Good Enough
Sometimes, when Xena sleeps, Gabrielle stays awake. She looks at the stars and tries to figure the world out. She listens to the nighttime and wonders at the creatures that lurk in that darkness. And she watches Xena.
Gabrielle notes the deepness of Xena's inhales and exhales. The light twitch of eyes under the lids. The fullness of Xena's lips when relaxed. It is during these nocturnal observations that Gabrielle falls more in love with Xena.
She does not know if Xena feels the same way, if Xena catches herself staring at the bard... Gabrielle decided a long time ago that it does not matter. Xena does love her, in her own way... and that is good enough for Gabrielle.
Once she falls asleep, that is when Gabrielle gets the other love... the love that does not speak, but touches. The love that Gabrielle feels when she must pleasure herself, the love that brings Xena's face into her mind, the love that comes crashing over Gabrielle's body... in silence.
Morning returns and Gabrielle smiles over at Xena, letting all thoughts of the night before go. Xena smiles back and it is warm. And that is good enough, Gabrielle tells herself, that is good enough.