I hope you enjoy guys

Gabrielle and her father were riding to the theater in their carriage. "Gabrielle the way you presented yourself earlier today. I was impressed. I'm happy to have you as my successor." He smiled at his daughter.

Gabrielle was happy to hear her father say such things. "Thank you, father. And thank you for this."

"You're welcome, I know you aren't exactly happy about Ares," He started.

Gabrielle didn't want talk about Ares when they were having a good moment, "Father let's enjoy the night, I can't wait to see Joxer." She was familiar with the playwright.

They arrived at the playhouse, Gabrielle saw Xena standing in her normal get up. Xena smirked checking out Gabby's outfit. She was never into royalty luxuries, but the way the corset pressed against Gabrielle's chest. Xena could definitely get used to the soft gold color she was wearing. The royal dress made Gabrielle glow and made Xena happy to see her in her finest.

"Xena, I'm glad you are able to make it to this performance." She stood in front of the knight.

Xena held her eyes up, "Anything to make sure you are protected." She bowed to Gabrielle

Ares scoffed, "I told her to come it has nothing to do with you." He locked arms with Gabrielle. "Now your highness shall we."

Gabrielle looked at Ares as she fought to not look at Xena. She smiled at Ares, "I think we shall." They began to moved to the theater, "Xena." She paused to look to the stationary knight. "I rather you not walk behind me. You are Ares plus one after all. Isn't that right?" She looked at the taller man that invited her.

Ares could see her toying with him again. He twitched his nose not going to say something to get him put in the wrong, "Of course Xena will you walk beside us."

"With all do respect you two, I much walk from afar. Besides I feel you two need to get closer and I shouldn't stand in the way." She laughed at the two as she watched the blonde and the brunette walked arm in arm inside.

Gabrielle sat in the front row of the balcony in the playhouse. Xena was intrigued to see the princess who has a tendency of always talking to be completely silent during a play. Xena stood at the top of the balcony refusing to sit she wanted to watch everyone from afar, even though Gabrielle's parents assured that she wasn't working at the moment. Xena observed the softness to the girl that she is growing fond of. The laughter stands out above anyone else's Xena could get chills hearing it. She walked out of the balcony not wanting to watch anything anymore.

Gabrielle searched for the beautiful knight after the play. She found her at the refreshment counter drinking an Ale, "Did you not enjoy the play?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, I was there the whole time." She smirked taking a sip.

"Lies you left at the end of the second act." She laughed at the white lie, "See I can make my own observations." She smiled knowing that likes to watch everything.

Xena inched near Gabby, "I rather more of an action play. But you seemed to enjoy it."

"Oh yes, the idea that two people can love each other so much they rather die than live without each other. Its interesting to know what that kind of love feels like." She smiled thinking about the play.

Xena loved Gabrielle expressing her feelings about the play. "I am happy to hear that my play was reciprocated well for you."

"Joxer," Gabrielle turned to the familiar voice. She gave him a hello, "yes thank you for creating another beautiful masterpiece, how did you come up with this one?" She held his hands.

"Why don't we get a drink, after I talk to a couple of these people." He asked.

"I would love that." She said sitting on a stool. She looked at her companion. "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't get a chance to introduce you."

Xena smiled seeing Gabrielle in the middle of her passion, "No you're fine, You know," Xena brought the mug to her face "You're adorable here."

Gabrielle tilted her head to comment, "You think why?"

"Because you two can talk about your passion together." She observed, "It's a nice to see you in a different light."

"Well you heard the man, we are going to go out for drinks, so?" Gabby began to ask Xena to join her.

"Bottoms up?"

Ares approached the girls who were talking too much for his liking. "Ladies?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes as she looked at Ares, "Well hello Ares, Joxer, Xena and I are going to a local tavern after he is done talking to the producers. Interested?"

"Going to a tavern with the commoners?" He questioned. "What does your father feel about this."

Gabrielle knew her father's response, because this is what she does after every Joxer play, "Oh he is fine with it. And even more now that I will have my own personal protection."

Ares caught Xena looking at her feet with a crooked smile on her face. "I'll go."

Gabrielle to a sip of Xena beer. "Then it's settled."

The four of them grabbed a table, at the tavern. Ares was quite bored with hearing Joxer and Gabrielle talk about a fantasy life. He and Xena basically sat silence. Ares was enjoying the food that the Tavern They began talking about stories of love like his play. "Have you had a love like you write about?" Gabrielle asked Homer.

Joxer sitting across from the princess inched closer to her, "No, but wouldn't it be nice to meet that one person out of the thousands of people in the world and you know they are meant to be with you."

Gabrielle smiled, "Like he could walk into this place and their eyes are immediately drawn to each other and you look into their soul." She controlled her urge to look into Xena's eyes.

"That my dear is what defines what True love or love at first sight. My dear." He explained.

Xena's heart race at the mushy talk of love that she didn't agree with until now. "God no." Ares grunted out. "Women say they love me all the time and it isn't spiritual."

Joxer cleared her throat, "Your Highness, your telling us that you have never been willing to give up everyone for?"

Ares eyed Xena as he took a bite out of bread that was near his face, "No, I have riches and power, I don't have to worried about the women in my life, because," He quickly looked at the two women in his life, "I can have anyone I want, plus I have marriage which will lead to an heir," He explained as he smirked across the room to one of the attractive servers.

She came over to the table. She leaned on the table smiling at Ares, "Can I get you anything?"

"Yes sweetheart," He played with her hair, "Why don't you get another round for the table." He nudged her chin, and he watched her walked away."That right there my friends is true love" He cocked his eyebrow as he eyed Gabrielle.

Gabrielle choked on the beer she was drinking. Razors hit her heart and gut to hear how Ares was so open how he doesn't respect her. "Excuse me I have to go throw up." She walked out of the tavern.

Xena followed Gabrielle out, "Hey Gabrielle,"

Gabrielle counting walked to the castle, "Xena just go back inside."

"Hey, hey, hey." Xena caught up with the princess to stop her. "He's drunk." She tried to make the situation better.

"Xena I respect you and trust you with a lot," Gabrielle avoided eye contact with Xena. She didn't want Xena to see her teary eyes. "But don't try to defend him." She walked past Xena to go back to the castle.

Xena actually was feeling empathy for the blonde. She gently took her hand to stop her once again, "I can keep up with you." She explained to the upset girl. Gabrielle began a small laugh which happened to released a few tears. "You laugh because you know it's true." Xena's thumb gently brushed the tear away from her face, "Then can I walk you to the castle you can't walk back by yourself."

"I am capable to go by myself." She protest. "And Ares will be upset if his guest of the night leaves him."

Xena didn't want to see Gabrielle walk home alone upset. "Okay Princess you have two options, either let me walk you home or come back inside."

Gabrielle's perked up listening to Xena's commanding voice. She finally made eye contact, "Are you telling what to do?"

Xena step closer to her, "Yes." She calmly answered.

Gabrielle was impressed that she was being told what to do by Xena. She put her hand out to have Xena lead the way, "You only get to tell me what to do once, and that was it." She gave a soft smile knowing Xena was making her feel better.

Xena began walking to the castle, "We'll see your highness." Gabrielle retained her smile as she examined Xena leading the way.

I hope you enjoyed guys