"Story Time" is copyright © 1997 by Morgan MacLeod, all rights reserved. Do not distribute, archive, or repost without prior permission from the author.

Xena and Gabrielle belong to MCA/Renaissance Pictures. Some characters herein are also based on situations belonging to Paramount. All these characters are used here in a strictly non-profit manner, and their appearance is in no way intended to infringe on the trademarks of MCA, Renaissance Pictures, or Paramount.

"All right," she said, taking command of her small and inexperienced forces, knowing that she must confront their indecision now, or face disaster later. "Leonides has told you that I have a plan to save the people of this coast from the monster, not only for the moment, as I did once before, but forever. To do this, I need you, each and every one of you. Are you willing to follow me, to do as I ask?"

A wordless murmur passed from one end of the group to the other. As the silence grew, a young woman, tall and dark, dressed in handed-down, ill fitting leathers, stepped forward from the pack. "Can you really do this? Will you swear to it?"

Xena fixed the challenger with her eyes, but the woman did not retreat. Again she asked, "Can you do this? If you can, I'll follow you, I'll die for you if you ask me too, and so will the others, but I must know that it will be done."

Xena measured the woman carefully with her eyes. Here was the key, she sensed, the natural leader of this band of friends. If she could win this battle, she would have them all. "What is your name?" Xena asked.

"Xantippe."

"Xantippe, there is nothing that I hold sacred enough to swear by but my own honour, but I promise you, and your friends, that it can be done, and this time I will not leave this place until it is finished." The two locked eyes for a moment more, and then Xantippe, satisfied by something she saw in the crystal depths of the warrior's eyes, nodded, and stepped back beside her friends. Some unspoken tension melted as she did so, and the dozen pairs of eyes that faced her now, held only anticipation as they waited to hear her plans.

Swiftly, she outlined the plan. The best of the trackers to follow her and Rillian into the mountains, to find the lair, and any young, then lie in wait for the beast, killing parent and young together. The others to remain here, under Gabrielle's direction, where hidden and watchful in the forest within sight of the rock spire where their kin had died for countless years, they would cut down and spirit away any maiden brought for sacrifice by the town elders. For the first watch on the spire, she selected two young men that Chloe had described as being steady, patient, and responsible.

"Phlebas, Memnon, there's a spot in among the trees where you can watch without being seen. Remember, no fires, no noise. If anyone comes with a victim, wait until they've gone, then cut her down. All of you watchers, look carefully at the spire before we leave. Look closely at the rope rigging, so you'll know how to climb quickly, and cut someone loose." Xena walked over to the rock, and pointed out the sharp inward curve towards its base. "Remember, if the creature comes while you're out in the open, you can take cover under this ledge. It's too big now to get at you if you press close against the rock. Don't try and fight it unless you have no other choice. Hide if possible, run if you can, fight only if you must. Is that understood?"

Nods and murmurs of assent answered her question. "Good. Now, take your time, look over the rock, and then I'll show you where to wait." Phlebas and Memnon, accompanied by five other young men and one stocky woman who had been chosen as watchers, did as they were commanded while Xena and Rillian looked over the weapons brought by the others, who would track the creature with them. With some relief, they found most of the weapons to be sound, though some were in need of sharpening, a task that could wait until they returned to the camp in the thickets for the night.

Seeing that the watchers had all examined the rock, Xena led her band towards a vantage point she had already prepared, and gave Phlebas and Memnon their final instructions. "You'll be relieved in the morning, and someone will come along to show you the way back to the camp. Make certain one of you stays awake at all times. Leonides tells me both of you have tended the herds overnight, so I'm guessing you know all about staying awake and watching for trouble. This is no different. Just keep your wits about you, and you'll be fine."

With these parting words, she led the others back toward the camp, torches lit so they could see the path that at least some of them would later have to follow in darkness.

Gabrielle and Chloe were ready for them when they arrived. With Chloe's help, Gabrielle had prepared more sleeping places among the twisted roots of the thicket and used Rillian's mysterious finely woven cloth to screen off an area in the midst of the ring of trees that formed the heart of the dense copse. There they had built a fire without being seen from outside the tangled bushes, and now sat tending the flames and waiting. At once Leonides rushed to Chloe's side, voicing his amazement at how much recovered she appeared to be, and how much she had done in their absence. Xantippe and the other villager youths followed on his heels clustered around the two young lovers, and Gabrielle as she sat beside them, making clear their universal delight in seeing Chloe alive.

After granting her troops a space of time for their joyful reunion, Xena stepping into the circle of friends, calming the excited hubbub by her presence. As if by command, they moved back, forming a rough circle around the fire, waiting to hear what instructions their leader had for them now. Her first words were to introduce the youths to Gabrielle, paying close attention to the six who would remain to watch the rock, and mentioning the two that were already on guard. "These ones are yours, Gabrielle. I've shown them where to watch from, and what to do. Rotate the watches as you wish." She cast her eyes around the group. "Now, I want everyone who'll be in the tracking party to get ready, because we leave at dawn. Sharpen your weapons. Everyone who brought ropes and climbing gear, show it Rillian or myself to check it before you sleep. Make sure you all have your food and personal gear packed and ready. When I tell you you're ready, report to Gabrielle and she'll assign you sleeping space for the night. Now move it, the faster you get it done, the more time you'll have to sleep."

The trackers gathered around Xena and Rillian, spreading out around them as they opened packs for inspection. Xena shot a glance in Gabrielle's direction, saw her deep in conversation with Chloe and the others who would guard the rock, while Leonides looked down devotedly at his bride-to-be.

"Leo!" Xena called sharply to draw his attention. "You're coming with us, remember? Get over here and show me your gear."

Placing a gentle kiss on Chloe's cheek, Leonides reluctantly followed Xena's orders. While the trackers prepared, Gabrielle quickly assigned her group a watch roster, and beds, and checked to see that they had, as Leonides had promised, brought food enough for all during the long wait while the hunter completed their task. She promised the pair scheduled to relieve the night watch that she would lead them to the watchpost, and answered all their questions about how she had rescued Chloe, and what the creature looked like, and whether Xena would be able to do what no one else had ever done.

"Oh, yes," Gabrielle had laughed at that question. "There has never been anyone quite like Xena. I've seen her do what others would call the impossible so many times, I don't think there's anything beyond her, except of course for some things the gods alone can do. But even then, I've known the gods to turn to her for help." Seeing their startled faces, Gabrielle told them that she would be delighted to tell them the stories of how Xena had restored Ares to his godhood, and helped Hades retake the Elysian Fields from the worst fiends in Tartarus, but not tonight, there was too much to be done. Satisfied with this, the small band of friends began to talk among themselves.

Her duties seen to, Gabrielle moved a little apart from Chloe and her friends, giving the still shaken girl the comfort of private conversation with friends. Her gaze was drawn instead towards Xena. How much she enjoyed moments like this, when unnoticed, she could sit watching Xena's every move. Xena moved with such confidant authority, with such an air of command, as she organised the hunting party. Her thoughts strayed again to Chloe's comment, that she and Xena were two halves of a whole.

She had known from the moment they had met that somehow, Xena would complete her in ways no other person could. She had never felt that from poor Perdicas. Perhaps that was why she had kept putting off their wedding, back when she was just another simple village girl with foolish dreams of being something more. She had simply never felt whatever it was that made the other girls hurry to their wedding beds. But the moment she saw Xena, alone, taking on what had seemed like an army of men, to save her and her village, something had drawn her to this dark, mysterious warrior, pulled her along in her turbulent path like an undeniable force of nature. Perhaps she had fallen in love with her then and there, without even knowing it for what it was.

But she had never seen any sign that Xena loved her in return. Friendship, and even a strange kind of bond that made her think sometimes that Xena needed her as some kind of talisman to keep her on this new path she had chosen, toward the redemption she so deeply desired, these had come quickly. And along with them, a frustrating protectiveness that made her sometimes want to scream if she once more heard the words, Gabrielle, wait here. Though she had to admit, that was getting less frequent, now that she had learned to fight with the staff. Yes, Xena had strong feelings for her, of that there was no question. But she did not know if one of them could ever be love. Perhaps, in time, if they truly were two halves of a whole, then love would come. At least, she could continue to hope, and in the meantime, there was companionship beyond anything she had ever had, and the sight of Xena moving like grace and strength personified through a world of lesser mortals.

Gabrielle suddenly realised that there were at least a half dozen people crowding around her, asking where they could go to sleep. Shaking off her reverie, she hastened to settle them all, and then turned to see the small group around Chloe had gone off to their rest as well. Leonides was carefully tucking Chloe into a soft nest of grasses before settling down on a blanket beside her. Rillian was dousing the fire, and Xena checking on the horses.

As she headed towards her own sleeping space, Xena came up beside her. She smiled up at her. "Everything ready?"

"Looks that way. At least there's nothing more I can do."

Gabrielle nodded her head. "I'm sure you've thought of everything. You always do." She sat down on her bedroll and started removing her boots. "You're going to finish this. I know you will. Nothing can stop you when you're this determined to do something."

Xena sat down opposite her, on her own bed. "You always have such faith in me."

"You've never let me down," Gabrielle answered simply, and started shrugging under her blankets.

"Gabrielle."

"Uhhummm?"

"I wanted to say something to you."

"Sure. What?"

"I, well, I wanted you to know..."

"Know what?"

"I, I'm sorry about leaving you behind again. Sometimes it must feel like I do that all the time, and it isn't always fair."

Gabrielle sat up, smiling at Xena. "No it's not. I can take care of myself, you know."

"I know. But sometimes I worry about you. You're good, but you're not a warrior."

"I know. And that's why I don't really mind you leaving me behind this time. I'm not a hunter, either and Rillian obviously is. And besides you need me to be here to make sure nobody else dies while you're hunting it down. I understand, and this time, I don't mind. Just don't do it all the time."

"I won't."

"Good." Gabrielle laid down again. "Make sure you wake me before you leave in the morning."

"Gabrielle..."

"Mhfff?"

Xena looked down at Gabrielle, already half asleep, and smiled to herself. Maybe she'd be able to say something in the morning. "Sleep well, Gabrielle. I'll wake you in the morning." Quietly, Xena removed her armour and leathers, and settled down to sleep herself, lulled into slumber by the soft, gentle breathing of the woman she loved.

It was still dark when Xena awoke, and dressed, and gathered up her blanket into the pack she planned to take with her on the hunt. Not far off, she heard the sounds of someone else stirring, and found Rillian also dressed and ready. Working as a team, they started a fire, set a kettle of porridge out to cook, and set about waking up the trackers. Soon the bustle had everyone stirring, even Gabrielle. Leaving Rillian to organise the trackers, Xena went to where Gabrielle still lay curled up in her blankets, sleepily watching the minor chaos flowing around her.

"Gabrielle."

The bard sat up, smiling. "I'll just be a minute. Is everybody ready?"

"Just a few slowpokes finishing up their breakfast. We're leaving in a few minutes."

"You go and get everyone ready. I'll be there in a minute."

Xena nodded, and returned to the campfire, to see that Rillian and the others all stood ready and waiting for her. She turned to Rillian. "I have one or two more things to take care of. You lead them up towards the first spot we marked, I'll catch up with you."

Rillian nodded, and turning back to the trackers, checked for the last time that each one had his or her packs and weapons, and led them out of the thicket towards the trail into the mountains.

Gabrielle came up beside her. "Oh, did I keep you waiting? I'm so sorry. You'd better get going, I guess. I don't have to tell you to be careful, do I?"

"No. But I want to check on Argo again before I leave. Come with me?"

Gabrielle paused for a split second, struck by something different in Xena's tone. "Uh, sure." She followed Xena towards the smaller thicket where they had made a sort of stable for the horses. She watched quietly as Xena moved checked both horses carefully, paying special attention to Argo.

"They've still got lots of fresh grass here, and water and they don't need much grain when they're not working..."

"I know, Xena. I'll see to it they get everything they need. I've helped you take care of Argo for some time now."

Xena smiled. "I know you will." She paused, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart. The time was now, or not at all. "Gabrielle..."

"Yes, Xena?"

"Before I go, there's something..." She turned her head away, cursing softly under her breath. "I don't know how to say this."

"Say what? Xena, you're not acting like yourself. What's wrong? Is there some kind of problem with this plan that you haven't told me about? Because if there is..." Gabrielle's voice grew sharp and scolding, as she remembered other times when Xena had been less than forthright about the dangers she faced in carrying out some plan.

The warrior shook her head, dark hair tumbling freely, half hiding her face as she lowered her eyes. "No, nothing like that. It's just that I'm not good with words..." Xena's voice trailed off into silence.

"What do you mean, you're not good with words? I've heard you inspire people a hundred times with your words. You are a leader, look at how you've got these people convinced of what needs to be done..."

"Gabrielle. If you don't keep quiet and let me speak, I'll never find the words to say... what has to be said."

"Well, what is it?" Gabrielle asked, her whole body quivering with impatience. This was not the Xena she knew, and she had not the slightest notion of the reason for this halting, reluctant conversation.

There was a moment's silence. Xena could hear the band of trackers, led by Rillian, moving farther off towards the mountains. That was where she had to be, and yet, she had to say this first. "Gabrielle." Gabrielle opened her mouth as if to speak, but Xena cut her off with a gesture. "Hear me out, Gabrielle. Some things, I'm not that good at talking about. But I need to tell you this. I hope you'll understand, I mean no disrespect to Perdicas..."

Gabrielle could keep silent no longer, frustration and confusion warring in her voice as she burst out, "Perdicas! What in Hades' name does Perdicas have to do with all this?"

"I'm trying to tell you. You see, there's something I should have told you, long ago, but I thought there was all the time in the world for it. And then, after you married Perdicas, I felt I had no place to say it. But I haven't changed, and even though you probably don't feel the same way, I... " Xena took a deep breath, and looked Gabrielle straight in the eyes. "Gabrielle, I love you."

The words struck Gabrielle like bolts of lightning. She had begun to hope that someday there might be a chance that the warrior princess would come to return the love she carried within her, but to hear that devoutly longed for declaration coming from those perfect lips, to see it glowing in those sapphire eyes was more than Gabrielle's mind could comprehend. Xena loved her. The words meant everything, and yet she herself could find no words to answer them. Xena loved her. The words rang out over and over in her ears, singing through her blood, exploding in her mind, leaving her senseless, motionless, soundless. In all the universe, there was only this. Xena loved her.

Xena could not read the look that transformed Gabrielle's face. Was it simply shock, was it disbelief, or was it dismay, she could not tell. Urgently, she began to speak again, her words tumbling out now, quickly, running over each other like water through a rough and narrow channel, desperately trying to reassure Gabrielle that there was no need for her to do or say anything in response. "Gabrielle, don't say anything now. I'm not asking for anything from you, nothing has to change between us, but I can't keep this inside any longer. Just wait until I get back, and if you want to talk about this then, fine, and if not, then we never have to mention it again."

Gabrielle continued to stare into Xena's anxious face, her mouth half-open, her eyes wide. She made no sound, but her mind was racing, screaming at her lips to make some sound, at her body to take some action in response, before the woman she loved with all her heart slipped away into the night.

Xena reached out her hand, and gently ran one finger across Gabrielle's cheek. It seemed that she had her answer. Gabrielle's gaping amazement told her all she needed to know. But she had faced this pain before, and she knew that she could deal with it. "Don't worry about me, Gabrielle," she whispered, withdrawing her hand. "I'd never do anything to hurt you. Trust me. I'm still your friend, too." She backed away, one step, and then another, unwilling to turn away. "I'm sorry," she said, and finally turned away, taking great strides in her haste to get away from the sight of that dumbstruck face.

Behind her, Gabrielle at last found her voice, her will to move. "Xena!" she cried out, throwing herself towards the swiftly retreating figure, already half obscured by trees. Xena spun around, with only seconds to react to the vision that met her eyes. Gabrielle, eyes glowing, arms spread wide, running towards her. Without thought, her own arms came up to catch and tightly hold the bard against her. Gabrielle wrapped her arms around Xena's neck and pulled her face down to meet hers. "Oh Xena, I love you, too," she whispered, as her lips sought Xena's, hungrily searching out the sweetness of her mouth.

For a moment she was helpless to react, enspelled by these words that had turned resignation into joy. Hesitating, she made as if to draw Gabrielle back, to ask her if she really meant all that her words and eyes, and arms and lips were saying. Then all caution was swept away in the reality of Gabrielle's fingers twining in her hair, Gabrielle's mouth devouring hers. Like a desert plant opening to a rare and precious rainfall, Xena gave herself willingly, fervently to Gabrielle's embrace, to her passionate kiss. Every sensation was a miracle, the pliant warmth of Gabrielle's body moulded against her, the unexpected strength of the clasped arms that held her, the trails of fire left by Gabrielle's questing tongue as it stormed and conquered the moist depths surrendered by her parted lips. Her breathing grew ragged, and a low moan vibrated in her throat as their tongues wound around each other, and she pressed her own advance, thrusting past opened lips and tasting the softness within. Gabrielle gasped against her, and she felt the body of her beloved tremble, and begin to buckle, almost pulling her down into the inviting grass beneath their feet. With a strength she almost cursed herself for having, she raised her head and broke the spell.

Still holding Gabrielle with one arm, Xena looked down into her eyes, and stroked her flushed face, running her fingers gently over her damp and swollen lips. "I have to go," she said. "They need me."

"I know," Gabrielle replied. "So go." She smiled. "I'll be waiting, just like always."

One last brushing together of lips, and Xena was gone to join the hunt, leaving a shaken yet triumphant bard gazing sightlessly in her wake.