Disclaimer: I forget to put one in the first chapter, but here it is now. I own nothing Xena, I simply wrote a story for my enjoyment. And hopefully yours.

Chapter 2:

The next morning, Xena woke later than normal. She found herself and Gabrielle in the same position they had fallen asleep in. Normally she would have gotten up and started the day. Her morning routine consisted of finding some food, rekindling the fire, and cooking breakfast, the only meal Gabrielle allowed her to touch. She smiled at that thought. She knew she was no cook, most of the time her food wasn't even edible, but breakfast was a bit simpler and wasn't normally as disastrous. It was one thing she could do for Gabrielle in the morning, since all her other meals were awful. Xena knew that she could do all these things like normal, but she didn't want to wake Gabrielle and she knew that getting up would do just that. The girl looked so peaceful in her sleep and after such a tough night, needed some rest. Though these were the reasons Xena kept coming up with for staying with Gabrielle and not moving, she knew that underneath those "rational" thoughts she really just wanted to stay holding her. Xena kept trying to tell herself that it was only because the girl had been so distraught the night before, but knew deep down that it was more than that. And so, rational reasoning or not, she stayed with the bard.

Gabrielle woke, to find herself much more comfortable than normal. When she opened her eyes she realized it was because she was sleeping with Xena. Seeing her friend still sleeping made her smile. She almost never woke before Xena. A small breeze blew a strand of hair across her face and when Gabrielle went to push it out of the way, she noticed that something was holding her hand back. Looking down, she saw her hand in Xena's larger one. Again she smiled. Xena had done that either before she went to sleep or during, but either way it made Gabrielle happy.

"Good morning," she heard. "Xena, I thought I beat you this morning. How long have you been awake," she asked. Xena sighed as she answered, "Oh, about half an hour or so." Gabrielle was surprised, "And you're not up yet? Are you ok? Of course not, you must be sick." She reached up to place her hand on her friends' forehead. Xena rolled her eyes at the girl. "Gabrielle," she growled, "I am not sick." She grabbed the bard's hand from her head and found herself looking into her favorite bright green eyes.

Immediately she was lost in those green eyes, lost in the shifting colors that reminded her of rolling green plains, gently touched by a summer breeze. The colors shifted with Gabrielle's moods and feeling's. Darker when she was sad or tired, fiery when she was angry, bright and dancing when she was happy. They spoke so much without words. But lately there was a new combination that Xena had yet to decipher, one that only showed when the girl looked at her. Bright and glowing, soft, but with a fire underneath. It was the look she was getting now and it was something she found she liked very much. She always liked looking into Gabrielle's eyes, seeing the pure goodness and innocence there, seeing into her soul. It took her breath away every time, and it was becoming harder to hide this affect from her friend. But with those eyes, her favorite eyes, looking at her, it was hard to do anything but look back.

Gabrielle too, was swept up in the blue eyes of her friend, the color a mix of the summer sky and the bright ocean. There was nothing that could compare to depth of those eyes. She could read Xena's emotions through them. Even when she wore an unreadable mask, Gabrielle could read her eyes. Normally they were clear and bright, with only a touch of wariness hidden deep down, something only Gabrielle noticed. But when she was in the midst of anger or violence they turned hard, cold, like a glacier in winter. It was a look that scared most people away, but never Gabrielle. From the very beginning, she could see beyond that coldness, to the warmth of the soul behind them. It was made her so curious at the start, that such a seemingly cold person could have such goodness underneath. Gabrielle recently noticed that only when Xena looked at her, was there no trace of darkness or ice or wariness in her eyes, no matter how deep down she looked. It was as if it melted away in the presence of the girl. Seeing that look of complete trust and warmth touched Gabrielle's heart. She longed to see that look directed at her all the time.

A soft bird call brought them out of their trance. What had felt like hours to them were only a few minutes. Slowly coming back to her senses, Xena released Gabrielle's hand. "I think you're right," Gabrielle said, "You aren't sick." They both laughed and Xena replied, "I told you so."

The two of them sat up and attempted to go about the morning as if nothing unusual had happened. Xena went off to find some food and Gabrielle picked up camp and refilled their water skins at a nearby creek. She was waiting for Xena to return when a cool wind blew past. Her bardic side came out as she said aloud "The winter winds shall pass away, and spring will bloom in full. Not easily though will winter yield, to the spring's bright meadow field. A battle brief will be waged, as spring comes in and winter fades. Until the spring can take firm hold, a winter wind will coolly blow."

Rich laughter came from the woods as Xena walked out. "Only you could use your gifts to make the passing of the seasons sound like that." Gabrielle took slight offense, "It's not nice to make fun of me or my poem." Xena smiled as she passed the bard and set down her catch. "I wasn't making fun," she said in her own defense, "I was teasing you, but I didn't mean anything by it. I think it was a lovely poem. I have just never heard anyone speak about the weather like that." She looked around, "You are right though. It's cooler than normal today."

Gabrielle thought about it then consented. "What did you catch?" "Two rabbits," Xena replied. "Why two," Gabrielle asked. Xena looked up from her work of skinning the animals to say, "Well since we are getting a late start, I thought we could cook both now and save one for lunch. That way we don't have to stop again in a few hours. Can you find something to cook these on?" Gabrielle nodded and went to find some sticks to use for cooking.

When their meal was cooking, Xena called Gabrielle over to the log and told her to sit. "I want to check that cut," she told her as she straddled the log to have a look. She unwrapped the bandage and saw that the bleeding had stopped and the redness was down some. It was still swollen though, and there were the first traces of bruising around the edges. She washed it with water then reached into her saddle bag and retrieved some salve to put on it. As she gently rubbed it in, she felt Gabrielle tense up beneath her hands and take in a sharp breath. "I'm sorry," she told the girl, "But I have to do this. It could get infected if I don't and hurt a lot worse later." Gabrielle nodded, "I know, but that doesn't make it feel any nicer now." When the salve was rubbed in, Xena rewrapped the cut with a fresh bandage and released her grateful charge.

The rabbit was finished cooking and they sat down to eat a quick breakfast. They ate in relative silence and packed up the rest of their things soon after finishing. Within half an hour they were on the road again. As was usual, Xena rode her mare Argo while Gabrielle walked beside them. Gabrielle had not grown up around horses and didn't feel very comfortable riding unless she had to.

They traveled for some time, each lost in their own thoughts. It was Gabrielle who brought them out of the silence, asking, "So where are we heading now?" Xena pondered the question for a few minutes before replying. "I think we will head toward the coast for a while." She let Gabrielle think about that for a few minutes before adding, "You know, Potidaea will only be a few days ride once we get to the coast. I thought you might like to visit home while we are close. It's been a long time since you have been back and I'm sure your sister is missing you, not to mention your parents." Gabrielle looked up at Xena, "Yes, it has been a while." Xena frowned, "You don't seem very excited about it. What's wrong?" The girl sighed, "It's not that I don't love my family, I do and I miss them, but they still just don't understand me. They cannot understand why I love to read and write so much, why I wouldn't marry Perdicas when they wanted me to, why I left home, or why I want to be out here with you. And even though they never say it, I can tell they disapprove of my decision to leave. Every time I see them they ask if I have changed my mind and decided to stay and live a normal life. They just can't wrap their minds around the fact that I like being out here. It's just so frustrating some times." Xena reined in Agro to a stop as she looked over at her friend. She hadn't realized how Gabrielle's family acted toward her. She knew that it was out of love, but they should still accept her choices. "We don't have to go if you don't want to." Gabrielle shook her head, "No, I would still like to see them, if that is alright. They are my family, the only one I have, apart from you." Xena was startled by the bard's words. She considered her family? Xena wasn't quite sure how that statement had been meant, wasn't sure what she wanted it to mean. She looked back at Gabrielle and thought she saw her blush slightly, but the girl started walking and she couldn't be sure. When she caught up to the blonde she said quietly, "I understand why." From her seat atop Argo the warrior saw a smile cross Gabrielle's lips.

They continued travelling toward the coast, still in silence, still thinking. Gabrielle thought of what Xena had said to her about understanding. It didn't surprise her; Xena could always understand her, even when others couldn't. She knew the bard well enough to know how she felt about things, like being forced to marry a farm boy, or her reasons behind leaving home. The one thing Gabrielle wasn't sure that Xena understood was why she wanted to stay with the warrior. Gabrielle wasn't even sure about all the reasons behind that. She only knew that she would be lost without Xena, incomplete. She knew that being separated from her tore her apart and made her feel utterly alone. Gabrielle didn't quite understand why she felt this way, but she knew the feelings were strong. She could not be without Xena.

Xena too travelled in thought. She was confused by Gabrielle calling her family. She couldn't seem to make sense of it, didn't know what type of family she was being compared to. She knew it wasn't a motherly figure, and they were much to close for it to be an aunt or cousin. The warrior assumed that Gabrielle meant family as in a sister, but that didn't feel right to Xena either. She felt as though they were closer than that, like simply being a sister was inadequate. They had been through so much together and it had brought them very close. Some sisters, she thought, may be as close as she and Gabrielle were, but not most. Something just wouldn't let her drop the statement. Eventually her curiosity got the better of her.

"Gabrielle," Xena called out, "I need you to answer something for me. What exactly did you mean when you said I was your family?" The bard stopped walking and Xena followed suit. "It's hard to explain," she said quietly. "Try," Xena asked. Gabrielle sighed, "I suppose that family is not the best way of putting it. I already have a sister so it's not like that. What we have is so much different than what I share with Lila." She paused for a moment, trying to collect her words. "It's more that when I'm with you, I am home. They are my family, but where ever you are is where I belong. Does that make sense?" Xena was speechless. She had not expected that from her explanation. But as she thought about it, she realized exactly how much sense it made. For the first time in a very long time she felt at home; and it was being with Gabrielle that made it feel that way. No matter where they were, they were home, as long as they had each other. "Xena," Gabrielle said, pulling her out of her thoughts. The warrior smiled at her friend, "Yes, Gabrielle that makes a lot of sense." The young woman smiled back and started walking again.

The silence that they had been travelling in was broken, as Gabrielle began a story about a lone wolf who, missing the companionship of his pack, convinced the gods to turn him into a man. "He was new to life with the people, though he had spent much time watching them. He found interacting with them was much harder than he had expected. There were so many rules to learn and follow, and everyone kept asking for his name, which couldn't be translated to the human language. Eventually he understood that people needed something to call him, so he decided on OUCH!" Xena laughed, "He wanted to be called Ouch?" Gabrielle glared up at her, "No. The 'ouch' was for me. I think a bur or a rock worked its way into my boot. I need to take it off to get it out." She knelt down and took off her boot, looking for the source of pain while Xena chuckled from atop Argo. "There you are you little…" She had turned and when she looked behind them saw big, dark, swirling storm clouds racing in. "Xena, look behind us. I think we are in trouble." The warrior turned and saw what had her friend troubled. She immediately took back her thoughts about the girl over reacting. This was going to be bad storm. Xena held a hand down for Gabrielle, "Come on, we need to find shelter, fast. This is not going to be a light spring shower." Gabrielle took her hand and swung up on Argo, taking her place behind Xena. When she was settled, with arms holding on to the warrior, Xena spurred Argo toward the nearby hills in search of a cave she knew to be close. She had found the cave years ago while hiding from a band of cutthroats. She had been unarmed and outnumbered; her only way of escape had been to hide. While running through the hills, she stumbled upon the concealed cave. It had served as a shelter and hide out while the ruffians searched for her then; it would serve as shelter from a storm now.

AN: I'm not particularly happy with the place this chapter ends, but it was the only decent stopping point for a while. I hope everyone is enjoying it so far and I would love to hear what you think.