"What do you want, Ares?" Xena growled. She heard Gabrielle scramble to her feet behind her and flared her nostrils. Clearly their moment of intimacy was stolen, and she knew Ares' arrival was no coincidence.

Ares looked Xena up and down, knowing full well what he had just barged in on. "Oh, I'm sorry, are you busy? I can come back-"

"No, you don't have to come back, you can just leave," Xena said as she pulled her sword back, resheathing it forcefully.

Ares clucked his tongue and looked over salaciously at Gabrielle. "Now, now, you don't want to send me away that quickly. Not without hearing what I have to say first," he snaked over and put his hand on Gabrielle's shoulder, which was quickly batted away by a VERY angry blonde.

"What do you want, Ares?" Gabrielle growled. Gabrielle could feel Ares staring down at her from behind, and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Nothing from you, little girl. I just want a word with Xena. You don't mind, do you?"

Gabrielle shook her head angrily as he walked back toward Xena.

Xena crossed her arms and glared at Ares. "What do you want?"

Ares smirked. "I just told you. I'd like a word with the Warrior Princess."

"Then speak. Anything you have to say you can say in front of Gabrielle," Xena said in annoyance. She couldn't believe he was interrupting them like this.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't do that. This has to be between you and me," he spoke, purposefully vague and suggestive. "Something this...sensitive...has to be treated with...discretion."

Gabrielle fumed. She knew damned well what this was about and had had enough of Ares' games. But she wanted to see how Xena would handle this and remained quiet. When she saw Xena look over at her she knew Xena was about to do the God of War's bidding. This made her even more angry.

Xena was conflicted. All she wanted was for Ares to disappear back into whatever hole he had crawled out of so her and Gabrielle could get back to what they were just about to do. But she knew that wouldn't happen unless she talked to Ares in private like he wanted. She also knew that would tick Gabrielle off to no end. There was no way she was coming out the winner in this. She looked over apologetically to Gabrielle and met extremely angry green eyes. "Gabrielle, just-let me talk to him for just a minute. I'll be right back, I promise."

Gabrielle's stomach dropped. Was she serious?! They had just stepped over a threshold into a long awaited physical relationship, and now she was stopping to go have a moonlit chat with her ex? An ex that just recently Gabrielle had expressed concerns about? That was all kinds of messed up. She shook her head and glared angrily at Xena as she followed Ares off into the darkness. She growled as Ares looked back and smiled at her.

"Just what in Hades do you want, Ares?" Xena knew she was in hot water, and wanted nothing more than to be rid of this pest.

"Nice to see you too," Ares quipped, smiling into ice blue eyes. He knew exactly what he had just been able to accomplish and was quite proud of himself. "Seems like I might have caught you at a bad time. Or, a good time, depending on how you look at it."

Suddenly Ares was bound by a magical lasso, wrapping around him and jerking him backwards against a tree. Xena jerked in surprise as Aphrodite appeared in a sparkling flash. She put her hands on her hips and glared at her obnoxious brother. "You need to back off, bro." She looked over at Xena and shot her a just as dangerous frown. "And just what in the world do you think YOU'RE doing?"

Xena was in shock."Me?! I should be asking YOU that question! I was enjoying a perfectly good evening until the two of you came along! Just what is going on here?!"

Aphrodite glanced over her shoulder at a very smug Ares who was still struggling to free himself from the tree. "Buzzkill over there decided to go and ruin my very hard work. And you, you just had to go along with it, didn't you?"

Xena slapped away the boney finger pointed in her face and furrowed her eyebrows. "Me? What did I do?!"

Aphrodite scowled up at Xena and thrust her arms to her hips. "You left her, you idiot!" Aphrodite saw Xena floundering, clueless as to what she had done wrong. She shook her head and reached up and slapped Xena up side her head. She knew it was a bold move but Xena had to have a wake up call. "My dear Warrior Babe, do you think it was a coincidence that my jealous brother showed up right as you were about to finally-you know-with my Bard Babe over there?!"

Xena blushed and stammered. She didn't really know what to say at this moment. She couldn't even look at Ares and found herself blushing furiously at Aphrodite.

Aphrodite sighed and smiled, seeing how confused Xena was. "Look, after six years you guys finally get it. You're finally moving forward! And what happens? One bit of distraction from my meat head brother over there and you run for the hills!"

Xena shook her head. "That's not what I was doing! I was just trying to get rid of him!"

Aphrodite tilted her head. "What do you think it looked like to her? She's always been sensitive about you and Ares, and then you go and run off with him right as you were about to-" Aphrodite sighed. "Oh, Xena, don't you get it? You messed up. And bonehead over there got just what he wanted."

Xena shook her head as she started to see Aphrodite's point. "What was that?"

"He came between the two of you. Again. Even if that's not what you intended. You need to fix this," Aphrodite insisted. "And every second you spend out here is making it worse."

Xena came back into camp and saw Gabrielle rolled on her side on the bedroll. She walked up carefully and peeked over, seeing the closed eyes of her should-be lover. She laid down on the bedroll and leaned over carefully. "Gabrielle," she whispered. She got no response, and knew instinctually that Gabrielle was only pretending to be asleep. She gently brushed the hair off Gabrielle's neck and placed a soft kiss there before laying on her back. She sighed out and looked over at the Bard's back. "I'm sorry," she whispered before closing her eyes.

Gabrielle opened her eyes when she heard Xena's apology, but didn't move. She had been so close to what she wanted, only to have Xena pull it out from under her yet again. Maybe this was a good thing. A sign. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

Day 5

The tension was like a third party, hovering in the air between them like a cloud. Xena had tried pleasantries but Gabrielle was having none of it.

"Gabrielle, listen, about Ares-"

"Don't worry about it, Xena. You didn't do anything wrong," Gabrielle insisted as she shoved things violently into her pack. "You can do whatever you want, you know that." Gabrielle scoffed. "Or, whoever you want, for that matter."

Xena shook her head and tried to still Gabrielle but her hand was flung off. "Gabrielle, I didn't-"

"No, it's alright. I told you to just let me know and I'd stay out of the way," she said angrily as she walked over and started loading things into Argo 2's saddlebags.

"That's not what happened, Gabrielle, that's not why he was here."

Gabrielle turned and faced Xena. "Oh? What was he doing here? Trouble on an empty Olympus? Starting a new war with the Amazons? What was it? What was so important that he couldn't talk about in front of me?"

Xena was taken aback by Gabrielle's anger and questioning. She should have just told her, but she was still embarrassed about the whole thing. Clearly Gabrielle was already on edge about the whole Ares thing, and with Aphrodite in the mix, Xena was at a loss to what exactly to say. In the midst of her floundering, Gabrielle had shaken her head and walked away.

"That's what I thought," Gabrielle muttered under her breath. She ran a hand through her short locks and took a deep breath. She glanced over her shoulder to where she had left Xena standing. "Well, lets get going, shall we?"

Night 5

The day had been pretty terrible, even by Xena's standards. Gabrielle hardly spoke at all, and of course Xena was too hard headed to explain the truth. Gabrielle was poking at the fire until she finally had to get away from camp. "I'm gonna get some more wood for the fire," she muttered, lumbering away from camp. Xena watched her go and let out a frustrated sigh.

Gabrielle stomped away from camp with no particular destination in mind. She found herself at the stream not far from their camp and sat down. She picked up a rock and tossed it in, watching the ripples fan out in the moonlight. She was reminded of a time she sat by a similar stream with Xena when they first met. She remembered the story Xena had told her.

FLASHBACK

***See how calm the surface of the water is? That was me once. And then...****

Xena tossed a stone, causing the water to erupt into ripples.

***The water ripples and churns. That's what I became.***

*But if we sit here long enough the water will become still again. It'll become calm again.*

***But the stone is still under there. It's part of the lake now. It may look the same, but it's forever changed.****

END FLASHBACK

Forever changed. Right. Seems like things were never going to change. Gabrielle shook her head before being startled by the sparkly entrance of Aphrodite. She jumped and put her hand over her heart. "Gods, you scared me!"

Aphrodite smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry, you know how I like to make an entrance," she singsonged.

Gabrielle forced a smile though she didn't feel like playing along with the bubbliness right now. "What are you doing here, Aphrodite?"

The taller blonde frowned and put her hand on her hip. "What, I can't stop by to say hello to my favorite mortal?" She saw the disbelieving look on Gabrielle's face and dropped the act. "Fine. Look, you need to take it easy on her. It wasn't her fault, it was my idiot brother. She was just trying to get rid of him."

Gabrielle opened her mouth in shock. "You-you were there?! What, were all the Gods vacationing from Olympus last night?!"

Aphrodite tilted her head. "We ARE all the Gods on Olympus, remember?"

Gabrielle furrowed her eyebrows. "Oh yeah. Still, why were you all up in our business and how creepy can you two be, spying on us when we were-ugh!"

"Hey, Goddess of Love, remember? It is my business. Literally. But, hey, I'm not a peeping Tom, okay, I was just there to reel Ares in. He was the one messing things up for you, not me, and not Xena. Now stop being all angry and go to her."

"Please, you saw her. The second he showed up she dropped me like a hot plate and ran off in the woods with him."

"It wasn't like that. She wanted him gone just as much as you did. Did you not NOTICE how into the moment she was? I mean, come on, that was hot enough to make even me blush!"

Gabrielle covered her face in embarrassment, letting her fingers slide down her face. "Right. Not a peeping Tom. Either way, she shouldn't have just-run off with him like that."

Aphrodite shrugged her shoulders slightly. "Where I do agree with you there, she didn't have much choice. You know how Ares is, he wasn't going to just give up without a fight. It was his last ditch effort to sabotage you. He doesn't stand a chance now that the cats out of the bag with you two and he knows it."

Gabrielle shook her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Aphrodite walked towards her and put a hand on her shoulder. "It was only a matter of time before you two realized the depth of your love for one another. He knew as much as I did that once that happened, nothing could ever come between you two. Least of all him. He knows he can't compete with Xena's love for you." Aphrodite smiled as she saw Gabrielle starting to let go of her anger as Aphrodite's words seeped in. "Now, do as I said, and go to her."

Gabrielle smiled and hugged her goddess friend before turning and heading back towards camp.

Gabrielle sauntered back into camp to find Xena laying on the bedroll. Her eyes were closed, but Gabrielle knew she wasn't sleeping. She sighed and walked over, laying down next to the still brunette. She lay on her back for a moment before scooting up next to Xena and nuzzling her nose into Xena's neck. She smiled as she felt Xena bring her arm around, pulling Gabrielle into her embrace. Gabrielle threw her arm across Xena's middle and squeezed, sighing as she settled into the safest place she could ever be.

Night 6

Xena was pleased to find Gabrielle actually talking to her again. Although there was still a bit of tension, it seemed Gabrielle had let go of her anger and was trying to act as normal as possible. But as the sun went down, it was clear they needed to talk about the events of the last few days.

Xena was widdling a stick when Gabrielle returned from the river. The expectant look on the blonde's face was not lost on Xena. Xena watched the blonde walk slowly over to her and sit down next to her. She kept widdling and waited for Gabrielle to speak.

Gabrielle wasn't sure what to say, so started with the easy part. "Xena, I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have acted like such a child."

Xena stopped what she was doing and looked over at shining green eyes. "No, I'm sorry, Gabrielle, I shouldn't have played into Ares' little game. I just-didn't know how else to get rid of him. I knew he wouldn't just disappear especially after he saw-I was-kind of on the middle of something," she bumped shoulders with Gabrielle and they both blushed.

"Middle, I thought we were just getting started," Gabrielle mumbled before both women broke into an embarrassed fit of giggles.

A silence finally overtook them and neither were sure what to do next. Gabrielle spoke up first. "Xena, I think we should talk about what's going on between us." She shifted so that she was facing Xena, who was staring awkwardly down at the half widdled stick in her hand. Gabrielle paused until Xena looked up at her shyly. "I mean, clearly we have crossed a line, here. And, I'm not sure what it means."

Xena half smiled. "I thought it was quite obvious what it means. If not, then I must be doing something wrong."

Gabrielle closed her eyes and shook her head, laughing slightly at Xena's frankness. "No, that part was-quite clear. I just mean, why do you-I mean is it just because-its been a while?"

Xena's eyes widened in shock. "What?! No. No! Gabrielle I would never-Gods, I would never want to take advantage of you like that! Is that what you thought, because I thought you-"

Gabrielle waved her hands, signaling to Xena she was wrong. "Of course not, Xena. I-I was in it as much as you were. I just-I'm wondering," she struggled with how to put it.

Xena saw for the first time her bard be speechless. She had to smile softly. "You want to know how I feel about you," Xena stated.

Gabrielle looked up at Xena in surprise, but couldn't help but smile when she saw the sweet look on Xena's face. "Well, I guess. I mean, after everything we've been through, clearly we are soulmates, and-I know we love each other. But-" Gabrielle suddenly felt herself flush, not knowing what to say.

Xena turned to fully face Gabrielle and took her hands in her own. "I'm about to do something that I have very rarely done." Gabrielle looked at her curiously. "I'm going to...tell you exactly how I feel and lay myself completely vulnerable to you, no matter where it might take us. But I can't keep it to myself anymore. Not after the last few days." She squeezed Gabrielle's hands and cleared her throat before locking into those glowing green eyes. "Gabrielle, I don't know when, but somewhere along the years with you, you've become so much more to me than just my best friend, or even my soulmate. You have become my everything!" Xena swallowed down a few tears as she continued. "I couldn't imagine my life without you. And yes, I do look at you much differently than when I first met you. You're not a young girl who talks and eats too much." She smiled as Gabrielle chuckled and wiped away her own tears. Xena's face turned serious again as she reached up and ran her fingertips down the side of her face. "Gabrielle, you are smart, and brave, and kind, and noble," she let her hands trail down Gabrielle's sides before stopping on her hips. "And beautiful, and incredibly sexy, and really, really kissable," Xena smiled at that last one, even more when Gabrielle flashed her bright smile, the one that curled her face up so sweetly her eyes nearly disappeared.

Gabrielle's heart swelled as she heard Xena open her heart. And to hear that Xena wanted her made Gabrielle warm. She moved closer and climbed into Xena's lap, pushing Xena's back against a log as she straddled her. She cupped Xena's face and gazed into the most beautiful shade of blue she would ever know. "Xena, I am so in love with you. I can't go another day without making love to you," she said into Xena's half open mouth.

Xena moaned as Gabrielle's words coupled with her glorious mouth on hers made her body explode with desire. Her hands were all over Gabrielle's back as Gabrielle's tongue worked wonders against her own. The soft whimpers coming from Gabrielle urged her on, and she found her hands on the blonde's round behind.

Gabrielle gasped when Xena squeezed her rear, and she inadvertently listed her hips into Xena, pulling the straps of her bodice down around her biceps.

Xena let her fingers pull at the strings on Gabrielle's top, kissing Gabrielle's throat as the woman threw her head back. She ran her hands across her back, allowing the laces to fall away. She gently ran her fingertips under the soft leather, pulling the top free.

Gabrielle's grip tightened around the leather straps now at Xena's elbows, the tight fabric refusing to budge any further. Sensing Gabrielle's efforts, Xena leaned forward, allowing Gabrielle to reach behind her and pull the strings on her leather bodice. As she felt it loosen, she pulled back and looked into Gabrielle's eyes.

Gabrielle's breath was lost to her when Xena looked up at her. The normally dazzling blue eyes had darkened so deeply that Gabrielle imagined them as black holes, and she had fallen into them. With that Xena pushed Gabrielle off to her side and onto the soft bedroll. Xena sat up on her knees and pulled her leather suit off her shoulders, tossing it into a pile. At once she laid down the length of Gabrielle kissing her again, their bare breasts smashed against each other. Xena could feel the heat coming off Gabrielle's center through her undergarments as her skirt rode up her body. That intensified Xena's own fire as she pressed against Gabrielle's body. She pulled back, to look at her bard's beautiful form. She had seen this body a thousand times before, but never offered to her in this way. Xena ran her hands down Gabrielle's neck and to her breasts. She teased her nipples with the backs of her hands only in passing as she continued down to the top of Gabrielle's skirt. She hissed out between her teeth as she grasped and pulled down, removing both the skirt and undergarments in one swoop. Climbing off Gabrielle to discard her clothes, Xena removed the remaining layer of her own. She climbed back up the Bard's body, kissing as she went. She felt Gabrielle's body react as she kissed a nipple, sending spasms down her length straight to her core. Xena could smell both of their sex, sending her even higher. Xena left a wet trail from Gabrielle's nipple up to her collarbone and to the hollow of her throat. She felt Gabrielle's soft hands pull Xena's hips down toward her, and Xena settled herself down as she reached the swollen lips of her lover. Both women gasped into each others mouths as their wet centers met for the first time. They continued frenzied kisses, and Xena felt Gabrielle's hips roll up to meet her. Xena pulled from the kiss and gasped into the bard's neck. She had to cry out Gabrielle's name as she felt their cores meet time and time again. Gabrielle was unconsciously digging her nails into Xena's back, as she felt she was tumbling toward an edge somewhere. She had never felt such bliss, such pleasure, and her mind had surrendered to her body long ago. She didn't have much sexual experience, but damned if she didn't know what she wanted, especially with her soulmate. She had imagined herself making love to Xena so many times, she had thought of a dozen ways she wanted the warrior. When she heard Xena call her name, she suddenly received a flood of passion and confidence. She shoved out from under Xena, forcing her onto her back. She threw her leg over Xena so she was straddling her.

The rush of power from the bard took Xena off guard and she felt the air whoosh out from her lungs as she ends up on her back. It was so unexpected and so...sexy! Xena's jaw lagged as she looked up at Gabrielle, straddling her, breasts swaying, look of passion, and it was all for her. Xena reached up with both hands and cupped Gabrielle's breasts, the hard nipples pressing into her palms. Seeing Gabrielle arch into her touch and throw her head back nearly drove Xena wild. Gabrielle was slowly rocking her hips against Xena, and she heard herself wimper. Never had a lover had this effect on her. She was a puddle of warrior princess. And it was her beloved Gabrielle who had her undone. But when Gabrielle grabbed Xena's right hand off her bosom and pushed it down toward her hot center, Xena nearly blacked out with desire. Where had this side of her come from!? Xena never knew her sweet bard contained such passion for her. For only her. Xena felt herself dripping.

When Gabrielle led Xena to where she most desired contact, she couldn't stop herself. Her need was so great, her body was moving of its own accord. As Xena's hand was led to Gabrielle's wet core, she gasped as she slid her hand across her soulmate's essence. Seeing Gabrielle's head snap back as she ground her hips into Xena's contact made her cry out right along with Gabrielle. She hissed in a breath, trying to rein in her passion. She didn't want to rush this, or hurt Gabrielle. Her resolve slowly dissipated as Gabrielle looked down at her and placed her hands on Xena's breasts. Gabrielle looked Xena in the eyes, all her passion and desire that had been bottled up pouring out in every direction. Xena was amerced in so many senses at once, she couldn't focus on any one in particular. Except for the feeling of her love in her hand. As Gabrielle slowly pumped her hips toward Xena's hand, Xena did all she could from taking the bard fully by penetrating. She wanted to draw this out, but it was getting more difficult by the moment. She wanted desperately to feel her loves core and drive her over the edge. She was steadfast in allowing Gabrielle to ride her pleasure as it was until the deep throaty growl escaped Gabrielle's throat.

"Xena! Please...!"

The look of want in Gabrielle's eyes sent Xena past the point of no return and she finally gave in. She gently thrust her fingers into her beloved and gasped as Gabrielle cried out in sheer ecstasy. Xena's eyes followed Gabrielle's head, flung back, exposing her silky throat, down to her beautiful breasts, swaying with the movement. Gabrielle's hands had moved to Xena's thighs, supporting her weight slightly behind her body. Xena's free hand slid down Gabrielle's breast to her taut stomach, and rested there as Gabrielle rocked herself back and forth on Xena's hand.

Gabrielle was out of her mind with pleasure. The moment Xena touched her she practically went blind. But the moment she penetrated her, Gabrielle thought she would die right there. And, oh, what a way to go. Her hips were out of control, begging for the very touch that Xena seemed to know she needed. Xena. This was her Xena. Finally. Touching her as she had only dreamed. She felt like she was adrift in swirling white water, with the plunging waterfall just on the horizon.

Xena could feel Gabrielle's soul wrapping around hers. She always knew they were connected, but this moment of intimacy was above anything that Xena expected. She felt Gabrielle's peak start to build, and in response her hips started to buck, satisfying her own need for contact. With Xena pressing into her core, and now bucking against her own movements, Gabrielle cried out as her waterfall approached. Her hips moved faster as Xena's fingers hit just the right spot. As her breathing and thrusts increased, she felt something change in Xena as well. She heard her moan, and looked down to see her loves face. It was more glorious than she had ever seen the warrior. Bangs pasted to her forehead, eyes ablaze with passion, and mouth hung open in ecstasy. Locking eyes with those blue eyes was enough to send her over the edge of the waterfall. She flew off the edge on a fury, and cried out loudly and uncontrollably.

When Xena saw Gabrielle look down at her, going over her edge, suddenly she was thrown to the edge herself. And once she felt Gabrielle tighten around her fingers and begin to spasm, Xena flew over the edge into an abyss she had never experienced in all her exploits. She tumbled over all worlds she ever knew, and flew to heights she had never reached before. Gabrielle had thrust and bucked through her peak and finally was able to gain her bearings as she saw Xena going over the same edge. Eyes clenched, mouth open, crying out her name. HER name. Gabrielle nearly cried at the sound, finally able to experience physical love with the warrior princess.

Gabrielle collapsed on top of Xena, both women sucking in air desperately as they recovered from their climax. She slowly rolled off Xena and threw her hand up to her brow. "By the Gods!" She gasped as she tried to steady her breathing. She looked over when she heard Xena chuckle, who looked just as affected as Gabrielle was. Gabrielle smiled at the grin on Xena's face, body shimmering with sweat. "That was-that was-" Gabrielle struggled to name exactly what she was feeling.

Xena moaned as she rolled on top of Gabrielle, running her hands down smooth sides. "Amazing, mind blowing, earth shattering, soul shaking? Sound about right?" Xena smiled into Gabrielle's face before claiming the blonde's mouth again.

Gabrielle hummed into the kiss, feeling her desire drum again against her own skin. She gasped as Xena moved to her throat, trailing wet kisses down the expanse of her neck. "Yeah, that about covers it," Gabrielle managed.

Xena smiled as she picked her head up only to lose herself in those green eyes again. "I love you, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle brushed a few stray hairs from Xena's eyes before cupping her face. "I love you. I think we have a lot of lost time to make up for." Xena raised an eyebrow at this. "Might as well start now."

Xena grinned at the seductive way Gabrielle said this, and realized she was really going to like this new aspect to their relationship. Her heart melted just a little bit more as she stared down at her bard's shining face, finally falling into the very embrace that made her complete.