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 5 - Storms

Buffy and Willow lay on the grass, hands entwined, looking up at the stars. A gift of love had been offered, but the silent musings of the unworthy are the hardest demons to slay. "Buffy?" The redhead's voice was laden with uncertainty. The blonde turned onto her side to face her.

"What's on your mind?" Buffy placed a tender kiss on the back of Willow's hand.

"I just…" Willow was reluctant to voice her fears, but couldn't stop the slivers of doubt that crept into her mind. Could this really be happening? She had secretly dreamed of this day for so long. But, it all just seemed so unreal.

"Second thoughts?" Buffy swallowed the pain and attempted a smile, but her eyes betrayed her, revealing the fear that gripped her heart. The tender hazel interrogation jarred Willow out of her meditation.

"Oh, Buffy, no." The hacker shifted onto her side to face her love and her fears. Realizing that she had infected Buffy with her insecurity, Willow tried to clarify her feelings. "It's just that I…" She stalled again, discarding each phrase that sounded too needy, and was left without any words to describe how she felt.

It was clear that Buffy needed an explanation. Willow lowered her head. "Is this really real? It feels like a dream. How could you love me?" The words were drenched in neediness.

"How could I not love you?" She caressed Willow's cheek before gently brushing back a stray lock of red hair.

"Everyone else seems to manage it." The redhead whispered sadly.

"Their stupidity is my good fortune." Buffy said. "If anyone else had half a brain, then you wouldn't be mine." The conviction in her voice jumpstarted Willow's heart.

"I will always be yours." Willow confessed as Buffy pulled the redhead into her arms as the need to be closer asserted itself.

"Buffy? Willow?" Something in the bard's voice triggered warning bells in the slayer's head.

"We're over here." Buffy said, springing to her feet and offering Willow a hand.

"Have you seen Xena?" Gabrielle looked on the verge of tears.

"No. Why?" Buffy scanned the bard's face, searching for a clue. "What happened?"

"I think she left. Argo's gone."

"Did you have a fight?" Willow asked, laying a comforting hand on the bard's arm. Gabrielle shook her head.

"Let's go back to camp and you can tell us what happened." Buffy led the bard toward the light of the campfire where they settled on the ground atop the bedroll that Gabrielle and Xena shared. The bard's voice shook and her natural eloquence was replaced with stumbling incoherence as she told of Perdicus' arrival and Xena's subsequent departure.

"Hey…it'll be okay." Willow assured her, though her own eyes mirrored the worry in Gabrielle's. The hacker put an arm around her shoulders and the bard welcomed the comfort, sinking into Willow's arms, liberating the tears that she had been holding back.

Buffy gazed at the pair, conflicted, as both love and irritation washed over her; the former at the sight of the redhead tenderly comforting their distraught friend and the latter as she thought about Xena's repeated withdrawals. She brushed her fingertips adoringly across Willow's cheek before resting a hand on the bard's shoulder and softly questioning her. "Do you know where she might go?" Gabrielle sat up then, wiping her eyes as she shook her head. "I could go look for her…" Buffy trailed off realizing it would be an exercise in futility.

"She could be anywhere." Gabrielle sighed. "Even if you knew where she was going, you couldn't catch up with her on foot."

"I'm sure she'll be back soon." Willow said, hoping that she was right.

"She probably just needed some time alone." Buffy said.

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Some hours later, Xena quietly rode into to the camp to find the three girls asleep. She sank to the ground, back against a nearby tree, and, as she often did, gazed at the sleeping bard. Weariness painted the warrior's face, giving her an unusual air of vulnerability. The steel in her blue eyes melted away, replaced with a soft azure glow, as she looked upon the ethereal figure of her best friend framed in moonlight. She let go the reigns of self-control and entertained visions of holding the strawberry-blonde in her arms. Memories of times they had shared rained down on her, healing her tattered heart as a summer shower might a drought-scorched field. Moments later, the warrior's mask slid into place, imprisoning Xena beneath, as one thought pulled her out of her reverie: Perdicus.

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Shortly before dawn, dull gray clouds rolled into the sky overhead, blocking out the would-be sunrise. Buffy woke disoriented as the drizzle fell upon her face. Willow stirred in her arms and turned sleepily toward the blonde who placed a series of whisper-soft kisses on the redhead's inviting lips. Pleasant little jolts of electricity coursed through her body and forced Willow from her slumber. She smiled into the hazel eyes that greeted her as she snuggled ever closer to the source of radiant warmth that was Buffy. Neither seemed to notice when the rain stepped up its assault as they gazed into each other's eyes and closed the unwelcome distance that stood between their lips.

The chill of the rain made Gabrielle shiver in her sleep and instinctively she reached out, seeking Xena's warmth. Her brain registered the empty space on the bedroll beside her and the bard opened her eyes to the dreary day. She sighed with relief as she noticed the warrior a few feet away sleeping under the protective cover of a large tree. The second sight her eyes fell upon was the passionate kiss of her two friends who appeared content to lie in the rain all day protected from the cold by only the blanket of their love.

The sound of the bard shuffling around the campsite as she rescued their belongings from the rain brought Buffy and Willow back to reality. Still smiling dreamily at each other, they hurried out of the bedroll, quickly gathering it up before running under the tree where Gabrielle had sought shelter next to Xena. The warrior woke and rose to her feet as they approached. The storm moved to the next level as rain pounded the earth and lightning streaked across the sky touching down in the distance.

"It's not safe here." Xena said. "We've got to make a break for it. Come on." The warrior ran through the camp to where Argo was tied. Grabbing the reigns, she took off at a run leading the horse as the others followed her to a nearby cave. The group dashed into the cave a few minutes later, each drenched and chilled to the bone from the pouring rain.

Buffy put her arms around the shivering redhead who accepted the warmth with a grateful smile. Gabrielle stared at Xena who promptly moved deeper into the cave and sat down and began sharpening her sword, her favorite pastime when she wanted to avoid the bard. Buffy and Willow watched Xena walk past the bard and then looked at each other. Buffy motioned toward Gabrielle with a tilt of her head. Willow nodded and went to the bard, gesturing toward Xena as she whispered. "Go, talk to her."

Buffy sat down, resting against the wall near the mouth of the cave, which was only partially lit by the overcast day outside. As Gabrielle walked into the near darkness in search of the warrior, Willow sought and found her slayer. Buffy's eyes sparkled as she patted the floor between her legs, indicating for the redhead to sit. The hacker smiled a sweet smile and scooted into place, leaning back into Buffy's chest. Enveloped in the warmth of the slayer's embrace, Willow tilted her head to meet the hazel eyes that she cherished. On one side, they heard the constant cadence of the rain. On the other, they heard the faint voices of their friends. Convinced that all would soon be resolved between the warrior and bard, Buffy and Willow cuddled contentedly, hands entwined on the redhead's midriff, stealing an occasional kiss as they waited for the storms to pass.

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"Xena?" The bard called tentatively to the figure in the darkness.

"Hmm?" The warrior sitting with her sword in front of her, answered without looking up, without breaking the rhythm of stone against steel.

Gabrielle sat down next to Xena in the near total darkness and tried, without success, to catch the warrior's gaze. "I was hoping we could talk." The bard's voice was barely above a whisper.

"About?" The warrior's mask was firmly in place and her voice gave nothing away.

"About us." Gabrielle laid a hand lightly on Xena's knee.

"Us?" Xena answered as if she had never heard the word before, casually shifting so that the bard's hand fell from her knee. Gabrielle withdrew her hand and swallowed the rejection whole.

"Are you just going to sit there, Xena? Sit there sharpening your damn sword, pretending that you don't know what I'm talking about?" The bard blurted, her hands trembling in her lap. The sharpening stone stilled and the warrior sheathed her sword. She turned to meet Gabrielle's gaze, falling into the green eyes that glistened with unshed tears in the dim light of the cave. A small hopeful smile graced the bard's lips as the warrior's mask fell away. Gabrielle toward Xena or Xena toward Gabrielle, one or both bridged the distance between them as their lips met in a much-needed kiss.

For a moment, the world around them fell away as they moved into each other's arms and deepened the kiss, both trying to satiate the need for the other's embrace. When the warrior's brain signaled that this was getting out of hand, Xena retreated. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle." The warrior whispered breathlessly as she sprang to her feet and crossed the cave. In the few seconds that it took the bard to register what had happened and go after her, Xena had effected her escape, slipping out of the cave and into the storm.

Seeing Xena dart past them out into the rain, Willow and Buffy stood up in surprise. Gabrielle stopped her pursuit of the warrior at the mouth of the cave, collapsing against the wall. "What happened?" Willow questioned, a concerned look furrowing her brow. The bard ran shaking hands through her hair before answering with a defeated shrug as she cast her eyes to the floor and her tears splashed at her feet.

"Okay, that's it!" The slayer said. "This ends right now." She brushed her lips against Willow's cheek before stalking out into the rain after the warrior.

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In full slayer mode, Buffy searched the surrounding area, hunting for the warrior. She found Xena standing in a clearing past a line of trees that had obscured her view from the mouth of the cave. "Hey, what is UP with you?!" The blonde asked, coming to a halt beside Xena. The slayer's stance oozed frustration.

Xena glanced up from the ground trying to cover the hurt on her face with the trusty mask she regularly hid behind. Buffy caught a glimpse of the pain and swiftly shifted gears into supportive mode. "She loves you. You love her." She said softly. "I don't see the problem here." Xena cast her eyes downward again and Buffy stood there confused as the rain pounded down, drenching them both. "Look…you've got to talk to her."

"I can't."

"She's in there crying, Xena." Buffy pointed meaningfully in the direction of the cave. "She needs you." The warrior stood frozen in place. "Come on, we can't just keep standing out here in the rain." The slayer urged, taking Xena's hand firmly in hers. "We're gonna take care of this right now." The warrior offered some resistance, but found herself pulled along as Buffy exhibited some slayer strength in dragging her back toward the cave.

Chapter 6 - Mutual Understandings

"Oz? Hey Oz, man…wait up." Xander called across the hallway, jogging to catch up with the werewolf.

"Hey." Oz answered without enthusiasm, reluctantly slowing down so the other boy could fall into step beside him.

"I haven't seen you around much." Xander said nervously. "Uh, I was wondering if you've heard from Will."

"Haven't seen her." Oz stared absently down the hall. Xander looked at the werewolf, seeing a look cross his face that the taller boy couldn't decipher.

"I just figured, I mean…if anyone would know where she was, it'd be you." Xander stumbled over the words awkwardly. Oz met his gaze then and bitterness flashed in the werewolf's eyes.

"Why don't you ask Buffy?" Oz turned to walk away.

"That's the thing…" Xander said, stepping in front of the werewolf to stop his departure. "The Buffster's missing in action too." He answered, oblivious to the implication in the other boy's words. Oz glared at him briefly, then pushed past the larger boy and disappeared into the sea of students. Xander stared after him with his mouth hanging open in surprise.

"There's something strange going on here." Xander said as he strolled into the library.

"Yes, I know." Giles replied, pushing the newspaper across the front counter toward the boy. "This does not bode well."

"What?" Xander looked confused. "I don't think we're on the same page here." He added, picking up the paper to scan the headlines. "I was, uh, talking about Oz. But…oh yeah…this is not good. 'Three more girls were admitted to Sunnydale Memorial last night with severe blood loss. All three victims suffered unexplained neck wounds'." He read aloud. "So not good."

"Yes. I'm afraid if we don't find Buffy soon…" The watcher paused, removing his glasses.

"We'll be lookin' at Suckfest '99." Xander filled in.

"Perhaps." Giles admitted, pinching the bridge of his nose. "What was it you were saying about Oz?"

"Oh, I just ran into him in the hallway. Asked him if he'd heard from Willow." Xander said. "He was being all cryptic-guy, like he was mad and then he just took off."

"Odd…that doesn't sound like Oz." Giles said, his brow furrowed in thought.

"So, did you find anything useful on Will's computer?" Xander said. "It looks like that's our only hope." Giles began to pace again, irritation plainly written on his features.

"I can't even get into the blasted thing!"

"What do you mean?" Xander looked confused.

"It seems that Willow…has some sort of encryption on it." The watcher's voice was drenched in annoyance. "I've been at it all night, trying to guess the password."

"Maybe I should give it a try." Xander suggested, walking over to the table to sit down in front of the laptop. "After all, I am her best friend. If anybody could guess her password, it'd be me, right?" The watcher looked unconvinced, but finally waved his hand at the machine figuring that it was worth a try.

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Buffy led Xena a few paces into the cave, stopping the warrior in front of Gabrielle before letting go of her grip on Xena's hand. The slayer stood silent, blocking the only escape route, waiting for someone to begin. She and Xena, both soaked through from the rain, began to puddle on the floor.

"See…isn't this cozy?" Buffy asked when no one spoke. Willow looked at their silent friends and then at Buffy, offering a sheepish smile. "So…who wants to go first?" The slayer prompted. Gabrielle shifted uncomfortably and stole a quick glance at Xena who was staring off into the darkness of the cave.

"You're not gonna make this easy, are you?" Buffy asked, looking pointedly from the warrior to the bard. "Okay, time to kiss and makeup." Xena and Gabrielle both looked at her, their expressions a mixture of surprise and panic, as the slayer took each of their hands and linked them together before taking a small step back. They stared between them at their joined hands and both visibly relaxed.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle." The tenderness in the warrior's voice made the bard's stomach do flips.

Buffy met Willow's gaze above the linked hands of their friends, silently communicating. Willow's concern showed on her face and Buffy offered a reassuring smile and motioned for the redhead to come closer. Willow made her way over to Buffy and eagerly took the hand she was offered.

"I don't understand. What are you sorry for, Xena?" The bard pleaded, searching the stormy gray-blue eyes in front of her. A rueful smile flashed on the warrior's face as she met Gabrielle's gaze.

"For…not being more supportive." Xena told the half-truth, leaving the rest unsaid. The other half was the selfish part - her bitterness that Gabrielle would be leaving her behind to make a life with Perdicus.

"Supportive?" The bard looked questioningly up at the warrior, confusion etched in her features. "I don't know what you mean."

"Look, Gabrielle…seeing you happy will make me happy." Xena said, looking down lovingly at the bard. A pained look flickered across her face and she looked away before continuing. "And if that means settling down with Perdicus, then…you have my blessing.” The warrior choked on the words, barely managing to complete the sentence.

Shaking her head, disappointment written in her features, Gabrielle pulled her hands from Xena's and stepped back to lean against the wall. A wide array of emotions played across the bard's face. Hurt was evident, along with a spark of anger. Tears threatened again and she balled her fists at her sides and fought the urge to cry, attempting to stop the pain from showing on her face. Lost in her own emotions, Xena couldn't process Gabrielle's reaction and she continued, trying to reassure the bard that she would support her marriage to Perdicus.

"If it’s me you’re worried about…let me set your mind at rest. I'll be fine." The warrior said, though her face looked anything but fine. Grief pinched her features, darkening her eyes to sapphire as she looked down at the bard.

"It's good to know how little I mean to you." The bard's words were the epitome of biting sarcasm. Feeling irreparably wounded and suddenly trapped, Gabrielle raced toward the mouth of the cave, seeking escape.

"Hey, don't go." Buffy reached out for her, stopping her. The bard forcefully pulled herself from the slayer's grasp with an enraged look in her eyes. Seeing the tender concern on Buffy and Willow's faces then, Gabrielle's anger dissipated and the heartache spilled over.

"I'm sorry." The bard said, looking at her friends apologetically as she fell into the slayer's offered embrace. "After everything that we've been through…I mean nothing to her." Gabrielle muttered, sobbing into Buffy's shoulder.

"That's not true." Buffy said soothingly. "Tell her, Xena." The slayer glared at the warrior who watched in confusion, clueless as to what she had done to upset the bard.

"You know I care about you, Gabrielle." Xena said softly, stepping up to put a hand on the bard's shoulder. "You're my best friend…" Gabrielle jerked away from the touch, laughing bitterly in response to the warrior's words.

"You'll be fine if I marry Perdicus?" The bard asked caustically, stepping out of Buffy's arms to glare at Xena. "Well, I won't be fine, Xena." Gabrielle's voice was firm, but quiet as she looked up at the warrior and her green eyes softened a bit. "I don't love Perdicus…I love you."

"You're still young, Gabrielle." Xena said, dismissing the 'I love you' the bard had spoken. The warrior looked at the floor, trying to distance herself from the woman in front of her.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Gabrielle raised her voice, starting to anger again.

"You're priorities will change." Xena asserted, still avoiding the bard's gaze.

"What? Is that really what you think, Xena?" The bard crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. Xena simply nodded. "You don't know what you're talking about!"

Seeing the discussion falling apart again, Buffy stepped forward to try to calm them down. "Hey, guys, everything all right?"

"Just great!" Gabrielle laughed sarcastically. "Xena is impossible!" Buffy couldn't stop herself from chuckling slightly at the comment. The warrior glared at the slayer.

"Sorry, but it's true." Buffy chuckled. Gabrielle laughed at that, relishing the fact that her opinion was validated. The warrior turned to stare at the bard then.

"You're one to talk. You are the most infuriating woman I've ever met!" Xena informed her. This elicited another chuckle from Buffy while Gabrielle stood stewing over the comment, offering them both a scowl.

"Might not be my place to say this, but…I think you two were made for each other." Buffy said with a mischievous smirk. Willow giggled as she came to stand beside the slayer. The warrior and bard were silent, neither one willing to reply to the comment.

"Xena…" Gabrielle stepped forward finally, catching the warrior's gaze. "I've loved you since the day we met. I've tried to deny it…tried to be just your friend, but every day, I just love you more. I don't want any life without you. If you care about me at all…please stop pulling away from me. Please stop being so difficult. You are driving me insane." The bard stared into Xena's deep blue eyes and saw a small spark of amusement. The warrior pulled Gabrielle into her arms. Buffy and Willow made a hasty retreat, sensing that this was a private moment between their friends.

"Why do you put up with me?" Xena's voice had an air of amusement and her blue eyes smiled down at the bard as she held her in her arms.

"I don't know." The bard said with a teasing smile, snuggling into the warrior's chest. "Maybe because you put up with me." Xena laughed.

"Did you really mean what you said?" The warrior asked, her voice turning suddenly serious. "All this time…?" Gabrielle pulled back a little to look into Xena's eyes.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Are you sure…that this is what you want?" Xena searched the green eyes as if they would answer.

"Believe me…I'm sure." Gabrielle said softly, reaching up to touch the warrior's cheek.

"I love you, Gabrielle." Xena said breathlessly on her way to capturing the bard's lips. Gabrielle wrapped her arms possessively around the warrior's neck and surrendered to the kiss, vaguely wondering how long her legs would hold her. Xena held the bard tenderly, kissing her lips, running her fingers through strawberry blonde hair, cherishing the woman that she couldn't bear to lose. The bard yearned for more. She softly nipped the warrior's bottom lip before running her tongue teasingly across Xena's lips, seeking entrance into the warrior's mouth.

Overwhelmed by the sensation, Xena responded with a soft whimpering moan. When the warrior's lips opened slightly as the sound escaped, Gabrielle took the opportunity to slip her tongue into the warrior's mouth. The warrior's arms tightened around the bard in response, crushing their bodies together, giving into the longing and desire growing between them.

Buffy had to clear her throat three times to get their attention while Willow looked on, blushing wildly, but with a small smile. When the warrior and bard registered the sound and realized that they had an audience, they slowly pulled away from each other, looking like two guilty teenagers. "Sorry to interrupt, but it's kind of a small cave." Buffy noted with a teasing smile. "And…you're embarrassing my Willow." The redhead hid behind Buffy.

"Sorry." Gabrielle offered sheepishly.

"S'okay. I totally understand." Buffy smiled suggestively and pulled the redhead from behind her. "We're just glad that you two finally worked things out. Right, Will?"

"Uh huh." Willow nodded enthusiastically. "No more fighting please. Although the making up is fun…but you don't have to fight to do the making up part. I mean, it's much nicer with just the snuggles and the smoochies a-and…" Lost in her babble, the redhead stared at Buffy with a dreamy look on her face.

"I think they get it, sweetie." Buffy laughed, pulling her girlfriend into a sideways embrace and kissing her on the cheek. Willow giggled and snuggled into to the blonde's side, wrapping her arms around Buffy's waist.

"You called me sweetie." The redhead said as she planted a series of soft kisses on the blonde's neck.

"That's cause you're so sweet." Buffy smiled adoringly at Willow as she pulled her closer.  "I might have to call you cutie too. Cause you're so cute." The hacker smiled blissfully, blushing a little, unused to such attention but cherishing every word.

"Nope. You're the cute one." Willow said, leaning in to meet the blonde's lips.

"And you think we're out of control?" Xena interrupted, smirking at the two girls.

"They can't help that they're in love." Gabrielle smiled, settling into the warrior's side with her arms wrapped securely around Xena's waist.

"Yeah. We can't help it that we're in love." Willow said flashing the warrior a playful grin. Buffy chuckled.

"You're too adorable, you know?" The blonde said, turning the redhead's face to capture her engaging green eyes. Turning to Gabrielle, she said. "Um, could you keep her quiet for a minute." She gestured to Xena and winked at the bard. "I have something I need to do." With that, she turned into Willow's embrace and did the best she could to kiss the redhead senseless.

Gabrielle turned the warrior's face toward hers and smiled up at her before guiding Xena's lips to her own. For several minutes, the cave was quiet, except for the whispers of love shared between kisses. When the warrior felt her self-control slipping, she reminded herself that they were not alone and eased her hold on the bard, pulling away slightly to catch her breath. Gabrielle gazed up at her lovingly, capturing the warrior's intense blue eyes. "I love you, Xena." The warrior was struck speechless, realizing that she finally had what she had wanted for so long.

"I love you, too, Gabrielle." Xena finally managed to whisper. Knowing that she couldn't continue holding the bard without losing the last shreds of her control, she reluctantly pulled away and turned to look at their friends. Buffy and Willow were still wrapped in each other's arms, no longer kissing, simply resting their foreheads together as they gazed meaningfully into each other's eyes. It seemed that they were having a conversation without any words. "If you two are ready…we should probably get going. I think the rain has stopped."

"Oh. Okay." Buffy replied without moving. She was having serious trouble dragging her eyes away from Willow's. With a wide smile and a wink, she finally forced her attention away from the redhead and toward the warrior, taking Willow's hand as they ended their embrace.