Title: After the Quest

Rating: T

Author: Ellixer

Pairing: X/G

Disclaimer: Characters and show are owned by Universal and others. The story is mine. I make nothing.

Note: I think that after the 'Quest' episode is probably when they became more than friends. Seems logical to me. This can be a one off or there can be more.

Things have calmed, the night is alive with noises but none that are out of place. The fire crackles in front of me as I try to form the words I want to say. Xena still sits on the log, sharpening her sword in long hard movements.

'Xena.' I begin but I still don't know what I'm going to say. 'Xena, I need to tell you…..everything.' Her arm stops its movement but it takes another moment before her eyes shift to me. Carefully she lays her sword down, walking over to where I sit.

"I told you, I know.' But how? How do I know exactly how much she knows? She crouches down, shifting hair away from my eyes.

'But I need to tell you.' She shakes her head slightly, dismissing the notion.

'Gabrielle..'

'No Xena.' I grab her arm, I don't want to hear anymore. I just know that if I don't speak the words, I'll never feel right. 'I have to tell you.' There's something in her eyes, I don't think she really wants to hear it. Reluctantly though, she sits down next to me, eyes averted towards the fire. I let go of her arm, the courage in me beginning to die.

'Xena, you are everything to me. My best friend, my mentor. You've taught me so much about myself.' I pause, doing my best to push the next words out. 'I love you more than I have ever loved anything.' I feel better now that the words have left my lips. She can say anything, reject me with laughs, but I don't care.

She doesn't speak, I can see her jaw clench and unclench. Her eyes are focused on the fire as if willing something to come out of it. I turn away from her, giving up hope for a response. She breathes in deeply, letting the air back out in a rush.

'Gabrielle.' She turns to look at me, her features have softened. There's a struggle going on behind her eyes though. 'Don't you see I feel the same.' She looks pained, eyes narrowing at me. 'When you were getting married…' Her voice trails off. She looks down wringing her hands together. At that time I loved her, but I don't think I could ever have admitted it to her or myself. I mean, I can't live the life my parents wanted with a husband and children if I'm with Xena. But death changes you, whether you want it to or not, and hers definitely made me wake up.

'How could I ever have thought that I'd be good enough for you?' She looks at me in disbelief, as if what I'm saying is completely ludicrous.

'You're too good for me. I'm not good enough for you.' I put my hand over hers, stilling them. I can only manage to shake my head in disappointment. Neither of us seemed to have seen what was right in front of us.

'Xena. What do we do?' I feel stuck in this in between state.

'What do you want to do?' There's this hope twinkling in her eyes. I bring my hand to her cheek, thumb wiping away the one tear that seemed to have escape her defenses. Only one thing comes to mind. Slowly I lean forward, careful to give her ample time to back away. But Xena sits there rigid, barely breathing.

I bring my lips to hers in a tentative kiss. It's brief but there's no other way to express myself. I move back but my face is only inches from hers. I can't help but stare at her lips, the ones that kissed me not so long ago, even though she was in someone else's body. For a moment everything stops, I can only hear our breathing, loud in my ears. I'm about to move away when she suddenly grabs my face with her hands bringing her lips back upon mine.

This is not tentative or soft. Her tongue thrusts into my mouth, I feel like the air is being sucked out of me. I try to respond in a like manner but she overpowers any attempt. There is such ferocity as her tongue sweeps across mine. A fire is burning in my stomach and it's beginning to hurt. Our lips finally break, Xena resting her head against mine, eyes closed. We are both breathing raggedly, the expelled air intermingling, like we are breathing each other in. I know this is as far as we'll go for now. Xena would never force anything on me, things need to progress naturally. I'm happy with that, but mostly I'm happy that she feels the same as I do.

'Come on, let's get some sleep.' Her voice is a husky whisper. We lay down on the furs, me curled up against her. We're both holding on tightly, careful to make sure this feeling lasts as long as possible.

Cont?