creation6

11/22/2000

Warning--This part is definitely ADULT and Gabrielle and Joxer

Xena went upstairs and found Gabrielle’s room and knocked. From within she got a muffled "Come in," so she did. The young woman was surprised to see her friend for she had not really expected to see her for awhile that much was clear. She was not dressed in her rust colored fighting clothes but instead in a simple dress like any other peasant girl. All her weaponry was also put away and all her things were ready for traveling, Xena noted. Probably if the storm had not broke when it did she would have been on her way. "I see you’re back," Gabrielle said distantly. "Ares with you?"

Xena nodded still standing in the doorway. "Downstairs with my mother and Joxer. Everyone else left. I came to explain what happened," Xena said.

"Ohh great, Joxer’s here. I was hoping to leave before he arrived. I can’t deal with him now either." Gabrielle said gripping on to the bed posts and looking heavenwards for strength.

"Well he’s here and you will have to. You know he cares about you," Xena said gently.

"And that’s the problem because I don’t care for him in the same way. As far as you explaining what happened I really don’t want to know and don’t care. After all we’ve been through—you made up with HIM! Slept with HIM! And now you’re supposedly pregnant by HIM! I cannot deal with this Xena. I trusted you and I thought we had a good plan and that we could defeat Athena. As far as I’m concerned you sold out! I thought I knew you, knew your heart, your soul, but I guess I didn’t know you at all!" Gabrielle told her angrily, barely controlling her rage as she paced by the bed not even wanting to look at her.

"I did what I had to do to protect Eve, you, everyone. And now it’s all for naught as Athena has Eve, and has her trapped by magical means in a box in her temple. Then there is something taking all the gods, making them vanish or disappear or be trapped somewhere. We don’t know yet. We just barely escaped to come here. Ares is trying to find any gods that haven’t gotten trapped or whatever and enlist their aid to rescue Eve and stop whoever is doing this," Xena told her, waiting for her reaction.

"And this concerns me in what way?" Gabrielle asked her, her tone cold and unfeeling as she stared steadily at her former friend.

"I was hoping for your help to free Eve," Xena said surprised at Gabrielle’s reaction.

"Sorry, Xena, I can’t do it. I can’t do any of this anymore. I made up my mind that I have to find my own path, my own life--alone. Especially now that it looks like you are settling down with Ares and a family, there’s not any place for a traveling sidekick. Now if you will excuse me, I want you to leave, I have packing to do as I am leaving as soon as this storm stops," she said turning her back on Xena making it very clear that the conversation was over.

Xena was stunned speechless and did as Gabrielle had requested. She left, closing the door behind her. She stood in the hallway like she was poleaxed before she gave into both anger and grief. Joxer unfortunately chose that moment to appear at the end of the hallway. He saw her mood and backed, away quickly. He was all too familiar with her moods and didn’t wish to be on the receiving end of it.

"What do you want?" she snarled.

"Ares has news. He sent me to tell you," he said cautiously.

"Good. I need some now," she said trying calm down.

"No luck with Gabrielle?" he asked, knowing she wouldn’t be this upset otherwise.

"No. She wants to be alone and doesn’t want to help. Wouldn’t even listen to me," Xena said, trying to keep control over her emotions. Realizing that Joxer was there as a friend, a good friend and that she didn’t need to take her frustrations out on him.

"Let me try talking to her. We need her to get Eve back. Ares explained what happened, what you saw in the mirror, everything. He managed to contact a couple of the earth gods, but still can’t find Aphrodite or most of the other ones," he explained.

"Okay, at least he is doing something. As far as Gabrielle—good luck. If you can get her to listen, and help more power to you," she told him giving him carte blanche, and then she stepped around him and went downstairs to rejoin Ares.

After Xena had left, Joxer knocked on her door. Gabrielle told him to come in as she had heard most of the conversation with Xena anyway and wanted to get this one over. "Gabrielle, we need to talk," he said coming in and shutting the door behind him.

"What, you think you can get me to change my mind and go with Xena to rescue Eve—no way. I’m not going to do it. I just—can’t. Not any more, not as long as she is with Ares," she said definitely facing him.

"You’d break up your friendship with her over a man?" he asked.

"Yes—not any man—Ares! I hate him. I hate what he does to her head when she’s with him. The way he likes to mess with everyone’s heads including mine. I don’t trust him and never will. I think this all some sort of act he’s putting on. Some power trip," she told him angrily.

"And what if it’s not? What if he really is in love with her and really does want to change.? Aren’t you the one who is always going around saying that even gods can change if they want to, and we have seen the gods change, become better people or whatever. Ares is not the same as he was a year ago. He could have killed Xena and Eve numerous times since she’s born, but he hasn’t, and he’s protected her from the others whenever he could. He protected Xena from Zeus, and been trying to keep the other gods from finding her. This was a big gamble for him, especially when he took Xena and Eve to Olympus, and had the gods examine Eve to prove that she was no threat," Joxer told her and she looked back at him shocked.

"They went to Olympus?"

"Yes. They allowed Eve to live and made her a goddess, and Xena too. Except that Athena gave her poisoned ambrosia, and Apollo had to turn her back tobeing a mortal to cure her. While Xena was sick Athena took Eve to her temple, and there was some sort of magical ritual performed, and Eve became some sort of mist, and trapped in a golden box. They need the other gods to help them break through Athena’s defenses so that they can get to Eve, and have the spell undone," he explained.

"Joxer, I’m not unsympathetic, but what has any of this to do with me? I’m no god, just an ordinary mortal. It’s not my fight," she said not wanting to look at him.

"Yes, it is and you know it is. Xena’s your friend You can’t abandon her, and Eve like this," he said not believing that his Gabrielle could be so cold and unfeeling.

"Yes, I can and I am. I’m going back home to pick up the pieces of my life. I’m through with being a warrior and fighter. I just can’t do it any more. I need some stability in my life, normal things like a husband, children—no more monsters, gods, demons and dying. No more pain of any kind. I want my life back. I was a fool to hang out with Xena to begin with. It cost me my husband, friends, and I’m always having to fight for my life and hers—just no more—ever," she said breaking down and crying.

"Gabrielle," Joker said quietly, and went to her and gathered her to him to let her cry on his shoulder as stroked her hair and felt her pain wash through him. "It’ll be okay, I promise. I understand now why you can’t. You been through so much and it’s finally catching up to you," he told her.

"Yes," she sobbed, hating that she was doing it, but not being able to stop crying either. "Just hold me, Joxer," she asked and he did letting her head rest against his chest and wishing her could offer her more than just this small measure of comfort. After awhile the crying calmed down and she looked up to see him looking down at her worriedly. "Thank you for being here," she said and stood on tiptoes and kissed him. He was surprised, but he did not reject it either, and returned her kiss with one of his own. "Joxer?" she questioned.

"Shh," he said kissing her again, and feeling her actually respond to him as he held her tighter.

For once she wasn’t rejecting him, or finding him repulsive. Though at any minute he was waiting for her jump back and haul off and hit him like she usually did, but she wasn’t. She was letting him kiss her, and she was responding in turn. He didn’t know if it was the work of the gods, or some heaven sent miracle, but he wasn’t going to lose this opportunity to let her know how he felt> But he also wanted to make sure she knew what she was doing, and who she was doing anything with before it went any further.

He pulled back and looked her. Her greenish blue eyes were still moist, and red from crying, but she didn’t look demon possessed, or under some spell that he could tell. "Gabrielle, you are aware you are kissing me? You know--Joxer?" he asked, in case she didn’t know.

She frowned then smiled, "yes, I am very aware."

"It’s me, Joxer, that you usually pummel into a pulp if I dared to kiss you before unless you were under some kind of spell, or something," he inquired, checking still to see if that was the case.

"I know it’s you, and yes, it’s me and I’m not under any spell," she frowned.

"I know you don’t love me, so why are you doing this?" he had to ask, serious for once.

"That’s just it, I do love you. I always have, not in the same way I loved Xena, but I have always cared what happens to you. You have always been there for me and seen me through some very rough times. Haven’t I always been there for you, too?"

"Yes," he replied a little embarrassed.

"I was wondering if now we could be more than friends?" she asked startling him. Kissing her had been heaven, but was she offering him now what, he thought she was offering?

"Are you saying what I think you are saying?" he asked wanting to make sure he wasn’t hearing things.

"Maybe?" she smiled up at him. "What do you think I meant?" she asked as she moved closer to him.

"You want me?" Joxer stammered, his dark eyes regarding her carefully still as he was totally unsure what was going on, and waiting for her to slap him at any time for saying that.

"Yes," she said wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him again.

After he recovered from his shock, he pulled her back to look at her. "Gabrielle, are you really, really sure about this? I don’t do one night stands, and I would never do one with you—I care—I love you too much. Once we cross the line, nothing will ever be the same between us, and I won’t let you go," he told her seriously. There was no trace of the clown in his voice or actions now. He was serious and his heart was beating a mile a minute, scared and afraid that this was just a dream not reality and he was going to wake up alone again.

"I know that. And yes, I have really thought this out. I want this work out, and be yours," she said really startling, and scaring him now because it was so unlike her. He may have had fantasies of her being this way with him, but the reality of it was scaring the hell out of him and he began to panic. Gabrielle saw he was freaking and just held on to him molding her body to his and drawing his head down into long passionate kiss that left him weak kneed and shaky.

"Oh boy," was all he could mutter when they finally came up for air. "Marry me, Gabrielle," he asked her, thinking that would definitely scare her and bring her to her senses before this went any further.

"Yes, I’ll marry you, Joxer," and kissed him again.

"You will?" he asked shocked that she had accepted. "Really?" he pulled back to hold her at arms length to see if she was on the level with him. Her eyes were puzzled but then he saw the look in them, the caring, the love, and that this was not some sort of cosmic joke being played on his head after all. She truely meant everything she was saying. She did want him and did want to marry him. It almost overwhelmed him with the sheer joy of it.

"Really," she answered sincerely and stepped up the pace to convince him she was serious by really wrapping herself around him as her hands undid the drawstrings of his shirt.

He hoped that neither one of them were going to regret this in the morning, but he did not resist any more as he began to help her undress. He was still awkward and shy with her, but she smiled and reasurred him, calming his fears, making him feel desireable and loved. This wasn't the first time they had seen each other nude. Most other times had been accidents when they had been bathing or on adventures over the years. This however was a totally new experience for both of them. As this was no accident, this was deliberate. Joxer knew he didn't have a great body and no amount of eating or exercise had been able to make it buff or muscluar. He knew he was a disappointment to her, but he didn't see that in her eyes. He saw total acceptance for all his flaws and not so manly, skinny body. To his eyes she was and always had been a goddess more beautiful than Aphrodite herself. He was almost overwhelmed by her beauty and her wanting to give herself to him. Shyly he approached her and held her naked body next to his unsure what to do next, even though he had been with women before. She smiled up him, shy, yet determined too.

"Getting cold feet?" Gabrielle asked, cocking an eyebrow up at him.

"Nooo, more like it is a bit drafty in here," he joked back. "Wouldn't the bed be better?" he suggested,

"Umm maybe," she teased back, looking over at it piled with her traveling stuff. "I think we need to move a few things."

"Yeah," he agreed, kissing her again and then they went to work on getting her bags and traveling stuff off of it.

They finally got the bed cleared off and got in under the covers. Gabrielle quickly melted into his now bare arms, surprising him. Joxer quickly recovered and he began to show her how much he loved her. Carefully and tenderly he made love to his golden amazon beauty, and she let him finding out that he was not clumsy in bed once he got over his initial nervousness. For he did love her and it showed in every movement, every touch, wanting her to feel his love, and she responded slow at first, but as her passion soared so did she want him to feel as good as he was making her feel. She was finding herself actually falling in love with him, and wanting more of him in every way. She had been so blind not to see him, see the wonderful, kind and caring man before and she felt ashamed for her abuse of him of him over the years and vowed that would never happen again.

They made love most the night, and finally fell asleep in each others arms. It was mid morning when they heard loud banging on the door waking them both to shocked awareness. "Who is it," Gabrielle called out as she wrapped the sheet around her and Joxer.

"It’s me, Gabrielle, Xena," Xena yelled through the door. "Have you seen Joxer this morning?" she asked.

"Ahh yeah? Why" she asked looking over at him and stifling a giggle.

"He didn’t come back down last night, and hasn’t been in his room. I need to talk to him. Where did you see him last?" Xena asked concerned.

Joxer looked at Gabrielle, "Do you want to tell her or should I?" he asked fully awake and seeing by their state of undress that last night had definitely not been a dream and it had real happened.

She shrugged. "Go for it," she told him.

"I’m here Xena. Gabrielle and I spent the night together. We’re getting married," he added.

There was silence from the other side of the door as Xena took in what she thought she had heard. "Married?" she choked out finally. "Married?" this time a little louder, and more confused. "Married? You’ve got to be kidding. Joxer—Gabrielle together? Married? No, no, this is a bad dream."

Then they heard Ares. "What? What’s the hell’s wrong with you?" he asked.

"It’s Joxer and Gabrielle—they’re together—getting married," she sputtered in shock.

He just started laughing, and laughing, and laughing until Xena hauled off, and hit him and then they heard the thump of him hitting the floor, and her thromping off angrily leaving down the hall and stairs.

Joxer looked at Gabrielle still staring at the door. "I think that went well?"

"Yeah right," she grudgingly agreed not too pleased at Xena’s response. With Ares she had expected that much out of him. He would think them getting together would be absolutely hilareous. She felt Joxer’s arms around her waist, and allowed him to pull her back down next to him. She snuggled against him, and felt him kiss her hair. "Xena’s furious," she told him.

"Yeah, I got that. Glad Ares is a god otherwise he’d be having a sore jaw. How are you doing now that everyone knows?" he asked still afraid she was going to reject him again.

"Glad it’s out in the open. A little miffed at Xena for taking it the way she did. Forget Ares—he’s a jerk anyway. And if you think I’m going to tell you to disappear—no, I’m not. I knew exactly what I was doing and saying last night. I do want to marry you and be your wife, especially after last night. You are a man of hidden talents," she said raising up and turning so that she was laying on his chest and smiling up at him.

He flushed embarrassed. "It was nothing. I just did what I’ve been wanting to do for years with you. You mean everything to me Gabrielle, you always have since the first time we met and you beat the hell out of me," he said both serious and joking. "I’m glad I made you happy," he added, still disbelieving that they were lying together naked in a bed.

"I hope I made you happy too," she said planting a kiss on his chest.

"Very," he said with a soft smile, and gathered her closer to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around him and responded with a very passionate kiss as the door burst open with a very angry Xena.

She stood there in total shock not believing, but having to believe what she was seeing. They hadn’t been joking. They were lovers, and she had definitely interrupted them. Gabrielle and Joxer looked at her in shock, with Gabrielle bordering on getting furious. Xena flushed embarrassed. "Ahhhh, sorry folks," she managed to say and spun on her heels, slamming the door loudly behind her.

As Xena went down the hall they could hear Ares say something, and then Xena give him a sharp reply as she headed down the stairs loudly. Then there was a knock at their door. Gabrielle said wearily," yes?"

"Hate to interrupt you two, but I need to talk to both of you. I need your help," Ares said through the closed door, and not barging in or just appearing like he could.

"Okay, with what?" Gabrielle asked rolling off of Joxer, and sitting up and giving angry looks to the door.

"Xena for one. She’s going to try and storm Athena temple by herself. She won’t listen to me. I thought maybe you could calm her down. I’m gathering the gods to help us, but she won’t wait," Ares told them sounding desperate.

"Oh Great!" Gabrielle said. "I don’t know what I can do—but I agree that’s stupid both for her and for Eve. Okay, you got me, give me a couple of minutes, and I’ll be down," she told the War God.

"Thanks," he said. "I’ll owe you one," he said and left.

Gabrielle looked back at Joxer who was already getting out of bed and trying to find his scattered clothes. "I really don’t want to do this, but I guess I got to," she said disgustedly as she got up too, and instead of putting on her dress she put on her warrior outfit as she knew she was going to have to fight this last battle with, and for Xena to get her daughter back.

"I know, but if we don’t help she’s going to do something stupid. You know that," he said.

"Yeah, all too well. We’ll it looks like I can’t retire just yet," she sighed as she put on her boots.

"No, but once this is over we will," he said. "Maybe we can open a scroll shop like you always wanted to do or a school," he added.

"I’d like that, really I would. I’d be lousy as a farmer, but a scroll shop, yeah that sounds good.," she said standing up and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "And we’ll get married proper like with maybe your family and mine."

"Yeah, except for Jett, he’s still in jail. The next question is where you want to live?" Joxer asked.

"Have to think on that. As much as I love my home, I don’t want to live there. The people are really boring. You grew up in Athens? Why not there?" she asked as they left the room arm in arm, and went downstairs.

Continued in part 7

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