This is the sequel to The Bet. The same disclaimer apply as always. I do not own any of the following characters: Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Ephiny, Eponi, ect.

Violence: Nothing too bad, maybe in later chapters.

Language: Swearin like a sailor in this one

Subtext: plenty of it ;]

The Promise

By: BlackIrish 88

It's been six months since we last saw our happy couple ride off into the sunset. *record scratch* The honey moon phase ended three months ago. We all know what goes on from there.

"Damn it Xena!" the bard muttered. Xena had stolen all the cover this time and it was freezing out, even though they were in a tavern inn, it wasn't the best though. It was awfully drafty and the bard was cold from her nose to her toes. "Ugh, I don't know how I stay sane with the warrior around, she drives me crazy some-days." Gabriele thought to herself. She looked at the slumbering ex-warlord. Xena was out like a doused flame, rolled up comfortably in the fur, mouth partially open with a side of spital, gathering in the corner of her lips, threatening to become a flowing river of drool at any moment.

"It would be terribly cruel of me to disturb her." The Amazon Queen got a mischievous smile on her face after debating that the next act she was about to do was worth a chance in losing her life. She found an open space in the blanket that revealed the dark warrior's back. She scrunched up her nose and pressed her icy feet against the warm back of the dozing brunette. She knew she was in for it, but Hades it would be worth it.

The sound that came from the disturbed warrior, was a mix of a wounded animal and a yak in labor. She watched Xena fly out of bed to get away from the cold intruder, her feet. Then came a slew of curse words, some which the bard had never heard of. Crawling up slowly from the floor to the bed, "What the Hades, Gabrielle!? What the fuck was that for?! Hmm!?" The dark woman was irate, she fixated her icy blues on her quarry. She knew her bard had a weakness, she was terribly ticklish. She put on her coolest smile and purred to her pray, "Oh...Gab-ri-elle?"

The Amazon knew what that tone of voice meant. Something so cruel and inhumane, something so evil was about to commence. She tried to reason with her former warlord, all the while backing away, "Now Xena, the only reason why I did that was because you took all the cover. I was freezing my rear off." She tried to look innocent and childlike the best she could, making her jewel colored eyes as big as a deer.

The warrior didn't stop her advances. She move with stealth, crawling towards her cornered prey. Her arctic blue eyes locked on paling green ones, baring her teeth she let out a low growl, "Oh on my sweet bard, you gotta do better than that. You aren't talking your way out of this one." Quicker than the bard could blink, she was pounced on, as long slender fingers roamed all over her body, tickling her, relentlessly.

"Xe...st-...Xe..."Gabrielle couldn't complete one word as the onslaught continued. Her breathing was erratic as she pleaded with her tormentor to stop. "Xena...(laughing) Stop."

"Oh no! Not until you say I'm a centaur's ass." said the cruel warrior, grinning wickedly with the tip of her tongue between her teeth. She was enjoying every second of it.

"She's trying to kill me!" thought the Amazon. She was writhing and wiggling, trying hard to dodge the nimble fingers but failed miserably. "Xena...Come on...so not fair." she said in between bouts of forced laughter and tears. Her face was red and tear stained.

The strategic ex-commander didnt let up. This was the closest thing to conjuring she was going to get. "Come on Gabrielle, you know I don't give up easily." Xena cooed.

"I'm...(gasping for air) gonna pee...(haha) stop!" the Amazon choked out.

"Nope. Not until you say it." the warrior was stern.

"Okay. Okay. Stop and I'll say it." the bard made a deal with the princess.

Xena complied and stopped her assault, "Alright...Well..."

Gabrielle took some breaths to calm herself, "Okay." she blew out a breath, closed her eye and smiled winningly. She said the next phrase so fast it caught the warrior off guard, "You're a centaur's ass." She waited for Xena to continue her tactics. She bit her lip to stop laughing. She tried to read her icy blue eyes but they gave up nothing.

"She thinks she's funny. Sly little fox." the dark on thought. She conjured up a devious smile. Narrowing her eye at her companion Xena ambushed Gabrielle, pinning her to the bed. She had the bard between her thighs and arms raised above her head. Her precious Queen wasn't going anywhere.

Gabrielle was in full shock, everything happened so fast. Forgetting that Xena is seasoned in wrestling, she looked up into the face of her captor, stoic as ever, eyes, cold and deadly. It sent a chill down her whole body. Being underneath her handsome warrior had some trance-like affect on her. To many people, this would be their last sight before their death, for her it awoke a beast within her. Unfortunately, that beast was quickly shot down when she saw a string of drool hanging from Xena's full lips. It descended ever so slowly towards her face. Her green eyes fills with panic as she tried to escape this unrighteous act. "By the Gods Xena! Come one, Please don't! Ugh...eww. You know how much I hate this." The Amazon squealed. Her words fell on deaf ears. She turned her head sideways to avoid the swinging bead of saliva touching her nose. She could see it out of the corner of her eye, closing in distance to her ear. She knew there was only one way to end this heinous feat, "I'M A CENTAUR'S ASS!" she yelled.

Xena slurped back up her drool of doom and grinned victoriously. "See. Was it that hard?" she teased, wiggling an eyebrow.

"Do you mind gloating later. I really gotta pee." the bard pleaded with child-like eye.

"Hmm...I dunno Gabrielle. I kinda like where you are." the warrior purred in her fox's ear, sampling an earlobe.

"Xe.." Gabrielle moaned erotically. "Later...I promise. Just let me go. Please." she said slowly before tasting her panther;s neck.

"Mhmm..." the former warlord let out a throaty growl. Okay, but make it quick."

Xena released her and the bard leaped out the bed and ran as quick as her pigeon toed feet would carry her. The sight was comical to say the least. Seeing a grown woman running to the toilet, wasn't much different from a child who didn't go before they left home.

Xena couldn't help but smile and shake her head. Maybe she had been a wee bit cruel, "Nah." she said to herself getting back in bed and rolling herself in the bearskin, letting out a satisfied sigh. Before long, she felt something poking her head and her name being called faintly. She peeked one eye open to see her bard, furious bard, with her arms crossed, with flame ridden eyes. "Aw Fuck! When did I go back to sleep?" she asked herself, knowing she was in for a world of hurt, she quickly addressed her queen, more like a pissed off hydra at the moment. "H-hey babe, what took you so long?" At that moment she regretted having said the wrong words, but it was too late to reel them back in.

The bard's eyebrow slowly raised up to it's destination, under jagged bangs. She dropped her arms and moved slowly towards the bed. Xena felt herself sink deeper into the bed. "Xena." the Amazon said in a low deadly voice, nose flared, "I was gone for two minutes. Two! You hear me!" She was irate and near screaming, with two fingers up in Xena's face. "Count them! One...Two! When I was coming back from the bathroom, I could hear snoring from the hallway. I thought, surely that's not Xena, my horny warrior. Well...I was wrong for damned sure. I walk in and YOU, mighty princess, former Destroyer of Nations, is wrapped up like a new born and snoring like a titan!" Gabrielle was inches from Xena's face, she had no idea when the bard crawled into the bed. She had the covers over half her face, exposing only her eyes which were fixated on burning jade.

Gabrielle's chest was heaving, she was so furious, she didn't understand how Xena could fall back asleep so soundly. Was this still part of her punishment? Being tickled to death, then having her libido turned on high, to only to be left dry and frustrated. She looked into clear blue and decided it was her own fault after all, she did start it. She couldn't blame her mate for this one, not that she didn't want too. The angry bard backed off, sighed, and flopped down into bed, facing away from her warrior.

The dark one thought her raging Amazon was fine now, seemingly she had stopped suddenly in her verbal attack. She scooted closer and laid some of the blanket on the bard. She heard a soft "Thank you" and proceeded to snake her lanky arm around her girlfriend. She felt her hand being pulled up, she felt the bard's soft lips graze her hand. She never expected what was coming next, "Yow!" the dark warrior yelped like a kicked dog. Xena snatched back her hand and inspected it for damages, rubbing her hand. "You bit me! What for!?"

Gabrielle never turned to face her victim, her own was red from holding back her laughter. It took her a few moments to still herself. She finally answered her confused warrior in a mock annoyed tone, "For getting me all worked up then leaving me out cold. I'm going back to sleep. And Xena, I swear to Zeus, if you snore, you'll be in the Elysian Field before you know it." Gabrielle was only half serious, but she didn't clarify about which part.

Xena rolled her eyes and turned over, she knew her bard was mostly hot air. Speaking of air, when she rolled over, her stomach cramped. "Ugh...I shouldn't have had that goat cheese. Gonna have gas for days." making a mental note. She new her next act might really be the end of her battle filled life, but hey, it was a good one and she released her stomach and a revealed sigh. Smirking, she knew it was going to be rotten and only a matter of time before the bard said something about it. Sure enough, like clock work, "By The Gods Xena! Damn!" Gabrielle was gasping and choking for clean air, waving her hand in front of her nose. "That was foul!" punching her partner in the arm. The bard got up and opened a window to let in fresh air. Xena just chuckled to herself and snuggled down, preparing to go back to sleep.

"She's not getting the last laugh." Gabrielle walked back over to the casually and grabbed a pillow and commenced to blitzkrieg the crap out of warrior. Both women had a free for all with their pillows. Feathers flew everywhere and laughs and giggles rang out freely. They were like teenagers all over again, teenage girls in puppy love.

A/N: Alright people, how was that? Let me know and there will be more to come!