Gabrielle turned around as soon as Xena's back was turned. I could watch her walk for hours...Gabrielle thought. Her shoulder still burned where Xena had patted it. Affectionately! Gabrielle thought hopefully, but then Xena disappeared into the woods, and she sighed, her mood dropping. She never felt...complete...unless Xena was with her. In a way, her favorite moments since she had left Potidaea were the nights they had fallen asleep entwined in each other's arms.
Gabrielle always felt comforted and safe when Xena held her. A mere touch from Xena set her heart and body on fire in ways that even Perdicus (whom she had loved) could only dream off.
The Bard stared into the forest where her beloved had disappeared. Her heart ached for the woman she called her best friend. Oh if only Xena knew...Gabrielle dropped her scroll and buried her head in her hands and tried to stem the tears that begin to drip. She sniffed loudly, and rubbed at her eyes, sitting like that for a while. She couldn't say how long, Gabrielle had gone into a kind of trance, a world of memories in her head, a fantasy land in which Xena loved her as well.