Title: A Family Aftermath
Summary: Now that Hope is gone for good and the real Gabrielle is home with her family… and Xena... and Joxer, everyone has a lot of questions. What information is Gabrielle willing to share? And what will it take to get some alone time with Xena, anyway? Takes place immediately after S04E03, "A Family Affair."
Chapter Three: Alone at Last
After lunch, Xena and Gabrielle took up their armor, weapons, and packs and went into town to pick up supplies for the road. Xena had kept some of Gabrielle's things when she "died," and she'd sent some of the rest off with Seraphin to be sent along to Potidaea, but that still left several camping supplies of hers to replace. Plus consumables like thread, scrolls, ink, bandages, and soap. Luckily, Xena had more dinars than Gabrielle expected. She muttered something about selling a horse, presumably not Argo.
Of course, by then the whole town had heard about her evil double, so everything took half again as long as expected due to people asking probing questions.
"So you don't remember all those... things... I told you?"
"Huh?"
"You were just such a good listener… so quiet, but so attentive... oh, it's probably better this way. I'll take it to my grave."
"O-okay?"
Gabrielle could have lived without all the descriptions of Hope's takeover of her life.
"We thought you took a few too many knocks to the head out there. You forgot an awful lot of our names. Even got lost once or twice."
"Well, I won't say I've never gotten hit in the head, but I'm still as sharp as ever! I think."
"That's good, but all the same, best stay clear of old widower Giles' stand today. The village ladies had just gotten him to start courting you, figuring you weren't too touched in the head to help him mind it, be it only just. I think he's a bit disappointed."
But in retrospect, it was probably good to put in an appearance in town.
After the talks with her family, Gabrielle also noticed some of the more judgmental looks she and Xena got walking together, but at least they came by those honestly. And it was hard to tell what stemmed from rumors about them versus a general disapproval of traveling female fighters.
Eventually, Xena was able to say, "That's everything. Let's get out of here, huh?" Even watching Gabrielle squirm under questioning couldn't keep her mood up for such an extended shopping trip.
Gabrielle slouched dramatically. "Uuugh, yes, by the gods. I am ready to find the most remote edge of Greece and dig a hole there. Maybe stay in it for a week."
"Big enough for two?"
A grin. "Always. But for now, I know just the spot for us."
She led Xena to a rough hunting trail, and shortly after it met the river, they left it for some boulders clustered just within sight. They made a racket struggling through the brush, but once at the boulders, Gabrielle pointed at the dryer patch of ground in between them. Only short grasses grew there, and once she spread out a blanket she had snuck out of the house, it made for an inviting bed.
Xena was all half-lidded eyes and lazy smiles. "Very nice. Have you taken your older lover to the local teen make-out spot?"
With faux indignation, Gabrielle responded, "Xena, what are you implying? I was perfectly ladylike in my teens!" At Xena's arched eyebrow, she amended, "Before I left with you, anyway." She stepped up to her warrior and began removing her armor.
Xena grinned and helped with the hooks and buckles keeping her curves locked away from Gabrielle's touch. "I was only implying you must have had all the gossip in town. How else did you get so good at sensitive chats?"
"Nice save. But to me this was more of a play-fort. These stones are stained with the blood of many skinned knees, valiantly wounded in games of 'king of the hill' and 'corsairs versus guards.' On a working day like this, no one should be all the way out here, though."
Xena purred, "Good. Keeping my hands off you has been a torment." The change in tone sent a ribbon of excitement sliding along Gabrielle's spine, and she flicked her eyes up to catch Xena's mirroring her wicked, joyful anticipation.
After they deposited the last bit of armor on a low rock, Gabrielle pulled Xena to her by the hips and kissed the underside of her chin. "Then bring it to an end." She maneuvered to kiss Xena's lips, but a tilt of the head stopped her.
"Can we make sure your sister isn't lurking behind a bush first?" That earned Xena a smack on her leather-clad backside. She just cackled and swooped in for a kiss.
The teasing mood began to fade at first contact. Finally alone, serenaded by birds, locusts, and moving water, they sank into an unhurried reacquaintance. Xena followed the long, languid first kiss with a peppering of short ones over Gabrielle's lips, cheek, and jaw, ending with a nibble on the side of her neck.
"I missed you," she breathed.
Gabrielle turned her head to lavish attention on Xena's neck in turn. "I missed you." Her eyes raked over the healing bruises her love had taken defending Potidaea, and she grazed her fingers over ribs she knew to be too prominent after weeks of hard living. She felt an intense need to make Xena feel loved, cherished, and wanted after their ordeal.
So she placed a hand on the back of Xena's neck and gently directed her where she wanted her. After a searing kiss, she moved her attention to Xena's ear, gently biting it. "Xena, take off your boots. And mine."
Xena's breath hitched, and she nodded against the side of Gabrielle's face. Gabrielle moved to stand by their blanket. Meanwhile, swift fingers removed Xena's boots and tossed them toward the rest of their gear as she stepped on the blanket, and then she knelt before Gabrielle to loosen hers. She offered her shoulders for Gabrielle to steady herself as she eased each boot off and set it to the side. Xena looked up at her lover but did not move to get up, instead lightly massaging the freed calves.
Gabrielle laid a hand on the side of Xena's face and purred, "Good." The word seemed to caress Xena by itself; she closed her eyes as it slid over her. Even the set of her shoulders lost their tension. This was exactly what Gabrielle wanted to see. Xena regularly carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, but sometimes, she found a measure of peace in giving control over to her trusted lover. This suited Gabrielle, who had her own reasons for enjoying that control. After weeks of struggling among strangers in a hospice and showing up to a disaster in progress at the farm, this mantle of responsibility settled comfortingly over her shoulders. And the powerful warrior kneeling at Gabrielle's feet and turning her head into her touch, catlike, shot a little thrill through her whole body.
Matter-of-factly, she said, "Xena, you're wearing too many clothes."
Xena looked down to start undoing her leathers, and Gabrielle abruptly redirected her head back up. "Ah-! Did I tell you to do something?"
"No. Sorry." Xena didn't look very sorry, a half grin stealing over her face, but she tried to sound it.
Gabrielle knelt with her on the blanket, hand still on her face, and planted a quick peck on her lips. She backed off only enough to speak against her skin, "Do as I say, and I'll take good care of you. Understand?"
"Yes," came the rasped response, which traveled from Gabrielle's ears and lips straight down to her center. They both knew, of course, that if Xena did not do as told, Gabrielle would take care of her still, just differently. But it was doubtful either had the patience for that kind of game today. They kissed, and Xena was pliable and warm under her lover's attentions. Gabrielle's hand traveled from Xena's cheek to entwine in her hair, gently at first, then tightening until it pulled. Xena eventually broke the kiss and gave the littlest gasp. She was smiling, one eye cracked open but clouded with desire, and Gabrielle smiled back at her.
"My beautiful warrior."
"All yours," promised Xena.
Gabrielle rewarded that by releasing her hair and instead letting her hands caress from Xena's shoulders, down her arms, and around her waist. With her mouth she explored Xena's collarbone, the hollow of her neck, and the top of her chest until coming up against a barrier to the skin she really wanted to taste. It heaved under her attentions, as eager to be free of its confines as she was to touch it.
"Take off your clothes, then take off mine." She got Xena to make eye contact before she let go of her. "Not too quickly." At Xena's nod, she settled back on her elbows to enjoy the sight of her warrior revealing herself to hungry eyes.
Xena loosened her leather dress and slid its straps off her shoulders. When she stood to slide the garment off, she turned, letting Gabrielle enjoy the slow reveal of her finely-muscled back and the swell of her backside. Dress set aside, she faced Gabrielle to remove her underclothes, obviously enjoying the way green eyes glazed over at the sight of freed breasts and dark curls. The younger woman licked her lips subconsciously, and Xena smirked before going to her knees and crawling up Gabrielle's body, straddling her legs with her knees when she got to them.
She tried to stop with her head at Gabrielle's chest so she could rest her weight on her elbows and start pulling at the ties on the green top, but for Gabrielle, the feeling of softness and sinew hovering over her was too much to resist. She guided Xena up for some more kissing and laid fully back to free up her hands. They had so much skin to explore now. Both women moaned at Gabrielle possessively inventorying back muscles and the curve of Xena's backside.
They parted, panting, and Gabrielle ordered, "Go on, my shirt."
Xena settled back down to rest her breasts below Gabrielle's, on bare midriff skin. Gabrielle hummed her pleasure at this as Xena made short work of her top's laces. Breasts now bared to her, Xena looked pointedly at them, then flicked bedroom eyes up at Gabrielle in a silent request for permission. A slightly goofy grin was answer enough; Xena ducked her head to slowly, carefully worship Gabrielle's body with her mouth. Light licks led to the circling of nipples and then warm envelopment and long suction. Xena closed her eyes at the last, as if enjoying it as much as Gabrielle - definitely enjoying the arch of her partner under her body and the way she brought the well-attended chest to heaving. Only then did they reluctantly sit up so Xena could slide the top off Gabrielle's shoulders. She used the opportunity to press close to her again, making them both shiver. Xena's hands then made short work of the ties of Gabrielle's skirt.
Gabrielle said, "Good. Now, lie down." She stood and stepped out of her skirt and underwear before going right back down to straddle Xena's hips. Large hands went to her own hips automatically, but she gently pried them away and leaned forward to press them to the blanket by Xena's head.
Smilingly, she directed, "No touching. Put them behind your head if you have to. Understand?"
Betrayal, neediness, and blazing desire rolled through Xena's eyes in turn, but she nodded. "Yes."
Gabrielle sat back and thought Xena must be able to feel how wet she was. She wriggled to make sure Xena did and got to enjoy a hungry, feral look.
Xena slid her hands under her head.
And Gabrielle got to work. She fell forward to kiss Xena again, this time plundering her mouth with aggression and relishing the way she yielded and whimpered. As Gabrielle then moved down Xena's chin and the column of her throat, she slid her right leg over to nudge Xena's legs open and rest between them. She lay flat against her lover and pressed her thigh to slick heat, feeling her own press against Xena's leg at the same time. Gabrielle ground into Xena with her hips, and they both groaned as the motion finally gave respite to the sweet torture of their lovemaking so far. Gabrielle rubbed against her again… and again, starting a languid rhythm that Xena met readily, one that set both their breath rates spiraling. She saw Xena's hands fist underneath her head.
Finally, Gabrielle allowed her right hand to meander up and touch Xena's breast. She covered it with her whole hand at first, hardened nipple settling between her knuckles, and massaging. She pulled back to thumb over the nipple and then capture it between the thumb and forefinger. She squeezed a little, all the while still grinding against her partner again… and again, and again, slowly.
Xena gave a throaty moan at the attention, head now tilted back, mouth slightly open.
Gabrielle removed her hand for balance while she lowered her head to lick the nearer nipple. Just little licks between grinds at first, then a long lave with the flat of her tongue before taking it up in her mouth.
"Oh! Oh, Gabrielle."
Gabrielle hummed against Xena's skin and sucked. Xena arched underneath her, sending a thrill over her entire body. "Xena, do you like this?"
"Yes," she breathed.
"But?" Gabrielle knew Xena could feel the smile against the sensitized skin of her breasts.
"But faster."
"Faster what?"
A frustrated growl preceded, "Please. Gabrielle, faster, please."
Gabrielle obliged. "Only because you're so good… and I can't help myself." She abandoned Xena's chest to kiss her mouth, keeping her thigh pressed against Xena's desire even as the relative length of their torsos meant she lost some pressure on her own. Their tongues dueled to the rhythm of their bodies for a minute, Xena's enthusiasm revealing how much she wanted to touch her lover. But not yet.
Gabrielle slid back down Xena's body just a few inches and turned to lay at her side. Xena groaned at the loss of contact with her lover's leg, but a hand soon alit on her cheek and roamed down her form, stopping here to play on her chest, lingering there to explore the curve of her waist. It hesitated once buried in a mound of curls, waiting for the impatient thrust of Xena's hips. It didn't take long, and then a chuckling Gabrielle's fingers explored slick, sensitive flesh.
She leaned in to nibble and suck on Xena's neck even as her hand remapped the shape of her lover's desire and drew needy noises from her throat. After gently playing with the nub at its peak, she sank one, then two fingers into its depths. Finally inside. The heat and wetness alone were enough to make Gabrielle moan against Xena's neck as she nuzzled it.
This pattern she knew well, and Xena was more than ready for it. Fingers thrust and curled as her thumb gave rhythmic swipes over the center of Xena's pleasure, and Xena, already very worked up, quickly began to pant.
It affected Gabrielle intensely, to have this powerful woman completely open to her and lost in pleasure under her hands. She ratcheted up the intensity just a hair and felt the walls start to tighten around her fingers.
"Xena."
A wordless moan was the only response.
"Xena, come for me." Gabrielle bit Xena's shoulder to punctuate the growled order, and Xena fell apart in her arms. She cried out as Gabrielle stroked her through the orgasm before pulling her hand away. Then it was all tenderness, kissing her temple, brushing her hair from her eyes, and a soft kiss to the lips.
When she thought Xena could likely understand Greek again, Gabrielle breathed her name against her cheek, waited for hazy eye contact, and simply ordered, "Touch me."
Before she knew what was happening, she was on her back and pressed into the blanket by the weight of her lover. Xena kissed her thoroughly and began working her way down her body. Meanwhile, a hand parted Gabrielle's thighs and lightly, steadily caressed the sensitive skin on their insides, drawing out pleasured whimpers. Soon, Xena's hands and face were both tantalizingly close to reddish-gold curls and needy flesh. She wasted no time going in to lick the length of Gabrielle's lower lips, not even waiting for the answering gasp to end before closing in on the nub at the top. This sudden focus on the center of her pleasure made Gabrielle cry out wordlessly. She was already so turned on, was honestly already hot and full of longing before they started. Her legs were nudged to rest over strong shoulders, and one, then two fingers smoothly slid inside of her with little preamble and less resistance. Xena set a steady pattern of tonguing, sucking, and curling her fingers.
"Xen-Xena, ah, gods, you-!" Words failed her as a white-hot orgasm built, teetered on the edge, and then blissed out her senses. Xena stayed attached through her most intense shuddering, then mercifully crawled back up her body. Once Gabrielle opened her eyes, sated blue ones looked back at her from beneath sweat-tousled bangs. She pulled Xena down for a leisurely kiss, then encouraged her to roll to her side.
"Thank you." Gabrielle kissed Xena's cheek. "Thank you." She kissed her forehead. "You're amazing. C'mere."
With a lazy smile, Xena obligingly laid her head on Gabrielle's chest, and Gabrielle stroked her hair. Xena laid a hand over her hip and idly explored its hollow with her thumb. They just breathed for a little while, calming down, until Gabrielle realized she felt something wet on her chest.
In a very gentle tone, she asked, "Are you all right?" Sometimes, Xena could get a little delicate after one of these games. Gabrielle cherished it, made sure to tread carefully on any cracks in her strong warrior exterior.
"I'm fine..." A sniffle followed this.
Gabrielle started. "Your bruises! I had you on your back! I'm sorry; does it hurt?"
Thickly, "No... they're fading already, and you're not heavy."
"Am I so rusty after a few months that I made you cry?"
Laughter puffed against Gabrielle's chest. "No. No, I just… didn't think I could have this again." Oh.
"I know," Gabrielle soothed. "I thought you were dead, too, when I couldn't get in contact with you."
"But I knew you were." Xena propped herself up to look at Gabrielle's face, and the naked anguish there stopped the bard's breath. "I kept my promise; I didn't hurt anyone - but when I told Iolaus what happened, gods, we got so drunk. Hercules had his hands full keeping us out of trouble and breathing." Her gaze fell to the side.
That must have been serious. Xena hesitated to even get tipsy most of the time, with all the enemies she had and the demons that slept under her skin. Gabrielle was glad Hercules had been there to watch over her. Sensing Xena wasn't done talking, however, Gabrielle just stroked her hair more.
"After that, I just… ranged around Greece and slept in your bedroll until it stopped smelling like you. And when I did go to the Land of the Dead, to reach right spiritual place for the ritual, I had to lose it out there on the steppes a little bit." How lonely must it have been for her, in the wind and endless brown, teetering on the edge of herself?
Gabrielle's, "I'm sorry," held palpable misery. Xena's head moved up to hover over hers.
"Not your fault. Never your fault," she insisted.
Gabrielle moved her hand from Xena's head to her cheek, thumbing away a single, errant tear. "Not yours either. I'm just so happy to be here with you, Xena." She conjured a watery smile and received one in return.
"Me, too." Xena kissed her, then poked her in the stomach and got a yelp for it. "Hey, didn't I say I was going to take my time with you today?"
Now Gabrielle grinned and affected indulgence. "Next time, my love. I selfishly decided to have my way with you this time."
"Mm, I'll live." Xena dipped in for another kiss, then raised an eyebrow and confessed. "You know, when I woke up with you this morning, the only reason I didn't wonder if I was dreaming is that I don't dream about your family yelling at us." She narrowed her eyes. "At least, I haven't yet. Might start, after these few days."
Gabrielle laughed in earnest over this, and Xena chuckled as well. Then the former pulled the latter back down to cuddle for just a little while longer.
The day's light was swiftly waning when Xena and Gabrielle stumbled back to the farm. They hung up their freshly-washed blanket to dry with some other laundry before going inside, hoping to avoid some scrutiny. Once in the door, they offered blithe hellos and began stowing their weapons and packs in a corner.
But Lila, of course, got right to the point. "What took you guys so long? And why is your hair wet?"
Gabrielle smiled brightly and employed some carefree gesturing. "Oh, we just stopped to get some weapons practice and conditioning in while we were out, and then we were a mess so we cooled off in a stream. It's important I build my strength back up after laying around that hospice, you know?"
As they walked toward the kitchen, Hecuba looked them over and fixed them with a deadpan expression. "Worked up an appetite, did you?"
Gabrielle nervously looked to the side to see Xena absentmindedly glancing around, her expression far too self-satisfied. It faded to befuddlement when Hecuba reached out and brushed some of her hair to the side.
"Maybe not. Looks like at least one of you had a bite."
Lila must have been at just the right angle to see the love mark their mother exposed to the light. She sputtered and nearly died laughing.
Gabrielle just wanted to die.
Xena seemed to be trying for a cool, unaffected expression, but a nervous tic gave her away to Gabrielle's eyes. She cleared her throat. "I'm going to run out and finish fixing the windmill before it gets dark. Thanks for helping me find the part at the market." She took measured steps back to the packs, dug something out, and started to leave - but stopped.
She strode back over to Gabrielle and placed a hand on her shoulder and a chaste kiss to her temple. "I'll be back soon." A mildly defiant glare with a tip of the chin was her farewell to Hecuba and Lila before she left the building.
"Your valiant protector." Hecuba raised an eyebrow at Gabrielle, some humor sneaking into her eyes. "Nothing to say for yourself?"
Gabrielle blushed but shrugged. She had nothing to apologize for.
Her mother gave a little snort and tried to hide a smile. She tsked. "Go set the table for dinner, wild child." When Gabrielle sidled past her to fetch some dishes, she quietly needled, "Leaving marks at your age. For shame."
Gabrielle promptly tripped over her own feet, stumbled, and whirled around. "Hey, I thought she might be dead until yesterday!"
That set Lila off laughing anew.
"Look at what a terrible example you are to your sister."
The next morning, Xena and Gabrielle awoke spooned in the narrow bed, this time with no one shouting. Specifically, Gabrielle awoke tucked cozily against a Xena who kissed her cheek and refused to admit how long she had been awake. Over a large breakfast, the family asked clarifying questions about the previous night's stories and inquired as to where they were headed next (to fetch loyal Argo from a peaceful valley several days' walk away). And then it was time for long hugs at the door.
Lila's hug came with a whispered request to send her a promising, handsome man if she found one nearby "since they don't have a chance with you, heartbreaker."
Indignant, Gabrielle opened her mouth to ask if Xena had told her any sordid details of crushes past - then looked at her parents standing right beside them and thought better of it. Xena also received a suspicious look but met it with an expression of purely insincere innocence.
Her mother's hug came with pleading requests to be careful, to not bite off more than she could chew, and to come home more often, as always. Gabrielle appreciated anew how much her mother respected her decisions, even the dangerous ones. It was such a waste of family time to argue over what couldn't be changed...
Her father's hug was delayed, because he pulled her to the side to talk more privately.
"Listen." He had one hand on her shoulder and the other on her elbow, and his eyes searched hers. "I'm sorry about yesterday, and I don't want you leaving without me saying so. These few days have been a shock, is all…. Truth is, Xena's attachment to you is the least of my worries. Please, please be careful." He waited for Gabrielle's nod before he added. "I'm proud of you for trying to do good. But don't hesitate to come home, be it for a break or forever. You can even bring Xena with you. She's a terrible farmer, but she can earn her keep with repairs. And we can tell the Amazons to hightail it if they come looking. Okay?"
He put up a brave face, and the words rang sincere, but Gabrielle could hear what went unsaid, could see a lot of it in the strain around his eyes and the too-firm set of his jaw. He found much to be proud of in what she was doing with her life, but he hated it, as well. Every time he saw her, she had new scars - her clothes hiding precious few of them - and the weight of more experience behind her eyes. And he was too smart and too realistic to not wonder about her closest brushes with death, the ones she did not share with her family or in the scrolls of hers that ended up in circulation around the city-states. But he knew he couldn't make her quit. So he offered savory tidbits instead of the leash, promises instead of threats to entice her to put up her staff and at least try to be safe. Knowing, Gabrielle was sure, that it would do no good but having to try.
So she just gave a wry smile and said, "That's… not likely, Dad. But it means a lot for you to offer." It really did.
He mirrored her expression. "I know. But I mean it." And then they had their hug - warm and genuine.
A few more jokes, light touches, and fussing questions about their food and supplies finally sent Xena and Gabrielle on their way. But as they walked, the latter noticed the former had a funny look on her face.
Once out of earshot, Gabrielle asked, "What is it?"
"Your mother asked me about mine. And my brother. Something about meeting her 'daughter's in-laws.'"
Gabrielle let the image of an extended family gathering roll through her mind. "...Oh, Zeus, I hope my dad is the one they leave behind to mind the farm. Your mom would eat him alive." She thought. "Then again…"
"I don't know. Your dad somehow made threats sound like an apology yesterday."
Gabrielle laughed out a, "What?"
Xena furrowed her brow. "Let me see if I can remember what he said." Pitching her voice low and clear, she quoted, "'If you've a mind to sacrifice yourself for the world again, I'd thank you to do it out of view of my impulsive offspring. And you take care of her like you were before this Hope mess, you hear, or I'll sell this farm to put a bounty on your head.' Then he complimented the repairs I did before I could figure out what to say."
Gabrielle giggled, picturing Xena's probable expression after such a tirade - probably frozen in subtle bewilderment, then shaken into studious boredom. "Thank you for being so patient with my family. I know we didn't exactly discuss telling them about us."
Xena shrugged. "Your family, your choice. I'd put up with worse than that to make you happy." It was so matter-of-fact, but it generated an all-encompassing warmth.
"You would, wouldn't you? Why don't you start by helping me figure out who all thinks I'm dead so I know where to send word. Then I'll do my best to feed you back up to fighting weight. Would that make you happy?"
"...Will you make those little dumplings with the red stuff inside?"
With fond exasperation, Gabrielle sighed, "Yes. All you can eat, once we get the ingredients."
Xena responded with her sunniest grin. "Then yep!"
END
End note: I haven't written porn in a while and have NEVER written F/F, so I'd love some constructive (or completely nonconstructive) commentary, if you have any. Either way, thanks for reading!