So this is my first try at a Xena/Gabrielle fanfic.

All characters belong to the rightful owners, this is fan work. I don't get any money for this just fun and the oportunity to get some stuff out of my chest.

Post-FIN

Feed back is always apreciated. Please read and review.

xx (PS: A special thank you to my amazing beta mermaidrina, my pookie and writing soul mate)

"You have to stop Gabrielle" they had had this conversation before "it's done, it's over..." Xena's voice came soft to her ears, being able to listen to that voice was both a blessing and a curse.

"It is not over Xena, you are not over!" she screamed her voice overflowing with frustration, we are not over, she thought to herself. There was still so many things to be said, and yet she always thought they would have more than enough time. In Gabrielle's eyes Xena was invincible. Now, two months after Xena's death, she blamed both of them for everything left unsaid.

"Gabrielle..." the tall warrior tried to reach for her friend's shoulder but it was useless, she knew touching her was impossible. The first few weeks after her death Xena started to become more and more like a spectrum, the strength that had kept her spirit bound to Gabrielle had started to fade away and now she was just a voice and a shadow getting weaker every day.

"There is no way to get me back Gabrielle, you have to give up. You're hurting yourself." the words left her mouth before she could stop herself and the change in Gabrielle's features only confirmed her mistake.

"I'm hurting myself? You were the one who left! I asked you not to go, I begged you to turn away and get back home" her voice was deeper than usual and the pain behind her words made Xena feel more guilt than any massacre ever could. Deciding to let her bard vent and get everything out of her chest Xena stood there in silence.

"You got a chance to be the great warrior princess one last time while I got to be left behind, alone" Gabrielle let out a weak sigh and held her head in her hands.

"I'm not giving up Xena and I'll ask you this one last time, be by my side as I always was by yours, trust me as I trusted you so many times.".

"Just promise me you won't get yourself killed" Xena asked, concern clear in her voice.

"You're one to talk..."

"I'm serious Gabrielle, promise me"

Gabrielle nodded and sat down by the fire.

"Wherever you go..." the warrior started with a small smile.

"I know... I know..."

While she was still alive Xena had never been one to sleep much, now she didn't need to sleep at all. This was the first time however that she had left Gabrielle's side.

"Xena, you're here..." the feminine voice sounded more surprised than ever but it was still a very familiar sound.

"Hello Aphrodite".

Seeing Aphrodite in black again was a weird sight to her, they were all used to the goddess' pink cheerful side, this darker more mature side of her was still a mystery.

"I knew you were still around, I could sense you but I never thought you would come visit me" the sadness in her words was clear to Xena.

"Why not? We are friends even if we don't always see eye to eye, are we not?"

The goddess smiled back at the warrior princess. "Still I don't believe that is the only reason for your presence here".

Whoever said blonds were dumb was dead wrong Xena thought to herself. "You're right, I need a favour" the warrior confessed quickly.

"I need you to convince Gabrielle to give up on me" Aphrodite's face immediately turned into something between confusion and shock.

"Excuse me?" the goddess replied as if she needed to make sure she was not crazy, or dreaming, or even drunk.

"I need you to make Gabrielle stop trying to bring me back to life" the bitter laugh that suddenly filled the air almost startled the warrior princess, Aphrodite started pacing around the temple, her hands on her hips.

"You're out of your mind"

"She needs to stop, she's gonna get herself killed" Xena explained, she needed the goddess to understand, she needed her help to save Gabrielle from herself.

"She's a grown up woman Xena, she's a strong, determined, resourceful woman. She's not the little girl who used to follow you around" Aphrodite was clearly proud of who Gabrielle had become and Xena was torn between feeling grateful and jealous.

"She hasn't sleep in weeks, she has been traveling day and night fighting with every single bandit that comes her way and I can't help her. If something happens to her... I can't watch her die"

She was praying Aphrodite could understand her, she couldn't let Gabrielle kill herself in anger and despair, it was not her time to leave the mortal world yet, no matter how much Xena missed her. They would have many other lives to be together but Gabrielle still had so much to live on that one.

"Please" The mighty warrior princess, Xena the destroyer of nations, begging, not even Aphrodite could ignore that.

"I will keep her safe as much as I can, but it's her choice, I won't try to control her."

"Thank you" Xena thanked even though this deal wasn't what she had expected to get, it was better than nothing and it had to be enough.

Xena started to fade away to get back to Gabrielle.

"It was good to see you Xena" Aphrodite's words were as sincere as possible. No matter how different they were, Xena was right, they were friends.

"It was good to see you too"