A Case of the Lonelies

Post-Episode 28

By Jinxie

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters; I just made up the stories. The beginning and ends of episodes are quoted from the actual TV series.

Content Warning: This is a series that takes place between episodes. The stories build upon the TV series and it is advised that you watch the episodes then read the post-episode (this story) in between. Many references by the characters are very specific to the episodes, so you may not get everything unless you watch at the same time or have the episodes memorized. The series does lead to a romantic relationship between two women, so if you don't like it don't read it.

Goal: To fill in the rest of the story of Xena and Gabrielle that I felt the series left out. This is more how I would have wished the show to go. I strive to make it a realistic love story of how the two get together and share their lives together. Please feel free to email me with constructive feedback Jinxie2013

End of Episode 28 (S2,E4):

After getting rid of Joxer, Gabrielle turns to Xena and says, "You know, you almost died trying to save me. I really want to do something to thank you."

In the distance, "Fair well my warrior chums!" Joxer shouts as he turns to leave.

Xena looks at Gabrielle, "You just did."

Seconds later…

"Seriously Xena. I owe you. You've saved me so many times. There has to be something I can do to repay you, besides getting rid of Joxer." They continue to walk, Xena appears to be thinking.

"Hmm I think that you being with me is enough repayment. Oh, that and the fact that you keep me from going back to being a monster." Xena smiles and playfully nudges Gabrielle.

Gabrielle laughs, "Well, what if I play with your hair?" Xena shoots a glare at her. "Oh come on Warrior Princess, I happen to KNOW that you like that."

Xena can't help but smile, "Don't you dare tell anyone else that, ok?"

"I won't, IF you let me do it." Gabrielle is a good bargainer. She knows Xena won't try to argue.

"Alright…" Xena responded. I feel really bad I've been shutting her out lately. Maybe tonight we can have fun like we use to.

Later that evening, Gabrielle finishes her meal then grabs her scroll. She had just finished writing about her adventure as a Bacchae. Now it's time for her journal entry. Unrolling her scroll, she looks back over her journal entry from the other night when they were heading to find the druid bones. It said: I am so confused about my life right now. I am still fighting my feelings for Xena. I thought that I could just ignore them and they would go away, but they haven't. I had no idea I could feel this way about a woman. I've never had these feelings for a man; at least not like this. It's completely different. It feels more…right. I feel so much closer and more comfortable with women. But shouldn't I feel that way about men? This whole experience trying to find the Bacchae has confused me even more. Those women I danced with were so beautiful. They seemed to be attracted to me too. I just let go and danced with them. I felt free. (end entry)

Gabrielle took a moment to think about what she wanted to write about for tonight's entry. Xena wandered back into camp from her bathroom break. She sits down next to Gabrielle's legs. She looks up and back at her friend. "Hi. You ready for your payment?" Gabrielle playfully asks as she puts away her scroll and parts her legs to make room for Xena to sit between them. I'm so glad we are back to playing with each other. I've missed this. Xena scoots over to sit in between Gabrielle's legs.

She begins to play with Xena's hair. It's soft beneath her fingers. I wonder if I should try with her again. Maybe it's not too late. Maybe she will actually make a move. Gabrielle decides to direct conversation where she wants it, "Xena, do you get lonely?"

Xena stops picking at her fingernail, "No."

"Not at all? You don't wish you had someone to share your life with?"

Xena glances back at Gabrielle, "No. I have you."

She smiles, "Yeah but that's not the same as…you know."

"I'm perfectly content." Xena goes back to picking her nails, "What about you?"

Gabrielle's thoughts flash back to when she was a Bacchae and she was turning Xena. By the gods her neck felt so good under my mouth. She wanted me to bite her. She didn't even fight it. She just let me do it. I wonder, did she want me to for personal reasons, or just for the good of mankind so she could kill Bacchas? I'd like to think she wanted to feel my lips against her as badly as I did. She finally responds after Xena looks back to see if she is paying attention. "Oh. Um I guess not."

"You guess not? Why so hesitant? You either know if you're lonely or you don't." Xena is so black and white on issues such as this.

"I don't know. I get confused sometimes I guess. I am happy with just me and you. But sometimes… I don't know." She shrugs. "Sometimes I want more." That could mean so many things Gabby. Will she understand I mean I want more with her?

Xena wasn't sure what to think about that statement. Does she want more with me or more than just she and I together, like someone else? "Is that why you've been so quiet?" Xena asks, knowing that it wasn't just Gabrielle that had been quiet lately.

"What? Me quiet? You are the one that doesn't talk to me anymore." It was out before Gabrielle could stop it. "Sorry. I just mean that you haven't seemed in the mood to chat lately."

Xena was a little dumbfounded. "Yeah, sorry I've been so quiet lately. I've just had a lot on my mind."

"Want to talk about it?"Gabrielle asked.

Xena was still and quiet for a moment. "Have you ever known something that you should probably tell a certain person, but you just can't get yourself to do it?"

Gabrielle's eyes went a little wide, "Yes, I know the feeling all too well I'm afraid. Is the something you want to tell the 'certain person' something that will hurt the person? Did that make sense?"

Xena chuckles softly then replies, "That's the problem. I don't know. It might, it might not. I honestly don't know how it would turn out." A pause, then quietly she says, "It's sort of scary because of that."

"Scary? But I thought nothing scares the Warrior Princess." Gabrielle giggles.

Xena smiles back, then says "Yeah, usually that would be true. But this does. I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Xena looked away, not wanting her friend to see how uncertain and vulnerable she is.

"Well, talking it out with your best friend is a good start, don't you think?" Gabrielle has a look of hope on her face. Maybe she'll actually tell me! Getting a good idea, she added "Sometimes it's easier to show someone than to tell them. Is this something you can show the person?"

Xena looks up quickly, then her eyes dart down. "Yeah, it can be shown."

Gabrielle was unsure of where to go from here. She was desperate to continue urging Xena on about this, hopeful that Xena and she were on the same page. She gets out from behind Xena and sits next to her, "So you are telling me that this is all because you don't want to…what? Get hurt? Are you asking my advice?"

Xena hesitated then nodded, "I guess I am, yeah." She turns her head to look into the bard's eyes.

"Well, honestly it's hard to say without knowing the details about the person and the situation. Will you tell me who the person is?" Xena doesn't respond. "Ok I'll take that as a no. I'm not going to sit here and guess, Princess. You've got to give me more details so I can help."

"Maybe it was a bad idea to bring it up. Sorry." Xena began to stand up.

Gabrielle grabbed her arm and pulled her back down. "Stay?" The pull Gabrielle made drew Xena's face close to hers. Their eyes locked, and then Xena's eyes looked down to Gabrielle's lips as she leaned in towards her, subconsciously biting her lower lip. Gabrielle's heart began to beat rapidly, she closed her eyes and leaned towards Xena to meet her part way. Then nothing happened. Suddenly she felt Xena's head turn away, so her eyes snapped open to see what happened.

Xena stood up quickly and said, "I'm sorry…I can't. I'll be back later. Don't wait up." With that, she was gone.

Gabrielle was left in a state of shock. She couldn't think, she couldn't breathe. Then after a few moments, she began to cry; once again, broken hearted. She cried herself to sleep that night as the Warrior Princess took her own frustrations out with a late night jog.

Beginning of Episode 29 (that same night):

Perdicus is suddenly knocked off his feet by a wicked right punch. He gets up to find a boot in his face. "Hello Perdicus." Xena says, and then takes her foot down. "Not the smartest way to pay us a visit."

Gabrielle stands up from her bedroll. She gives him a big hug, "Perdicus!"

Perdicus laughs then says, "I just had to see something."

"What?" Gabrielle asks. Xena's face is amused and happy.

"Your face." He says with all seriousness. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since the last time I saw you. Gabrielle, we've always been close. You were my closest friend." Xena's expression drops as she realizes his words. He continues, "and well…" He gets down on one knee. "Gabrielle, will you be my wife?"

Gabrielle's face pales, her expression unsure. She looks back at Xena, who is staring into nothingness; her face is sober. She can't even look at Gabrielle.