Chapter 3: Forget it

Gabrielle hesitated for a moment. Her eyes threatened with tears, but she sniffed and dislodged them forcefully. Her countenance changed from resigned to determined.

"Damn it all to hades Xena! You know what. I don't care what you say. I've made my choice. Now, suffer the consequences!" She smiled through her tears. "You can deny it all you want. But I choose you, whether you like it or not. Now you can either go with it, or you can pretend this is all just sex to you, but it's not. You know it, and I know it. Whether you think you deserve me or not, you have me. You can either keep playing that childish game of yours and keep breaking my heart, this time knowingly, or you can humor me. Please say you'll humor me." Her eyes pleaded with the sky irises, that were avoiding her gaze.

Gabrielle eyed the comical ribbon across the warrior's bust. She pulled at the edge of the ribbon, forcefully tugging it and unraveling the bow. She watched as the lace fell to the sand. Xena's chest rose, filled with a deep breath, and a quiet resignation. The symbolism of the bard untying her knot making her decision.

"Yes. Okay fine. I give. For you."Xena smiled softly.

Gabrielle squealed in delight, practically tackling Xena into an embrace.

"You'll see. You'll come to your senses and see that I'm right. It's only a matter of time." the younger woman remarked confidently.

Xena couldn't help but feel her heart lifting. The blond had so much faith in them, and Xena couldn't help but share it. She wanted to be wrong, perhaps she could be someone Gabrielle could deserve. Only time would tell, but the bard was right. Breaking her heart with repeats of Ulysses weren't something she'd wanted to do, no matter how well meaning she thought it would come out in the end.

"Well, guess I'll have to inspect the goods." Xena chimed, faux seriousness coating her words.

The bard laughed heartily, glad to see love shining through the veiled eyes.

"You break it. You buy it." Gabrielle replied, clutching one of Xena's bracer and sliding it off gracefully. Quietly and efficiently, she rid the warrior of her armor.

"I'm shocked. Surely you didn't learn that at the academy." Xena feigned surprise.

"Oh shut up Xena." Gabrielle clucked and hushed her with a kiss, and Xena in her mischief lifted Gabrielle off the sand and carried her; amidst kiss and walked into the hot water. She ignored the sting of the heat on her skin as soon Gabrielle was also prickled by the heat on her feet causing her to shriek.

"Xena!"

Xena grinned evilly. "What's that you say? Shhh.. Fish don't talk, they swim. Can I borrow your bra?" Xena asked.

"What?"Gabrielle protested as Xena began to unlace her top, tickling the bard with her ice cold hands.

"You are cruel." Gabrielle complained.

"I am, but you still love me. I'm starting to doubt your sanity my dear." Xena answered, continuing the unwrapping of her present.

"Hey, hey, hey! Throw my top onto the sand, if it gets in this heat it'll shrink."

Xena's brow raised in it's legendary lopsidedness and Gabrielle soon regretted her words.

"Happy Solstice to me!" Xena remarked as she immersed both their bodies into the steaming water.

Gabrielle laughed loudly as she knew Xena's leathers would fall victim as well. "Xena! Your leathers will too!" Gabrielle exclaimed through a fit of laughter.

"Oh well, I don't plan on wearing much clothes for a few days. Perhaps I can wear you on me tonight." She remarked matter of factly.

"That's a good possibility." the blond answered with her voice deepened and lust ridden. "If you're lucky, I'll let you wear me out."

"Indeed"

"Indeed."

Their gazes locked and the taller woman let her down slowly from her embrace in the water and let her feet touch the mud floor.

"I look forward to it. Happy Solstice Gabrielle." She answered, her voice dripping in arousal as her hands began to explore a landscape visited once before.

This time however, she decided she wouldn't hold back her heart, and though she didn't tell her, Gabrielle knew.

The End

Author's Note: Happy Holidays everyone!