DISCLAIMER: The characters of Xena: Warrior Princess remain the property of MCA/Renaissance Pictures and Studios USA. No copyright infringement is intended and this is a non-profit story.

SUBTEXT: this story does depict to women in-love and even though there is nothing graphic in here, there are implications of two women making love. If this offends you....read no further.

If you’d like to write to Hoggle Bard....and she’d love you to!!...write to: hoggle_bard@hotmail.com

Gabrielle placed the tip of the quill in her mouth, and ran her tongue along the point, while glancing absentmindedly at the sky before plunging again into the scroll. She wrote furiously hoping to get down the right words as they flittered into her head, before they began to fade, replaced with new phrases. She loved it when a rush of inspiration descended on her in a wave of creativity. Sometimes she would be walking along side Xena and Argo when it would hit her, like a bolt of lightning. The ending to the poem, or the right words to describe Xena’s flip, or something else she had been chewing over in her head and since forgotten. Xena usually acted annoyed when Gabrielle stopped the party suddenly to retrieve her scrolls and broke the tedium of the long walks. "Gabrielle…" she would start with a slightly impatient note in her calm voice. The bard then would finish her sentence and look down proudly at the scrolls, then as an afterthought at Xena and say "hmm? Oh, I just had to finish that" and smile sweetly and put the story away. Though Xena pretended that the little stops were an inconvenience, the truth was that she loved to see the little bards face light up, and knew that most of her best writing came at times like these. She would shake her head and wonder why Gabrielle’s muse was so against unbroken hikes.

Xena turned to glance at Gabrielle’s golden head buried in the parchment. She smiled and wondered what Gabrielle was writing about. Xena was about to ask her, but stopped. She knew to wait until the frenzied quill movements had slowed before asking the bard if she expected to get a response. Gabrielle was always so deeply into her writing, Xena could say anything and her friend would not register a word. She playfully tested this,
"Gabrielle, dinner’s ready… I cooked squid. I know how much you like it. Actually, it’s hardly cooked, still moving really… it’s coming towards you!" She smiled as she saw the girl nod vaguely and keep writing. Xena knew if that Gabrielle had detected any hint of fear or anger in her voice she would have snapped out of the trance the words had her in immediately, but Xena saw no reason to do that. She just continued gently saying things to Gabrielle to amuse herself, "You’re riding all day tomorrow…I’m about to drench you with water…" ’I love you’. Even though she knew Gabrielle wasn’t listening to a word she said, she wouldn’t dare say the last one. The one she wanted to say so desperately, incase the bard snapped out of her meditative state and heard her. It was funny, in a way. She wanted her to hear her, but if she ever did, Xena would have died of pure fear. The paradox brought a wry painful smile to her lips and she glanced back at Gabrielle, to see that Gabrielle was now looking up at her with a concerned expression,
"Xena?…" she questioned, and when she saw Xena smile at her, the concern faded and was replaced with excitement.
" I found the PERFECT way to describe how you looked the other morning when we were attacked by those bandits and you knocked them all out using the fish you caught for breakfast! It was great!"
Gabrielle looked back down at her scroll and decided this would be the first story she would tell at the next inn they visited… of course she would have to leave out the part about Xena having been bathing at the time of the attack and had warded of the offenders not only unarmed, but unclothed! She didn’t want to embarrass her companion by relaying that point, and image, to a tavern full of drunken fools… they may get some ideas. The last thing she wanted was to encourage those drunkards to drool over thoughts of her Xena’s bare skin. Her Xena? Gabrielle thought shocked. When had she started thinking of Xena as hers?! She raised her eyebrows, shook her head, and thought ‘Woah Gab, where did that come from?’

Xena passed Gabrielle a leg of the rabbit she had cooked. It was a little tough, Xena realized as she bit into hers. She hoped Gabrielle wouldn’t notice. Normally Gabrielle did the cooking, but as she was involved in her writing, and Xena was hungry, she had cooked the meal. Gabrielle chewed on the meat, exaggerating its toughness to tease Xena.
"Gee Xena, what did you do to this? Cook it with your death stare?" Xena smiled at the playful insult and retaliated,
" At least I managed to cook it. The last rabbit you cooked almost bounded off the stake".
It was true that Gabrielle liked her meat cooked rare, but she was infact an excellent cook, and Xena knew it. Xena glanced into the smiling eyes of her friend, and felt a warm calm sweep over her. She loved to see Gabrielle smiling, or frowning, or pouting… hell she just loved to see Gabrielle! Xena smiled happily and chewed on the meat. Gabrielle stared over the campfire at Xena’s smiling face. She looked truly serene. Nothing made Gabrielle happier than seeing Xena relaxed. It was rare to see a warrior in a state other than tension and apprehension, or at least a good warrior. Xena had once told her that a relaxed warrior was an unprepared warrior, and an unprepared warrior wouldn’t be around for long. But it was so nice to see her warrior at ease. Gabrielle caught herself again with the ‘her’ and decided she would have to have a long think about her feelings for Xena and try and figure them out. It was more than just a possessiveness issue. She had started ‘looking’ at Xena. When her friend was sharpening a blade, Gabrielle would watch her muscles flexing and relaxing. At first she thought she was just envious of her strong companion, but since when was envy accompanied by a warm and soggy feeling? Yes. She would definitely have to think about this a little more...Xena had finished eating and was taking off her armor for bed. ‘Later. I’ll think about it later’ Gabrielle mused as she indulged in watching the woman undress.

Xena had keen senses and heard a soft sigh from her friend as her armor fell to the ground accompanied by the feeling of being watched, soft green,… blue,… hazel (or what ever damn color they were that day!) eyes penetrating her back. Xena assumed the look was something to do with envy over her clearly defined muscles… but then, Gabrielle had developed some pretty defined muscles herself recently, and she had a mean set of abs! She loved the fact that Gabrielle’s clothes had become more and more revealing as her body became more and more toned. It was like unwrapping a present very slowly. Xena grinned at the possibilities of what Gabrielle’s next outfit would reveal, and kept grinning as she climbed into her bedroll, facing away from the girl.

Gabrielle quickly put her hands over her mouth and sucked in a breath, as if trying to suck the sigh which she had carelessly let escape back into her throat. ‘Damn’ she thought. She hoped Xena hadn’t heard! But she saw the tall woman jerk slightly and she hung her head in her hands. ‘Good one Gabrielle’ she thought sarcastically. She thought for a moment and picked up the scrolls at her feet and pretended she had been reading one of them as Xena climbed into her bedroll facing away from her. Gabrielle crumpled the parchment and sighed again deliberately and loudly.
"Oh Xena, I just can’t think of how to finish this line…" ‘Nice save’ Gabrielle thought proudly to herself. Xena rolled over and looked at her,
"Gabrielle, don’t force it, it will come to you later… on the road sometime I’m sure" she added smirking.
Xena scolded herself. How could she think the bard had sighed about her! She felt embarrassed, like she had tried to project her feelings for Gabrielle onto…she felt so stupid. Her mouth moved to an involuntary sneer, as she was vaguely aware of Gabrielle speaking to her. Snapping out of her thoughts, she looked up at Gabrielle who’s face read annoyance at her friend.
"Fine then Xena, I won’t sleep next to you, if that’s what you want"
Gabrielle’s hands were on her hips and a pout was on her lips. It was beautiful, thought Xena, before she realized she had somehow angered her friend.
"What? I’m sorry… what?" Xena said in a daze.
"When I asked if you wanted me to sleep next to you, you gave this look of… disgust, so I thought…" Gabrielle said ‘a-mater-of-factly’.
Xena jumped in, horrified that she had somehow upset her Gabrielle,
"No, no! I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you, I was thinking about… Argo needing shoes, and whether we have enough dinars for them" ‘Nice save’ Xena thought to herself.
She looked at the beautiful young woman standing on the other side of the campfire. " Please, you can sleep here" She almost pleaded, and then realizing the almost desperation in her voice, she added casually "…we will be warmer that way". Gabrielle’s pout turned into a non-chalaunt expression as she lay her bedroll beside Xena’s. Xena realized she had made another mistake. Gabrielle quickly changed into a shift and climbed into her bedroll, facing away from Xena. "Goodnight Xena" she said without much feeling. Xena’s worry turned to slight anger at the bard’s actions. She turned onto her side, facing away from Gabrielle and mumbled goodnight.

Gabrielle considered the evening. She realized that her feelings for Xena were not merely those of a best friend. She also realized that her Xena felt very differently. Xena had been unable to hide the disgust at the thought that Gabrielle would sleep next to her… even though they had done so on many occasions before. ‘She knows I was looking at her’ Gabrielle thought fearfully ‘She is disgusted by me’ Gabrielle began to sob quietly into the blanket. It was nice that Xena had tried to make her feel better, to indulge her by saying she could sleep there. She had probably only done it so as not to upset her. Maybe she even pitied her. Gabrielle fell asleep sobbing about it all.

Xena considered the evening. She felt so stupid. She loved Gabrielle, but her small friend felt very differently. She was so innocent, how could Xena think that her young bard had any interest in her at all as more than a friend? ‘She would be disgusted, if I told her’ Xena thought. As she lay there thinking about the problem of getting over her own feelings for the sake of not upsetting her friendship with Gabrielle, she heard a soft sobbing coming from beside her, which then turned into the steady breathing of one who’s sleep was carried on tears.

When Xena had heard the sobbing give way to light sleep, she had turned around to face Gabrielle. She was very concerned as to why her friend was crying, and she felt tears swell in her eyes as she put her arm around her beautiful bard and held her. Gabrielle’s tears had stopped and she seemed to smile. Xena looked at the girl in her arms and felt her heart melt, as she felt a small hand edge it’s way into hers. She kissed Gabrielle softly on the forehead, then on the cheek, then Xena let her lips brush against her loves as she slept. She hoped Gabrielle had nice dreams.

Xena and Gabrielle were in an inn. Gabrielle couldn’t remember why she felt sad, and when she looked at the gorgeous warrior beside her, she could imagine any reason she had to be sad… ever. Gabrielle smiled at Xena and offered her a port. Xena accepted and returned the smile. They were at the bar and an angry audience was heckling a performer on the stage. They had been sitting at the bar long enough, Gabrielle had been wanting to be alone with her dear Xena all evening, and the performance on the stage was not taking her attention away from her desire. Xena slipped her arm around Gabrielle’s waist and held her tight. Gabrielle realized that she would have to get upstairs to their bedroom soon, or else she was going to have to take her warrior there and then. Gabrielle reached for Xena’s hand, the one around her waist and she led her warrior princess up the stairs to their room. When they reached the door, Gabrielle felt Xena kiss her softly on the forehead. Gabrielle opened the door to their room and led Xena towards the bed. Xena kissed her tenderly on the cheek. Gabrielle sat down on the bed, pulling her Xena down beside her and she felt Xena’s lips brush gently, ever so softly and timidly, against hers. Gabrielle sat for a while enjoying the tingles that the soft lips had left on her own. Then she closed her eyes and reached for Xena’s head and pulled her closer, for a more passionate, sensual kiss…

Xena rested her head on her hand and leaned against her elbow. She recalled how good it felt to finally put her lips against the dreaming girl’s. Even though she was sure Gabrielle did not know she had done it, Xena felt a little bit of confidence that her kiss had widened the smile on the sleeping bard’s face. Xena was reveling in it when something unforeseen happened. As Xena watched Gabrielle sleeping, she felt the young woman’s hand reaching up to her head and pulling her down to her mouth. Xena gasped in surprise as the still very asleep blond kissed her. Xena’s head swam. She felt the heat of Gabrielle’s soft lips pressing against hers, and she closed her eyes and started to fall into the kiss. Xena stopped herself. She couldn’t believe she was doing this! She was taking advantage of her sleeping friend! Xena was disgusted with herself and pulled away. Why had Gabrielle let her kiss her like that? What on earth was the girl dreaming!? Then Xena’s eyes narrowed as she thought ‘And who of?’. Even though she knew she had no possession of Gabrielle’s heart, it was awful to think that she was dreaming of someone else, and accidentally kissing her friend. Xena again felt appalled by her actions, she let out a hateful grunt.

Gabrielle was kissing her wonderful princess when she felt her pull away. The feeling of her love slipping away, and hearing a strange grunt, woke Gabrielle from her favourite dream… that wasn’t how it ended! She had had that dream before and each time it had ended much better than that! Gabrielle opened her eyes and saw a very shocked and embarrassed Xena staring at her. "I… I’m so sorry Gabrielle," she said, realizing that Gabrielle had known that Xena had kissed her.
"I…I…" but no excuses came to mind. Gabrielle tried to piece together what had transpired. She had been dreaming of Xena… kissing Xena. Xena was here, embarrassed and apologetic I? ‘OH I no!’ thought Gabrielle ‘I must have actually kissed her!’ Gabrielle started to stutter apologies at Xena at the same time as Xena was trying to apologize to her.
"I’m so sorry Xena… if you want me to go, I can. I’ll leave you. I know this must be awkward for you. I’m sorry…"
Gabrielle wept on the taller woman’s shoulder. In a way, she was glad to have her feelings out in the open… but in another, my realistic way, she was deeply worried that Xena would accept her offer to leave, or even say she could stay but treat her differently, with contempt. These thoughts were too much to bear and she broke down completely.
"Oh Xena, I love you… I’m sorry… I can’t help it…don’t hate me…" she managed between ragged breaths. Gabrielle noticed that all this time the older woman had been stroking her hair and ‘shhhing’ her. Gabrielle stopped her crying and looked up at the warrior princess.

Xena watched as her own embarrassment, guilt and fear were overtaken by the apparently similar feelings of her friend. As Gabrielle cried on Xena’s shoulder and confessed that she loved her, Xena’s heart was rising and falling as she took each breath. Rising: Gabrielle loved her! Gabrielle meant to kiss her! Falling: Gabrielle was crying because she was feeling as bad and scared as Xena did. Even though Xena knew that the tears would soon end when she spoke up, she was still upset to hear them and no that the small woman had been carrying all these feelings around without saying anything, out of fear, just as she herself had. As she stroked the soft golden hair and comforted Gabrielle, she thought about what she would say to the girl who was so good with words, when she stopped crying. Xena thought hard as she rocked Gabrielle in her arms, about the right words.

Gabrielle continued to sob now out of embarrassment as much as fear. ‘Great’ she thought ‘Now Xena thinks I’m a lovesick baby’, but she was happy for the support and comfort of Xena’s arms. She was comfortable in the gentle rocking and the stoking of her hair, and she actually started to feel a little better. She wanted to tell Xena that it didn’t matter if she didn’t love her back, and that she could live ignoring her feelings because she didn’t want to lose Xena as a friend. She was the best friend Gabrielle had ever known. A fresh set of tears rolled down Gabrielle’s cheeks as she thought about what a disappointment of a best friend she had been to Xena. She had no right to tell her that, she should have kept it as her own problem and dealt with it, instead of jeopardizing the best thing she had ever known. Now she feared her greed, her wanting all of Xena would make her lose everything. Lost in these tragic thoughts, Gabrielle missed the first part of what Xena was softly whispering in her ear. She tuned in to hear,
"… the greatest friend, and the most wonderful person I know, and I love you. Anyone who knew you would instantly fall in love with you. I want to hold you like this forever, and never let you out of my arms. You changed me Gabrielle, I’ve learned so much from you, and now that I know you love me too, I’m never going to let you go".
Xena closed her eyes and kissed the bard’s tear stricken cheeks, tasting the salt on her lips. The warmth of the soft wet skin beneath her lips started a shiver down Xena’s spine. She looked at Gabrielle, and waited for her to say something. Gabrielle’s eyes were glazed over with tears, and love. Her mouth was moving as if she was trying to speak but the words weren’t coming. Xena couldn’t help smiling at the dumbstruck girl; it was so rarely that the bard was lost for words. Xena teased her, repeating the words she had said before,
"Don’t force it Gabrielle, it will come to you later".

Gabrielle grinned and pulled Xena’s head towards hers and softly kissed her lips. Xena felt a surge of desire and kissed the warm mouth against hers deeply, running her tongue against the parting lips. She heard a soft squeak as she nibbled on the bard’s lower lip. Xena almost pulled away in fear that she had hurt Gabrielle, but her mouth was invaded by the young woman’s eager tongue and Xena almost melted. The kiss was so gentle, and so passionate Xena never wanted it to end, sinking deeper and deeper into Gabrielle. She felt a small hand tentatively touch her breast and run along her nipple, making Xena moan softly. Gabrielle pulled away from the kiss and started to kiss Xena’s neck and up to her ear, biting and nibbling on the lobe. Xena couldn’t move. Each touch from the girl’s tongue or hand sent a new shockwave of pleasure through her body. When she felt the small hands pulling at her shift Xena decided she needed to touch Gabrielle as well. She lifted Gabrielle’s head, which was kissing down into her cleavage, and pulled her lips to her own. Xena kissed the smaller mouth hungrily probing it, causing Gabrielle to go limp in her arms. She began planting tender kisses on the soft skin of Gabrielle’s jawline, and with each kiss she whispered "I love you". Then she lifted her shift over her head and did the same for Gabrielle’s. Staring at her bard’s white naked skin increased her desire further. Xena began to kiss the beautiful body beneath her as Gabrielle wrapped her fingers around Xena’s hair and guided her head to her breast.
"Gabrielle?" Xena stopped shocked.
Gabrielle grinned "That’s not the first dream I’ve had you know…"
Xena smiled and raised an eyebrow before descending onto the perfect breast. She would have to ask Gabrielle about these dreams sometime, Xena thought.

Xena and Gabrielle were walking along side Argo on the way to the next village, holding hands and glancing lovingly at each other every now and then. Xena watched the expression of the girl and saw it change from soft, happy calm to elation. The bard through up her hands in the air,
"Of course! I know! The right words! The perfect words!!! I knew they would come to me!"
Instead of rushing for her scrolls as usual, Gabrielle pulled the taller woman down and whispered in her ear, the sweetest, most beautiful words Xena had ever heard. Then she kissed her softly on the cheek. Xena smiled and thought how much she loved Gabrielle, and her muse who insisted on breaking the long walks.