-4-
"So, where do we go from here?"
"I'll leave that up to you, Dr. Covington."
"You're the warrior! My big, bad . . ." Janice places her hands at Mel's waist and strokes up over her stomach and shoulders, "beautiful warrior."
"Oh, now you're just trying to get me to blush."
"Worked, didn't it?" Her smile fades when Mel's expression goes serious and stoic. She takes her hair down and her eyes dilate as she moves towards the archeologist through the darkness and light the folds in the tent create. "She is within me", Janice is struck cold as the evil sound of Mel's words hits her ears. The southerner strips herself of her top and skirts, leaving a silk slip the only coverage, "She makes me feel powerful . . . but only when you're around. I can sense everything clearly. Even your scent . . . your fear . . . your arousal", Janice still can't move, her breathing getting heavier, Mel getting closer 'till she encircles her in strong arms, "You're so addicting. If I'd have known that you had the same difficulties . . . trying to figure out another part of yourself while being around the one person you want most in this world . . . unable to do something, anything about it . . .", green eyes look pleadingly into her own, innocent and vulnerable, but wanton and wild, "I would have done this ages ago", Xena tilts Gabrielle's chin up, and her lips closer to hers before claiming them, finally, in a love acclaiming, warm and gentle, adoring kiss. And like all passions, theirs grows from a slight flicker to a roaring inferno of sorts. The bard submits willingly, but still clings desperately to the goddess of her dreams. A pain that started as what the archeologist took for longing now flared into a deeper reflection of her soul, trying to break free and join her in her new-found/reunited lover. Her ancestor was very much alive, within her, aching to feel the life of the mighty Warrior Princess as she took her firmer in her arms, leading the blonde to what comfort was found in their make-shift beds. But as Xena pushed Gabrielle back and into the cot, she stopped for a moment, just to appreciate the perfection she found in this woman. She knelt between her legs as the Bard was seated, always gazing into her emerald green eyes, "For centuries I thought I would never see your eyes again, in that perfect shade defined only by the flesh of this insufferable world." Taking the fedora off the archeologists head, she proceeded to unfurl her blond curls from their binds, "But know that you made it all bearable, Gabrielle. Without you, my life would have been worth for nothing. I love you, truly, with all my heart. Mind, body, and soul."
"Well, now, none of my stories could top that." They both were doused by a fit of giggles, "But we shouldn't take advantage. Let these girls have their first time . . . like we did ours."
"That we did, didn't we, little one?"
"Indeed we did." Gabrielle took her warrior's lips in the flesh for one last memory. Reunited again by the grace of their ancient-body's successors, they left Mel and Janice to each other as entangled spirits rushing towards the stars.