looking over her shoulder at Xena she continued, “But Xena and I were meant to be together.  We’re soul mates.”

“I cannot believe that you would come into my kingdom, my very home, and humiliate me this way.  It would have been better to just tell me no and leave.”

“I wasn’t sure until Xena left.  And then I wasn’t sure if she would return.  I had nowhere else to go.  At least I found out before it’s too late.”

“Gabrielle, we should go, leave tonight”, Xena suggested.  “Maybe if we leave quietly no one will know why we left.  Darien, you can tell them anything you want to avoid embarrassment in front of your people.”

“Oh, if it were only that easy!”  Christopher chimed in all too happily.  “But now it is too late.”

“Shut up, Christopher!”

“Come now Brother, you know the law.  They can’t leave because you can’t let them.”

Gabrielle looked from Christopher to Darien.  “Darien, what’s he talking about?”

Darien stood silently for several moments as if he were trying to decide what to do next.

“Darien, what law?”  Xena asked urgently.

“Go ahead Brother, tell her.”

“Christopher, I’m not going to tell you again to shut up.”  He separated the last two words with an unspoken threat.

“Darien?” 

He turned to look at Gabrielle, the woman he loved, and answered.  “Unfortunately this is one of the rare occasions that my brother happens to be correct.”  They could physically see his burden suddenly increase.  He looked down, then back up again after steeling his resolve.  “In this country it is against the law for two women or two men to be physically intimate with one another.  It is a very old law in our land and is one of the few laws that carries the penalty of death.”

Katie jolted awake and caught a deep breath.  Tears had welled in her eyes and now were pouring down her cheeks.  She glanced over at Andy and knew what she had to do.  Quietly she got out of bed and hurried down the hall to her computer.

Xena sat on her bed in her cell, leaning against the wall.  In the next cell Gabrielle paced back and forth, ranting and raving.  “I cannot believe that our love is what helped us survive all these years and now it’s going to cost us our lives because of some ridiculous ancient law that condemns us without knowing us!  What kind of law would condemn any kind of love?”  Xena began to wonder if she was going to breath anytime soon.  “This is madness.  He’ll come to see me.  I know he will.  And when he does I know I can talk to him and change his mind.  I refuse to believe that he would kill us because we love each other.”

“Oh, he’ll kill you alright.” Christopher’s voice came from the doorway.  “He’ll kill you to save face and use the law to justify it.  After all, you were the queen he had waited for all these years.  And you betrayed him.”

“I was never the queen he was waiting for,” Gabrielle interjected.

“But he doesn’t know that.  The beauty of it is that she’s been here all along.”

“Vanita…” Xena surmised from across the room.

“Of course.  But now he’s heartbroken and humiliated and will never marry so the throne will be mine.”

“Don’t count on that Little Brother.”  The voice from behind startled him.

“Uh, Darien…  I, uh…”

“Get out Christopher.”  And he did.

“Darien, I am so sorry you’ve been hurt.”  Gabrielle stopped pacing and walked to the bars of her cell.  “I never wanted to hurt you; you have to believe that.”

“Oh, I believe it.  But it doesn’t change the law.  However, I might know a way around the law.

“Tell me.”

“If you tell me that you were not intimate with Xena…”

“We hadn’t been intimate yet,” she interrupted.

“And if you tell me that you don’t love her – that you’re not in love with her – I could spare your lives.  I could let you go now.  I would have to hold Xena for a year or so for breaking into my home, but after that I could set her free.  It would help me save face and you both could live.”

Gabrielle looked over her shoulder at Xena sitting in the next cell.  She smiled faintly.  “I can’t do that.”

“Even if it would save your life – save her life.”

Gabrielle didn’t turn to face him as she added, “I have learned that this life is a temporary thing, that there are more lives to come.  What Xena and I have is beyond this lifetime and I won’t damage any future we have together by denying what we have now.  What we have is forever.”

Darien just shook his head in disbelief.  Remorse made him add, “I truly believed you were the queen I had waited for.”

“I hate to admit it, but Christopher was smarter than you on this one.  The queen you’ve waited for has been here all along waiting for you to notice that she’s hopelessly in love with you.”  Gabrielle continued.  “It’s obvious that Vanita is in love with you.  I saw it right away; we both did.  She’s been devoted to you and your kingdom all these years just waiting for you to see her as a woman instead of the household help.”

The look on Darien’s face was nothing less than dumbfounded.  “Are you sure?”

“Of course I am.  Just ask her,” Gabrielle urged.

There was an uncomfortable, heavy pause.  Then he changed the subject with, “I wish things could’ve been different.”

“So do we,” Xena interrupted.  She paused before the next question, not sure she wanted the answer.  “When?”

“Tomorrow, midday.”

“You’re really going to execute us for being in love?”  Gabrielle was simply dismayed.

“As I said, I wish things could end differently.”

“If it is to be our last night together, will you at least let us share the same cell?”

Darien paused, then hesitantly agreed.

Gabrielle sat with her back leaning against Xena’s chest.  “I can’t believe we denied these feelings – who and what we are - all these years.  All those countless nights we slept together side by side under the stars and now, after we truly find each other, it’s going to cost us our lives.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time…”

Gabrielle laughed, “That’s true.”

“At least this time they’re not going to crucify us.”

“Yeah, that hurt.”

“I try not to remember how much.”

“I can’t believe we can laugh about it now.”

“Time makes a lot of things seem different.”

“Not everything…”

“Like what?”

“I still remember the first time I saw you.  As scared as I was, you made my heart race and I knew we were going to be together.”

“You mean you knew you were going to tag along like some small town, innocent pest?”

“Hey!” Xena laughed as Gabrielle pushed against her playfully.  “I was not a pest!”

“See, time does make you remember things differently.”

This was their last night together - no sleep, only laughter and tears and memories and the comfort of each other’s arms.

Vanita snuck into the jail just before glow of dawn appeared in the eastern sky.  As she approached the cell she showed no hesitation at seeing them holding one another.  “I wanted to thank you for talking to Darien.  He came to me last night; he went to bed only minutes ago.  He asked me if I love him and of course I said yes.  Our courtship will soon begin officially.”

“That’s wonderful news.  I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”  Vanita was amazed at the absence of bitterness in Gabrielle’s voice.

“But I can’t marry him knowing that we were brought together by your deaths.  I can’t live with that.  That’s why I’ve come to help you escape.  You have to get out of the city walls before the city awakes.”

Surprisingly, neither of the prisoners moved.  Gabrielle took a deep breath and leaned her head back against Xena.  Softly, Xena kissed her cheek, and then looked up at Vanita.  “We can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because Darien would find out that it was you that helped us escape and this time he would truly lose the woman meant to be his queen,” Gabrielle explained.

Xena continued, “Things are as they were intended to be.  There is no reason to risk your future for us.  We’re ready for our future.”

Vanita tried briefly to argue, but found them less and less responsive.  Eventually she thanked them for their help, promised never to forget them, and left them to be alone.

Midday came, as they knew it would.  Guards could be heard coming down the hall.  They both caught their breath as Xena folded Gabrielle more tightly into her embrace.  “Don’t be afraid,” she whispered into her ear.

“I’m not.”

The guards removed them from their cell and marched them outside.  The center square was in sight when the formation turned to the right, leading them away.  “Where are we going?” Xena asked.

“Just keep moving,” was the response.

They moved along the side of the palace and around the back to the garden where the lilacs were still blooming.  Darien was standing to one side of what appeared to be two altars.  They were brought to a halt in front of him.  “I cannot spare your lives, but I can at least spare you the ridicule of a public death.”

There were no words, but the look from Gabrielle thanked him for this gesture.  Then they were both jerked away toward the altars.  For the first time they noticed hooded figures with battleaxes standing by.  After they were forced to their knees they were asked if they wanted hoods; they looked at each other and slowly shook their heads “no”.  From somewhere a drum roll started.  Two hearts began to race as their heads were forced onto the blocks still facing one another.  “I love you, Gabrielle.”

“I love you, too.”

And then the drum roll stopped.

Katie pushed herself away from the keyboard, wiping the tears away that were streaming down her face.  She sat and stared at that final sentence for just a moment, then saved her words and shut the computer off.  On her way to the bedroom she stopped to wash the tears from her face.  She entered the bedroom on tiptoe.  When she reached the bed she slipped the robe off of her bare back and crawled quietly into bed.  Carefully she settled in and then sighed deeply.

“Did you finish?”

“Oh, Andy, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to wake you.”  She rolled on her side toward the voice in the dark.

“You didn’t.  I heard you get up.  I’ve been waiting for you.  Did you finish?”

“Yes.”

“Did it end the way you wanted it to?”

“I think it ended the only way it could.”

“Do you want to tell me about it?” 

Katie’s eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the room.  The faintest light fell in from the window and across Andy’s face.  It was a beautiful face with high cheekbones and tender lips; somewhere beneath the light were two of the most intensely blue eyes on the planet.  Her raven colored hair was shiny even in the dimmest light.  “Maybe tomorrow.”

“Sure…” The voice sounded a little wounded.

“Tonight I’d rather just have you hold me.”

There was a smile behind the “I can do that” that whispered back to her.  Andrea rolled onto her back and slipped her arm under Katie as she moved to lay her head on her shoulder.  In the silence, Katie nuzzled her face against Andy’s chest, listening to the beat of her heart.

Beginning to weep softly she managed, “I’ve missed you.” 

“I know.  I’ve missed you too.”  Andy tenderly kissed her forehead with three tiny kisses.  “I’m sorry.”

“I thought I was losing you.”

“Listen to me; you will never lose me.  Not ever.  Do you hear me?”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Then where did you go?  Why did you pull away from me?”

“I knew that this final story was one journey you would have to make alone.  You had to find your own way and I was beginning to think you would never take it if you could stay comfortably here with me.”

“And now you’re back?”

“We both are.  Now get some sleep.”  And just like that the distance that had lived between them disappeared.  They pulled each other lovingly into a secure embrace.  Heavy eyelids began to pull them toward sleep.  Their heartbeats slowed, as did their breathing as they began to drift into the night together.

Before falling away Katie mumbled, “I love you, Xena.”

“I love you too, Gabrielle,” was the answer.

Three heartbeats later Katie’s eyes flew open.  She rose up on one elbow and looked at Andy with eyes full of questions.  “What did you say?” she asked breathlessly.

“I said, ‘I love you too’” this time she paused for effect “Gabrielle.”

“Do you think…?”

“For some time now…”

Katie began to shake her head as if things were adding up too quickly to comprehend.  “All these years…  They weren’t dreams?”

Andy softly reached up and cupped Katie’s cheek in her hand.  As the realization finally sank in, Katie answered her own question.  “They were memories.”  Xena smiled knowingly, relieved that Gabrielle had finally figured it out.  And finally the weight of what all this meant hit home.  “We really will be together forever.”

Xena smiled and answered, “We already have been.”

With that, Gabrielle leaned closely to Xena, hovering over her lips.  Their eyes were locked in a gaze that had lasted through the ages.  Tenderly, Gabrielle brushed her lips against Xena’s, causing both their pulses to race.  The second kiss was stronger, taking their breath away.  And as the night gave way to passion, every heartbeat, every kiss proved again and again that some loves never end.  Some things are timeless…

The End

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