Title: Birthday Bet

Rating: M

Author: Ellixer

Pairing: X/G

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

Note: This starts at the end of 'Many Happy Returns.' A stupid itty bitty fic.

'Xena.' I whisper and nudge her a few times. 'Xenaaaaaa.' I kick her under the table. She's making faces at me, wanting me to stop. 'Xena!'

'Stop it!' She growls under her breath. I make my best pout. 'Fiine.' She rolls her eyes as I clap my hands in excitement. Xena makes a face at me before standing up and walking across the tavern. She stops at a table near the wall, bending down to talk to the people sitting there. I see her nod my direction a few times, the din of the crowd too loud to make out any conversation. After a minute she turns, followed seconds later by a dark haired thin woman.

'Sappho's this is Gabrielle.' I'm going to pee myself.

'It's an honor.' I say reaching out to clasp forearms. The woman just smiles genially at me, returning the greeting. Xena drops back down on the bench next to me, Sappho sitting across from us. 'I've always wanted to see you read your poems.' I'm gushing, it's not every day you get to meet such famous people. You know, that aren't famous for the amount of people they kill.

'I hear you liked the poem?'

'Oh it was so beautiful. How did Xena ever get you to do that?' She smiles at me.

'She saved my life once. ' Sappho shrugs. 'It was the least I could do; especially when she told me why she needed it.' I glance at Xena who is looking away, trying to hide the embarrassment.

'You wouldn't think it but she can be romantic sometimes.' I squeeze Xena's arm gently. 'Course then she usually ruins the moment.'

'I do not!' Xena scoffs. I just look at her in disbelief.

'I bet you can't be romantic for one whole day without making it a joke.' Her eyes narrow at my challenge.

'I bet I can.' She's mulling this over, but is never one to back down. 'What are we betting on?'

'You lose and you have to do whatever I want for a whole week.' I move in closer, my finger on her chest.

'And if I win? Which I will.' She prods me back.

'Back rubs for a week?' I offer, I don't want to have to do something crazy.

'I'll make you do that anyway.' She grins evilly at me. 'You have to do what I want for a week.' If I lose then there is a very hard week ahead for me. Xena loves to torture, it's inhumane.

'Deal.' I offer my hand.

'Deal.' She spits into her palm grabbing my hand. I hate it when she does that.

'I think I'll leave you two girls alone.' I had completely forgot that Sappho was sitting there. An amused look graces her face. Xena gets up with her, the two of them walking back to Sappho's table. She better not be planning anything evil. I don't trust that woman.

'The bet doesn't start till tomorrow.' I inform Xena as she sits back down.

'Ok.' Her face is completely stoic. See this is when I get worried. 'Better get some sleep then, I've got things to do tomorrow.' Again an evil grin. She gets up from the table, making her way to our room. I glance at Sappho across the room. She has a conspiratorial look on her face. This can't be good, or maybe it will be very good. Hmmm, the possibilities.

'What? Who's dead?' I wake up being prodded by Xena.

'Nobody.' Flowers are thrust in my face.

'Ummmm.'

'They're flowers. For you.' As if I'd never seen flowers before. 'Isn't that what I'm supposed to do? Give you flowers?'

'Thaanks, but the sun isn't even up Xena.' I groan, I'm too sleepy to feel romantic. She gives me this hurt look. Sigh. 'They're beautiful, thank you.' She's grinning again. I didn't know this bet meant losing sleep; well for flowers anyway.

'Go back to sleep.' She says, rushing over to her bed pulling the wool blanket over herself. Ok, I suppose that was romantic, and she didn't make a joke out of it. Fine, but now I can't go to sleep.

TBC