ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

As We Give Thanks . . .

by WLMcCord

Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself (with one exception I will explain at the end) are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without the author's consent.

VIOLENCE WARNING/DISCLAIMER: Sorry, not this time.

SUBTEXT DISCLAIMER: Yup, a lotta that here, and sex too. This story is Alt-Xena and if the idea of two adult women in a loving sexual relationship offends you or you are under 18, please read something else.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place just after the Season 5 episode Chakram, but before the next episode, Succession. There are MAJOR spoilers for Season 4's Ides of March and Season 5's premiere Fallen Angel.

Copyright: 6-3-2000

Please send any comments, burnt or under-done to Belobris@aol.com

Gabrielle walked along beside Xena and marveled. She marveled at the singing birds in the trees, the coolish breeze that ruffled her short blond hair, the sound of late insects in the brush. Most of all she marveled at the sound and feel of her footsteps on the path, a feeling she had never thought to experience again.

"It's life..." she thought, feeling giddy. "We are alive ... by all the gods and Eli ... we are alive ... again."

And a bit uncomfortable. Her boots seemed heavy after the lightness of the sandals she had taken to wearing during their sojourn in India. Of course they were made even heavier than her old boots had ever been by the weight of the metal Sai's tucked into the top of each one. The hilts of the dagger-like parrying weapons constantly rubbed against her calves as she walked and she hoped she wasn't in for blisters. The braided brown leather bra-type outfit she had chosen to replace the sack-cloth rags the Romans had dressed her in for the crucifixion had turned out to be a bit hot and chaffed in some places as well.

She looked somewhat enviously at Xena; the Warrior Princess was in a flimsy red top, maroon skirt, pink silky pantaloons and open-toed sandals such as Gabrielle had worn in India. The day was hot, but she looked quite comfortable. The new double chakram knocking at her hip seemed out of place, but she would soon fix that at the next town and get back into leathers of some kind suitable for fighting. Ah, well, never mind, the bard thought. I'll get used to it; anything is better than what Caesar had planned for us.

She looked at her hands and her eyes watered. "Silly girl," she thought blinking almost in anger. "I'm still in ... in wonder at it ALL..." Still in wonder that the cruel holes in her hands and feet were no longer there. That she and Xena were not dead; were not in Heaven wearing wings or in Hell with hooves; were not still fighting against each other (and how much that had hurt her she did not even dare to contemplate) for a cause that was already becoming dim in her mind.

It was all confused now.

Heaven and Hell ... each had seemed to have their own agenda. Each were run by a different being unseen and powerful, with the angels and Arch-Angels like Michael attempting to keep order in Heaven, and the bat winged minions of Hell trying to disrupt things. Yes, Heaven was pure goodness and love, and Hell was pure blackness and evil.

Tartarus and the Elysian Fields seemed simple in comparison. In Tartarus, the god Hades ruled and kept the evildoers in line and doing punishment, and in the Elysian Fields, he kept things sweet and calm and the dead did not even know that they were dead; they forgot that they had died. They just woke up each morning to a sunny day and flowers and lived the same wonderful day over and over and never realized they were doing it.

But I'm damned if THAT doesn't sound like some sort of Hell to me, Gabrielle thought, sourly. The same day, the same events, the same thing over and over and over? You never feel tired, hungry, sad, sleepy; never want for anything? How do you know you are having a good time and why would you care? What idiot god thought that one up; Hades, of course. And this is for our own good? Well, I suppose if you don't KNOW each day is always the same, year in and year out, it might seem wonderful, but still ... I think I'd choose Heaven over the Elysian Fields, for at least there day by day you have a reason for existing; have a cause, have something to do, like fighting for the greater good of everything.

Fighting for the greater good ... Gabrielle shuddered inwardly as she remembered her own brief time as a demon after she had been forced to eat the food of Hell after being kidnapped by Callisto and her demons. Although parched and starving, the bard had managed to resist eating on her own for a long time, but then at the Callisto demon's command, her minions had held Gabrielle down and forced the food down her throat. The bard grimaced; I was in Hell after all, a place of great evil; what did I expect, fairness? As she had begun to change into her demonic form, for the first time in her life, the bard's heart was full of rage and fire and a hunger to do harm to anyone and everything. Then when she had been saved by the attack of Xena and the other Arch-Angels, who took her back to heaven and cleansed her of her evil. At this point the bard had become an Arch-Angel herself, and had felt pure and full of hope and compassion for all things ... even the evil ones ... like Xena had become when she had given up her goodness to save CALLISTO, of all people.

It was Callisto who helped Caesar to catch us, who broke Xena's back with her own chakram, who got us onto those crosses that killed us ... and then even after we were dead, it was Callisto who kidnapped me from heaven, and who had just turned me into a DEMON as Xena and the Arch-Angels raided Hell to save me.

Even after all that ... Xena forgave Callisto; redeemed her. The woman whose family, whose village, whose ... LIFE the Warrior Princess had wronged so many years ago in Cirra ... Xena had forgiven her of her sins, and had become a demon in her stead.

Gabrielle shook her head in wonder at the thought. She was always Callisto the lunatic; Callisto the mass murderer; Callisto, slayer of my husband! More, killer of Xena's own son, Solan! The bard was amazed. I managed to forgive Callisto in Heaven when I was shown that she had been made good and pure, but how did XENA find it in her heart to forgive Callisto when she was a demon; was still so evil?

And from somewhere deep inside, in a place the bard had not even realized was still there, came an unbidden thought. "...and don't forget, that Xena forgave YOU too for Solan's death. It wasn't only the evil Callisto that killed the poor child; it was in collusion with your own evil daughter, Hope, that he was slain. Hope, whom you let live to the detriment of the gods only know HOW many lives before she died..." Gabrielle felt a brief stirring of sadness, before she firmly turned away from the thoughts. "No, I won't walk this trail again. I did what I thought was right with Hope. I was wrong, but I did all that I could to rectify my mistakes and make up for it. Hope has been dead two years now, and she will hurt no one else, thank the gods, and there's an end to it."

Dismissing the sadness, the bard returned to her former thoughts. Yes, Callisto had been redeemed, but at what cost to them all; to Xena herself? For even as Gabrielle was becoming an Arch-Angel to fight for good, her soulmate had taken Callisto's place in hell as a demon. Shortly thereafter, the Xena demon, master strategist and warrior, led the forces of Hell against Heaven itself ... and against her soulmate, Gabrielle of Poteidaia as well.

Grimly now, Gabrielle remembered that time just before she and the Xena demon had fought, how the creature who had been her best friend and lover had begged, tears running down her scaled cheeks, "Gabrielle, please, don't let me walk through Hell alone..." and the angel bard had been swayed, had almost given up and gone with the one woman she loved above all others.

After all that they had been through in life; sickness and health, both losing friends and loved ones, standing up to the worst that men and gods could throw at them, each losing a child because of the other and coming through the pain and hatred of that time, staying together at all costs, even until their deaths on the cross at Caesar's command ... after all that, what were Heaven or Hell to them, if they could but be together no matter what the circumstance?

Yes, the Xena demon had almost won her over ... Gabrielle could admit that to herself now, even if at the time she had dared not contemplate it. She had somehow managed to stand firm against her lover, and they had fought, flying through the clouds, clashing swords and wills as each tried to overcome the other. Even then, in the middle of the fight, Gabrielle felt the compelling tug of love and compassion for her soulmate and had difficulty battling wholeheartedly. In the end, ever focused, the Xena demon had won, carving the winged bard out of the sky and following her uncontrolled plummet down to the scene of the battle for Heaven.

Even then, Xena did not finish her helpless friend off, but picked her wounded body up and jumped off the cliff into Hell's maw, so they could be together. It was only because of Eli and somehow ... Callisto, that she did not succeed, as he brought them back to life and into their bodies midway through the downward plunge, and they awoke gasping as if dunked in ice water, with one of his hands on each of their heads.

The bard glanced around and drank in the familiar sights and smells of earth; the trees, birds, grass, sky ... Eewww, horse dung on the trail, flies buzzing ... "And here we are again..." she thought as she stepped around the busy pile. "Walking the trail back to Greece with Joxer and Amarice as if none of it had ever happened."

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They continued walking up the trail; the heat of the day was not bad, being early autumn, but it was still warm enough to make them long for a cool drink in the shade. As they went, Gabrielle glanced at Xena covertly. The dark woman was striding along looking at the scenery not for the raw beauty of nature, but as always, scanning for possible enemies or problems she might have to deal with.

She was still wearing the flimsy clothing and open-toed sandals she had picked in the last town, back before she had regained her memory of being the Warrior Princess. The bard felt a smirk crease her lips at the sight. Xena certainly did not look like Xena without her leathers and sword, and the sight of the guarding warrior in the red and pink outfit was incongress to say the least.

Not that she doesn't look um, hot that way, thought the bard. Oh, yes, those ARE lovely (if naughty) colors on her. She imagined being naked with her arms around her big friend and how the silky clothing might feel between them as they kissed and felt her cheeks get hot. Cool it, bard, she thought with a slight shiver. Remember Joxer and Amarice are right up ahead, and giving them a show isn't my idea of a good time.

"Gabrielle..." Xena's low voice startled her out of her reverie.

"Huh, what?"

"You look a little flushed ... are you all right?"

"Oh, um, yeah..." The blushing blond looked away and tried to speak calmly.

"Hmmm." There was a smile in Xena's voice. She stopped walking and tenderly cupped the bard's chin and turned her face towards her. Gabrielle swallowed as she gazed up into the deep blue eyes that she loved, and Xena's smile got wider. The warrior glanced up the path to where Joxer and Amarice were out of sight around a bend of trees, then looked back into the green gaze of her soulmate.

She bent and brushed her lips lightly across Gabrielle's and murmured, "I haven't told you yet, my dear one, but I think those new leathers look ... good on you. Verrrry good," she purred.

"Mmmm." The bard shivered at Xena's choice of endearment and her eyes fluttered shut. Long ago, the first time they had made love, Xena had called her 'my dear one' and to hear it had never failed to make Gabrielle's heart melt within her. She glanced up the road too, then pulled her lover down for a short but sweet kiss, which made them both tremble. When they broke apart, she gently touched the flimsy material over the bigger woman's breast and said thickly, "...and have I told you just how well this outfit suits you ... my warrior?"

"What, these old rags?" Xena grinned. She spun about so that the pants and top flowed around her, and then hooked her thumbs under the armpits of the red top and pulled the material tight over her breasts. "You are too kind..."

"Xena," breathed the bard. "I may have said this before, but 'Your breasts are dangerous.'"

"These little things," the warrior said, cupping them and looking down at them with a smirk. "How could they be dangerous?" She looked at the petite woman from under her eyebrows and whispered, "They're so soft and smooth, and the points wouldn't even penetrate cloth, let alone armor. How could you say they are dangerous..." she pouted.

The bard gazed speechlessly at the cupped breasts being offered like ripe fruits for her inspection, and choked at the sight of taut nipples straining at the red material. Her lips moved but no words came out.

The warrior looked up the trail again, then back down at her lover and her eyes were warm. "I don't suppose we could, um, ditch those two ... and find a quiet spot under a tree or something..."

"Xeeeena..." Gabrielle closed her eyes briefly and groaned in frustration.

"...or by a stream, or under a bush, or hey, right here on the road..."

"XENA! Stop it," gritted the bard.

"No, I suppose not..." the warrior grinned.

The small blond punched her friend none-to-lightly in the stomach. "Look you! It's been a long time ... don't tease."

"Oof! Okay, okay." The warrior chuckled, then sobered. "I guess we haven't been together since before we were dead, when I sent you and Amarice to find Eli when Caesar put the six million dinar reward on my head..." She looked at her hands and she and Gabrielle shivered. "Yeah, we were captured, crucified, went to both Heaven and Hell, were brought back to life and then had to rejoin the halves of the chakram. I guess things HAVE been a bit complicated for us these last few months..."

"You're damn right they have..." Gabrielle growled, when they were interrupted by a voice.

"Hey, guys! What's up?" They turned to see Joxer and Amarice striding back towards them. The gangly wanna-be warrior in mismatched armor came clumping up to stop with a slight clanging sound and looked at them grumpily. "So what's the deal," he groused. "How're we gonna get back to Greece if you and Gabby stop every few feet to ... to gab?"

Behind him Amarice grinned, and shrugged as if to say this wasn't her idea. Xena put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes, and he hastened to add, "Uh, I mean if yer not in any hurry ... heh heh, we can take our time, no problem. Gettin' tired? I know bein' dead must take it outa ya ... wanna camp early?" The Warrior Princess looked around, and then seemed to come to a decision. "Up ahead about a mile, the trail splits. The left fork goes to the town of Anastat, about a day from here. The right fork leads in two days to a small farm where I stabled Argo last March; she was too noticeable to sneak into Rome..."

"Anastat..." broke in the un-mighty one with a pleased grin, "I seem to remember that place as havin' some good taverns..."

The Warrior Princess nodded. "That's right. Gabrielle and I are going to go get Argo; you two go on and take the left fork; get rooms and wait for us there. We'll meet you in five days or so with Argo."

"But, um, ya sure you don't need us along, for uh, protection," Joxer said, nervously pulling at his sword hilt. "I mean, suppose Ares shows up again..." He puffed out his chest. "After the last time at the temple, he wouldn't dare to face my sword, uh, along with your new chakram I mean ... and four swords are better than one ya know..."

Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other, then the warrior sighed. "No, it'll be all right. I'm sure he's been scared off for now..."

But Joxer went on as if he hadn't heard. "Or wait, make that five swords with Gabby's two whatchamacallums, or are those things really swords? Maybe they're daggers ..." he trailed off muttering and counting on his fingers. "So does two daggers make one sword, or a sword and a half ... maybe it's four swords and a half then..."

"I think he's trying to say we don't mind coming with you to get Argo," said Amarice softly over Joxer's continued murmuring.

"No, thanks," Xena smiled. "There's no reason for you two to make a four day detour when you could be relaxing in a town. Besides," she lowered her voice, "we need a little, um, private time ... we'll see you there. Keep him out of trouble, if possible..."

"All right," grinned the young Amazon with an understanding wink. "Count on me. See you in five days..." She grabbed the still muttering warrior-wanna-be by the arm and raised her voice, "Come on, Joxer, let's go..."

The gangly young man protested as she began to pull him away. "Hey, wait a minute, Amarice! Xena and Gabby haven't been undead ... uh, dead ... I mean 'NOT dead' for very long. They may need the sword of Joxer the Mighty to protect them..."

Amarice rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's likely ... NOT!"

She continued tugging but he dug in his heels until Gabrielle stepped forward and called, "It's all right, Joxer. Xena and I need to talk; we'll see you in five days..."

Concluded HERE

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