Rebecca Kelly wrote:
>
>
> I don't know about Xena or Joxer, but I do believe that it's canon
> that Gabrielle was 18 at the start of the series.  If you look at
> Gab's birthday cake in "Takes One To Know One" in season 4, she's 21.
>
> How's that for useless knowledge? :D
>
> Rebecca
>
YES!  I was right!

*does a dance*

--N
>
>

Kindra wrote:
>
>
> I got this question on a comment on one of my music videos:
> How old are Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer supposed to be at the beginning
> of the series?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> -Xedra
>
>
>
>
>
I always had the impression that Xena was the eldest, around 28 or so.
Gabrielle seemed to be around 18 or 19 to me, and Joxer a bit older at
about 25.   At least, that would make sense to me considering it took
place in Ancient Greece, where people rarely lived past 40.

That's my guess.

--N

Hey everyone.

I'm going to hold another Word A Day Challenge, this time running it
through both the mailing list, LJ, Yuku and the GJRS Fanfic Archive.
(The archive is up and operational - give it a look!).

Here are some of the words so far:

Sai

Sword

Nutbread

War

Baby

Tree

Child

Bracelet

Roman

Egypt

Beach

Herb

Sweets

Temple

Dress

Balcony

Dinar

Fear

Grey/Gray

Socks


I need about ten more words, so if you've got 'em, bring 'em on!  :D

Cheers,
Nancy.

Hey all.

I have now installed Coppermine into the GJRS website:

http://gator1037.hostgator.com/~monkimoo/gallery/index.php

Now I just have to straighten out the main site and fill it all up.
Feel free to sign onto the coppermine gallery!  You're also free to
upload any art or cool photos you might have.  I'll assign them to their
correct categories.

Cheers,
Nancy.

Hi, I remember reading a story were Xander, Spike, Faith, Angel, Cordy, Wes,
Willow and Gunn were sent back into the past by Wolfram and Hart.

Xander and Spike are a couple, also Cordy and Angel or Faith are a couple

When they get there they are meet by Joxer and one of the gods.  When they see
who or what Angel is they call Hades.  Hades and Persephane help Angel get ride
of his demon.

At the same time Buffy, Ryle and others are also sent to the past, but they meet
up with Hercules.

They are helped try to get back into the future.

The sequal, has the groups in the future and the gods are rememberd and are
being wished again.

Someone found the fic for me.  Thank you.

--- On Sat, 8/15/09, sweetkitty <sweet73kitty@...> wrote:

> From: sweetkitty <sweet73kitty@...>
> Subject: Please help!! Looking for Buffy crossover w/ Xena/Hercules
> To: allcrossovershere@yahoogroups.com, Allforfanfic@yahoogroups.com,
allslash@yahoogroups.com, Anything_Fiction@yahoogroups.com,
AU_fic@yahoogroups.com, Buffy_Crossovers@yahoogroups.com,
buffyfic_crossovers@yahoogroups.com, caliadragondp@yahoogroups.com,
CompleteKingdomOfSlash@yahoogroups.com, FAN-FICTION-UTOPIA@yahoogroups.com,
Fire_and_Ice_Fic@yahoogroups.com, imaginings@yahoogroups.com,
jeconais_fanfiction@yahoogroups.com, jffg@yahoogroups.com,
MakeBelieve_YG@yahoogroups.com, scifi-fantasy_fic@yahoogroups.com,
Sisters_of_thewritestuff@yahoogroups.com, Slash_Galore@yahoogroups.com,
slashloveandangst@yahoogroups.com, Vorabiza@yahoogroups.com,
xoverfic@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009, 3:10 PM
> Hi, I remember reading a story were
> Xander, Spike, Faith, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Willow and Gunn
> were sent back into the past by Wolfram and Hart.
>
> Xander and Spike are a couple, also Cordy and Angel or
> Faith are a couple
>
> When they get there they are meet by Joxer and one of the
> gods.� When they see who or what Angel is they call
> Hades.� Hades and Persephane help Angel get ride of his
> demon.
>
> At the same time Buffy, Ryle and others are also sent to
> the past, but they meet up with Hercules.
>
> They are helped try to get back into the future.
>
> The sequal, has the groups in the future and the gods are
> rememberd and are being wished again.
>

The Longest Days
by Nancy Lorenz

Disclaimers: Xena Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Joxer and Callisto are
all characters owned by MCA/Universal studios. All Gods but Aphrodite
and Ares written from Greek Myth, with some Xena canon thrown in. No
money is being made from this creation.

Content: G/J

Chronology: Post Season 6.  It's intimated that at some point, Gabs goes and
fixes everything up.  Don't ask me how that happens cause I have no idea!

Author's Notes:  This came into my head one day when I was tooling around,
listening to music and drawing pictures.  It's not been edited by anyone but
myself, so sorry if there are errors.

Rating: PG/K


*

The Longest Days.*

There was a certain swing in his step that never used to be there in his
youth. His stride was rounder, less efficient, and she knew the pain it
would cause in his muscles at bed time. All because of his knees. When
she was younger, travelling with him around the countryside, never would
she think that his knees would become weak. But she never imagined her
life changing the way it did, nor her fight for the semblance of
normalcy. She never imagined that quiet days with him would be a bliss
untold, that she would revel in with the delight of a lamb in a field.
She thanked the Gods every day that she was walking with him, his funny
walk because of his terrible knees, her own bones creaking. She wasn't
young, she wasn't out of place. They were old together, looking back on
decades spent the way the should have been.

She brushed a lock of his hair from his face. He'd let his hair get
shaggy in his old age. Sometimes she'd talk him into trimming it close
to his head like he did in his youth. But he didn't like to, he said
that was the hairstyle of a warrior. He'd become a long-haired minstrel,
giving up the sword and making a fine living with the lute. Sometimes
she'd come with him, and tell stories between songs. The Bard of
Potedaia, and her silver-voiced Minstrel Fool. That's what they called
them. Joxer the Melodious.

"I need to get a horse again," he said to Gabrielle. "I can't do this
long walk anymore."

"Getting on and off the horse will hurt your legs," said Gabrielle.

"I can make a, you know, a step ladder," he said. He chuckled at the
thought. "I can hang it off the back of the horse instead of dismounting."

She smiled and shook her head. "If it's a light enough wood, I suppose
we could manage."

"Getting old is weird," he said.

"The whole thing is weird," replied Gabrielle. "It wasn't supposed to be
like this."

"I know," Joxer said, nodding. "Xena was supposed to be with you, not me."

She hated when he brought this up. Eying him sharply, she gripped his arm.

"Not this again! She made her decision. She wanted to remain in the
Underworld. I couldn't be alone anymore. I wanted you with me. You
wanted to be with me too. So here we are." She shook her head, waving a
hand dismissively. "That wasn't what I was talking about. What I meant
was, we were supposed to all be together. All of us. Our children
playing together, with Eve..." She sighed and looked away.

"I miss her too."

Her heart crumpled in her chest and she wrapped her arms around him
tightly. Damn him. How she loved him.

"Come on," he said gently on his breath, tucking her chin up and gazing
into her eyes. "Let's go home. I'll make a nice soup, and we can have it
with yesterday's nutbread, hmm?"

She shuddered from head to toe as she met his gaze. He looked at her
just like he did all those years ago, that open, heartfelt adoration.
Perhaps it had changed a little, grown deeper and matured, but it still
felt like he wrapped her in a blanket and kept her safe. She didn't need
him to keep her safe, she was more than able to take care of herself.
His gaze felt like home, it had that same security.

It also made her feel beautiful, made her feel young. She didn't need to
feel those things either, but it was still a nice thing to feel.

It was early evening when they made it back home to the Amazon village,
smoke lifting from the hole in the apex of the thatched roof. A fire had
been lit by an attentive Amazon charge, who was no doubt in her own hut,
preparing her weapons and armour for the following day's duties. As soon
as they returned to their home, Joxer set about making dinner. Gabrielle
put their things away.

His boots next to hers, at the end of their bed. Their bed, their hut.
Their life together. How thankful she was to have him, to have someone
at all, let alone someone who meant as much to her as Joxer did. She put
on a thick coat and walked into the kitchen area.

"You're hungry," said Joxer, a twinkle in his eye.

"When am I not?" she said, smirking.

"Don't worry. This'll only take a little while. Here, have some of the
nutbread from yesterday." He handed her some hunks of nutbread from the
pantry in a carved wooden bowl. He also poured her some wine.

"Joxer, you spoil me."

"Of course I do," he replied. "I enjoy it."

The smirk turned into a broad smile.

"Don't let me forget about Xenon visiting tomorrow, honey," he said,
turning back to the meal and dropping vegetables into the soup pot.

"I won't," she said. "You're giving him lute lessons, aren't you?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "S'weird, you know? When I first went on
adventures with you guys, I thought that if I had a son, I'd teach him
how to be a warrior." He chuckled. "I have the son I wanted, and I'm
teaching him to play music and sing. It's funny how things turn out."

"It's a better future than you imagined," she said gently. "Creative
people make the world more beautiful."

He glanced at her from over his shoulder. "Yeah, but we creative types
need the heroes and the warriors to protect us. They make the world more
beautiful by refusing to let it be taken for granted."

He knew just what to say to her. Her shame at her violent ways was no
secret to him. Violence led her to the horrible end, where she'd lost
everyone that had ever meant anything to her. It was by the grace of the
Gods that she had Joxer. Everyone else was gone. When he was returned to
her, she swore she would become peaceful. Not like she had been after
India. It would be practical this time, logical. She would live with the
Amazons and help them grow and be strong. Teach the younger ones how to
fight, and how to think with peace and compassion in their hearts. She
also wanted to honour what Xena fought for in her own way.

She never stopped telling Xena's story.

Nibbling at the nutbread, she sat with Joxer as the soup cooked. How
many quiet nights had she shared with him like this? She never thought,
all those years ago, that he was able to provide good conversation, but
he was surprisingly entertaining. When he was at ease, when he wasn't
self-conscious, he had a sparkling sarcasm that teased the tiredness
from her bones. He took the horrible things and made them funny somehow.
She'd missed it for a long time � he'd never been relaxed enough around
her to let it flourish naturally. Not until he knew that she loved him,
no matter what.

The soup was wonderful. Comforting and simple, a lot like its maker. As
she filled herself with it, Joxer spoke of things he'd heard at the
local taverns, small town politics that would have bored her so many
years ago. How precious the little things were to her now.

They were tired from their walk from the nearby town, so they went to
bed early that night. She looked at their bodies as they pulled off
their clothes. Her body had changed, slowly and surely. At first it
frightened her, losing the strength and agility she'd fought so hard to
acquire. But she was soon distracted with motherhood, with marriage.
Suddenly there were more important things than how she looked in the
reflection of the nearby stream. Her stomach was lined with hard-earned
stretchmarks. Each line was a testament to the months she spent
nurturing their children. She bore them with pride, with honour. They
went with the wrinkles around her eyes from the years of crying in both
sadness and joy. The creases at the corners of her mouth from the
laughter and the frowns of grim determination to survive all that life
threw at them. She was not young and flawless anymore, but her heart
sang with delight at how well her body served her.

Joxer, her dear sweet Joxer, didn't see the worn frame, not like a
stranger would. His eyes still grew dewy when she took off her clothes.
He had his moments where he'd make an off-colour joke at her expense,
but he wasn't a perfect man. She would cry and refuse to talk to him for
hours and always, he would apologise and wonder out loud why he had to
be such a jerk. He'd gotten much better with age, it had been hard in
the early days. In the end, he was always grateful that she loved him,
endlessly, eternally grateful.

Remarkably, his body hadn't suffered the ravages of age as badly as
some. His hair had thinned on top and his middle wasn't as taut as it
had been in his younger years. But like her, he walked a lot, so he was
in reasonably good shape, just as she was. Their bodies could not
withstand gravity, and bits and pieces sagged. Skin under the arms,
breasts and back flesh. It didn't matter at to them at all.

Gabrielle had seen the endless yaw of life without loved ones. The
sweaty, playful, wonderful nights and the long, busy days filled her to
the brim.

She climbed into bed next Joxer, her husband, slipping her arms around
him. Their naked bodies made contact and she felt as one with him,
contentment washing over her and giving her a sense of completion. She
felt blessed that this was something she experienced every day for so
many years. It nearly brought tears of joy to her eyes to think that if
she and Joxer were lucky, they would have some years to share yet.

"I love you, Gabrielle," said Joxer softly, running his cheek against
her silver-streaked hair.

"I love you too, Joxer," she replied.

He chuckled. It was that same delighted, boyish sound he'd made in his
youth. She knew why he made it � he was still excited that she loved him
at all. She wondered if he knew she felt the same way? If he knew how
thankful she was to have him in her life at all.

"You know what?" she asked him.

"No."

"If I could choose what life to live again... I'd choose this one."

There was a thick silence, and Joxer's arms tightened about her. A
heavy, lovelorn sigh left him.

"I wish you knew what you did to me, Gab," he murmured.

"If it's anything like what you do to me, then I do."

He pulled her close, kissing her deeply, warmly, firmly. Their bodies
had aged but their kisses had only gotten better. She couldn't resist
it, couldn't deny herself and had no reason to. They made love in their
well-used bed, ignoring the protesting of their tired bodies from the
long walk, revelling in the feeling between them that refused to die,
that only grew as time went on, defiantly, triumphantly.

They fell against each other, sweat-kissed bodies reverberating with
heavy heartbeats. Sleep swept over them like Persephone's cloak, gentle
and seductive, dark and quiet.

These days felt longer than the ones of her youth, the ones spent with
Xena. Those days were hectic, never a moment to rest. They were
exciting, heady and dangerous.

She was grateful for these longer days, however. Grateful that they
stretched on, affording her time to enjoy every moment. Because even
though they felt longer than those older days, they went by too fast.
One day she knew they'd be gone, and she couldn't be at peace unless she
knew she made the most of every moment she'd been blessed with.

She fell asleep in the arms of her most beloved, knowing that she'd
spent that day making the world more beautiful than it had been the
moment she woke up. That had to be a good thing.

These were the longest days now, but they were also the most beautiful.

*What Is A Hero?
* *�2006.
*By Nancy Lorenz.
*
**Disclaimers:* Xena Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Joxer and Callisto are
all characters owned by MCA/Universal studios. All Gods but Aphrodite
and Ares written from Greek Myth, with some Xena canon thrown in. No
money is being made from this creation.

*Content: *G/J, A/X.

*Chronology:* Before the Sacrifice episodes. Let's pretend, just for
this series, that Hope never lived past Maternal Instincts. Nup. The
bitch was poisoned, she died. For my sanity, mmkay?

*Author's Notes:* This story would be nothing without the help and
advice of Sandy, a darling woman I only really got to know well years
AFTER Xena finished, yet she was around at the time. Call it madness -
I've been missing out on the friendship of an awesome person! I also
thank Findle, for all the times I've pounced upon him online, nattered
in his ear about my story and probably bored him utterly shitless. Tina,
my little baby sister, too has had me do this to her. So to them - thank
you. You've helped me immensely.

*Rating:* Still To Be Rated (Tentative M+15)


*Chapter Six*

She couldn't believe she was doing this. If someone had said to her that
morning that by nightfall, she'd be huddling in a stable in nothing but
her underskirt, waiting for Ares of all people, she'd have smacked them
in the face. Yet there she was, covering her armour in hay and waiting
for Ares to come back from wherever he went. It didn't seem to bother
him that he had no money for a dress. She decided not to think about it
as she had plenty of other rather complicated and dire things to concern
herself with. Like warlords, and the attentions of the God of War.

There was a sudden squeak of rusted hinges and warped wood, and Xena
ducked down behind the stable wall. A horse in the next pen nickered
with annoyance at the disruption.

"I'm back," hissed a familiar voice. "Check it out�"

A dress was laid over the door of the stable, Ares popping up next to
it. It was a dress made of rough-woven woollen fabric, a bodice and
skirt of deep red over white sleeves. Not an expensive dress, but a
well-made, attractive one.

"Do I wanna know how you got this?" she asked, grabbing the garment.

"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies," said Ares, winking at her.

"Right."

There was an indulgent look on Ares' face as she stood there with the
dress. After a long moment of him staring at her, it occurred to her
that he wasn't about to turn around. She sighed heavily and turned away
from him, getting on with dressing herself.

"See any soldiers out there?"

"No," said Ares, folding his arms. "Not unless they were out of their
armour."

The dress was a reasonable fit. A bit tight around the shoulders, but
Xena had always had a hard time finding dresses that fit that part of
her anatomy. Fiddling with the laces of the bodice, she stepped out of
the stable. Ares was quiet, and when she glanced up at him, he gave her
a flicker of a smile.

"You look good."

Rolling her eyes, she glowered at him and stomped out of the stables
ahead of him.

"Don't get me wrong, the leathers are hot, but it's nice to see you in
something different."

"If I say 'thanks', will you shut up about what I'm wearing?"

"It bothers you that much?"

She gave him a withering look. "Isn't it obvious?"

They were trudging down the main street of Minoeta now, Ares trailing
behind her, thoroughly amused at Xena's discomfort. Light and music
streamed from the inn up ahead, people milling about the place, adding
to the air of festivity and warmness that the place seemed to exude.
Xena might have enjoyed it if it weren't for the impish mood of the
erstwhile God behind her.

"I didn't think my opinion of your appearance could be so troubling."

"Disturbing, more like," said Xena. "And if you don't get your eyes off
my ass you're going to find out where I'm hiding my chakram."

"Cute, but it's probably not in your best interests to throw that thing
about in company."

"I won't, if you behave," she murmured, eyes on the inn ahead.

She knew she didn't have to tell him that she'd rather have chopped off
a limb than leave her favourite weapon behind in a barn, never mind the
fact that there was every possibility that they might run into some
unsavoury characters � particularly any of Mallecium's men. She wasn't
sure why she was risking their security for Ares. She kept remembering
him breaking the link of omnipotence within his sword, pouring it out of
himself and, as they fell to earth, becoming painfully human. Risking
that for her, how could she deny him a simple night in a drinking house?

They soon found a snug spot at the end of the bar, nestled by the wall.
Old farming equipment hung up on the wall, decorated with bows of
coloured material and sheaves of wheat. There was even a shield on one
wall, something that seemed quite out of place in the overwhelmingly
agrarian establishment. It wasn't just the d�cor that was homely.
Farmers and small-time merchants huddled about tables, a couple of rowdy
old men sung bawdy tunes by the fire, upon which roasted a leg of mutton.

Ares was quiet, taking it all in as he sipped a foaming tankard of ale.
He shook his head at them in mingled awe and disbelief.

"They do this every day, don't they?" he said. "Make their deals, talk
about their sheep and drink till they forget that this is all their life
is about."

"Why do you think I'm a travelling girl?" she asked with a hint of mischief.

"I know why you started travelling and it has nothing to do with the
boring home life," replied Ares, a knowing glint in his eye.

She cleared her throat, looking away. "Don't you ever feel like them?"
she asked, redirecting the conversation back to Ares. "That you're doing
the same thing day in, day out, without meaning?"

A smirk twisted Ares' lips and he looked infuriatingly self-assured. "I
know my place in the universe, Xena. I know what I need to do. It can
get monotonous, I'll admit that, but no, it's never without meaning." He
looked down to his ale, shooting out a sigh. "I do often wish that this
important role of mine gave me room to be something else, something more."

Whatever that something more was, it made Xena's skin burn and shiver at
once. He wasn't supposed to want things like this. Ares was war, that
was his purpose. To be its force, to represent its madness, to make it
happen. There wasn't supposed to be more of him and she wasn't supposed
to be so damned drawn to it.

She had to distract herself from him. Grabbing the tankard of ale in
front of her, she peered into it, downing the warm, frothing liquid with
gusto.

"Woah, slow down, Xena," said Ares. "You do realise we have all night?"

"Unfortunately, yes," she growled.

"Let's make it a game!" said Ares, snapping his fingers and motioning
over the bar man. "We'll see who can down a tankard the fastest!"

Xena glowered at him. "We're going to end up trashed at that rate!"

He scoffed. "Xena, my dear, this is the aim of the entire exercise!"

"Aren't you a little old for this sort of behaviour?"

Ares made a great show of rolling his eyes before grabbing Xena by the
shoulders and staring at her deadpan.

"If you're too old for having fun you may as well be dead!" Xena opened
her mouth but Ares put a finger over her lips quick. "Ah-ah-ah! Here."
He squared her in her stool in front of the bar.

"Ares-"

"Don't make me hit ya where my good Daddy split ya."

Now it was Xena's turn to roll her eyes. "Fine. Don't blame me if you
wake up with the mother of all headaches in the morning."

"Sure, but I would have had a good time the night before. Bar keep!"

Xena gripped the tankard in her hands, staring at the foamy beer inside.
Mad. She had to be utterly insane.

A rather drunk looking man, reasonably well dressed so Xena guessed he
was a shopkeeper or merchant, eyed her dress as he waited to order a drink.

"You know it's bizarre," he said, slurring and pointing at her, "My wife
has nearly that exact same dress!"

"Couldn't be," Ares said. "I bought this one in Tiryns."

The man shook his head. "If she weren't already asleep in her bed, I'd
bring her here an' show her!" He laughed and shook his head, stepping
forward when he'd finally won the barkeep's attention.

Xena sighed deeply in relief, closing her eyes. "Ares, I swear I'm going
to kill you one day."

"That's cool. Just do it when I'm not mortal, okay?"

She glanced to him angrily and at that, he shot her a mischievous grin.

~~*~~

Joxer strummed the lute feverishly, performing a rousing jig that would
have no doubt been better played without all the Godly wine in his
system. He flubbed a fret-fall here and there, but he was having so much
fun it didn't matter. Gabrielle clapped in time, the both of them
comfortable on their stretched out bedrolls. The song got to the most
difficult part, and Joxer's features twisted in effort.

"Come on, you can do it!" she cried.

He launched into another chorus, this time faster than the last, and
soon the song hit a heady crescendo through which Gabrielle let out
rowdy hoots of encouragement. With a flourish of plucked strings, the
song ended, and Joxer sagged, exhausted.

Gabrielle applauded, shaking her head. "By the Gods, I didn't know you
could play like that!"

"Ahh, that wasn't so good," he said, waving a hand. "When I was a kid,
Mom would make me get lute lessons every day. I was really good then,
really good. I'm out of practice now."

"Puh-leeze!" She grabbed the lute and began to strum it, discordant
notes plunking from the poor thing as if it were protesting its sudden
rough treatment. "That's my skills! So shut up."

Joxer laughed, taking the lute back and nodding. "Yeah, I think we can
both agree you're no Apollo."

"Now you're getting all snarky and superior," she said, slurring a
little. "Lovely!"

He tilted his head at her, looking wry. "Your tender encouragement
boosted my confidence."

"I'm just tellin' you how it is, no need to get cocky, you big dumb jerk."

Laughter lifted from Joxer, and he shook his head. "Zeus, you're drunk."

"So are you," she said. Reaching forward, she dug amongst their things
for the amphora of wine. Joxer laughed again as she had a difficult time
locating it amongst the pelts and Joxer's haphazard pile of doffed
armour. "I want to be more drunk but I can't... are you hiding the wine?"

"No!" He shifted, and Gabrielle let out a little cry.

"You are! It's under your butt!" She pushed him aside, half-climbing
over him to get the wine from behind him. "You're evil, Joxer. Hiding it
from me like that!"

"Uh-uh," said Joxer, shaking his head. "I didn't put it there."

"Are you saying I put it there?" she asked him. She had settled back
down next to him on the pelt, getting comfortable.

Joxer snorted. "Why would I do that?"

She tilted her head, gazing up at the stars thoughtfully. "I dunno,
Joxer. I dunno why you do half the things you do."

"That makes the two of us."

She rolled onto her side, looking up at him. "Don't you ever stop and
think... 'Maybe, I shouldn't do this. It might turn out badly for me.'?"

He wagged his head, "All the time. I do it anyway."

A hearty chuckle fell from Gabrielle, and she put her head on his
shoulder, smacking his leg, barely making her target.

"See, this is what I love about you, Joxer. You go with your gut!"

He looked down at her, wobbling a little. "There's... something you love
about me? I didn't think you even liked me all that much."

"Noo, no," she said, shaking her head, pulling herself up and leaning
her chin on his shoulder so she could look him right in the eye. "See, I
get frustrated with you. Cause I know you're a good guy, you're good and
you're � " She frowned and huffed, trying to muddle through her mind for
the right words. "Your heart is brave and right, but you get it muddled
up on the way out somehow..." She shook her head. "Gods, I'm not even
making sense."

"Yeah you are," said Joxer, stoic despite his intoxication. "I don't
know, Gab. I ask myself the same thing every day an'... I dunno."

"It doesn't matter," she said, shaking her head.

"It doesn't?"

She shook her head again. "Nope. You're good'n'you keep tryin' and
that's all that matters." Dropping a hand on his shoulder near the base
of his neck, she squeezed the muscle there warmly. "You keep doin' what
you're doin', Joxer."

Smiling, he reached for the amphora and took a swig. "That's the plan."

"That's a boy!" she said, smacking his leg again. "We're having a good
time!"

Joxer gave a tentative smile. "Really?"

Gabrielle snorted, leaning forward and looking up into his face. "You
can't tell when you're having a good time?"

He shrugged. "Yeah but... I like bein' with ya. It's more... you..." He
gestured, waving a hand at her. "I mean, having a good time with me."

She sighed, tilting her head, and tentatively, she cupped his cheek.
"Joxer... do you think I play scissors, papyrus, rock with just
anybody?" He smiled at that. "I've had adventures with you. Talked into
the night with you. Argued with you, fought with you..." She shook her
head in wonder. "Other than Xena, who else can say that?"

He put his hand over the one on his cheek, stroking it with his thumb.
"Not many people."

"Right," Gabrielle nodded, a little more than she needed to thanks to
the alcohol. "I don't want to hear you put yourself down anymore."

"I wasn't," he said. "I just didn't think you liked me that much."

There was a confidence in his expression that was like itching powder in
her heart, and she growled at him, pushing him in the arm. "Joxer!"

He made the mistake of chuckling at her. She got up onto her knees,
pushing at him again. He didn't just take it. Putting the amphora aside,
cork in place, he caught her arms, getting a hold of them about the elbows.

"What ya gonna do now, huh?" He lifted his brows, teasing her.

"Oh, I'll show you, mister Mighty guy," she chuckled, pulling her arms
back, wrestling with him.

They were pretty evenly matched, Gabrielle more agile and coordinated
than Joxer, but smaller than him. With a growl, Gabrielle surged
forward, trying to push his arms back and largely succeeding. Joxer let
out a surprised yelp, laughing heartily as they tumbled over in a pile,
Gabrielle landing squarely on top of him, both their arms above their
heads. She slid into the nape of his neck, and she was suddenly aware of
the smell of his skin. It wasn't unpleasant... far from it. He was still
underneath her, his laughter dying down, his struggles against her
abandoned. She lifted herself up a little, looking into his eyes. Her
heart pounded as she saw the gleam in those frightened obsidian eyes.
She felt herself drowning in a giddy triumph that was more than the
wine, more than her moment of fun. Was there hope in Joxer's eyes? Did
he feel the same way? She'd never even though that... She needed to say
something, but she didn't want to move, didn't want to break the moment.

"Joxer," she whispered.

"Y-yeah?"

She gulped, looking down at his lips a moment, then back to his eyes.
"You wanna know something really -" She stopped and laughed. "Crazy?"

He nodded silently, gulping too.

"I... I think I'm... I mean I..." She winced, scrunching her face up for
a moment as she searched for the words. "You remember that time, with
baby Eros and the arrows?" She chuckled, shaking her head. "It was crazy..."

Joxer nodded, looking away, a tenseness on his face that was no longer
eager. He looked like a man waiting for the axe to fall.

"I used to think that, Joxer. That it was crazy." She shifted, settling
on top of him, and with a shaking hand, she ran her fingertips over his
forehead, down the side of his face, the strong line of his jaw and to
the little dimple in his chin. She smiled like a child, in wonder of the
feeling that flowered in her heart as she touched him. She shook her
head. "I don't really remember why I thought it was so crazy anymore..."

A deep breath left Joxer, and he closed his eyes, the hand above his
head clutching Gabrielle's, the other finding her shoulder and squeezing
gently. "Gab... I got a confession to make."

Her brows lifted in askance.

"During that time... with the arrows?"

She nodded.

"Eros never got me."

Tilting her head, she frowned at him. "He never..."

He shook his head, talking as if he were telling her someone she loved
had died. "No. It was... it was all me. I... I-yuh... I'm in love with
you."

A long, shaking breath left Gabrielle, and she rested her head against
his chest, closing her eyes and letting the truth flow through her in
strong, gripping waves. He loved her. He really, really loved her. Every
look he'd given her that day, every smile, every kiss... Hades balls,
every moment ever since!

She pushed herself away from him, running her fingers through her hair.

"I'm sorry," he said suddenly. "I ruined it. I should have told you ages
ago-"

"Tell me what?" she said, a dry laugh leaving her. She curled up around
her knees, staring at the low-burning fire across from them. "That
despite the fact that I treat you like crap and barely acknowledge you,
you're in love with me?"

"Gab, don't," he said. "You've had a lot on your plate lately."

"It's not an excuse," she said. "It's not..." She shook her head,
sighing at herself. "I look at you when you fumble, when you try so very
hard and..." She laughed, feeling tears in her eyes. "I see myself,
fresh from Potedaia." He went quiet. She glanced to him over her
shoulder. "Every time I hit you I'm, I'm hitting myself. For being so
damned... na�ve! That maybe if I just beat it out of you, nobody will
hurt you the way they've hurt me. If you just � got � tough! Maybe,
you'll be okay. Just maybe..." The tears fell from her eyes and the
pain, the dead, heavy pain from the horrors of the last many months
washed over her. There was no hiding from it. She faced them now, faced
this horrible truth. She adored him, adored his childlike innocence, his
sweet, eager affection, and she couldn't bear to see the world destroy
him. As it would, as it did everything beautiful, everything she ever loved.

She nearly jumped as a hand was at her cheek, wiping a tear away. She
looked up, seeing Joxer's dark eyes gleaming with tenderness. He gave
the softest of smiles, shaking his head.

"Don't," he said, voice trembling with emotion. "No tears. Not for me."

With hitched breath, she turned and sank into his arms, hugging him
tightly to her, in a way she'd never held anyone, not since Perdicas, or
the times she'd nearly lost Xena. Never, in all the days since she'd met
this ridiculous man, did she ever foresee him meaning so much to her.
She shuddered as she felt his hand stroke her hair, the other at her
shoulder, running in small comforting circles.

"Nobody's ever cried for me before," he said, a note of wonder in his tones.

Gabrielle leant back from the embrace, looking into his eyes. "I'm sure
someone has..."

"Not like this," he said, blinking slowly.

She took a sudden, deep breath in, his warm expression making her skin
burn. His hair was tousled from their wrestling, his vest akimbo. His
creamy pale skin looked gold in the fire light. He looked unbearably
beautiful to her in that moment, and she cupped his face in her hands,
her thumbs running back and forth in deft caresses. Slowly, she rose to
her knees, still holding him, eyes never leaving his. The softness of
her bosom brushed his chest. As he gazed up at her, she could see she
was holding his very heart in her hands. Precious, fragile, intoxicating.

She burned in the moment, feeling every nuance of it � the way his hands
rested at the small of her back, the way they shook, and always the
reminder that this was Joxer, ridiculous, silly, loud, foolish,
wonderful Joxer. Waves of understanding crashed higher and stronger,
whipping her soul into a delicious madness. This was more than care,
more than affection. She didn't want to think on what it was, she just
wanted him. There was a side to Joxer here that she'd never seen and a
frantic need to know it was consuming her. Looking into his eyes, she
could see that it was okay. This was okay!

She couldn't help it. She laughed lightly, shaking her head, her nose
touching his.

"What?"

She sunk her fingers into his hair, tilting her head, smiling tenderly.
"I don't have words... I'm a bard, and I don't have words!"

He shrugged a little, his voice small. "Then show me."

With a rush of warmth in her heart, she pressed her lips to his. His
kiss was firm, tender, her top lip settling perfectly into the curve of
his lower lip. His hands gripped her back, his breaths light and rushed.

"Gab," he breathed.

"Shhh..." She pushed him back against their pelts and blankets, running
a thumb over his bottom lip. "No words, dummy."

Her words were tender, and it sparked a confidence in the man underneath
her. Joxer lifted his head, capturing her lips in his, his tongue
flickering at her lips. She gasped, her body dipping against his
instinctually, her fingers gripping the furry pelt beneath them. His
hands slid up her back, squeezing her flesh. She tilted her head,
deepening the kiss, and in a bold move, Joxer opened his mouth, guiding
her in and teasing her with the tip of his tongue. She felt herself
tremble from shoulder to toe, and she flopped against him, her propped
arms sliding out past his head as she gave up trying to stay upright in
any capacity. Joxer chuckled in the kiss.

"Mmph-you-mm..." He drifted off for a moment, then found his thoughts
again. "You all right?"

She nodded, eyes closed, a delirious smile on her face. "I just had no
idea you were this good at kissing."

"Well I gotta be good at something," he murmured.

He barely got to finish his sentence before Gabrielle's lips were upon
his again, her fingertips stroking his jaw and neck. She didn't just lie
still and prone upon him. She squirmed happily, dragging her body along
his, delighting in the strange joy that was being close to Joxer.

A blush had grown rosy in his cheeks as she glanced to check his
expression, and leaning against him, it was no mystery as to why. She
looked down only quickly, then back to him, chuckling softly and taking
her bottom lip in her teeth. "You don't waste any time."

"I'm sorry, it's just you feel so good and-" Her finger on his lips
silenced him.

"Did I say it was a bad thing?" she asked matter-of-factly, brows rising.

"Heh...hehehe."

She grinning and nodded. "Right." She buried her face in the nape of his
neck, taking a mouthful of flesh and suckling it hungrily, letting one
of her legs shift between his and press against him. He gasped, tilting
his head back, almost feminine in his vulnerability.

"G-gabri... elle?"

"Mmm?"

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to think clearly, a near
impossibility when the woman of one's dreams was pressing hot, wet open
kisses on one's flesh.

"Aren't we a little... oh Gods..." She'd found his earlobe. "� a little
too drunk for this?"

After a moment she relinquished his earlobe, sighing and sinking her
fingers into his hair once more.

"Joxer, what's your point?"

"I don't wanna be doin' this if you, I mean, it wouldn't be right if I-"

"You're as drunk as I am."

"...I am."

She blinked and widened her eyes at him pointedly. "Then how do you know
I'm not taking advantage of you?"

He blinked and waved his head a little drunkenly. "Beeecause I really,
really want this?"

Gabrielle pinned him with a smouldering smile. She looked him square in
the eye.

"So..." She kissed his chin, "do..." the lilt of his neck, "...I." She
opened her mouth on his smooth chest and suckled at the flesh. She could
hear him panting, and she felt a smile in her heart as she tasted the
salt of his skin.
She felt his fingers sink into her hair, and his voice was gentle.

"Gabrielle..."

She lifted her head.

"If we do this, I want it to be right."

Gods damn him all to Tartarus. He'd actually found a way to make her
feel as though she loved him even more. She sighed, dragging her body up
his, mainly because she was too drunk and too tired to lift herself up
properly, and leant her forehead against his, lips brushing his cheek as
she spoke.

"Can I keep kissing you at least?"

A goofy grin spread across his narrow face. "Don't let me stop you."

She grinned, smacking him playfully and snuggling to his side. Grabbing
a pelt, she dragged it up over them, sinking into the veritable nest of
furs. A satisfied moan of a sigh lifted from her as she got comfortable,
wrapping an arm around him and settling her face into the nape of his
neck. A contented weariness washed over her in the absence of the
barrage of hormones, and she felt her eyelids grow heavy.

"This has been the weirdest night I've ever had," she said, pressing
light kisses to his neck every now and again.

Joxer shook his head in wonder, gazing up at the stars. "It's been like
a dream. I'm afraid to wake up."

Silence stretched on, and Joxer wondered if Gabrielle was going to leave
that hanging there. He couldn't really move, so he listened. Her breaths
had grown slow and rhythmic, her body a dead weight against him.

"How does anyone even fall asleep that quickly?" he muttered to himself.

He squeezed her a little, closing his eyes and treasuring the moment. It
could end tomorrow. He could wake up, and as the effect of the Godly
wine left their bodies, so could the affection of this perfect night.
/
Thank you, Aphrodite, /he thought. /Even if this night is all I ever get./


~~*~~

Okay everyone.

What about a Word-A-Week challenge?   I'll randomly pick a word and put
it up later today, and we have to write a short one-page fic about it.  :)

Cheers,
Nancy.

Hey everyone.

I'm just wondering if anyone would be interested in a fic challenge or
game?  Something short and fun?  Lemme know.

Cheers,
Nancy.

Did I mention I REALLY like your story? I especially love your character's
interaction with Joxer! And good for Joxer for standing up to Gabrielle,
especially the short-haired Warrior Gabrielle who wasn't really my favorite.

Can't wait to read more!

I stand here next to Joxer, knowing what's coming. Gabrielle is obsessing over her horse, totally oblivious to everything else.

I plan on taking full advantage of that. Amarice was already having her tiff with Armand. I try to stay away from Amarice. In reality she's extremely hostile, especially since I've shown interest in Joxer.

Maybe it's the Amazon in her. Anything male and she freaks.

Joxer is having a hard time with Gabrielle ignoring him. He's been trying to talk with her all day, and I've allowed him to.

Giving him time to see how she treats him without me around has made him search me out.

I've been waiting in the tavern, trying to stay with my back against the wall � try and keep my eyes on the whole place.

Joxer strolls in, having already dropped the apples I'm assuming. He looks depressed � and that makes me frown.

"Joxer!"

He turns my way and smiles. He walks over and sits down next to me. Those eyes! God how is it possible for a man to have such beautiful brown eyes.

I smile at him and take his hand in mine.

"Are you good?" I ask him.

Joxer's face contorts and then smirks and nods.

Then I stare at him with my ` I don't believe you look'.

He blushes, and turns his head away, then begins to talk way too fast for me to understand.

I close my eyes and smile before opening them and quickly `whoa'ing him to make him see that I am not following anything.

Motioning with my hands Joxer finally understands that he is talking waaaay to fast.

Grimacing he begins again, much slower, and with small words.

I'm only able to make out a few words�but I knew before he said anything what he was upset about. And I know if I don't do something soon�Joxer will lose both Gabrielle and Xena. Alone.

He would spend the rest of his years searching for them�only to die because of the child that Xena bares inside her.

By all accounts I'm making a huge mistake in meddling in the first place�but the look in his eyes lets me know what I have to do.

Tell Joxer the truth about Gabrielle.

It's a horrible thing to do to his kind soul but � he deserves better.

"Joxer�" I pause not knowing how to say the words, and suddenly I realize something.

In this dimension�the Greek Gods exist.

Knitting my eyes together I say the name of a Greek goddess�one that I know would help me if she can�especially in this area.

"Aphrodite."

Joxer eyes widen, and suddenly starts shaking his head and waving his arms about. But at the moment I don't care about his fear of Aphrodite. I just hope that she can help me.

"APHRODITE!!" I call out loud, hoping that she would respond. Hoping that I was doing the right thing.

Suddenly there she is�right in front of me.

Looking over at Joxer she then turns to me. Rolling her eyes at me she starts to talk.

I shake my head and quickly open my mouth.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I don't understand one word your saying!!"

And its almost comical the way her face drains of color as I speak.

"What did you just say?" She says in English.

My eyebrows scrunch together in shock, as do Joxer's. Joxer though pulls out of his chair and stand up to stare at Aphrodite.

Both of us asking the same question, but in a different language.

"You understand me(her)?"

Aphrodite's face is still really pale when she responds to me.

"Yeah! Totally � but�your not suppose to be here." She says almost uncertainly.

"It's a long story." I say honestly.

Before she can speak I quickly ask the favor I need.

"Listen Aphrodite, I need to be able to speak Greek to be able to communicate with Joxer. Could you please cast a spell that lets me speak and understand Greek?"

Aphrodite looks uncertain for a second, but then waves one of her hands and pink hearts float down to nothingness on the ground.

My head tilts to one side as I don't feel any differently.

"Did it work?" I ask�but not in English.

Joxer quickly turns and stares at me.

"I guess so." I say with a small smile.

Aphrodite looks between the both of us, and I swear I think she turned even whiter than before.

"Your not suppose to be here!" She reiterates.

I nod my head. " I know! I'm a scientist from another dimension, one where Xena and this whole dimension is just a tv show."

Aphrodite looks like she's turning into a ghost the more I say, but I'm not about to lie to her. After all, she did risk her loved ones to be able to save Xena and Gabrielle. I know that she's a good person�or being � inside.

"Ok. I�I'm going to see how I can get you back�or�how to fix this." Aphrodite says right before she vanishes.

As she leaves I look over at a very distraught Joxer. I know I need to say something, and fast�before Aphrodite comes back.

I just hope I don't ruin everything with him.

"Joxer I know this is a lot�and I wish I could have done this gradually but�I can't."

The look he gives me is one of complete confusion.

I brace myself, and close my eyes.

"I'm in love with you."

I don't open my eyes. I don't even move. I just stand there waiting for something to happen.

"I ah�I�I don't know what to say."

Opening my eyes slowly I see his shocked face. And I know its too much�too fast but�I suddenly remember a very familiar speech�so I use the words.

"Joxer�I love you." I say with all the confidence in the world.

"I�I love you for the man that you want to be, and I love you for the man you almost are. I love you."

And with that I take in the small distance that's between us, and cover his lips with mine.

I deepen the kiss out of my desperate need to feel him, and Joxer being the person he is � leaves me breathless.

It feels as though I kiss him for an eternity. His arms around me kissing me back out of his own needs � a need to be loved in return, a need to be wanted.

I never expect the tug on my clothes, and the way I am quickly spun and punched by one pissed off Amazon bard.

And it seems as if Joxer and I are both dazed�but just for a few seconds. Just enough time for Joxer to make a decision � one that I never would have guessed him to make.

Joxer rushes over to me and helps me up. He cups my face as I look up into his eyes. His eyes looked so pained in that second. I wish I could take it away. Gentle fingers slowly brush under my nose and I grimace from the pain. Opening my eyes I realize that Joxer's finger is covered in my blood.

Astounding as it may seem, but I see his eyes dull at this revelation. This side of the woman he has been in love with for years � he had never understood what it was until now. His beautiful warrior bard�she had become the thing she hated the most.

Violent.

"Joxer she's up to something!" Gabrielle almost screams, frantic in her reasoning. As if the statement would make him side with her - but it doesn't.

Crazy as I'm acting, I need to say what Joxer needs to hear- what noone had the decency to tell him. Causing him pain is not something I want to do - but I have to.

Eyes turned towards her, I whisper words that I know are going to cause him agony.

"She's not in love with you,"

And there it is.

Those beautiful eyes fill with such hurt that I begin to cry, right along with him.

"and she never will Joxer."

My eyes are on Joxer's, but his eyes are on Gabrielle. Gabrielle who's panting from what I don't know, trembling like a little girl as she stares back at Joxer...not denying any of it. Just staring at him with wide green eyes. Eyes that seem to plead with him. Yet I know my next words will sting more.

"She's in love with Xena."

And it's these words that make his eyes turn to me in shock. Anger in them that I hadn't expected. Joxer lets go of me and steps back, trying to collect himself and seeming to fail.

Now I turn and look at Gabrielle, who looks at me with such hatred that I swear I should be dead where I stand. It's a look I had never seen on her face.

Joxer trys to fight back the tears in his eyes as he stares at me, almost as if he wants me to take back my words - but I won't.

"Joxer..." Gabrielle says and trys to walk over and touch him, but he slithers away from her. Her touch making him jerk in almost disgust.

Gabrielle's face shows such hurt at the action, that for just one second...I think I made a mistake. But then Gabrielle's eyes harden, and then soften.

"Joxer she's lying!!"

At that I laugh, even through my own tears, causing both to look at me.

"I'm not lying...I just know the future."

At this both stare at me oddly, Joxer wanting to believe me and Gabrielle looking at me like I'm crazy.

"I can prove it! I'll..." I struggle for how to convince them without ruining Gabrielle's destiny. As much as I love Joxer, I know that her place is with Xena - and I won't jeopardize that for anything.

So with them looking at me still I manage to say one thing that won't affect anything, because Xena will tell them in a short while.

"If I tell you and it happens...will you believe me Joxer?" I ask with as much hope in my voice as fear.

Looking over at Gabrielle, who gives him a look that says 'no', he turns back and nods his head.

And I see Xena walking over here from the stable. I know that I have no time left. So then and there I blurt the words out.

"Xena's pregnant."

Author's Note: Ok. I want reviews!!

*What Is A Hero?
* *©2006.
*By Nancy Lorenz.
*
**Disclaimers:* Xena Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Joxer and Callisto are all characters owned by MCA/Universal studios. All Gods but Aphrodite and Ares written from Greek Myth, with some Xena canon thrown in. No money is being made from this creation.
*Content: *G/J, A/X.
*Chronology:* Before the Sacrifice episodes. Let's pretend, just for this series, that Hope never lived past Maternal Instincts. Nup. The bitch was poisoned, she died. For my sanity, mmkay?
*Author's Notes:* This story would be nothing without the help and advice of Sandy, a darling woman I only really got to know well years AFTER Xena finished, yet she was around at the time. Call it madness - I've been missing out on the friendship of an awesome person! I also thank Findle, for all the times I've pounced upon him online, nattered in his ear about my story and probably bored him utterly shitless. Tina, my little baby sister, too has had me do this to her. So to them - thank you. You've helped me immensely.
*Rating:* Still To Be Rated (Tentative M+15)

Dun dun duuuuuuun!
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Author's Note: Ok. I want reviews!!
>
Heh, you've set up quite the conundrum, dude!  I look forward to seeing
how they work this one out!

Cheers,
Nancy.

Aha!  Amanda!

Nice to meet you, Amanda!   I have some fic I'll be sicking on the list
soon.  It's not Xebbie goodness, but it's a little something.  ;)

Cheers,
Nancy.

magicatlantian wrote:
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Author's Note: Ok! I want reviews people! I don't care if there good
> or bad, but....give me SOMETHIN'!!
>
>
Hey dude.

What's your name?  It's great to have someone new around!    Sorry it's
taken me so long to read this.  My folks have been away for three months
and I had to take care of the house while they were gone.  This wouldn't
be so bad but I have a chronic illness (endometriosis) so I had barely
any time for anything other than making food and tending to my pain
problems!

Elaine is really torturing Gabrielle in this fic!   But it's kind of
nice to see Joxer enjoy some positive attention.  There are some grammar
goofs but nothing worse than what I've done in the past.  I take my
writing way seriously though, so I'm just a dork for fic.

I'm enjoying reading new fic, though, so please keep sharing!

Cheers,
Nancy.

Oh wow, love the new chapter! Can't wait for more!