Written from Gabrielle's perspective, as she is finding it rather difficult to keep her feelings for her warrior concealed.
Embrace
It was time for us to depart… I hated saying goodbyes, especially to her. They consisted of brief moments of affection, which varied from a kind glance to a friendly touch. This particular goodbye happened to be an embrace…the worst of all. Normally a simple embrace should evoke joy, a happiness shared between a pair, a gesture to remember the other by until they met again. But when I embrace Xena, it only causes a sensation of longing…and desire within me that I know can never be fulfilled.
The moment had come, where the space between us was to be filled, and we were to unite. She made the first move, approaching me with a warm loving smile that I instinctively returned, producing a unique grin…only for her eyes to see. In response I mirrored the gesture and proceeded in moving closer, anticipating the few moments of delight that I could securely indulge in. We came together as one, as she wrapped her arms around me, and I inturn encircled my arms around her back. Both of us gently pressed the other into a deeper clasp, tentative of the appropriate amount of time that we should spend united. All I knew was that I never wanted to let go, the rising heat between our combined bodies had already started to settle.
That moment of sweet bliss, turned to sorrow as we divided. I yearned to look into her piercing blue eyes, but I did not dare as it would inspire me to return to her protective hold once more… something that I knew was not possible without conveying my true sentiments…
This time I felt I held on just a little bit too long, for her to become curious of my affections that I held for her. I pray to the Gods that the next goodbye will just be a friendly smile…a tender wave... I pray for something less painful, anything but that… I fear that if it happens again I won't be able to let go. Even an affectionate touch has begun to taunt my fondness for her…which resides deep within my soul…A love so safely embedded within my spirit, which only I will ever have access to. Its veiled nature has become a part of me…a curse that will never be shared…
When we broke apart the warmth between us lingered, but soon left….unknowing when I would feel that cherished warmth between us again that would soothe the love within me...I'm still waiting…
