Title: The Declaration

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Feedback: Would be nice

Disclaimer: X:WP belongs to Renaissance Pictures - Universal Television

Rating: PG-13

Summary: The course of true love doesn’t always run smooth

Gabrielle stared at the campfire intently. Deep in thought she didn’t seem to be aware of anything beyond the dancing flames. Suddenly her eyes flicked up to look at her companion sitting on the opposite side of the fire.

“Xena.”

 Xena’s eyes rose from honing her sword to focus on Gabrielle.

“I’ve been thinking.”

“Do you do anything else, beside talking that is?”  Xena said with a smile.

“No - I mean yes - you know what I mean. I’ve been thinking about us, about our life together.”

“Oh yes, I thought you were unusually quiet.”

“You’ve said I’m like family to you, that I’m your best friend, that you love me, and that you’ll never leave me.”

“Yes, all these things are true. Why do you ask?”

“I was wondering. What if I said I wanted more?”

“I don’t understand, what more is there?”

“What if I said not only do I love you, but that I’m in love with you and I want a full relationship with you?”

“I’d say you’ve been reading Sappho again.”

Gabrielle blushed.

“Gabrielle you’ll meet a nice man, get married, settle down and have children, that’s what I think.”

“You sound just like my parents. I have met some nice men, and I did marry one, remember? Then fate took a hand... it wasn’t meant to be. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Perdicas, but even then it was wrench to leave you. It would be impossible now. I know what I want, and it’s you.”

Now it was Xena’s turn to blush.

“Are you sure about this? You know my track record, it isn’t good. I couldn’t give you what you want, what you deserve, I’m just not worthy of your love.”

“Don’t say that, of course you are worthy. The question is, how do you feel about me?”

“You know how I feel. You know I love you. You know I’d do anything for you, I’d even die for you, but not this, we can be friends but not lovers.”

Gabrielle was crestfallen but moved to sit beside Xena to press her point.

“Why not? You say you love me. You say you’d die for me, but you won’t make love to me, you won’t even kiss me?”

Xena did not reply but did not resist either as Gabrielle kissed her, gently at first, then with real passion.

“Now what do you say?”

As she searched for the answer in Xena’s concentrated blue eyes time seemed to stand still until at last she replied.

“Kiss me again.”

Gabrielle smiled and as she happily fulfilled Xena’s request, it seemed all her dreams had come true. Ten minutes later reality set in.

“Okay, I think we’ve kissed enough, isn’t it time we did it?”

“Did what?” asked Xena.

“You know, IT?”

“Oh! IT. Well, I don’t know how to put this, but I haven’t done it with a woman before, I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean you don’t know what to do? I thought you had many skills. Surely with all that time you spent with the Amazons you must have picked up some idea of what is involved?”

“Well, I didn’t. I had other things on my mind at the time - world domination mostly - thanks to Alti.”

“I see. Well, I’m glad you weren’t wasting your time,” she said dryly, “but you’ve been with men haven’t you?”

“Yes, but contrary to what others might think, not very many of them.”

“But you have done it with them and you do know what pleases you?”

“Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“Well, to be frank, none of my lovers were as much interested in my pleasure as they were in their own.”

“Oh great! So it’s the blind leading the blind is it?”

“I guess it is.”

“This is terrible, this isn’t how I imagined this moment at all.”

“It’s okay Gabrielle, it isn’t that important you know. We love each other, isn’t that enough?”

“Last week it was. Yesterday it was. Today it isn’t! By the Gods, Xena, I want it and I want it now! And if you can’t give it to me I’ll find someone who can!”

With that, she stormed off angrily into the forest. Xena shrugged and threw another log onto the fire. She looked askance at Argo standing nearby.

“She’ll be back.”

Twenty minutes later Gabrielle returned to the camp looking rather sheepish.

Xena looked at her with a deadpan expression.

“You find anyone?” she enquired.

“No,” said Gabrielle, dejectedly.

She sat down next to Xena, leaned her head against her, and began to weep bitter tears of frustration and disappointment.

“Don’t worry Gabrielle, it’ll be alright, you’ll see,” said Xena, as she soothed her companion, gently stroking her golden hair and kissing her tears away.

“Love will find a way,” she assured her.

And later that night, as the stars shone down on the neophyte lovers, it did!