Title: The Good, The Bad and The Fangy

By: dawnm

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Xena. All Hail Joss Whedon, Rob Tapert, et al. Please don't sue me for trying to have a little fun with them.

Spoilers: Takes place around Buffy s3 ep. "Choices" and Xena s2 eps. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and "Return of Callisto", but events from all episodes prior to those are fair game for mention here as well.

Rating: PG-13ish

Classification: Romance/Action/Crossover

Pairings: Buffy/Willow, Xena/Gabrielle

Summary: What might a slayer slay 100 years B.C.? How do two California city girls fare in the wild outdoors? **Sequel to my story "Ages Apart".**

Feedback: I'd love to hear what you think of the story. Feel free to email me anytime with comments or questions. Email: dawnm92@yahoo.com.

Chapter 3 - Dispelling The Demons

Exhausted and half-starved from skipping dinner the night before, Buffy and Willow sluggishly followed along as the group walked toward the catacombs the next day. Willow gravitated toward Gabrielle, chatting as they walked along, while Buffy chose to keep pace with Xena, a significant distance ahead of the others.

"You look tired." Xena commented.

"Didn't get much sleep last night." Buffy admitted.

"May be none of my business, but I think you should talk to her. Tell her how you feel." The warrior advised.

"You're one to talk." The slayer replied.

"It's not the same."

"It's exactly the same, isn't it? You're in love with Gabrielle, but you're afraid of how she'll react if you tell her, right?" Buffy asked.

"It's not that simple." Xena replied.

"What? What else is stopping you? Wait, let me guess…even if she does feel the same, you don't want to accept it. You think she's better off without you, that being with you just puts her in danger. And you don't want her to get hurt. Does that about cover it?" The slayer asked.

Xena stared at Buffy, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Does it really surprise you that much that I know how you feel?" The slayer asked. "Because it shouldn't. Seems to me like we're both in the same miserable boat." Buffy added.

"I know she loves you." Xena remarked.

"I know she loves me. I'm just not sure it's a 'you're such a great friend' kind of love or an 'I want to rip your clothes off' kind of love." Buffy shot back.

"The second one." The warrior replied with a knowing smile.

"Huh?" The slayer asked, clearly not understanding.

"I said, she's in love with you." Xena whispered, staring seriously at Buffy.

"Pfffft." The slayer laughed. "What makes you say that?"

"I see the way she looks at you, the way she acts." Xena explained.

"Like you would know." Buffy said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" The warrior asked defensively.

"It means…Gabrielle has the hots for you and you can't even see it." The slayer retorted.

"Keep it down, will ya?" Xena urged, looking over her shoulder to make sure the others couldn't hear their conversation. "This isn't about me and Gabrielle." She argued.

"Sure it is. It's about you telling me to take a risk that you're not even willing to take yourself." Buffy noted.

"I don't want her to get hurt." Xena asserted.

"Are you planning to hurt her?" Buffy replied.

"Of course not." Xena replied. "But just being around me puts her in danger because of the life I lead."

"Okay. Are you prepared to send her away and break off the friendship you have?" Buffy questioned.

"No."

"Then what's the difference, friends or lovers, if just being in your life puts her in danger?" The slayer asked pointedly.

Realizing the truth in Buffy's words, Xena didn't answer at first, then opted to enlighten the blonde. "I could say the same thing to you."

Buffy sobered a bit at the comment, but didn't deny the truth in it. "So, now we know. There's nothing else holding us back. At least we've admitted it." The slayer mused. "We're both just big cowards."

"Does that mean you're gonna talk to her?" Xena asked, smiling amusedly.

"Yeah, sure, right after you talk to Gabrielle." Buffy shot back playfully.

****************************

“This is it? When you said ‘weapons', I was thinking a blacksmith’s shop.” Joxer commented as they entered the burial grounds.

“No, for this job, we need something special." Xena replied. "Keep quiet, and don’t step on any graves.”

Walking on top of a nearby grave in spite of Xena's orders, Joxer read the gravestone and asked, “Dryad, Dry-- What’s a Dryad?”

“Sworn enemies of Bacchus." Xena called over her shoulder as she looked around. "A Dryad bone through the heart is the only way to kill a Bacchae.”

“Do we have to dig them up?” Gabrielle asked.

“Not exactly.” Xena commented.

“Well, they’re not gonna jump out at us." Joxer said with a laugh. As if on cue, the ground opened up beneath him. Apparently, he had awakened something by walking on the grave and he was being pulled under. As he sank into the ground, he screamed. "Whoa! Whoa! Aaaaaaaaahhhh.”

“Joxer!” Gabrielle screamed, seeing that he was in serious trouble.

“Help, Xena! Help me! They’re pulling me under! I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe! Aaaaaaaaaahhh." Joxer begged. Xena and Buffy ran to his aid, grabbing his arms and trying to pull him back out of the ground. "Pull! Pull! Horrible animals! Ooh, and monsters!"

Soon, the warrior and slayer had pulled him to freedom. "Oh, that was close." Joxer said relieved. "He took my boots! They cost me fifty dinars!”

“Great.” Gabrielle commented.

“Stupid, good-for-nothing, bag of bone!” Joxer complained as they continued on.

A screeching sound behind them prompted the group to turn around. Dust flew and a flame shot out of the grave Joxer had fallen into. A creature emerged, the skeletal remains of a large winged animal. Two more followed the first one out of the open grave, all three taking flight above the group.

“What is it?!” Gabrielle asked.

“That’s a Dryad.” Xena answered, unsheathing her sword. The Dryads attacked, swooping down at them.

“Watch it, Joxer!" Gabrielle warned.

“All right, Xena! Do something!” Joxer pleaded.

The group scattered, ducking to the ground to avoid the onslaught. The Dryads regrouped, coming back in for another pass. Xena fought off one, Buffy a second, and the third found another target, the scarecrow-bodied Orpheus who screamed incessantly as the creature tried to lift him from Argo's back and carry him away. Joxer, who was supposed to be protecting Orpheus, stood by screaming in fear like a little girl as Orpheus was attacked.

Having no weapon, Buffy was unable to kill the creature that was terrorizing her and Willow. Seeing that Joxer was not using his sword, she decided to perpetrate a misdemeanor. "Can I borrow this? Thanks." The slayer said running past him, swiftly stealing the sword from his hands. When the Dryad swooped down again, the slayer beheaded it with one clean strike of the sword. It shattered then, its bones falling to the ground.

With one down, Xena turned her attention to the next immediate threat, the one that was attacking Orpheus. It had the scarecrow body in its clutches and was trying to lift Orpheus along with it up into the sky. The warrior quickly drew her chakram and let it fly, beheading the Dryad, which shattered like its counterpart.

“Thanks.” Orpheus said.

The third Dryad then retreated. “Go on and run! You coward! Hah-hah!" Joxer taunted as the creature flew away.

"Thanks." The slayer said, handing the sword back to Joxer.

"You're welcome." He replied meekly, suddenly frightened of the tiny blonde that he now knew was as lethal as Xena. 'Who is this girl?' He wondered. If there had been the slightest physical resemblance, he would have sworn she was related to the warrior princess.

"Wow! These Dryad bones are really sharp as nails. No wonder they can kill a Bacchae." Joxer commented, picking one up, as Xena and Buffy gathered their weapons. "Hey, are you afraid…of this?” Joxer asked, pointing one of the Dryad bones at Xena's chest, testing his theory that the warrior was a Bacchae.

“Should I be?” Xena asked, glaring down at him menacingly as she leaned into his personal space.

“No.” Joxer squeaked, shrinking back from the warrior. Buffy watched the exchange and couldn't help but laugh at the fool.

“It’s just that…Gabrielle thought that you might be a Bacchae." He lied. The warrior continued to stare him down. "OK, maybe I thought you were one, too. But you had blood on your neck.” He quickly added.

“Sorry to disappoint.” Xena replied, walking away from him.

“It’s understandable. Nothing like stalking a Bacchae to get the blood flowing.” Joxer said, following the warrior.

Hearing a growl, Xena looked up. Gabrielle whirled around to face them then. She was transforming into a Bacchae right in front of their eyes. Her normally soft green eyes were now a disturbing yellow and she bared her teeth at them, showing her newly developed fangs.

“Gabrielle.” Xena said, overwhelmed.

“See? What did I tell you?” Joxer said. Xena shoved him aside.

“Gabrielle…it’s all right. I can help you.” Xena said softly, trying to calm the bard, but Gabrielle was no longer really there. She had been replaced by the demon that now controlled her.

The demon in Gabrielle took hold of Willow and sank her teeth into the sensitive flesh of the hacker's neck. Both Buffy and Xena dove toward them, but it was too late. Gabrielle took flight. The warrior and slayer dropped to their knees out of her path. When they rose again to go to Willow, the redhead vamped out and flew away.

“Where are they going?” Joxer asked.

“The catacombs. Get Orpheus!” Xena demanded as she and Buffy took off after them.

"We can still save them, Buffy." Xena Assured her. "We can't let them drink Bacchus' blood. If they do, we've lost them. As long as they don't drink, they will be themselves again when we kill Bacchus." The warrior explained.

Buffy didn't respond. She had retreated within herself, haunted by her thoughts. Despite all that she had suffered in her years as the slayer, nothing had prepared her for this.

Over the previous days, Buffy had just started to come to terms with her feelings for her friend. She was in love with Willow. She had finally admitted it to herself as she lay awake the night before. The feelings were much more than a crush and much more than a phase. What scared the slayer most of all…she had never felt this way before. She connected with Willow on a level that she hadn't known with anyone else. To call them best friends wouldn't begin to describe the mutual understanding they shared - with just one look, seeing into each other's souls.

So, the slayer remained silent - lost in a swirl of emotions that always seemed to boil down to one thing, regret. In a cruel twist of fate, two thousand years in the past, thousands of miles from their home on the hellmouth, Willow had been bitten. A demon now lived inside of her, where the sweet, young hacker had once been. If she drank the blood of Bacchus, Willow would be lost forever, Buffy knew. And she would never have the chance to tell her how she feels.

****************************

The warrior, slayer and Joxer walked in relative silence deeper into the catacombs, in search of Bacchus and the hacker and bard. Joxer carried Orpheus' head, again in the sack on his back. The group began to hear muffled noises.

“Shh! You hear that? Someone’s trapped! And it sounds like it’s coming from right behind us.” Joxer said, turning around to look. Xena pulled the sack from his back and opened it.

“Get me out of here! Ah! Not so rough, all right?!” Orpheus cried as Xena pulled him out of the sack.

“Yes?” She asked.

“You’re wasting time. We should be in Bacchus’ lair by now.” Orpheus demanded.

“We’re looking for Gabrielle and Willow. They turned into Bacchae.” Joxer said.

“There’s no time for that. We have to kill Bacchus before midnight. Forget the girls.” Orpheus ordered.

“I can’t do that.” Xena said. The slayer looked up too then. Knowing that Xena would never give up on Gabrielle, she didn't feel the need to say anything. She simply glared at him before turning to walk on.

“I knew I should never have trusted you." Orpheus said to Xena. "Once again, you’re selfish desires come first. Don’t you understand? Bacchus is using Gabrielle against us. If you try to save her, you’ll fall right into his trap.”

“Save your breath." Xena said, thrusting Orpheus' head at Joxer. "I’m going after them.” She declared, turning to catch up with Buffy, who had already stalked away.

“Then Bacchus has won already!” Orpheus called after them.

“Um, are you sure you know where we’re going?” Joxer asked tentatively following the warrior.

“It’s all right, Joxer, just follow me.” Xena said, annoyed.

“That’s right, Joxer, follow Xena blindly to your death.” Orpheus warned.

“Don’t worry. We know where we’re going. What do you mean, ‘death’?” Joxer asked. Paling at the thought of danger, Joxer stopped in his tracks looking to Orpheus for his reply.

“It’s only a matter of time before Gabrielle bites Xena and makes her a Bacchae too. Xena’s feelings have blinded her to the mission. You have to take control. The world is counting on you, Joxer.” Orpheus advised.

“Joxer…Joxer!” Xena called, seeing that he was lagging far behind them.

“OK, OK. If Gabrielle or Willow come around again…I’ll know what to do.” Joxer said to Orpheus, brandishing a Dryad bone, before scurrying to catch up with the warrior and slayer.

“Good.” Orpheus replied.

“Keep your eyes open; she’s here somewhere.” Xena said, sensing Gabrielle's presence, as they walked deeper into the caves.

“Well, don’t worry. I’m ready for anything." Joxer proclaimed. "Aaahhhhh. Bat." He screamed as a bat flew past his face. Xena looked back at him, then continued on. When the warrior and slayer were walking away, Gabrielle swooped down from the ceiling, landing on Joxer's back. "Aaaahhh! Get off of me! Get off of me!" He screamed frantically.

Gabrielle held on as Joxer flailed around trying to shake her. She was about to sink her teeth into his neck when Xena managed to pull her off of his back. Gabrielle landed several feet away, disoriented, baring her teeth at them.

"OH, YOU LITTLE BACCHAE!” Joxer screamed, moving toward her as he brandished a Dryad bone, as if he planned to kill her.

“Joxer, don’t!" Xena cried, pushing him back away from the bard. But it was too late. He had spooked her and she took flight, seeking refuge in the shadows. "Gabrielle." Xena called, hoping to coax her out into the open again. The bard swooped down upon them again. "Gabrielle!” Xena called as she flew toward them again.

“Duck!” Joxer warned as the bard flew straight at them. Diving to the ground, they managed to elude her. However, when they looked up again, she was gone. There was no sign of Willow as they worked their way through the caverns and though no one commented about the hacker's absence, both Buffy and Xena were concerned about where she might be.

****************************

“Remember, your job is to find the lyre and play it as soon as you can. That should give us time to reach Bacchus.” Xena said as they moved toward Bacchus' lair.

“Right.” Joxer replied.

“Xena! I…owe you an apology. I guess I was just looking for someone to blame.” Orpheus admitted.

“Bacchus must’ve caused you a lot of pain." The warrior said, drawing her sword from its sheath. "Now, maybe we can bring you some peace.” She added, walking deeper into the catacombs.

****************************

“Now, friend of Xena, go ahead, my child. Drink and become immortal. Become one with me.” Bacchus bellowed, handing a goblet of his blood to Gabrielle.

The bard accepted the goblet, wrapping her long black claws around it. Entranced by the god, she lifted the drink to her lips. Just before she was able to drink, Xena's chakram whizzed into the room in front of the bard, knocking the goblet from her hands.

“She’s not interested, Bacchus!” Xena ground out, catching the chakram as it returned to her where she stood near the entrance to the room.

“Xena! So glad you could join us after all.” Bacchus replied.

“Joxer, quick, on Bacchus’ throne, get the lyre. Hurry.” Xena ordered.

“You got it.” Joxer replied, scurrying toward the ledge.

“Get them!” Bacchus exclaimed, ordering the Bacchae to attack.

The slayer scanned the room for a sign of Willow and her eyes came to rest on the Bacchae standing next to Gabrielle at the front of the room near the large brass punch bowl that was filled with Bacchus' blood. Buffy felt the ache in her chest radiate throughout her body as she tried to reconcile the image of this demon mingled with the familiar features of the innocent redhead that she knew and loved.

"Willow!" The slayer charged toward her.

At Bacchus' order, a dozen or more Bacchae had moved to attack the slayer and warrior princess. Xena fought them off, kicking and punching, before finally dusting one or two with a Dryad bone through their hearts. The slayer never faltered in her movement toward the redhead at the front of the room, making quick work of slaying the Bacchae she encountered along the way.

As Joxer stood on a ledge and pulled the lyre from Bacchus' throne, a Bacchae flew up to the ledge, landing next to him, then latching onto his back.

“Let go of me, you little monster!" Joxer screamed. "Orpheus, Orpheus! Wake up! Come on! The lyre, yes, the lyre! Orpheus, what should I play?!”

“Anything! Just play!” Orpheus answered.

“Drink! I command you. Drink, and become one of us.” Bacchus told Gabrielle, after again handing her a goblet filled with his blood.

“Get off of me!” Joxer cried, trying to shake the Bacchae who now had a firm hold on him.

A Bacchae had landed on Xena's back and another two were threatening her from the front. For the moment, she was unable to break free, unable to run to the bard as she saw her lift the deadly drink to her lips. “Gabrielle! No!" Xena pleaded. "Joxer! Play the lyre!” She ordered, knowing it was the bard's only hope.

At the warrior's order, Joxer strummed the stringed instrument and Orpheus began to sing. “La-la-la-la. La-la-la-la. La-la-la-la. La-la-la-la.” Gabrielle cringed at the sound, dropping the goblet of blood to the floor. Bacchae all around the room collapsed, wincing in pain with their hands over their ears. Seeing this, Bacchus was enraged. He flew up to the ledge, landing next to Joxer, towering over him.

“Any requests?” Joxer squeaked out, looking up at the massive crimson-skinned god of wine. Bacchus batted him aside with ease and Joxer landed in a heap against the wall, the lyre falling from his hands. Xena finally freed herself from the Bacchae that were holding her and ran toward the ledge where Bacchus was standing.

“Awake, my Bacchae! It is time to feed! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha." Bacchus commanded as Xena climbed the wall with ease and hopped onto the ledge, facing off with the demonic god. "Welcome back, Xena." Bacchus greeted her, taking a swing at the warrior. Xena ducked his blow and he struck again. The warrior sidestepped this attack too and countered with a punch of her own.

When he lunged toward her again, she thrust the Dryad bone deep into his chest. Bacchus screamed and shuddered as he realized what had happened and Xena struck again, kicking the god with such force that he fell from the ledge and landed on the stone floor below. Several Bacchae gathered around him on the floor looking down at him uncertainly.

Buffy finally reached Willow's side then, taking the redhead by the shoulders. Willow looked up at the slayer, yellow eyes meeting hazel with a questioning stare. There could be no greater enemies than a Bacchae or vampire and a Vampire Slayer. Yet these two remained still, neither one threatening, neither one breaking away.

In Willow's eyes, Buffy could see both a foreign presence and something very familiar, a part of her best friend still evident. Bacchae Willow simply stood there conflicted, the instinct to feed at war with the urge to protect this person in front of her.

"No, Xena…" Bacchus said as he rose from the floor, still very much alive. "Don’t you know? Only a Bacchae can kill me. And you’re not one, yet. Bite her!" He commanded. Gabrielle took to the air, flying up to the ledge where Xena still stood. The bard circled the warrior. Xena reflexively lifted the Dryad bone in her hands as if to attack, but quickly dropped the weapon to the ground, unable to even consider harming the one she loved, no matter what the cost. "And now, make her one of us.” Bacchus ordered.

Xena stood passively as Gabrielle moved behind her, preparing to turn the warrior. “Gabrielle…do it.” Xena said, giving in.

Gabrielle brushed Xena's long dark hair aside to expose the creamy flesh of her neck, but froze when Bacchus' scream rang out.

"No, it can't be." The god cried, feeling genuine pain this time from the Dryad bone that was just thrust into his heart. "Who are you?" He asked, looking down at the one who had delivered the lethal blow.

"Oh, I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer." He looked questioningly at the blonde who held the hand of a young red-haired Bacchae. "What, never heard of me?" The slayer quipped as the god fell backward and then exploded into dust.

****************************

Xena stood on the ledge watching as the bard reverted to her old self. Down below, Buffy similarly waited as the demon presence left Willow's body.

“What happened? I feel so strange.” Several of the girls commented as they awoke on the floor of the catacombs. At Bacchus' death, the remaining Bacchae initiates had transformed, turning back into themselves.

When Gabrielle was herself again, Xena pulled her into a crushing embrace. Meanwhile, tears of relief slid freely down Buffy's face as she looked into Willow's shy green eyes. Enfolding the redhead in a tender embrace, Buffy mumbled a string of incoherent phrases punctuated by soft kisses she rained on Willow's hair and face.

Calming finally, Buffy glanced up at the ledge just in time to see Gabrielle pulling the warrior's face down toward her own and planting a kiss on Xena's lips. Buffy smiled and turned Willow around in her arms so that she too could see the warrior and bard's special reunion.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad." Joxer commented, as he got up from the floor. His loud intrusion seemed to break the spell and both couples stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the idiot.

"Oh.” Joxer added with a start when he saw Orpheus' body materialize, reuniting with his head. With Bacchus' death, Orpheus had been freed of the curse that the demon god had placed on him. “You’re a lot taller than I thought you’d be." Joxer commented before Orpheus vanished into thin air. "Orpheus? Hmm.”

“Goodbye, Xena…and thank you.” Orpheus said, his voice floating through the catacombs as he departed.

****************************

“Guys! Wait up! Hey…so what’s next?” Joxer asked, running up to Xena and Gabrielle who were happily walking away from the town.

“Next, huh?” Gabrielle replied, her mind searching for a way that she could get Joxer to quit tagging along with them.

“Yeah.” He said.

“Ah, we…we fight Medusa, right?” Gabrielle lied, hoping to tap into Joxer's cowardice and scare him away.

“Right.” Xena agreed, going along with the bard's plan.

“Well, you know, the, the one with snakes all over her head.” Gabrielle explained.

“Right.” The warrior agreed again.

“And, and…one look, and the mightiest of men is turned into stone.” Gabrielle added, putting the finishing touches on the story to make Joxer turn tail and run.

“Right.” Xena said, continuing to back up the bard's story.

“Stone, huh?" Joxer said meekly. "Oh, hey, listen, ah, um…I just remembered…it’s my mom’s birthday. And she’s getting, you know, the... I, I better get back home, but, um…I’ll catch up with you guys a little later.” He lied, trying to worm his way out of another life and death battle.

“No problem." Gabrielle assured him, as he turned to leave. Xena simply smiled, amused at his retreat.

Buffy and Willow walking arm in arm next to Xena and Gabrielle laughed at Joxer's departure before resuming their exchange of silent smoldering looks.

"You know…you almost died trying to save me." Gabrielle said, looking up affectionately into Xena's brilliant blue eyes. Leaning toward the warrior as if she might be considering another kiss, the bard added, "I really want to do something to thank you.”

Her approach was interrupted by Joxer, who called loudly over his shoulder with a wave, “Farewell, my warrior chums!”

“You just did.” Xena replied with a flirtatious smile, clearly grateful to the bard for telling the tale that chased Joxer away.

Chapter 4 - Questions & Answers

With Joxer gone and all right with the world for the moment, they walked happily away from the town and set up camp for the night. It was past midnight when they were finally settled around the campfire with a basic dinner consisting of bread and cheese. They were all famished and eagerly ate the minimal fare.

Xena leaned back against a nearby rock to relax. "Well, I guess we'll need to get into town tomorrow for supplies." The warrior noted, looking down at the few crumbs that remained when they had finished eating.

"This was much better than bunny stew." Willow giggled.

"Way better." Buffy said, laughing along with the redhead.

"I didn't get to say it before, with everything that's been going on…" Xena said. "But I want to thank you for helping us get back home. I know your being here wasn't part of the plan, but I've got some ideas about how to fix that. We can talk about it tomorrow, after we get some sleep. I just wanted to say that I appreciate all you've done…including your help today with Bacchus, Buffy." The warrior concluded.

"Yes, thank you." Gabrielle said softly, a little teary-eyed. "You've been such good friends to us. And…Willow…I'm sorry for today, for biting you." She added, more than a little guilt-ridden ever since they told her what she had done.

"It's okay. I know it wasn't you. And I'm all better now. See." Willow assured her, smiling a sweet smile.

"I'm just glad that it's over and it all turned out okay." Buffy interjected, looking adoringly at Willow. "You don't have anything strenuous planned for tomorrow, do you?" She questioned, turning to Xena.

"Not a thing." Xena confirmed.

"Good! Cause I don't think I can take any more drama right now." Buffy admitted.

"Yeah." Willow agreed with a yawn. "A day off would be nice."

Even Xena laughed at that. Thoroughly exhausted, they soon agreed that it was time to get some sleep, said their goodnights, and settled into their bedrolls much like the night before. This night, however, with the apocalypse averted and peaceful thoughts in their heads, sleep came more easily.

****************************

"Gabrielle?" Xena whispered, leaning over the bard.

"Uhn." The bard groaned.

"Gabrielle, time to get up." The warrior said playfully.

"What is it, Xena?"

"Come on." The warrior said, pulling the bard to her feet. "Shhh." She hushed Gabrielle as they walked past the still sleeping Buffy and Willow. Xena lead the bard down to the lakeshore.

"What are we doing?" Gabrielle asked.

"Watching the sunrise." The warrior said.

"Since when are you interested in the sunrise, Xena?" The bard chuckled.

"Since now." She grinned, taking a seat on the grass a few feet from the water's edge.

Gabrielle sat down next to the warrior and they looked out at the sky. "Xena?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to kiss me?" The bard asked, leaning toward the warrior.

"Gabrielle…" Xena warned.

"You kissed me last night in the catacombs." The bard asserted.

"You kissed me." Xena corrected.

"Okay, but you kissed me back."

"I'm sorry for that. I was just glad that you were safe. Now can we just drop it?" The warrior pleaded.

"No. I want you to kiss me again."

"In order to kiss you again, I would have had to kiss you the first time, which I didn't. And I don't plan to." Xena firmly stated. "I'm going for a swim." She added, rising to her feet and stripping off her clothes before wading out into the lake.

Anyone else might have been offended, might have backed away, but Gabrielle knew the warrior. She knew how stubborn Xena could be, and she knew that she could be just as stubborn. 'I'm not going to make this easy for her by just walking away. That's exactly what she's hoping I'll do.'

With that, Gabrielle stood and began to slowly take off her clothes, walking to a nearby tree to hang the outfit. "What are you doing?" Xena asked, irritated as she watched the bard prance around the shoreline in her birthday suit.

"I'm coming for a swim." She replied innocently. The warrior was not fooled. She knew that Gabrielle had some hidden agenda, and though she knew not what it was, Xena strongly suspected that it had something to do with driving her insane. When the bard waded into the water toward her, the warrior swam out toward the other side of the lake, pretending to find something of interest there so that she could put some distance between herself and the exasperating, beautiful, naked bard.

She was lost in thought when a distinctive cry for help brought the warrior back to reality. Turning around, she saw the bard near the middle of the lake. Gabrielle was calling her name in panic as she flailed about, bobbing up and then sinking back below the surface. Xena frantically swam to Gabrielle, pulled her back above the surface and helped the choking bard to the shore. She gently laid the strawberry blonde on the ground at the water's edge, still cradling her in her arms.

She looked down at the bard lovingly to see if she was all right and was met with an unmistakable grin. "I knew you'd save me." The bard said with seductive sweetness.

"You tricked me!" Xena cried in disbelief, pulling away from the bard and wading back out into the water. Gabrielle was right behind her, unwilling to let her get away this time.

"I'm sorry that I tricked you." She said, grabbing the warrior's arm. "Look at me. I'm tired of playing games, Xena." The bard added angrily.

"You? You're tired of playing games? That's all you've been doing for days." The warrior retorted.

"What are you talking about?"

"This all started the night you got drunk. I don't know what you're playing at, Gabrielle, but I want no part of it." Xena declared, holding the bard by the shoulders.

"I've been trying to get you to come to your senses." The bard replied angrily. "I'm not playing at anything…I love you, Xena." Gabrielle added, tears of hurt and frustration suddenly forming.

It was all too much for the warrior to take. She'd kept her feelings for the bard so carefully controlled for so many months, finding it harder with each passing day. The soft 'I love you' and the hurt in Gabrielle's eyes pushed her over the edge. Xena took her in her arms and held her. The bard wrapped her arms around the warrior, holding her urgently, and placed a soft kiss at the base of her throat. Xena tensed at the contact, but didn't pull away.

Gabrielle took advantage of the opportunity, running her hands over the warrior's back, kissing first her shoulder and then her neck. All self-control gone, Xena reached up, taking the bard's face in her hands and leaned down to bring their lips together. Tenderly, she kissed the bard, pouring all of her love into it; silently telling Gabrielle what was in her heart.

Gabrielle clung to Xena, deepening the kiss. They stood there for countless minutes, waist-deep in the lake, bodies urgently pressed together, kissing like there was no tomorrow.

****************************

With the sun in her face, Willow woke shortly after daybreak. This morning she was surprised to find Buffy curled up at her side with one leg and one arm pinning her down. Willow very much liked the feeling and reasoned that she wouldn't have to be embarrassed if Buffy woke up because, for once, she wasn't responsible for the illicit cuddles. So the redhead lay there looking at her sleeping friend, thinking all sorts of things she knew she shouldn't be thinking (with very little remorse), until the sun finally fell on the blonde's face, waking her up.

Opening her eyes, Buffy found Willow looking at her with an unquestionably mischievous grin on her face. "What?" Buffy questioned as she sat up, wondering what was on the redhead's mind that could explain the look on her face.

"What, what?" Willow replied, wiping away the grin and trying to forget her pleasant daydreams about the blonde.

"You've got a look." Buffy said, smiling at the hacker.

"Look. What look?" The redhead replied innocently. But she was a poor actress, especially with Buffy who could read her like a book.

"The look you get when you're up to something." Buffy pressed. "And now you're blushing." The slayer teased.

"Nope. I'm not up to anything." Willow replied. "Hey, where are Xena and Gabrielle?" She asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Fine, don't tell me." Buffy said with a chuckle. "But you know you're not supposed to keep secrets from your best friend…unless of course it's a surprise for me. Is it a surprise for me?" She asked hopefully.

'Oh, I'm sure you'd be surprised.' Willow thought.  "Shouldn't we go look for them. You know, make sure they're all right?" The hacker suggested.

"Okay. I give." Buffy said, climbing to her feet. "Let's go find them."

The slayer and hacker saw no sign of their friends near the campsite. They walked toward the lake, with Buffy teasing Willow along the way. "What were you thinking about, Willow? Something that was blush-worthy." She noted, pondering the possibilities. Willow giggled nervously, but didn't answer. "You can tell me." Buffy prodded. "You wanna tell me, don't you?" She continued.

"Woah. Oh no. Oh no!" The redhead squeaked, stopping in her tracks on the lakeshore.

"What --" Buffy stopped mid-sentence as her eyes followed Willow's to the sight that had turned her friend's face pure crimson. "Oops." Buffy chuckled. "Not again! De javu, only…with more oops this time."

Willow snapped her eyes shut after being frozen in place for a good ten seconds, staring wide-eyed at the warrior and bard, who were wrapped in each other's arms kissing passionately, completely naked. "Oh, Buffy, I'm blind. I'm blind!" The redhead said frantically, on the verge of hyperventilating.

"You're not blind, Will." Buffy laughed, turning the redhead toward her. "You're eyes are closed."

Hearing a commotion on the beach, Xena broke off the kiss and pulled away from the bard. Gabrielle wasn't even aware that they had company at first. She stared at the warrior, looking positively in shock after the kiss they had shared.

"Gabrielle and I were just taking a swim." The warrior called by way of explanation, unsure of what they had or hadn't seen. "Why don't you join us? The water's great."

"Oh no. Oh no!" Willow started again, with renewed vigor, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other. Realizing then that they had been seen, Gabrielle shrank down into the water as if to hide, turning her back to the beach.

Buffy couldn't help but laugh at Xena's offer to join them and the whole new panic it had created in the shy redhead. "Thanks. We'll be right in." Buffy called to the warrior, kicking off her shoes as she pulled her shirt over her head.

"Buffy! We, w-e can't! You can't…you can't be…serious." Willow said, staring wide-eyed at the blonde who was by then slipping off her leather pants.

"You know what they say, 'When in Rome…'. " Buffy chuckled.

"But…this is Greece." Willow pointed out.

"Come on." Buffy urged, tugging the redhead toward the water's edge.

"But…but, but."

"This is what they do here." Buffy declared. "Besides, I could use a bath. You're not going to make me go in alone are you?"

"But I can't…really I can't."

"Sure you can. Come on, take off your clothes and let's go." Buffy urged.

Willow was speechless then. She turned away from Buffy, who was standing not two feet in front of her wearing only her panties and bra.

"Everything all right up there?" Xena called.

Willow made a whimpering noise and started to flee toward the campsite. "Everything's fine." Buffy answered, sneaking up behind the hacker and sweeping her up in her arms.

"Buffy! W-what are you doing?" Willow shrieked. Parts of this whole experience were very familiar to the redhead…things that she might have imagined in some of her more vivid daydreams. But the naked warrior and bard were not part of the plan.

"If you won't take your clothes off…you'll just have to go in like this." Buffy decided, carrying the hacker toward the lake.

"You wouldn't!" Willow exclaimed.

"Yes. I would." Buffy nodded as she waded out into the water still holding a fully clothed Willow in her arms.

"You can't!" Willow declared.

"Oh, but I can." Buffy chuckled, dropping the redhead into the lake. The hacker sputtered in surprise as she hit the water and went under before finding her footing and standing up. Buffy swam a circle around her, smiling, obviously pleased with herself.

"I can't believe you did it." Willow said, staring at her scantily clad friend.

"Told you I would." Buffy smirked.

"You're gonna pay for that, missy." Willow informed the slayer, swimming out toward her.

"Oooh, I'm scared." Buffy mocked, laughing all the while. The redhead took aim sending a splash wave right at the blonde, who found herself with a mouthful of water. A fierce water fight ensued then and continued until the slayer surrendered.

"I give. You win." Buffy said, completely drenched and laughing. Willow paused as if to stop. Buffy let her guard down and the redhead, unable to resist, soaked her one last time.

"I can't believe you'd shoot a girl after she surrendered." The slayer said accusingly as she grabbed the hacker by the arms to preempt any further attacks.

"I can't believe you would throw me in the lake with all my clothes on." Willow countered with an impish grin.

"Truce?" Buffy offered with a sly smile, unaware that she was pulling the redhead closer.

"I don't know. I'm not sure I can trust you." The hacker teased, suddenly hyper-aware of being held against Buffy's near-naked body.

"Sorry to interrupt," Xena said with an amused smile, "but Gabrielle and I are going into town to get some supplies. You're welcome to join us…unless you'd rather have some time alone."

"Oh…" Buffy replied, letting go of Willow and looking up at the now dressed warrior standing on the shore.

"I'm kinda soaked." Willow said, wondering how she could go to town looking like this.

"You'll dry on the way." Xena said smiling.

"Oh, okay." The redhead agreed.

"So…I should probably get dressed then." Buffy said, feeling self-conscious now being the only one without clothes on.

****************************

Meanwhile back in Sunnydale 1999…

"Hey, G-man." Xander said by way of greeting as he entered the library early Thursday morning. "Have you seen the Buffster? Or Willow?"

"I was going to ask you the very same thing." Giles replied. "The last time I heard from them was Tuesday morning. Willow called to say that she and Buffy were taking…a day off. After everything that happened with the mayor on Monday, I think they were in need of some rest. I was hoping you had heard from them."

"No. I tried to call them both last night, but there was no answer at either of their houses." Xander answered.

"I've been trying to reach them too. It seems that Buffy's mom is out of town at a conference this week."

"That explains the no answer then." Xander remarked.

"I'm beginning to worry. Buffy is usually very reliable, checking in almost every day." Giles noted.

"Do you think something happened to them?" Xander asked.

"I certainly hope not." Giles answered, pacing restlessly. "Yesterday I thought perhaps they just took another day to rest. Though it isn't really like Willow to miss school, is it?" He reasoned. "If they don't check in by this afternoon, I'm going to go to their houses and look for any clues as to their whereabouts."

"Planning something a little break and enter-ish?" Xander inquired.

"Well…perhaps…something like that." Giles conceded.

"Count me in." Xander said. "I'll meet you here after class."

"All right, then." The watcher agreed.

****************************

By the time the group broke camp and made it to town, the sun was high in the midday sky and Willow had mostly dried out. Xena suggested they stop at the local inn for something to eat and everyone eagerly agreed. Xena ordered stew and ale for everyone and they sat down at a table near the center of the room.

When they had finished eating, Gabrielle took the mugs to the bar at the front to get another round of ale for everyone. Xena questioned the wisdom of the second round of drinks as she raised an eyebrow at Willow who was acting rather giddy after her first mug.

While Gabrielle was at the bar getting the drinks, a man approached their table. Judging by his outfit, leather and armor, they reasoned that he was a warrior. Judging by his smell, he hadn't bathed in a very long time. He was clearly drunk and not too bright. Foolishly, he laid one hand on the table in front of Xena and the other on her shoulder, leaning down over her. "Can I buy you a drink?" He asked.

"No thanks." Xena replied, roughly removing his hand from her shoulder. Buffy sensed a scuffle coming on and couldn't resist smirking at the guy who was stupid enough to challenge the warrior. Willow just sat wide-eyed in fear of what was to come.

He didn't take the hint. "Come on, sweet thing, one drink won't kill ya." He said, pushing Xena's dark hair back away from her neck.

"No, but it might kill you." The warrior replied, grabbing him by the arm and twisting it around behind his back until he actually whimpered. "When a lady says no, you better learn to listen." She added, walking him to the door and throwing him out into the street.

Xena returned to the table with a round of applause from Buffy and Willow, as well as Gabrielle who had caught the scene on her way back from the bar. A half-hour later, after listening to several of the bard's stories about Xena, they finally left the inn.

"I'm going to the stables to see about getting new shoes for Argo." Xena said.

"Oh, can I come and see the horses?" Willow asked excitedly.

"Sure."

"We need to pick up supplies, so I'm going shopping." Gabrielle said.

"Shopping? Sounds like fun." Buffy said hopefully.

"You can join me if you'd like." Gabrielle offered. The slayer nodded eagerly.

"All right. Have fun. We'll meet you in the marketplace when we're done." Xena said.

Xena and Willow walked toward the stables at the edge of town. Willow was a bit unsteady after two mugs of ale and tripped on a rock in the road, almost crashing to the ground before the warrior caught her. "Thanks." The redhead said with a goofy little smile as Xena helped her regain her balance.

"Don't mention it. Are you all right?" The warrior asked, concerned at the hacker's apparent intoxication.

"Oh yeah. I feel great." Willow giggled.

"That's what I'm worried about." Xena replied with a lopsided grin. "Maybe we shouldn't have had that ale with lunch."

"I don't usually drink. But that was good ale." Willow proclaimed.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." The warrior replied smiling down at the redhead. "I'm sorry if Gabrielle and I…made you uncomfortable this morning." She added.

"I was just…a little surprised. I mean, its not every day that something like that happens, well not to me anyway…although that does make twice since I met you." She babbled. "I don't make it a habit of walking in on people when they're naked, believe me…I'm just sorry for interrupting…whatever it was we interrupted. But I'm really happy for you and Gabrielle."

Xena chuckled affectionately at the redhead's babbling. "I was surprised at how you ended up in the lake."

"I know! I couldn't believe Buffy did it." Willow replied, a dreamy smile crossing her face as she thought about her friend.

"You took it pretty well." Xena noted. "I thought you'd be mad."

"It's kinda hard to be mad at Buffy." Willow admitted. "Besides, I had fun, with the water fight and all. I got her good." The hacker giggled.

"Yeah, you did." The warrior confirmed.

When they reached the stables, Xena went to talk to the stable hand while Willow walked around petting the horses. "Are you ready to go?" The warrior asked when her business was done.

"Uh huh." Willow said, but didn't turn around. She continued petting one of the horses and talking softly to it.

"You like this one?" Xena asked, standing next to the redhead.

Willow nodded. "We don't really have horses in Sunnydale. They're so beautiful. Bye horsie." She added before turning toward the door.

****************************

Gabrielle and Buffy wandered through the marketplace. Buffy watched the bard haggle for everything they bought. "Wow, I'm impressed. You know how to get a good deal."

"I try to make the most of every dinar." Gabrielle replied. "So, what do you think? We've got all of the supplies, so what do you want to look at?"

"I don't know. Why don't you show me what kind of clothes they have here?"

"Sounds good."

They walked around to several booths looking at a wide array of scarves, skirts, and sleeping shifts. "I'm sorry that Will and I kinda interrupted you guys this morning." Buffy commented. "We had no idea."

Gabrielle blushed. "It's okay. We didn't exactly plan it. If you'd come a minute earlier…we were arguing then."

"Well, then, you must've made up in record time cause you seemed pretty friendly when we got there." Buffy noted with a suggestive smile.

"It was…amazing. I was so overwhelmed…I didn't even hear you walk up." The bard said nervously. "But I think Xena is avoiding me now."

"Don't give up on her." Buffy advised. "She'll come around. Speaking of which…here they come." She added, seeing Xena and Willow crossing the street to where they were standing.

"I got to see the horsies!" Willow said with a slight slur, as she walked up to Buffy.

"That's great…did you guys happen to stop by the tavern on the way?" She chuckled, looking up at Xena.

"Nope, but that's a good idea." Willow interjected. "I am a little thirsty."

"I think you've had enough." Buffy laughed.

"Maybe." Willow conceded, smiling back at her.

"Did you get the supplies?" Xena asked.

"Yeah. We got everything we need." Gabrielle said quietly.

"Good. I've got an idea for a way that we might get you two back home. We should get going while there's still daylight left." The warrior said.

"Where are we headed?" Buffy asked.

"To see an old friend of mine. Ares." Xena replied, not sounding too happy about it.

"You can't be serious, Xena." Gabrielle interjected.

"I am."

"Do you really think that’s a good idea?" The bard asked.

"Ares has the power to send them back." Xena said simply.

"What makes you think he'll help us?" Gabrielle argued.

"I don't know that he will, but I have to try." The warrior answered.

****************************

"Did you hear from them?" Xander asked as soon as he entered the library after his last class.

"No. No, nothing." Giles answered.

"On to Plan B then. So, what is Plan B again?"

"When last I heard from them, they were at Willow's house. So, we'll go there and look for any clues to their whereabouts." The watcher replied.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the Rosenberg house. As they approached the door, Xander rang the doorbell. When there was no answer, he tested the doorknob. "It's locked." He confirmed.

The watcher pulled a small pouch out of his pocket and opened it, pulling out the necessary lock-pick tools. Xander watched as Giles worked the picks in the lock and opened the door in less than a minute.

"Way to go, Giles!" Xander commented as they entered the front door.

As he stepped inside, Giles caught sight of the spell remnants in the living room floor. The watcher bent down to inspect the items, scanning the candles, the brass bowl with the ingredient mixture, and finally noticing the picture on the floor in the center of the circle. He picked up the snapshot and stared at it.

"What is it?" Xander asked.

"It's a photograph of those friends of Buffy's…what were their names?" The watcher tried to recall.

"Xena and Gabrielle." Xander supplied, looking at the photo over Giles' shoulder. "But what does this have to do with them?"

"I should have known something wasn't right." The watcher insisted, pulling his glasses off and pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"What have we learned?" Xander asked. "Cause I gotta tell you, right now I'm lost."

"Magic…obviously Willow was attempting some sort of spell and…something must have gone wrong. If I've told her once, I've told her a hundred times, magic is dangerous and is not to be toyed with." The watcher ranted.

"And the picture?" Xander prompted.

"The photograph might have been used as a…representation for the object of the spell. Clearly, the spell was supposed to affect Xena and Gabrielle in some manner." The watcher explained, pacing back and forth across the living room. "However, that does not explain what happened to Buffy and Willow."

Xander picked up the picture that the watcher had tossed onto the coffee table. "Um, Giles…this may be a stupid question, but…what if Buffy and Willow were in the picture too?"

"What?!" The watcher replied. Xander passed the photo to Giles and he saw what he had not noticed before. "Bloody Hell!"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Xander asked.

"This photo of Xena and Gabrielle…in the background…there is a photograph of Buffy and Willow, here on the mantle." The watcher supplied, walking over to the hearth to look at the object in question.

"So, ah, whatever the spell was supposed to do to Xena and Gabrielle, it could have done to Buffy and Willow too." Xander reasoned.

"Precisely."

"But how do we find out what the spell was for? I don't see any sign of a spellbook." Xander said, scanning the spell remnants.

"Perhaps Willow had some…information about the spell in her bedroom." He suggested, moving toward the stairs.

They scanned the room but found no clues regarding the spell. Xander paused, looking at Willow's desk. "Maybe Will had the information on her laptop." He suggested.

"That might well be." Giles admitted. "We should take it back to the school and look at her files. Perhaps we will find something useful."

"My thoughts exactly." Xander agreed. Moments later, with the hacker's laptop in hand, they left the Rosenberg home.

****************************

The warrior led the group westward for a few hours before stopping in the late afternoon to set up camp for the night. Xena fed and brushed Argo, with some help from Willow, while Buffy and Gabrielle gathered firewood and started the campfire.

"Before dark, I want to do some fishing. I saw a stream not far from here." Xena said. "I should be able to catch something for dinner. I hope you like fish."

"Sounds great." Buffy agreed.

Gabrielle, Buffy and Willow took a seat against some nearby trees and watched as Xena slowly waded out into the stream.

"How's she going to catch the fish?" Willow asked. "Doesn't she need some kind of pole and some bait?"

"Not Xena." Gabrielle chuckled. "She's very resourceful."

"I gotta see this." Buffy laughed.

The warrior stopped when the water was about up to her mid-thigh. She bent down as if listening above the water's surface. After a few moments, she plunged her hands into the water and pulled out a good size fish with a triumphant smile and tossed it up onto the shore.

Willow giggled in surprise. "How'd she do that?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know." Gabrielle admitted. "But she does it all the time."

Buffy got up and walked to the water's edge. "How'd you do that?" She asked the warrior.

"Come on in. I'll teach you." Xena offered.

"Are you serious?" The slayer asked.

"Sure. Why not?"

"Okay. I've gotta try this." Buffy decided, kicking off her shoes.

"You should probably take your pants off too. The leather won't take the water too well."

"Is this how you get all the girls naked?" Buffy teased. Willow and Gabrielle laughed at that.

"Very funny." Xena said, trying not to smile. "Just get your pants off and come here."

"Oh, she's demanding. I like it." Buffy joked as she made quick work of removing her pants. Xena actually blushed at Buffy's comment. "You guys sure do like to take your clothes off around here." She added, wading out into the water to where the warrior was standing.

"She's so bad." Willow giggled.

"I think Xena's actually blushing." Gabrielle noted in disbelief. "I've never seen Xena blush before."

Gabrielle and Willow watched as Xena demonstrated her fishing method to Buffy. Willow looked over at the bard and said, "Sorry about earlier…you know when Buffy and I…interrupted…you know. But I'm happy for you. I told you she liked you."

"I don't know what she's thinking. It just kind of happened. We didn't really have a chance to talk about it and now she seems…distant. Maybe I pushed. Maybe she didn't want it."

"It looked to me like she did…not that I was really looking, but I couldn't exactly help seeing…and it, uh, seemed pretty mutual to me." Willow assured her.

"I don't know. I guess I just need to talk to her. This is driving me crazy. Just when I start to get close to her, she pulls away." Gabrielle confessed.

"I know she loves you. Maybe she's just afraid." Willow suggested.

"Maybe." The bard replied.

"You should talk to her. Tonight after dinner, I'm sure I can get Buffy to go for a walk with me and you can be alone with Xena."

"Really?"

"Yep. I think that's what we should do." Willow confirmed with a decisive nod.

A shriek from the lake brought their attention back to Buffy and Xena. "Look, I caught one." Buffy exclaimed. "Do you believe I caught one? Pffft, who needs a fishing pole anyway?"

Gabrielle and Willow laughed out loud as the slayer proudly displayed her catch and then tossed it onto shore. "Way to go, Buff." Willow called.

****************************

It was nearing sunset when they finished eating dinner. "You should get out your scrolls and tell them a story, Gabrielle." Xena suggested, knowing how much the bard enjoyed sharing her stories.

"A story? That sounds fun." Buffy agreed.

"Okay." Gabrielle agreed, pulling out her scroll pouch. "Let's see. Do you want to hear the one about Xena's twin? Or…"

"Xena has a twin? This I've gotta hear." Buffy declared. "I can't imagine two Xenas. Seems to me the world has enough to do dealing with the one." She teased. That got a laugh out of the bard and Willow, who tried without success to stifle a giggle.

"It was definitely interesting." Gabrielle admitted.

Buffy and Willow listened intently as the bard began. "I call this one 'Warrior…Princess'…"

She recounted the tale of the princess who looks exactly like Xena, though they aren't related, and how the king called for Xena's help because the princess' life was in danger. When she told them that the warrior switched places with the princess, they laughed out loud.

"Somehow you don't strike me as the princess-y type." Willow noted.

"Yeah, I fit in real well, frilly dresses and all." The warrior said. "Especially when they offered me some strange foods that the princess liked that I had never heard of. Then they offered me 'Akbash' and I said that I was famished and could use a few bites of akbash. It turned out that Akbash was the princess' pet dog."

"You tried to eat her dog?" Buffy laughed.

"That wasn't very nice." Willow giggled.

"Xena, you never told me that!" Gabrielle laughed. "You should tell me these things for my scrolls. Now I'll have to put that in."

The bard finished her story with a little help from Xena and received an enthusiastic round of applause for her efforts. "Tell us another one." Buffy suggested. Willow and Gabrielle shared a look.

"We should give her a break." Willow suggested. "Besides, I really wanna take a walk. Join me?" The redhead asked Buffy.

"Okay." The slayer said, getting to her feet. "What was that all about?" She asked when they were underway.

"Oh, Gabrielle just wanted some time alone with Xena. I told her earlier that we would take a walk after dinner. You don't mind, do you?" Willow asked.

"Mind? No. It makes sense…after what we saw earlier, I can understand they might want a little time alone." Buffy said suggestively.

"Actually they're just going to talk, little miss mind-in-the-gutter!" Willow teased.

"If you say so." Buffy conceded. "But we should probably stay gone for a while…just to be safe."

"If it means avoiding another scene like this morning, I'll stay gone all night." Willow giggled.

****************************

"What was that all about?" Xena asked when the slayer and hacker had left.

"What?"

"The two of them taking off like that."

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe they wanted some time alone." Gabrielle replied.

"Yeah, maybe." Xena conceded.

Hearing a noise behind them, the warrior motioned to Gabrielle to stay still and she slipped off into the darkness to investigate. She could hear the quiet footsteps of someone sneaking up on their camp. Hiding behind some bushes, the warrior waited until the figure came closer. When the time was right, Xena sprang into action, kicking the perpetrator hard in the face. He landed on his back on the ground and made no move to get up. When the warrior took a closer look under the light of the moon, she quickly recognized the face.

“Hello, Perdicus. Not the smartest way to pay us a visit.” Xena greeted him.

“Perdicus!” Gabrielle said in disbelief. The bard had no idea why he was there. She just knew that his timing was awful.

“I just had to see something.” Perdicus said.

“What?” She asked.

“Your face. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the last time I saw you. Gabrielle…we’ve always been close. You were my closest friend. And, well… Gabrielle, will you be my wife?”

Xena had left them alone, but as she walked away she heard enough to know that this visit from Perdicus would change everything. She sat by the campfire alone, berating herself for letting her emotions get out of control that morning, for kissing Gabrielle the way that she had. For a moment, she had allowed herself to believe that there could be something more than friendship between them.

She knew that Gabrielle would want to settle down some day - get married and have children. She could have those things with Perdicus. Xena wondered at his timing and was thankful that he came along when he did, before anything else had happened between her and Gabrielle. It would be hard enough as it was to say goodbye to the person that she loved more than anyone or anything in her world, but she doubted that she could accept losing Gabrielle if they had become lovers.

****************************

“What have you been doing since you left Troy?” Gabrielle asked, dodging the marriage proposal entirely.

“Fighting. That’s all I’ve been doing, it seems. After Troy, I…wandered into another war. One day, I killed three men. I started to have dreams about…all the men whose lives I’d taken. I couldn’t stand it. One night…I had my dagger at my heart. Then I saw something.”

“What?”

“Your face.” He answered.

“Perdicus, I don’t know if I’m really who you think I am.”

“Gabrielle…we were to be married once. And you decided that that wasn’t to be. And you were right. You were right. I wasn’t ready, either. But I am now. I love you…and if you’ll take me…I want you to be my wife.”

“I’m sorry. I…just excuse me…OK?” Gabrielle said, walking back toward the campsite to find Xena. She worried about what the warrior must be thinking, with Perdicus showing up like this.

"Xena?" Gabrielle called, looking around, but the warrior was nowhere to be found. 'She must be checking on Argo.' The bard walked across the campsite and down the path where Argo had been tied, but the horse was gone. Gabrielle knew something was wrong then. Xena never left without telling her, let alone at night. She walked quickly back to where she had left Perdicus.

"Perdicus, I'm sorry that you've been so unhappy. I hope you find some peace, and someone to love…but I can't marry you." Gabrielle explained.

"Why not, Gabrielle? I love you."

"I will always care about you, Perdicus, but I'm not in love with you." The bard explained softly.

"I have enough love for both of us, Gabrielle. You could learn to love me." He replied.

"I'm sorry, Perdicus, I can't. My life is with Xena now. It's not an easy life sometimes, but this is where I belong. There's no place I'd rather be."

"I understand…I should probably be going."

"Take care of yourself." Gabrielle said, hugging him. "I hope you find what you're looking for. Goodbye, Perdicus."

"Goodbye, Gabrielle."

****************************

"I wonder what's going on back at home." Willow commented. "I hope the mayor and Faith aren't causing trouble."

"I know. I bet Giles is totally losing it by now wondering where we are." Buffy replied. "It's a good thing your parents are never home and that my mom's gone to a conference this week. With any luck, maybe we'll be back home before anyone misses us. Except Giles, of course."

"I bet Angel misses you too. I'm sure he's worried." Willow noted.

"Somehow, I doubt that. I'm sure he doesn't even know. The other night after the fiasco with the mayor, we broke up."

"Aww, Buffy. I'm sorry." The redhead said. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Things were just so chaotic and then I guess I just didn't think of it." Buffy admitted. "He's planning on leaving town after we finish things with the mayor."

"Are you okay?" Willow asked, reaching out to take Buffy's hand.

"Actually, I am. Things haven't been the greatest between Angel and me for a long time. After he lost his soul and went on a killing spree, our relationship was never the same. Then, you restored his soul and I had to send him to hell to stop Acathla from ending the world. I was so guilt-ridden for killing him that it took me a while to get over it. When I was finally moving on, he came back and I knew what he had suffered in hell because of me, so I took care of him. But I've been realizing lately that it's been a long time since I was in love with him…if I ever was." Buffy admitted.

"I don't know what to say. I really thought you loved him."

"I don't even know anymore if it was love or just some sort of self-destructive kick. It was the classic bad boy attraction, you know? I couldn't date anyone normal because of the life that I lead and Angel and I were thrown together because of the slaying, and he was forbidden…I was the typical sixteen-year-old girl, attracted to the mystery or the drama or something. Misery has a special sort of attraction, especially for someone as screwed up as I was. But what did we really have in common? Not much except the slaying, and that wasn't something we could truly share because I was the slayer and he was the one I was supposed to be slaying. I will always care about Angel, but I know that I shouldn't have been involved with him. If I hadn't, Miss Calendar would still be alive…along with a lot of other people."

"Wow. I never would have thought you felt this way." The redhead replied, nearly speechless at the revelation.

"I didn't really realize any of this until recently. I knew there was definitely something lacking with Angel for a while, but I hadn't thought much about it until a few weeks ago. Then, the things the mayor said the other night kind of hit home and since then…it's all sort of been getting clear." Buffy explained. "You don't have to worry. I'm totally of the good." The slayer assured her, squeezing Willow's hand. "Which reminds me…you said the other day that there was something you wanted to ask me about the mayor."

"Uh huh. Well, I've just been thinking about the mayor and what Wesley said…you could've destroyed the Box of Gavrock and stopped the mayor's Ascension. Gabrielle told me that it was your idea to trade the box to get me back. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful…but I don't understand why you would risk so much…" Willow explained.

"Wes was a real jerk. He made it clear that in the council's eyes, in his eyes, I failed in my duty as the slayer, that I made the wrong choice. But I'm not just a slayer. I'm a person too. Ever since I was called, I've done my duty whether I liked it or not. This time…I had to do what was right for me. I need you, Will. There was no choice really. I did what I had to do to get you back."

"What if we can't find a way to stop the Ascension? I guess I'm surprised that you would take that chance…just to save me." Willow confessed.

Buffy knew this was it. It was time to stop hiding from it and tell Willow the truth, so she began, "You're kind of a captive audience here. Nowhere to run, so that's good." She paused, taking a deep breath, before continuing. "With all that's happened lately with you being captured by the mayor, almost stabbed by Faith, Bacchus…I've realized I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you and I hadn't told you that I love you, Willow." Buffy concluded, bracing herself for the hacker's response.

"I know. I love you too, Buffy." The redhead replied, looking confused. "You're the best friend I've ever had, the best friend I could ever have. I don't want to ever lose that."

Realizing that Willow didn't understand what she had meant, Buffy gathered her thoughts and tried again. "You are my best friend, but you're much more than that to me. And I'm not telling you this because I expect something from you…really, I don't. But in that moment, when I found out that you were captured, I realized that if you died, nothing else mattered. I had to get you back, to tell you…no matter what happens…that I love you." To be sure there was no confusion this time, Buffy leaned in and whispered again, "I love you, Will." And tenderly, lovingly kissed the stunned redhead.

Slowly pulling back, Buffy quickly added, "You don't have to say anything. I just needed to say --mmm." Her sentence went unfinished as the hacker dove toward her and kissed her with such intensity that Buffy ended up lying on her back on the ground with Willow on top of her. A moment later, Willow broke off the kiss, looking down at the slayer.

"Are you sure?" Buffy asked.

Willow chuckled. "How can you even ask that? I love you." The hacker insisted, entwining her hand with Buffy's. "And I can prove it." The redhead said with a mischievous grin.

The slayer laughed. "Oh yeah? How?"

Willow kissed her then with complete abandon, letting three years of pent-up love and longing finally flow freely. She held the slayer with a tender intensity and let her hands move through the golden tresses of Buffy's hair. Their heated kiss melded them together and time stood still. Some minutes later when they finally broke the kiss, Buffy asked breathlessly, "Wow. Where'd you learn to kiss like that?"

"Thinking about you." Willow quietly answered.

"Huh?"

"Mental training." Willow chuckled. "You practice doing something in your mind, concentrate and visualize how you want to do it. Athletes do it all the time to improve their skills. Of course, most people just call it fantasizing." The redhead explained.

"You made that up!" Buffy said chuckling.

"No, really. I swear it's the truth. What do you think I was thinking about this morning when you woke up?" The redhead added with an impish grin.

"No!" Buffy chuckled.

"Yep." Willow confirmed.

"I can't believe you were taking advantage of me in my sleep!" Buffy scolded. Willow rushed to apologize, but the slayer smiled and put a finger to her lips. "I mean…you should have woken me up so I could enjoy it."

"I love you, Buffy." The redhead said, tears forming in her soft green eyes.

"I'm a lucky girl." Buffy replied, reaching up to touch Willow's face. "I love you too."