Bad Things!

Post-Episode 60

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 60 (S3,E14):

Gabrielle and Tara are anointed by the priest of Apollo. "You are forgiven your past misdeeds. Go now, and do good." They turn around to see Xena standing in the door. "What's Xena doing? Doesn't she want to be forgiven?" Tara asks Gabrielle. Xena looks at them, sadness in her eyes, then walks away into the sunset.

When morning comes, they say their goodbyes and leave Tara in her home village. As they get to the outskirts of town, Gabrielle says, "Nice girl."

Xena slowly looks over at her friend, then cocks her eyebrow. "You really mean that?"

Gabrielle smiles, then shrugs. "Yeah… she just did some…" Gabrielle changes her voice to mock Tara, "really BAD things."

Xena starts laughing hysterically. "Oh gods Gabrielle! That was perfect!" she continues to laugh so hard tears start falling down her face. "BAD THINGS! HA how did you do that so good?"

Gabrielle is laughing now too. "I spent a lot of time practicing the last two days. Gods she annoyed me."

Xena finally settles down. "Yeah, well I hope she doesn't go back to that kind of life. Hopefully she learns something from us."

"Yeah, like…" Gabrielle thinks for a minute, "I did GOOD!" she nods her head and imitates Tara perfectly again, with a really cheesy smile. Xena looks at her and tries to hold back a laugh. Her face contorts until she can't hold it any longer. "Oh come on honey, I'm not that good."

Through her laughter, Xena squeaks out, "Yes you are…so good."

Half of the day has now gone by in their travels. Xena is on horseback, Gabrielle walking beside her. Xena senses something out of place in the world around them. She carefully begins to scan the area, looking both forward and backward. She spots a bush that looks sort of odd. Finally, her eyes focus and realize what it is; Tara's spiky hair poking up. Oh no. She's stalking us again.

Gabrielle notices Xena's change in demeanor. She looks around as well but doesn't see anything. She whispers, "Xena is everything ok?"

"Hm? Yeah, fine." She jumps off Argo then grabs Gabrielle and brings her into a hug. She whispers, "Tara is stalking us again. Don't look. I've spotted her. Let's just pretend she is not there ok?" She releases Gabrielle just enough to give her a kiss on the lips. "I love you."

"Mm... Yeah. You better. I don't know if I can deal with this again." Gabrielle turns to keep walking, reaching back to hold Xena's hand. "Least now she knows why I am supposed to sleep by you at night; and why I'm not replaceable."

"Even if you weren't my girlfriend, you still would not be replaceable, Love." Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle and brings her into a side hug. "Hey there is a nice camping spot over here. Let's get settled down, ok?" They make their way off the open road over to where Xena indicated. It was a small lake surrounded by trees. There was not much of a shore line, but they did find enough of an entrance to the lake to be able to use it. "Hey Gab, check this out."

Gabrielle walks over to where Xena is; hanging from a tree there is a rope hanging over a small ledge above the lake. "Do you think that's for swinging into the water?"

"Yeah, the water looks deep enough for it. Want to try?" Xena starts stripping off her clothes.

"Xena! Not when we have a stalker." Gabrielle's eyes go wide. "I don't want her seeing the WP in all her glory! Mine."

"WP?"

"Warrior Princess."

"Oh. Ok, well then I'll wear my shift. Does that work?" she finishes taking off her armor and leathers. "Come on, take yours off too." She starts untying Gabrielle's top.

"I don't have a shift on under this. I'm not comfortable being naked in front of anyone but you."

"Well, the problem is this; if you go get a shift from the bag, she is going to wonder why you are covering up. Whereas with me, I already had it on. We need to pretend she isn't here. Besides, she will just get jealous that you have such a nice body. It will help her understand even more why you are MINE." Xena continues taking off Gabrielle's top, with a smile on her face.

"Urgh. No." Gabrielle walks away and begins tying her top again.

"Alright, your loss. Here I go! Watch me!"

Gabrielle turns around and watches Xena take a running leap off the cliff, grabbing the rope to launch her over the water. When she releases the rope, she does a triple flip then into a perfect dive. "Show off." Gabrielle starts unpacking their gear and laying out their bed rolls. "I hope she brings back dinner."

A few minutes later, Xena shows up with two big trout. "Dinner is served."

That night they lay cuddling by the fire. Xena is whispering funny things to Gabrielle, making her giggle constantly. "I know this is bad, I shouldn't say it. Please don't think I'm horrible for this…"

"I won't. What?" Gabrielle smiles at Xena.

"Ok, so the other day when she told us the story of when her mom was being buried"

"I know where you are going with this." Gabrielle starts laughing.

In unison they say, "Mom they're throwing dirt on you!" and they start laughing together.

"Xena, we are horrible, aren't we? I can't help it though, she is just so…"

Xena covers Gabrielle's mouth. "Shh. So my precious, sexy" Xena licks Gabrielle's earlobe "bard. I want to make love to you."

"Mm Xena. We have an audience. That's just weird. I'm not that kind of girl."

"Well I'm not either, but maybe it will make her go away."

Gabrielle pats Xena's hands and kisses her nose. "I don't think so. Maybe you should just go get her. I'm betting right now she is cold and hungry. We have a little fish left she could eat."

Xena cusses under her breath then gets out from under the covers. She walks over to the fire and puts a new log on it. Then she sets out a new blanket. She puts the left over fish in a pan over the fire to warm it back up. "Tara you can come out now. There is food and a blanket here for you." Xena walks back over to bed and lies back down behind the bard. They are both facing the direction of the fire and Tara's blanket. After a couple minutes, they hear footsteps and twigs breaking. As she gets near, Xena snuggles closer to Gabrielle and spoons her. Her face is nestled close to Gabby's ear. "Mm I hope she doesn't try to keep us awake by asking dumb questions."

Gabrielle slaps Xena's hand. "Tsk. Xena be nice."

"Oh like you were earlier." They get quiet because Tara has sat down next to the fire. "Hi." Xena says.

Tara looks embarrassed. "Hi. Thanks for the food and blanket."

"No problem." Gabrielle responds. She notices that Tara won't look at her. "Night Tara."

"Night." Tara eats quickly then moves over to her blankets. Xena watches her as Gabrielle is drifting off to sleep with Xena wrapped around her. Finally Xena closes her eyes and falls asleep.

The next morning, Xena is up at dawn. She stirs the fire and puts two new logs on it. She fetches water from the lake and puts it in a pan to heat it up for tea. She sits down next to the fire to ponder the situation. Ah, what to do about this girl. She can't follow us. Gabrielle would leave me. And I would probably kill her. But I don't want to be so harsh on her that she wants to turn away from doing good. She apparently looks up to me. I better ask Gabby. She'll know what to do. Xena moves over to their bed and lays back down. She snuggles her face up to Gabrielle's, who has a line of drool running down her chin. Xena wipes it up, then resnuggles. "Honey? Wake up." To help wake the bard up, she begins to kiss her face all over.

Gabrielle stirs, "Mm. That's nice, but it's way too early to be awake…for this bard." Xena continues kissing her face, then moves to her neck. "Xena. I haven't even had my morning tea yet." Immediately Xena hops out of bed and makes her some tea. Wow she's all over it today.

"Here." Xena hands her the tea. "Now, will you get up? I need to talk to you."

Gabrielle sits up, and sips her tea. "Uhg.. ok, what's up?"

"Not here. Come on a walk with me." Xena looks over and Tara is still asleep. Gabrielle follows her gaze.

"Oh. I see. Ok, but you might have to carry me." Gabrielle teases. Suddenly she is lifted up by Xena and cradled in her arms. "I was joking, but this is nice." She continues to sip her tea as Xena walks out into the surrounding forested area. When they were far enough away, she asks, "Ok, so what's up?"

Xena sets her down and kisses her forehead. "I need your advice again. I'm not sure what to do to get Tara to go away. I mean, I don't want to turn her away so harshly that she doesn't want to do good deeds. But I also don't want her following us anymore. I'm not good with words, and this falls into the sensitive chat area. I don't want to pass it off to you, but I don't know what to say."

"Hm. Well why don't you just be honest? Tell her we don't have room in our life for another person and that's it's nothing personal. No scratch that. Tell her that we hope she will stay behind and help people in need in her own village or the surrounding areas. Yeah, that would be a good way to say it. Make her feel like we need her here, because we can't be everywhere at once. So we need someone just like her to do the right things and help people. Do you think that will work?"

Xena smiles and kisses Gabrielle passionately. After a few moments, they are both having to catch their breath. "You are so smart. How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?"

After the conversation with Tara, she decides to leave. She feels as though Xena really needs her here, instead of on the road with them.

Beginning of episode 61 (ten days later):

Joxer is gambling in a casino. He wins a lot of money, then walks away. The casino owner has him followed, suspected as a cheater in the game.