Surrender 11

"Gabrielle…?" The voice carried on a lazy drawl straight to Gabrielle's heart. It was familiar and warm like a blanket wrapping itself around her willing her to stay.

"Gabrielle…?" The voice was closer now but even though it sounded familiar, it was somehow different. Something was pulling at her and then gently shaking her. She didn't even realize that her eyes were closed until she started to blink a few times against the bright sun that hung low in the sky just over the shoulder of someone she couldn't quite make out. Someone who was saying her name over and over again, forcing her to leave the place where she and Xena were together and happy.

"What?" She pushed against the annoying hands that were shaking her gently. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized she had been dreaming…once again put to sleep by the God of War. "Damn Ares…," she mumbled as she slapped at the hands moving over her in an effort to rouse her from her dream.

"Are you alright?" The voice sounded stronger and more sure of itself, almost like Xena. But Gabrielle knew that when her eyes focused on the figure in front of her, it wouldn't be Xena. Her heart ached for the dream and the feeling that had washed over her when she felt those arms wrap around her, those arms she missed so much.

"Stop…I'm fine." Gabrielle sounded annoyed as she finally focused on the face in front of her. The eyes were those of her lover, but the face wasn't. It was Leia, staring at her with a concerned look.

"You were dreaming…," Leia let out a heavy breath. As she knelt on the ground in front of Gabrielle, she hadn't realized what was happening when she was pulled into a hug but when she heard the name whispered into her ear it was clear that Gabrielle was dreaming.

"Leave me alone." Gabrielle gave Leia a push in an attempt to get her leave. She refused to look into those blue eyes for fear that she would lose everything in that moment.

"No…I won't." Leia stood her ground and grabbed Gabrielle by the shoulders to stop her from moving away. "I know Gabrielle…, I know who I am."

Gabrielle stilled and dropped her chin to her chest. "I don't have it in me to do this again." She shook her head. "It's asking too much."

"Look at me." Leia's voice was stern and commanding.

"I can't…your eyes…," Gabrielle's voice was filled with anguish.

"Please, Gabrielle…," Leia could feel the pain radiating off of Gabrielle and her heart broke. When Gabrielle refused to look at her, she decided to try another tactic. "I'm remembering…us."

"What are you remembering?" Gabrielle finally looked at Leia.

"You…me…," Leia hesitated. "You were so young when we met." She reached out and touched her fingers to Gabrielle's cheek. "You still had some of those soft curves that have been replaced by muscle." Her smile was soft and filled with longing.

"Is it really you?" Gabrielle leaned into Leia's touch. "I know they told me it was you, but I don't know…I guess I was afraid to believe."

"Yes Gabrielle, it's me. But I don't remember everything…just bits and pieces." Leia sighed heavily as the weight of what was happening settled over her.

"What do you remember?" Gabrielle gave her a sideways look as if she wasn't sure that what she was being told was true.

"I remember you…loving me." Leia pushed unruly blonde bangs away from Gabrielle's eyes. "You've got the softest lips…and the touch of your fingertips…," She closed her eyes as if recalling those many nights they had spent under the stars in each other's arms. "I'm sorry I left you."

Gabrielle had to look away. She was afraid if she didn't she would break down, give up, turn herself over to the power of the love she was feeling for the woman before her. She wanted to believe, but she wasn't sure her heart could take it if she was left alone again. "How do I know it's real?" Her voice cracked slightly under the strain of the question she was afraid to ask.

"It has to be true Gabrielle." Leia placed her hand on Gabrielle's cheek and guided her back to look her in the eyes. "Every time I look into your eyes; I see so much. I see the moment I first fell in love with you. I see the moment you gave your heart to me. I see love, fear, and even hate…," she had a confused look on her face as the words spilled from her. "We've struggled, haven't we?"

"Yes, we have…but I never stopped loving you…ever." Gabrielle looked into the blue eyes that held her heart.

"And I never stopped loving you." Leia looked sad. "But I've let you down."

"No, you did what you thought was best." Gabrielle gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. "It's one of the reasons I love you. You made a promise to me a long time ago…the greater good would always come first."

"I don't think I'll be able to keep that promise anymore." Leia frowned. "You mean too much to me. I won't make the same mistakes as before."

"I'm afraid it's not your choice to make anymore." Gabrielle shivered at the memory of her conversation with Ares.

"If you're talking about Ares, I already know." Leia's expression hardened. "I know what role he's played in my previous life…and yours as well."

"Then you know it's only a matter of time before the darkness takes you back to him." Gabrielle looked away again.

"Have faith in me Gabrielle. I've only just found my way back to you…to us." Leia pulled Gabrielle into a hug. She couldn't help it, she needed to feel Gabrielle's warmth against her. The need to connect, to let Gabrielle know she was real was too strong to resist any more.

"I've missed you." Gabrielle mumbled against the strong shoulder her cheek rested against.

"I know sweet heart. I've missed you too." Leia laid a cheek on top of Gabrielle's head. "I won't leave you again. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." Gabrielle closed her eyes and reveled in the warmth that raced over her skin. She didn't have the strength to resist anymore, nor did she want to. "I love you Xena." She whispered into the silence that had surrounded them.

"I love you too." Leia sighed but this time when she spoke, her voice sounded just like Xena's.

"Will you be going to the council meeting?" Aphrodite sat across from Artemis with a small frown on her face. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer. Her sister had a history of letting her beloved Amazon's handle things on their own.

"I haven't decided yet." Artemis leaned back in her chair and regarded Aphrodite with the beginnings of a scowl.

"Of course you haven't." Aphrodite looked away from the scowl and crossed her arms as her anger flared. "Why do I get the feeling you're going to leave Gabrielle to deal with this alone."

"Mind your tone with me, you are still my little sister." Artemis crossed her arms as well.

"And Gabrielle is your chosen one." Aphrodite huffed impatiently. "Why did we even get involved if you were going to hang her out dry?"

"I am not going to hang her out to dry, but I need to make sure she can handle the task given to her." Artemis sighed as she watched Aphrodite bristle.

"Hasn't she proved her worth to you yet? How much more are you going to put her through before you let her know she's not alone." Aphrodite leaned forward and forced Artemis to look her in the eyes.

Artemis studied the intense gaze being leveled at her with a mixture of anger and sympathy. She knew how important Gabrielle was to them.

"You love her…," Artemis sat up straighter at her sudden revelation.

"Of course I love her, she's my friend." Aphrodite's anger was becoming evident in her flashing blue eyes.

"No, Aphrodite…you're in love with her." Artemis had a sad smile on her face as she spoke.

All Aphrodite could do was blink a few times as she tried to think of something, anything to say in response to refute the accusation. And for some reason, it felt like an accusation.

"Far be it from me to judge. All of us have fallen victim to a mortal or two. I suppose you're not immune to it either. You are after all the Goddess of Love." Artemis shrugged her shoulders indifferently. It now made perfect sense to her why Aphrodite was acting the way she was.

"Look, maybe I have feelings for her but I know her heart will always belong to Xena and so do you. That is why we are doing this." Aphrodite waved her hands around. "She needs your help. Don't let her do this alone, I'm begging you."

The plea was heartfelt and unexpected, surprising even Aphrodite. As Artemis studied her sister, she considered what she was asking of her. She knew that the God's shouldn't intervene in the lives of mortals but then again, they weren't talking about just any mere mortals. More than one God had been drawn into the intertwining lives of Xena and Gabrielle and she was no more immune than Aphrodite or Ares.

"I won't leave her alone." Artemis sighed as she conceded. "I know we've interfered far too much to step back now. And without her, my Amazon's will be lost."

"She deserves more than this. We both know how badly this could end. Please let me give her one thing." Aphrodite's mood went from simmering anger to hopefulness in an instant.

"I'm not going to like this…am I?" Artemis raised an eyebrow as she marveled at how quickly her sister's mood could change.

"I know we can't give Xena her body back…not really, but what we can do is give it back to Gabrielle." Aphrodite started to passionately plead her case.

"What are you saying?" Artemis furrowed her brow in confusion. She wasn't sure what Aphrodite was trying to propose.

"What I'm saying is I know that Xena's physical body is gone and it always will be. She will forever live in Leia's body but…with a little magic…," Aphrodite wiggled her fingers at Artemis. "From both of us, we can change things so she will look like Xena to Gabrielle and only Gabrielle."

Artemis took a deep breath before expelling it through her nose causing her nostrils to flare slightly. A deep look of concentration appeared as she considered Aphrodite's idea. "I suppose it's possible." She thought for a moment longer. "But Gabrielle has to be willing."

"Let's give her a taste of how it could be and I promise she'll agree." Aphrodite said with a little too much confidence.

"Don't be so quick to think she'll agree. We both know how much she hates it when we…how did she put it…'meddle' with her life." Artemis smirked. "But if you get her to agree to it…I'll help."

"Excellent!" Aphrodite clapped her hands together in excitement.

"Don't get so giddy…I'm going to let you handle our dear brother. He's going to be pissed. Mark my words, he'll see this as cheating." Artemis pointed at Aphrodite causing her to sit still and think about what she was saying.

"Well, too bad." Aphrodite shrugged. "Gabrielle is already in love with Leia…she just needs a little nudge in the right direction."

"You're sure about that?" Artemis gave her a questioning look.

"I'm absolutely sure…I am the Goddess of Love after all." Aphrodite laughed light heartedly as she ran her hands through her hair to emphasize who she was. "Look, sometimes our eyes need to see what our heart already recognizes. That's all we're going to do."

"Okay…a little nudge, as you said." Artemis gave a small smile. She knew they were playing with fire, but she had never shied away from a fight. Gabrielle needed help accepting Leia as Xena and that would change with help from them. It was something she could accept. "How will you get her to agree to it?"

"I think I have enough juice to give her a taste of how things could be if she'll agree." Aphrodite looked down at her hands as she flexed her fingers.

"Okay sis…I'll leave you to it." Artemis waved her hand. "I'll catch ya later…I've got a meeting to get ready for and you…," she pointed again at Aphrodite. "You've got to get ready to deal with the wrath of Ares if Gabrielle agrees to your little plan." The smirk that played across her lips indicated she held no concessions on who would win that battle. Ares had always been difficult to deal with but for some reason Aphrodite was the only one who seemed to be able to tame the beast and she hoped it would remain that way.