A Kid Again

Post-Episode 92

By Jinxie

Disclaimer: See the main story disclaimer, it applies

Content Warning: See the main story warning, it applies

Goal: See the main story goal, it applies

xxxx

End of Episode 92 (S5,E2):

Gabrielle and Xena are walking far behind their friends on a forest path. "It feels so good to be going home." The bard comments.

"Going home in more ways than one. Thanks, Gabrielle." The warrior says with sincerity.

"For what?"

"For pointing the way back to my rotten old self." Xena smiles.

"It's a pleasure. Did I do that?" the bard questions

"I didn't think about it at the time, but when I asked for a sign to show that I was doing the right thing- you showed up." Xena smiles down at her mate.

"Hmm- you know what they say? Timing is everything." Gabrielle smiles sweetly.

"Yeah. Well- not everything."

xxxx

A week later… Xena's POV:

I haven't been feeling all that like my old self yet. Sure, I have my memory back. I remember all the terrible things I've done in my life. I remember the good as well. The one thing I never forgot was Gabrielle. Interesting how no matter what we are always together. Afterlife, during life, future lives… It makes me smile to know that she will always be there with me.

We are traveling back to Greece. It's a long road through Roman territory, which I can't wait to get out of. "I miss Greece and its simple beauty." I say out loud, quite by accident.

"What was that Xena?" Gabrielle asks me, looking at me like I've lost my marbles again.

I smile sweetly at her, "Nothing. I was just thinking."

She stops walking and grabs my arm to stop me as well. "I heard what you said, but it's not like you to be so philosophical. You ok?" she rubs my arm softly with her thumb as she gazes into my eyes with concern.

"I'm ok. Let's get moving." I break free from her embrace and begin to walk without her. She runs to catch up to me. I look over at her and smile at the bewildered look on her face. We continue on in silence, but my thoughts won't shut off. It's been a week since we were…well dead. I don't think my body has fully recovered. I find my focus is off wandering a lot. Like now, I never think about stuff like this, do I? Gabrielle and I haven't been intimate at all. It's hard with Amarice and Joxer around. He's so in love with her, it's creeping her out. He constantly stares at her. It's really starting to irk me. I want to ring his neck and hang him upside down by his feet! Whoa…where did that come from? He's my friend, I shouldn't want to do that to him.

"Xena, I think we ought to stop for the night." Amarice calls back to me. I nod my head in agreement. As we begin to set up camp, I hear someone in the woods. I look over at Amarice, whose senses have picked it up as well. Then I look to my lover, she is also on her toes, ready to spring into action. I stand up and draw my sword, then walk over to Gabrielle. I stand in between her and where the noise came from.

Gabrielle whispers from behind me, "What are you doing? I can't see them now." She tries to push around me and get to my side, but I put my arm in front of her to block her path. "Xe!" the tone in her voice is a warning.

"Shh." I say, which stills her completely. Suddenly a knife is flying towards her from the opposite side of camp! I put my hands on her waist and spin her around so that she is not in harm's way. I'm not on the side of the knife, which I catch in my hand. I look at it, it's covered in poison. "Gabrielle, hide!" She looks at me like I'm insane, once again. Am I really that out of sorts? She doesn't budge, instead she stands her ground and forces herself into the fight when we are suddenly ambushed by five men. "Their blades are poisoned!" I yell out to my group so they can be extra careful.

Every man that Gabrielle attacked, I jumped in between them and took the man down for her. I don't know why, but I feel possessed. I feel as if I can't let her fight or she'll get harmed. As I take down each man, I hear her swear from behind me. She is not happy that I'm taking her bad guys. After a few short minutes, all the men are either dead or run off.

"What the hell was that about?" My bard is not a happy woman right now.

"I didn't want to risk you getting poisoned again." I reply casually, it's completely true. I didn't want that. However, I really can't explain why all of a sudden I won't let her fight her own battles.

"Xena, I can take care of myself! What is wrong with you?" she yells at me as she storms off into the forest.

"Gabby! Don't leave!" I yell out to her as she stomps off with her sais. She shoots a look back at me that warns me not to follow.

Amarice approaches me as I sit next to the fire we built earlier. "What's with her?" I just grunt in response, not wanting to bad mouth my lover. Amarice isn't sure how to talk to me yet, it's kind of funny trying to watch her sort through my moods. "I think you did her a favor fighting those guys for her."

I wince at the sound of that. "For her." I repeat, "That's the problem. She doesn't like when I do stuff for her like that."

"Makes her feel like a kid." Joxer replies from his bedroll. He rolls his eyes at me.

"A kid! It does not make her feel like that Joxer." I defend myself. Is he right? Did I make her feel like a kid? No way. She is just jealous that I took all the men on instead of her.

An hour later, I am about to get up and go look for her. It's completely dark now and she hasn't returned. Just as I get my sword sheathed, I hear her trademark footsteps approaching. By the way she is walking I can tell she is still upset. She looks up at me as she enters the camp. "There you are! Don't ever run away like that again!" I chastise her and immediately regret it. Joxer's words come back to haunt me. I am treating her like a kid again.

She narrows her eyes at me then pulls her bedroll away from mine so there is space in between. I know that I should probably try to fight her about this, but for some reason I just don't. What's going on with me? I feel like I'm two different people lately. I watch her lay on her bedroll and cover herself with furs. The camp is silent, as everyone is tucked in except for me. I stand there staring at her back, since she turned away from me a few minutes ago. I sigh and resign myself to a cold bedroll that doesn't have my lover in it.

xxxx

The next morning I am the last one up! I can't believe I slept so long! "Gabrielle?" I call out as she appears squatting in front of me. "Why did you let me sleep so long?"

"I tried waking you but you were out cold." She stands up and finishes packing everything up for the remainder of our journey home. I struggle to get out of bed, my body is so tired. I'm too old for this I guess.

xxxxx

Gabrielle's POV:

I watch my warrior as she struggles to function this morning. Something is still off with her and I can't figure it out. She seems so tired and irritable. Maybe I shouldn't let myself get so pissed off at her. Yeah, she is treating me like a child again, but it must have to do with whatever is going on with her since we were resurrected. I walk over to her as she stands up from her bedroll and stretches. "Xe, I'm sorry I stormed off last night."

She looks at me in surprise, "It's alright. You were mad at me, I know."

I sigh and look off towards the forest, "Yes I was. I don't know why you insisted on not letting me fight." I shake my head when she doesn't answer, "It doesn't matter. I just want to move on. I don't want to be in a fight with you." I lean into her and wrap my arms around her. Her arms circle around me and she lays her head on top of mine, giving me a small kiss.

I open my eyes to see Joxer watching us. He is getting more and more bold with his stares. Ever since he told me flat out that he is in love with me, he can't seem to stop staring. I don't understand him. I mean I told him a long time ago that nothing would ever happen between us. I knew he loved me, but until the other day I guess I didn't realize how much. He seems to have forgotten that I told him I was in love with someone else. I think that me dying really shook him to the core.

Xena pushed away from me to look into my eyes, "Don't worry about him." She said as she had spotted him watching us.

As soon as he looked away, I snuck in a kiss with Xena. Her lips are so soft and sweet. I've missed them so much. "I'll try not to." I reply as we break away and finish packing up camp.

"I need to stop in the next town and get some clothing that's more protective. I need armor." Xena says to me as we walk.

I look at her and then look at my own clothing. "Think I should too?" I ask in jest, knowing that she loves my new outfit and won't want anything covering me up.

"Nah, just me." She smirks as her eyes lustfully roam up and down my body.

"You are so selfish." I nudge her in the ribs and return the smile.

xxxx

Beginning of Episode 93:

Ares and Mavican are rolling around in bed. Finally they part and the covers come off. "Well, you know, you can cut the party tricks. You're looking for an heir- a mortal to carry on your name."

Ares replies, "Oh, I've considered it."

"Well, here I am- my sword- my life- my heart."