Disclaimer: The characters of Xena, Gabrielle are property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures, they do not belong to me (although I wish they did!). All other characters and the story are property of the author. No infringement of copyright is intended and no money is being made in any way. So don't send the copyright cops around to put a Bard still wet behind the ears behind bars, coz that would just be mean!.

Love/Sex Warning: This story involves a little bit of romancing between our two favourite gal pals so if you don't like that sort of thing you should probably go read something else other than this little tale. Oh, and there's sex, well kinda, you see…, well I'm not gonna tell ya coz that'll ruin the story!.

Spoiler / Timeframe: This story is set a few weeks after the second season episode ‘The Quest’ there are a few references to it so it may spoil part of the episode for those who haven’t seen it yet.

Restless

By Lava-lamp

Gabrielle lay awake staring up at the starry summer sky. Xena had fallen asleep hours ago and was snoring gently a few feet away from her friend. The bard let out a long sign and eased herself up from her bedroll. She stretched her arms and slowly paced the camp.

‘This can’t go on’ Gabrielle thought to herself ‘I haven’t slept a whole night through for weeks now’  

A stick snapped noisily under the bard’s foot, she quickly looked at Xena to see if the noise had woken her; Xena stirred and rolled over to look at her friend.

‘Gabrielle…?’ Xena called huskily into the darkness

‘Yeah it’s me, sorry I woke you’ The bard replied

Xena let out a small growl and fell back asleep.

‘Gods!, how can I sleep when I carry this burden?. Every night the same thoughts race through my mind. That kiss, that wonderful, sweet kiss. It felt… gods, it felt so real, so loving, yet I have so may doubts. Maybe, I wanted to feel Xena, her presence, her being, her touch so much in her absence, I imagined the kiss. I have so many questions, yet so few answers. One thing’s for sure I can’t go on like this.’

The bard went back to her bedroll and picked up her staff. She quietly wondered out of the camp and down to the side of the river. She let out a sigh and surveyed the beauty before her. The moon was full in the sky and shone reflectively on the water; giving it a sliver glow. A few stray moonbeams projected themselves on the nearby trees and bushes illuminating the small area in which the bard stood.

‘This is so romantic, I wish Xena were awake to share this with me’ Gabrielle whispered to herself

‘So go wake the cranky kick-ass queen up and get her down here!’

Gabrielle spun around and pointed her staff defensively in the direction from which the voice came.

A giggle and a burst of golden light announced the presence of the Goddess of Love.

‘Aphrodite!’ Gabrielle muttered angrily ‘What in Tartarus…?’

‘Chill babe, I’m here to help’ Aphrodite said with a smile and a wink

‘How in Olympia can you help me?, if I was gonna rely on the Gods for help then I’d be  kinda hoping Morpheus would give me something for my insomnia.’

‘Gabs.., can I call you Gabs?’ Before Gabrielle had time to reply, the Goddess continued 

‘Look honey, the only way to cure this little sleep problem of yours is to confront the issues that keep you awake’

‘Well, duh!’ Gabrielle thought

‘Hey I heard that!’ The Goddess said

‘You’ve been listening to my thoughts!’ Gabrielle said in shock.

‘Of course I have!, how do you think I’ve managed to help so many lovesick mortals?. Now, take a seat and let Dr Dite sort out all your issues’ Aphrodite said motioning to a fluffy couch that appeared out of nowhere.

‘Ok, but I am not lovesick!…, I not even sure I’m in love, or that my love could even be reciprocated!’ The bard said getting comfy on the couch.       

‘Ah, the fear of unrequited love’ The Goddess replied and sat down next to Gabrielle ‘This is the most common problem I come across with mortals. You know Gabrielle, for someone who has displayed so much bravery over the past few years, I can’t quite understand why your courage fails you when it comes to Xena’

‘I’m not afraid of telling her!’ Gabrielle said as Aphrodite shot her a ‘yeah right’ look

‘I’m not!, it’s just, well….’

‘The whole kiss thing has messed you up big time!’

‘Oh, like you cannot believe!’ Gabrielle smiled despite her predicament. ‘Well, first off, she had to go and die on me didn’t she?, and right when I was ready to tell her. Then she speaks to me from the dead, kisses me; apparently; and then promptly comes back from the dead, practically tells me she loves me and then goes back to the stiff lipped warrior, can I catch a break or what?’

Aphrodite smiled and placed an arm around Gabrielle’s shoulder.

‘Well hon, first off, she did kiss you; it wasn’t a dream. Second of all, the fact that she used all of her mortal power to take control of Autolycus body just to let you see her….., well if that ain’t love, then I don’t know what is!’

‘You actually think she loves me?’

‘Sure she does!’

‘Yeah, ok, but does she love me the way I love her?’

‘What?, as in the way that…, lemme see…’ Aphrodite said trying to recall exactly what the bard had been thinking ‘You wanna smother her body with hornicus berry juice, blindfold her, then lick it all of, real slow stopping at …’

‘Ok!, enough, so you’ve been listening to a lot of my thoughts, ok, well, that makes things…, a little more intimate’ The bard said laughing nervously.

‘Gabs, really it’s ok’ Aphrodite smiled sweetly  ‘I’m a Goddess and fortunately or unfortunately, I know everything about you. Your non-stop thoughts about Xena, the way you steal glances at her when she’s undressing for bed, oh and those erotic daydreams’

Gabrielle’s eyes grew wide with shock.

‘My Gabrielle, who’d have thought you could ever come up with something as raunchy as those huh?. I like the one with me in it by the way nice touch!’

The bard lowered her head to hide her embarrassment. The Goddess of Love hooked a finger under the Bard’s chin and raised her head.

‘Look Gabrielle, I know it’s hard, but it’s something you’ve got to do on your own, I can only show you the way. Tell her how you feel, tell her you never wanna leave her side but for Gods sake, tell her you love her’

Tears welled in Gabrielle’s eyes.

‘But what if she rejects me?, what would I do then?’ The Bard sobbed

‘She won’t and she definitely won’t when you give her this..’ The Goddess said and leaned into Gabrielle

‘Give her..wh…, oh my…’ Aphrodite put her arms around the Bard’s neck and gently pulled the bard’s lips to hers. The kiss was soft and passionate at the same time, and left Gabrielle visibly shaking.

‘Er…’ Gabrielle tried to speak but words failed her.

Aphrodite giggled characteristically.

‘That was just a little gift that will help you when you confront Xena’

‘What does it do, how to I use it?’

‘Well without crossing the boundaries of Mortal / God relations, I’ve given you a little confidence boost. When you try to tell Xena how you feel, the words should find you easily as will the urge to kiss her’

‘Thank you Aphrodite.., for everything’ Gabrielle said with a seductive smile

‘No probs babe, anytime’ The Goddess of Love smiled, placed a soft kiss on the Bards lips and disappeared into the night air. 

Gabrielle touched her lips and smiled; she composed herself and wandered back to the camp.

‘Gabrielle?, where have you been all this time?’ Xena said sat on her bedroll rubbing her eyes.

‘Xena, you’re awake?,

‘Yeah, I have been for a while’ The warrior moaned ‘So where’ve you been?’

I er…, just went for a stroll to clear my head, that’s all’

‘You, ok?’ Xena asked concern present in her features.

‘Yeah, I mean no, I mean…’

‘Gabrielle?’

‘Well, you may have noticed I haven’t been sleeping very well lately…’

‘Uh-huh, go on..’

‘Ok, the reason I haven’t is, well, it’s because of you’

‘Me! what, why…’

The bard cut the warrior off before she could continue

‘You see ever since you kissed me, well, you messed my head up pretty bad’

‘Gabrielle, I…’

‘Let me finish.  For many weeks now I’ve lay awake for hours on end trying to confront or even attempt to communicate my feelings to myself in the hope that I could eventually tell you…’

‘Tell me what?’

‘Xena’ The bard took a deep breath, looking directly into her friends piercing blue eyes, she placed a hand onto of the Warrior’s  ‘I’m in love with you’

Xena moved her other hand and placed it on top of Gabrielle’s.

‘You can’t believe how happy I am to hear you speak those words Gabrielle. I’ve know I’ve been in love with you for a long time now and since I kissed you, I pretty much messed my own head up; I couldn’t believe what I had done and I thought it might have ruined our friendship. That’s the reason why I never talked to you about it, I was scared Gabrielle, I was scared I had done something terribly wrong. But secretly, I yearned to do it again, to take your lips and….’

‘Xena?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Shut up!’ Gabrielle giggled and pulled the Warrior into a passionate kiss.

By the Guupphhh…’ Before Gabrielle could finish her sentence, Xena had pulled the bard back into another kiss.

‘Can I say something now?, or do I risk being ravished by a red hot blooded Warrior?,… not that I mind..’ Gabrielle giggled tracing circles on the Warrior’s breastplate.

‘Well?’ Xena asked seductively

 ‘How about we see if I can sleep a little easier tonight?…’

‘Why, Gabrielle, what could you be suggesting?’ Xena said playfully

‘Well… THIS!’ Gabrielle said spinning Xena onto her back and climbing on top of her.

‘Ohhhhh, thhhaaatttt…..’ Xena said smiling as she let the bard take full control of her body.

Hours slipped by as the two soul mates made passionate love to each other. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the surrounding trees. Xena awoke to find Gabrielle sleeping soundly beside her with her arm resting protectively over her friend.

Xena brushed a piece of hair away from Gabrielle’s eyes ‘Sweet dreams my love; sweet dreams’

The warrior smiled, she kissed the bard gently on the forehead and watched, as the sun slowly began its trek across the new day’s sky. 

The End