ONE STEP FROM YOUR ARMS

Author: Catherine E. Grant

Summary: Um…Joxer & Gabrielle realise they're in love after Xena does her best to set them up!

Disclaimer: I wish, I wish, I wish… Nah. You know the drill. I don't own them, RenPic doesn't sue me.

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ONE STEP FROM YOUR ARMS
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Joxer looked nervously across the campfire and met Gabrielle's eyes. She flashed him a quick, but puzzled smile. He went back to sharpening his sword and nearly sliced his fingers off. "Ow!" he exclaimed, and quickly placed the offended digit in his mouth, scowling at the blade. He looked so comical that Gabrielle had difficulty suppressing a laugh.

She smiled instead, and was rewarded by a dark blossoming blush across his face. Quickly he ducked his head. Even his ears were red, the bard discovered curiously. He fidgeted under her gaze.

Shaking her head, Gabrielle steeped her fingers and drew a deep, steadying breath. "Look, what is it with you tonight Joxer?" she asked finally. "Xena leaves us alone for a couple of days to go see some acquaintance in that village, and you're behaving like a nervous schoolboy on" -on your first date, she finished silently. Was that what this was? She tried again. "We're friends, Joxer, we don't keep things from each other. If there's a problem I expect you to tell me about it, and I would do the same. IS there a problem?"

Joxer shook his head quickly. "Nope, no problem." He still wouldn't meet her gaze. "Look, the fire's getting pretty low, why don't I get some firewood?"
He got to his feet.

Gabrielle jumped to hers.

"The fire is fine, Joxer!" she exploded.

"It could definitely use some more wood," he opinionated stubbornly.

"You're avoiding the issue! There's something wrong, isn't it?" Gabrielle took another deep breath. "Is it me?"

He shook his head silently. She couldn't read his expression but for a moment, she thought she saw something in his eyes. "No, there's nothing wrong, Gabrielle. It's just me. Maybe we should turn in early." Joxer turned away from her and sat sadly down on his bedroll. Quietly he lay down, back to the fire, and to her.

Gabrielle sat for a while longer, studying the still form. Joxer was definitely nervous around her. Desperately she wished for Xena to come riding out of the forest and break the tension. The warrior had explained that she would be away for several days because she had to see an old friend in a nearby village to tie up some personal business. The message: stay here, don't kill each other and stay out of trouble.

She'd said something strange before she left, too, Gabrielle realised suddenly. Bard as she was, how could she have forgotten Xena's words?

Laughing, she'd dismissed it as another 'Xenaism' and put it down to the warrior's recent queer behaviour. It had to be something to do with the 'old friend' and 'personal business' she wanted to clear up. Gabrielle hoped fervently her friend would be back to normal by the time she got back. She needed her here, the old Xena, to relieve this unexpected distance between herself and Joxer. How could she feel so uncomfortable around such a close friend?

Sure, he was a fool and all…

The fool! Xena had been talking about Joxer! 'The one who hides behind the mask of the fool.' And I guess I must be the one who hides behind the mask of 'pretty words,' Gabrielle realised excitedly. The bard…pretty words…makes sense. So she thinks I'm hiding something behind what I say. And Joxer…the fool…a mask. She knew! She knew there would be some kind of tension to clear up between us! That conniving, scheming…

With a horrible feeling Gabrielle finally understood what Xena's 'personal business' had been. She'd gone off to give them some time to themselves to sort out whatever it was between them without a third party watching. It was a typical Xena thing to do.

Sighing, she looked over at where Joxer lay. He still hadn't moved. He was attracted to her, she knew. Somewhere inside her, she knew she was attracted to him as well. But he's a fool! An idiot! 'Joxer the Mighty!' I've sung that silly song too, mocking him, making fun of him behind his back, and yet he comes back for more, faithfully, caring for me but not rubbing my face in it. Coming back each time in the hope I won't reject him again. And what do I do? I reject him. Time and time again. Helpless tears began to flow down Gabrielle's face and she covered them with her hands. "Oh, Joxer" she whispered softly, not trying to hide her confusion at the strange whirlpool of feelings she found within her. At one level she needed him as a friend, another she didn't want to get involved with anyone, but at another she kept feeling something stronger. And for Joxer! The sheer ridiculousness of it all made her head swim. She laughed bitterly through her tears and collapsed helplessly on her own bedroll.

A hesitant hand descended slowly onto her shoulder and then Joxer was there, concern written across his face, placing a comforting arm around her shaking figure. "It's okay, Gabby," he soothed softly, and the bard found herself shaken by his gentleness. Again she found herself realising what she had wanted to deny. She was falling for Joxer.

"Oh Joxer!" she cried again, piteously, burying her face against his chest. Tenderly he wrapped both arms around, pulling her into a firm hug she soon found herself returning. The wonder of the situation made him loath to blink or move in case he woke up.

Gabrielle stirred, pulling away to look at him. Sniffling, she said, "I've been a real bitch to you, haven't I? I've treated you so badly, but you've always been there for me, no matter what happened. I don't deserve you, Joxer."

"Hush." He smiled lightly and Gabrielle found herself smiling in return. "It's okay," he said again.

They sat in stillness, neither wanting to shatter the moment. Finally Joxer said "You haven't treated me badly, Gabby, you shouldn't think that you have. You're one of the best friends that I have, you know that."

She nodded. "I'm so confused, Joxer, I just don't know what's going on with me any more. One moment I'm fine and the next I can't work out what I feel."
"I see."
"No, you don't!" She reached across the short distance that sometimes felt like a chasm and placed a tentative hand against the side of his face. "I think I'm in love with you."

Joxer wasn't sure what he'd heard. "What!?" he exclaimed loudly, staring at her in surprise. Gabrielle flushed in embarrassment and snatched her hand away as though burnt. "Nothing!" she shot back quickly, "I didn't say anything!" Could it be after all this time he didn't love her any more? It was the curse of her life that every time she thought she'd found someone she lost them again. It happened with everyone except Xena, of course, and until now, Joxer. But would she lose him too?

"Have I lost you too?" she whispered, starting to cry again as she fidgeted with her hands.

"Oh" was all he said. A sinking feeling grew within the bard and threatened to engulf her. Was this how it felt to be rejected by the one you loved? The bard began to have a certain feeling of kinship with Ares. He had been spurned by Xena so many times that both she and the warrior had lost count…but somehow she didn't think Ares had. There were times, when he bantered, and tried to annoy them, that she saw flashes of genuine hurt in his eyes. But every time he would return, simply to be in Xena's company once more, when all she wanted was to be rid of him. Finally, Gabrielle thought she understood how he felt.

Lost in her misery, she didn't realise when Joxer began to speak. Jolting herself she turned to look at him. He peered at her expectantly. Gabrielle shook her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said, I was miles away" she apologised quickly. He nodded. "The one time in my life that I actually say something eloquent and she doesn't hear it!" he told the sky bemusedly.

"I'm listening now. Tell me now, Joxer."
He fidgeted. "Well, actually, maybe, it wasn't really all that eloquent."
"I'm listening."
"I love you. I said, I love you, because, well…"

Gabrielle stared at him and a silly grin began to spread over her features. "You do! Oh, oh Joxer!" Somehow managing to love and cry at the same time she launched herself at him, and he caught her easily to hold her close. Gently, nervously, he angled her face towards his and lowered his head to kiss her. As his lips touched hers Gabrielle experienced a feeling she had thought never to know. It hadn't been this way with Perdicus…Suddenly, joyously, she KNEW. Her inner conflict resolved, she kissed Joxer firmly back, revelling in the feeling of his arms around her and his lips against hers. Tenderly he plied his tongue inside her mouth and Gabrielle was awash with new sensations. How could he be such an expert kisser? He was bumbling, awkward, foolish…yet his hands felt so wonderful against her skin and the taste of him made her lose the remainder of her inhibitions.

Gently he lowered her to the bedroll as they both tried to remove the other's clothes without breaking the kiss. Finally, they had found their Way…each other.

In the trees outside the clearing Xena laughed with merriment and punched the air happily. Something had finally managed to go right between those two. It had taken long enough. Still laughing, she shouldered her pack and strolled off in the direction of the village. She really should make at least one appearance there so Gabrielle didn't get suspicious later.

THE END

Words: 1660

Hey, folks, do I get some feedback for that one? Look out for the sequel, Time and Again, where Gabrielle and Joxer put their heads together to try to set a certain warrior princess up with a certain god of war. Cheerio!