A/N So, um, hey… Long time no see. I kind of figured I owed it to this story to give it a conclusion. For the life of me I can't remember where I was heading when I got derailed but we'll wrap it up quickly. I noticed that all the formatting has disappeared from some chapters so many apologies. The speech just kind of blurs into one big chunk :S


Xena leaned back in her chair and surveyed the room and all the white tablecloths. She ran a hand down her Collette Dinnigan Chantilly lace cocktail dress and smirked. This wedding definitively rated higher than the last one she had attended. Gabrielle trotted past with a glass of red in one hand, crab puff in the other while teetering dangerously in her heels and Xena wasn't sure how smart a choice white linen was.

She saw her brother and Apollo cornered by her mother and decided to stay as far away from that side of the restaurant as possible. Overall she had behaved and hadn't made any inappropriate comments about gay marriage. So everyone was happy, so far.

Ares materialized besides her, plate filled with mini quiche and his mouth full. He gestured to the finger food by waving the plate and his beer in her general direction. Xena raised one eyebrow and grabbed at the food.

"You know you still owe us for the air conditioner."

Ares coughed as he tried to swallow, 'It was your stupid cat that started it!"

"A good vacuum would have fixed that until you went all he-man on it."

Ares put down the plate and beer and smirked slowly.

"I don't recall you complaining as I went all 'he-man' on the naughty air conditioner. In fact, I think I remember you encouraging the behaviour."

Xena took a step towards him and raised the quiche to her mouth; she took a violent bite, chewed slowly and swallowed.

"I will deny that," and with that she turned and walked off.

Apollo having extracted himself from the clutches of Cyrene patted his brother on the back.

"Don't worry bro, I think she likes you. In the world of Xena, I'm pretty sure that was foreplay."

Gabrielle walked past once again this time a daiquiri in each hand, she paused at Apollo's words.

"Oh he is sooooooo in."


Five weeks later Xena and Gabrielle found themselves surrounded by boxes. Gabrielle was glued to the window looking out at the beach view doing very little unpacking.

"This is pretty sweet Xe, how did Ares manage to bag this place? It would have cost a fortune."

Xena looked up from a box of kitchen stuff.

"Knew a guy who knew a guy who probably killed a guy I guess."

"Hey! I resent the implication that I'm dirty", Ares came through the door and dropped another box onto the floor.

"You're plenty dirty…"

"Please! Please! Innocent present."

Both Xena and Ares ignored Gabrielle's pleas. She signed and went to check out the view from the bedroom. When she returned Ares and Xena were wrapped in each other's arms whispering.

"Aw, you guys," Gabrielle got all giggly. "Maybe the next wedding will be yours."

And then she had to run as a barrage of throw pillows assaulted her, as she ran out the door she grabbed her keys.

"See you at home Xena!"

Ares looked across at Xena and they both burst out laughing.

"Xena: Warrior Bridesmaid! Maybe one day you'll be Xena: Warrior Bride."

"Perhaps," she smirked and hit him with a pillow.

"Oh I'd count on it…"

"Only if you learn to fix the air conditioner."

The End