Inside myself I am warmer, but there is a battle waging within me. I pause in my writing, remove my quill from the parchment, and gaze at her across the fire.

Her black, silky hair is ruffled by a breeze as she sits stoically sharpening her sword.

Please Xena, don't ever change.

That 6-foot hardened warrior has no idea what effect she's had on me. She thinks I am the one who worked a miracle to change her heart from dark to light. It is nothing in comparison to how she has transformed me.

We've had our rough times, yes--let's face it, we've been though hell and back. Literally.

Over the past few years I have borne and repeatedly killed an evil child; taken numerous lives (even innocent ones); been drowned, beaten, roasted, and toasted; walked through the fires of hell and donned a pair of angel wings. And through it all I can't ignore how my heart has been slipping farther into the hands of the one I wake up next to every morning.

I feel so much for her--too much for any word to describe. I've tried, the gods know how hard I've tried, but even as a bard, I cannot fully bring to words what I feel.

I fear I may die without ever being able to show all that I can't put voice to. I believe the depth of my feelings scares me.

Xena, I love you. To me, you capture such a beauty that even the sun, moon, and starry hosts are put to shame.

I want to tell her this....should I?

I feel Xena's eyes on me and I look up. With her azure pools she stares indiscriminately into my soul.

She smiles.

I flash her a weak smile and before I can become lost in her gaze I return my eyes to this parchment.

Someday I'm going to find a way to say "I love you more than you can understand"...but for today its just a thought.

---Gabrielle

This story is dedicated to the one who enables me to feel; the one who has shown me the beauty of trust, patience, and compassion. Ferdi, I hope you can always see what I'm unable to say...