Liar, Liar
Disclaimer: not for profit, just for fun… there is an enormous lack of Xena/Joxer Fics out there… and I have caught the bug because I wrote one as a challenge and now I can't stop. Xena, Joxer, Gabrielle, etc. are property of MCA Universal.
A/N: This is a sequel to my previous one shot. It takes place around the episode "Lyre, Lyre Hearts on Fire". So it has a lot of the dialogue within the episode here within the story. I would suggest you read Secret Lover first, this just gonna pick up where I left off. This one is going to go quite a bit longer.
Teaser - War
"I can't believe how big you're getting." Gabrielle said to Xena as they sat together. She reached out a weary hand and looked at her partner.
"Alright," Xena said trying to push the annoyance out of her voice. She felt guilty because she had yet to tell her friend the truth about her baby. "Just don't go overboard."
Gabrielle happily placed her hands around her belly and then her ear and giggled as she received a kick in response. "She totally takes after you Xena."
"How do you know it's a girl?" Joxer said sitting on the other side of the pregnant woman. He had just come from the hot spring further inside the cave.
"Oh good you're done… I think I am going to go for a turn." Gabrielle said moving away from her friends. "Want to come Xena?"
"Are you kidding me? Like I need the heat," Xena said with a sigh. "You go ahead Gabrielle."
Gabrielle walked off with her pack, and Joxer knowing that for the time being he was alone with her dropped his guard. He reached out to Xena's belly with out any reservation. She growled but did not push him away. "Daddy just can't wait to see you." He cooed to the child within. He looked up at Xena who watched him with indulgence. "I want to stop in Melodia before we head to Amphipolis, they have the best musical instruments there, I want to get the baby the perfect rattle."
"I think we can do that." Xena mumbled running her fingers through his hair. It was getting harder for her to keep their physical relationship to herself. So she was grateful for unguarded moments like these.
He returned to coo at his unborn child "Who's your daddy? Who's your…AHH?" Xena pinched Joxer as Gabrielle walked into the clearing. "Xena I'm just curious… everyone is!"
"Joxer, It doesn't have a father, I am the father." Both Joxer and Xena looked at her oddly. "Xena face it I am the one that is with you day and night… Joxer is more like the annoying Uncle."
"At Least the baby will have a family." Xena said then went silent. She could hear men talking and horses galloping near by. She walked to the mouth of their shelter and peaked out onto the desert sand. "Draco…" She whispered.
"What's he doing here?" Gabrielle asked from next to her. They watched as he worked to unearth something.
"Beats me, a treasure hunt maybe," Xena said and walked slowly towards the group. A group of Amazons had suddenly appeared. Xena stopped just a few paces away from the conflict and listened to the argument.
"Here." Draco said extending a golden Lyre towards the dark skinned Amazon Xena knew as Amoria. When she reached for it, He quickly pulled it away Laughing. "Psych! No! No, no, no! Look, look-- I'll tell you what. If you want the lyre so badly-- you can pry it-- from my dead fingers."
Amoria glowered at her opponent and drew her sword. "With pleasure."
Xena, having seen enough pulled out her whip and lassoed the lyre. "Well, kids-- if you can't play nicely with your toy, I'm gonna have to take it from ya."
Everyone turned to see where the lyre had gone. Draco let out a shocked "Xena," having not yet registered the vision that stood beside her.
"What's the lyre doing here?" Gabrielle asked reaching out to touch it.
"Oh, there's more than one of them. They're hidden all over the world. It's Terpsichore's way of spreading music." Xena walked between them all and slapped Draco's hand as he reached for the lyre.
That was when he saw her. His beloved Gabrielle seemed to float next to the oaf that always seemed to be drooling on his lady love. "Hi, Gabrielle," He said reaching for her hand.
"Draco." Gabrielle said breaking free of the vice grip he had taken on her hand.
"What's wrong with him?" Joxer asked coming up behind Gabrielle.
"Baby Bliss put a spell on him." She answered him shuddering from the touch.
"Creepy."
Draco desperately reached for the most romantic thing he could think of. "Aw, how can you say it's a spell? When I would gladly tear out my own spleen and carve your initials on the side of it, just to prove my undying love for you?"
"I'm flattered." Gabrielle said disgusted at the thought.
Amoria laughed at the display, "Check it out, sisters. 'Draco the Lionhearted,' is really
Draco the Dandelion.'" The rest of the amazons joined in and Draco grew enraged. He rushed at her and they stood face to face.
"You want a war, Amazon? You've got one."
With a growl, Xena came between them and pushed them aside, "Listen to me, now.
My history aside, I despise war, because all it means is the destruction of innocent lives." She walked between the war lines and she looked each of them in the eyes. "Thousands of mothers with tears in their eyes because their children were lost so young because of war."
"War is nothing but a heart breaker," Gabrielle agreed coming next to her friend.
Joxer stood by their side saying, "It's free only to the undertaker."
Amoria nodded and sheathed her sword. "It is the enemy of mankind. Just handed down through the generations, I'm willing to find another way."
"Draco," Xena said coming in front of him, "What is it good for?"
Draco looked from Xena , to Gabrielle and mumbled, "Absolutely, Nothing." He sheathed his sword as well and conceded, "OK-- since we're not gonna battle
it out-- how are we gonna decide who gets the lyre?"
Xena looked at the lyre in her hands and smirked "Oh, there's gonna be a battle, all right- battle of the bands."
Joxer and Gabrielle looked at each other "That's a great idea Xena, We can hold it in Melodia!" Joxer suggested as he wrapped an arm around Xena's shoulder
"My thoughts exactly." Xena said as they began to walk away.
"Wait, wait, please let's not go overboard." Gabrielle said running behind them. Xena wrapped the arm that held the lyre around Gabrielle and the other around Joxer as they continued to walk away leaving the two groups in confused silence.
--
Half way to Melodia, the Trio stopped to rest and water the horse. "Xena rest, I got Argo." Gabrielle said. She didn't want to argue, she had to talk to Joxer anyway.
Joxer sat next to her offering her the water skin. She took a gulp and sighed in relief. "Thanks," She looked at him, he was pensive. Gabrielle seemed more aggressive lately, and at times Xena felt that she got out of hand in the way she treated him. "Listen, I know a way you can get her attention," She murmured.
"I don't need her, I don't, and she is just so permanently attached to you."
"Shut up and listen." Xena said grabbing the back of his neck, which didn't do much for his concentration because it reminded him of the things they did when he felt this way. "Ignore her… I saw the way that Amazon looked at you. Move on to her and make sure she is watching."
"She was checking me out? Really?" Xena nodded. "Wait, which one?"
Xena rolled her eyes. She knew Amoria to be direct; he would soon know which one. "Just look out for anyone who flirts, and take them up on their offer." She said trying to stand "Help me."
Joxer stood up and pulled, "Wow you're heavy."
"Whose fault is that?" she said unthinkingly. Joxer's eyes widened as he struggled not to drop her.
"Not mine, apparently Gabrielle's, she's the daddy." He answered.
"Ha, ha." Gabrielle said coming up behind Xena. The warrior flushed and closed her eyes at her carelessness.
"Let's get going, we want to start the set up today so we can hold the contest tomorrow." Gabrielle nodded and helped Xena onto Argo.