I try not to look at them, even though they're literally right in front of me. Trying not to look is just making me realize I'm looking more than I should be – if that makes any sense. Which it doesn't. Nothing does right now.
Seeing the way he smiles at her, and the way she smiles back causes me to grasp Argo's reigns tighter. It means nothing to me…it means nothing to me. I love Xena. Xena's my soulmate. Joxer's just my friend…just my friend!
I keep repeating it to myself. Over and over again.
I know he said he's in love with me…but he's flirting with this stranger who he barely knows…and…and he never looked at me that way!
Trying to stay rational was becoming even more difficult by the second, especially after yesterday night.
She had kissed him last night. Kissed him right in front of me and I couldn't do a damn thing to stop it.
I'm angry at him. I know I have no reason to be, but, just the way he smiles at her makes me want to grab his nose again – just like the old days. But I don't.
I don't like this woman. Not one bit.
Just when I start to list the things I don't like about her, she trips. And I smile as she lands flat on her face.
Yet when Joxer quickly tries to help her up with a look of concern on his face my smile fades. Dusting her off and asking if she was fine, with those dark brown eyes that show he really cares – it makes me realize that it does mean something to me.
Approaching them as I guide Argo with a dozing Xena, I try to pull myself together, try to reason with myself that Joxer is just a friend. A very dear friend who I care about very deeply – that's all.
I'm almost where they're standing and I let out a huge breath and crack a small smirk, trying to be friendly.
Yesterday I wasn't exactly nice to her, seeing how she took a liking to Joxer right away and watching her kiss him had left me unsettled. Watching the way she had stuck by his side the whole time unnerving me like nothing before. I was on edge with her around, thinking that she might be a threat to me and Xena, trying to use Joxer as a way to get to us…but after witnessing her trip just now, as well as a few dozen times yesterday – I realize that she's no real threat.
She's just an ordinary girl, who just wears funny looking clothes, and doesn't speak Greek.
Joxer though has been trying to teach her. That alone makes me smile. Joxer trying to teach anyone anything makes me laugh.
Elaine is a strange name though. I don't know where it's from, but it has to be from Britannia.
And then it happens again, right in front of my eyes.
Elaine- the ordinary girl, huffs out a laugh and then leans up and kisses Joxer on the mouth. And it's not a quick one either, it's a kiss that lingers longer that a friendly kiss. A kiss that's long enough to make my hands squeeze the reigns so tight I swear my hands are bleeding. A kiss that leaves him with this look on his face that I've never seen before.
I'm right next to them by now, and my heart feels like its going to jump from my chest.
"JOXER! KEEP UP WITH AMARICE!!!" My words are loud and angry as I'm sure my face surely reads.
Both of them jump, even Xena wakes up in shock, and both look at me with shocked and scared looks.
Joxer reacts first though, he blushes and stutters, but in the end just turns and walks away from me…and Elaine.
Elaine just stares at me, shock and anger on her face.
I know that if she knew Greek well she would tell me off, but I really could care less.
Shaking her head she purses her lips and turns, then starts to catch up to Joxer, who now has his arms wrapped around himself, as if he just felt the cold around us.
"What was that about?" I hear Xena ask me.
I look up and over to see Xena staring at Joxer's retreating form, and then down at me.
Looking away from her I can only mumble a sure fire answer, one that always seems to work.
"It's Joxer!"
Xena doesn't say anything after that, instead remains quiet. A few minutes pass until Argo fusses and Xena's ears perk up. Then, she suddenly takes off on Argo.
I don't know how Gabrielle is capable of turning him into the low confident man that I'm trying to coax back to himself.
I had never thought of Joxer as a confident man, at least not around Gabrielle. Today though, I realized why.
Joxer is good with the ladies, but when comes to Gabrielle – he thinks he's not good enough.
I nudge him with my shoulder, and get a small smile as I do. It's incredible when he smiles. His eyes light up in a way that I've never seen on anyone else.
After a second he nudges me back, making me laugh.
He's wrong in thinking that he's not good enough for her – because he's too good to be with her.
I point at my heart, and say it, trying to continue on with the language lessons we had been doing all day. Getting a confused look in response makes me smile widely and then pat my chest with my hand in an imitation of a heart beat.
Joxer laughs slightly with a really cute smile on his face and then mutters the word.
I nod and repeat it, turning and continuing to walk. He does the same.
Piecing together the words that I've learned I finally stop and turn right in front of Joxer, who again looks confused.
Smiling at him I say my first sentence in Ancient Greek.
"You have a good heart Joxer." And I give him my most radiant smile as I finish.
At first his face is shocked, dumbfounded at my words. Then his lips morph into that beautiful smile that I've now begun to yearn for when it's not on his face.
"Thank You." He says in Greek.
I tilt my head to the side and shrug my shoulders, showing him that it's no big deal. Then I shiver…almost violently.
It's like I'm wearing nothing with my shirt, and jeans on. The snow along with the moist air making it doubly cold.
Joxer looks at me with this worried look, then does something I totally don't want him to do.
Incredible as it sounds, he takes off his coat and places it over my head, even as I protest. But Joxer being Joxer - he won't have any of it. Just saying yes over and over until I finally surrender.
I give him a wicked little smile, and he he sticks his head out and swollows while laughing, as he suddenly seems to blush with the way I'm looking at him. But I can't help it! He's cute!
I want to lean up and kiss him again, but one quick look behind him and I see Gabrielle approaching. Quickly looking back at him I settle for reaching up and caressing his blushing cheeks. And the way he looks so uncomfortable makes me realize that his love for Gabrielle is keeping him from enjoying my affections.
So I do the only thing I can, I drop my hand to his and intwine my fingers with his. I look at him for a second, seeing how he has fear in his eyes, and I pull his hand and jerk my head forward.
And it takes him a few seconds to calm his nerves as he slowly tightened his grip on my hand and start to walk with me.
"Joxer?" I say as we begin to walk, him still nervous as he looks over at me and then one second back at Gabrielle and then back at me.
"Yes?"
I turn towards him and say one word - one name that lets him understand - I know.
"Gabrielle?" I say in a way that makes him look at me oddly and then he blushes and smiles.
I smile back and nod my head. I give him another kiss, but on his cheek. It's all it takes for him to relax. I keep hold of his hand as we continue to walk, and its odd how it makes me feel safe...and at home.
Still I think it's odd the way Gabrielle is acting.
Glancing back I catch her eyes staring down at us. Following her eyes I smirk. My hand wraps more securely around Joxer's hand, and it makes her eyes widen and then look up to my face.
And I couldn't have stopped myself even if I had wanted to.
I gave her an evil little smile that made her eyes turn that dark emerald color that showed all the anger and rage in that body of hers.
I just turned back and held Joxer's hand more securely. Knowing that this was going to be an adventure I would never forget.
A second later Xena is galloping past us on Argo with Gabrielle running right behind her.
I smile as I know what's about to happen. A new addition to the family!
Well...one of the new additions really.
Author's Note: Ok! I want reviews people! I don't care if there good or bad, but....give me SOMETHIN'!!
