Liar, Liar

Disclaimer: not for profit, just for fun… there is an enormous lack of Xena/Joxer Fics out there… and I have caught the bug because I wrote one as a challenge and now I can't stop. Xena, Joxer, Gabrielle, etc. are property of MCA Universal. Thanks to whoosh for transcript of Lyre Lyre Hears on Fire.

A/N: Dude… this totally did not end how I envisioned… seeing as I didn't have much of a vision for it I guess it's not that big a deal. Just don't kill me when you reach the end. So please do read and review.

ACT IV - The show must go on

The show was finally underway. Xena looked around and got the bands assigned times. Draco had volunteered to go first, which totally eased some of the pressure, but now she needed to find Gabrielle. She haddn't seen her anywhere.

Xena spotted Joxer cuddled up with Amoria and caught herself beginning to growl. "You told him to go for it Xena chill." She murmured to herself to herself. She took a deep breath and walked up to them. "Amoria, your band is next."

"See you later lover…" Amoria said placing a last kiss on Joxer's lips. The idiot began to grin as his eyes followed toward the stage.

Xena glared and his grin dropped when he saw her. "I thought you were just trying to make Gabrielle jealous."

Joxer began to smirk, "yeah well… It looks like someone else is getting jealous."

She moves closer with so that no one else would hear what she was about to say, "I'll share you with Gabrielle… maybe Meg… Amoria is not right for you."

"I actually think she likes me," Joxer said feeling incredibly confident.

"Heed my warning Joxer…" she looked around wanting not to get into this discussion now. "We'll talk later, where is Gabrielle?"

"Last I saw her she was talking to Draco." Joxer said

"Xena!" Amoria said coming back, "Look, there on the stage!" Xena rushed to the stage and caught a glimpse of Draco's fire axe getting closer and closer to a caged Gabrielle. She saw Gabrielle talking to an audience member and was handed a rock.

She looked behind her and took the Lyre from where it was perched. She signaled the amazons to go on as soon as she got Draco off the stage and walked out behind him. "Goodbye, my love." playing an electric rift. Draco turned enraged. "Get her!"

Xena fought off Draco's men that were on the stage. She needed saw that Gabrielle was free and well beyond Draco's grasp. She relaxed and did away with the men on the stage as the Amazons began to play in the background.

Draco went after his captive, "Gabrielle! Wait for me, my love!" he leapt off the stage hoping to be caught much the same as Gabrielle had been caught but the crowd parted and allowed him to fall on his face.

"Xena! Xe—"Gabrielle said as she was engulfed by the crowd then caught by the arm by Draco.

"Come back!" Draco shouted then managed to catch her by the arm and spin her around. He reached for his sword with a grin. "Time to die, Gabrielle."

As he drew the sword Xena managed to wrest his arm with her whip. "Show's over, loverboy."

Draco roared with anger and turned to Xena and walked up to her. "You need to show a little respect Xena, or do you forget who I am?"

"Did you forget who I am Draco? Don't let my fragile appearance fool you" Xena glowered back.

"Not even you can stop me now Xena, because as formidable as you may be, you're slower than you used to be."

Xena laughed. "Yeah watch this slow Xena still kick your ass." Xena said pulling out her sword. "You were never in my league, and you never will be."

"I'm gonna get you for this Xena."

"Heads up Draco, 'cause here comes another for ya." Xena said just before issuing a roundhouse kick to his chest.

Draco stepped back and came up to her aggressively, but hesitated for a second. She was pregnant after all. "Xena why don't you give it up I don't want to hit a pregnant woman."

"What are you scared I might hurt you?"

"I'm the number one warlord, king of the horde. I'm out to collect my reward."

Xena rolled her eyes at his bravado, "Let's get it on 'cause I'm gettin' bored." The battle ensued. The fight was reminiscent of the fight that she had had with him soon after turning from evil. She was a little unsure that she could keep her balance and nearly fell backward but a hand caught her. She looked down at one of her hopeful suiters and she smiled at him. She gave him a thankful wink and proceeded to kick Draco's ass.

--

--

Xena tied the thugs up in the back stage. She thought this trip to Melodia would be uneventful, but she should have known better. "There, now. That's so much better," she said dusting off some invisible dust.

From the side of all of the commotion, Joxer watched Amoria cuddle up to one of the tied up thugs. "I just love a man in uniform," she was saying. Joxer sighed and rolled his eyes.

Gabrielle walked up to him trying to gauge his mood. "You all right?" she asked placing a hand on his shoulder.

Joxer tried to make it look more difficult than it actually felt. He didn't feel that much for Amoria, though his ego was a little deflated. He had Xena after all. He decided to pretend that it really bothered him so he said… "Ye-- oh-- what do you think?" He put on a show about dropping his head and shoulders.

"Joxer, she's a rocker chick." Gabrielle said signaling to Amoria. "What d'you expect?" she sat next to him and gave him a sheepish grin. "I have to admit, I, uh-- thought it was kind of strange seeing you…with…her." When she saw the smirk coming to Joxer's features she amended. "It's only 'cause I'm so used to your-- you know-- being

around me, and-- that kind of thing."

Joxer nodded folding his arms in front of him. "Mm-hm-m-- like a puppy-dog."

Gabrielle blushed as she realized how she must have sounded. "That's not what I meant."

Joxer interrupted her, "Gabrielle, you are sort of used to having me around when you need me."

She sighed and wanted to make it clear to him that he was important to her without him reading too far into this. "I know I take advantage of you, Joxer, but I care about you."

Joxer perked up. "Hm-m?"

"You mean a lot to me."

Joxer grinned and looked down at his feet. Now was his chance. "OK-- so, what are you doin' tonight?"

Gabrielle stopped him there. "Not a chance in Tartarus." She walked away having seen the other Amazons take the thugs out of the room.

"Right, because I have lots to do, as it gets-- later." He told her back and sat back down.

"Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena!" came the shouts from the crowd. Xena looked up from what she was doing and listened. "Xena! Xena!"

Jace ran into the back stage "Xena! Come quick! The crowd's going wild! They want an

Encore!"

Xena raised an eyebrow. "I'd love to, but I'm fresh out of asses to kick!"

"But you just won Terpsichore's lyre!" Jace said excitedly "But if you don't want it, I'll put it in my living room-- maybe next to the bed or something."

The crowd continued to chant her name until Xena stepped out on to the stage. A loud Cheer rang out and Xena was kind of overwhelmed. But you wouldn't know it. You would never know that Xena privately dreaded performing. It wasn't in a warriors nature. Yeah she could show off, but art was too expressive. It rendered a person vulnerable and that was something she couldn't afford.

Xena had come to Melodia to witness a battle of the bands. She had secured the Lyre so she had accomplished her mission. She cleared her throat and raised the Lyre for all to see. "Now, Terpsichore wanted this lyre to spread music-- so I don't think that it's fair that only one person should own it." She raised the Lyre over her head and raised her voice to a shout. "That's why I'm leaving it here-- in the musical capital of Greece-- because Melodia-- you ro-o-o-o-ock!"

Everyone cheered and all of the performers except for Draco and his band of misfits came back on the stage for an encore. Jace and Joxer came together and came to a mutual understanding that they were who they were, but they needed each other.

"I got something for the baby." Joxer said twisting in bed to grab his pack. "Close your eyes."

Xena sighed contentedly and closed her eyes. Joxer turned to look at his partner. She looked so beautiful as she lay there. The blankets were only covering up to her hips. He looked at the hill that was his child in her womb and the valley between her belly and her breast, and he couldn't help but bend forward and kiss her lips. She responded with a moan, then a chuckle. "what is up with you?" she said after he retreated.

"Open your eyes." He whispered.

Xena opened her eyes and saw the most beautifully painted rattle. "It's beautiful," she said reaching for it. "I'm sure the baby will love it." She shook the rattle a few times then turned and hugged him. "Thank you." They kissed again then there was a crash at the door.

"Joxer I'm sorry I…" Gabrielle said turning her back.

"Gabrielle… I can explain." Joxer said shifting in bed. Xena was slightly obscured by him.

"You don't need to apologize, I kind of barged in, I just thought… I mean have you seen Xena?" Gabrielle rambled on, "Of course you haven't I mean you're busy… hey--"

Xena sat up next to Joxer. She reached for her shift as Joxer pulled on his shirt and pants. Xena nodded to Joxer and he stood to go to her. "Gabrielle…"

"Is that Xena's coat?" Gabrielle said turning her head to the chair.

"Yeah," Xena said coming up to her friend.

Gabrielle turned to face her disheveled friends, "How long has this been going on?" Her head was spinning.

Joxer and Xena looked at each other. Then Xena spoke up. "A while."

"So you don't really love me at all do you?" Gabrielle said looking at both of them.

"Woah…" Joxer said.

"No one said that." Xena said, "Joxer adores you so much… you hurt him every time you reject him." Xena looked to him and put an arm around his shoulders. "I'm just there to pick up the pieces."

"Thank you for that by the way." Joxer said softly.

"Anytime." Xena said. Gabrielle watched their exchange and the body language with each other. They were very comfortable with each other… very comfortable, she thought back to a time when Joxer annoyed Xena as much as he annoyed her.

"The baby?" Gabrielle simply asked… "That immaculate conception?"

"Oh please." Xena said turning away grabbing her tunic and dressing this was going to be a long night of explanation.

"Why would you lie to me?" Gabrielle said to both of them again.

"Gabrielle, if I had told you, you wouldn't have believed me…" Joxer started, "I mean the thought never even entered your mind when Xena found out about the baby you guessed everyone and everything under the sun but me."

"that doesn't explain why you would lie to me Xena." Gabrielle said facing her friend.

"Because… He loves you. How likely is it that you would have even thought of him had you known he was with me before. I know you've thought of him, That chat we had this afternoon attested to it."

Gabrielle sighed and shook her head. Xena reached out to touch her shoulder. Gabrielle shrugged her off. "I thought we were past lying to each other."

"I knew I would have to tell you eventually." Xena said. "It just got harder and harder the more you rejected him."

"Do you love him?" Gabrielle asked squaring off in front of Xena.

Joxer stood next to them now. "Hello I'm right here you know." Joxer said not sure he wanted to hear that response. He loved them both and would do anything for them.

Xena looked at Gabrielle and did not answer for a long time. She didn't know what her friend was getting at. If she said what she felt, there was not telling what Gabrielle might do. If she lied, there was no way they could go back to the way it was. No more lies Xena… "Yeah I do."

Joxer let out a breath. He was too relieved to smile. He sat down on the bed with his own thoughts.

"How long?"

"I'm married to Ares." Xena offered as an explanation.

"What?" Gabrielle asked still not quite clear to what her friend was referring to. Xena sat her down on the bed and she sprang back up moving to a chair across the room. Xena and Joxer both recounted the tale of the deal that Xena had made with Ares to bring her back, and their resulting night of passion. "You have been carrying on this affair since then?"

Both Xena and Joxer nodded.

"Do you love her?" She asked Joxer. He was not expecting that question. He looked at Xena who stared at him with what he had come to know as affection and understanding.

"Yeah, I do." He answered.

"And you love me…" she asked as well. He nodded. "I guess… that worked out for you."

"It can work out for all of us." Xena said watching for Gabrielle's reaction.

"How?" Both of them asked.

"You can have him," Xena said

"I don't think so…" Gabrielle answered

"Guys I am right here." Joxer intervened.

"What's stopping you from just ignoring this then?" Xena asked.

"I'm in love with you." Gabrielle shouted back at her friend. Xena sat back.

"Like I said… It can work out for all of us." Xena answered not really all that used to polyamory. No matter what people thought of her she had a lot less sexual experience that advertised…. Not to say she hadn't been polyamorous before… sex is sex… but love was a whole other matter.

"Are you saying… that the three of us..?" Gabrielle asked

"We're always together anyway." Xena said.

"I'm for it." Joxer said enthusiastically.

"I don't know Xena…" Gabrielle started looking at Joxer. She really did love Joxer as a brother mostly. Now she was in love with Xena. Xena never said that she loved her more than just a friend. "You do realize that I want you right Xena?"

"I am very aware." Xena responded, "Always have been."

"You have?" Gabrielle said standing and walking back towards both of them. "Why haven't you said anything?"

"I figured you would when you were ready." Xena said.

"Do you love me Xena?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena looked at her friend with all the love she could muster. A tear began to roll down her cheek. "I tell you every day that I love you more than life itself. I mean that. Heart and soul."

"She sold her soul to save you." Joxer said reaching out to comfort his now confirmed lover. Gabrielle said nothing more and just wrapped her arms around both of them

"You two owe me for this huge lie." She whispered after a while.

"Big time." They both said with a chuckle.

"I love you guys too."