Fanfic Challenge: Xena and Gabrielle reunited after being apart for a long time. Reason for being apart is flexible.

Timeline Chosen: Post FIN

That stench has a certain familiarity to it. You'd think by now I'd be at peace, but I snarled.

"Ares..."

And he laughed while the usual blue flash appeared before he did. "Xena, Xena, Xena..." he sighed dramatically.

"What do you want?"

"What is it that I always want? Shouldn't you know by now?" he toured around me as if I'm a piece of exhibit. "What happened to that red outfit from Japa? You looked good in it."

I continued to glare at him as he pretended to ponder. "See I would go through all the times that you've escaped Death but I'm sure you know there's too many to count. So what makes you stay this time 'round?"

I adverted my gaze. "Did you miss me?" It was that silly grin again--the same one he had when he proposed. "Or are you coming to fulfilling your promise? Got tired of the Blabbering Bard?" I growled at him, but only to receive laughter.

"40,000 lives." The young voice was familiar. I spun around only to find Akemi standing there.

"Akemi! What are you doing here?"

"I... I couldn't move on." I cocked an eyebrow curiously at her. Whatever relationship we might have had ended a very long time ago, and the last time we met she seemed very clear about it. Akemi drew in a deep breathe and let her almond shaped eyes meet mine.

"There's something I have to tell you before I go." I waited wordlessly, mentally nudging her to go on. "I lied." She confessed.

"About what?" Suddenly I got the idea of where she was heading.

"The 40,000 lives? Once they're released from the evil Yodoshi, they move on. I... I only said that you have to stay dead so we can be reunited.--we never got the chance to find out how things would turn out the last time." A red blush was creeping up her cheeks. It'd be cute to know that she still has feelings for me after all this time if it hadn't put both Gabrielle and I through so much pain. But I know a little something about love, so I drew a deep breath and tried my best to let her down easily.

"Akemi, I thought you understood when I told you about Gabrielle. Gabrielle and I belong together, we're soul mates not because we want or choose to be, because we simply are. If what you say is true, I need to go back to her." Behind me, Ares' chuckle turned into a burst of laughter.

"What Xena, 40,000 lives will be forever condemned if you don't stay dead and you actually bought into that?" I ignored him.

"I'm so sorry, Xena, I should have never lied to you. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me?" Her eyes searched mine, the apology so sincere that I gave in. She smiled and bowed slightly in gratitude before departing.

A splash of pink sparkles entered as my late friend exited.

"Xena!" Aphrodite chirped even before her body formed fully. She rushed forward and embraced me. "Where's Gabrielle? But thank god you're alright! I heard the most horrible rumor!" She rolled her eyes and waved her hands about exaggeratedly. Nearby, Ares rolled his eyes. "I thought you were dead! Head sliced clean off your neck and everything!"

I looked at her wordlessly, raised my eyebrows slightly and gave a small shrug. Then, Aphrodite gasped in realization, putting a hand to her chest.

"Does...does Gabby know?"

Ares looked like he would have strangled the life out of his sister if she wasn't the only other God left in Mount Olympus.

"Yes, she was there. But now, I have to get back to her. Can you help me?"

Swords hanging on the wall of castle shook, released themselves and flew aimlessly around the room. A few moments later, a white-haired man walked in and held his hands up and the swords stopped in midair.

"Enough! Show yourselves!" he demanded. Ares' laughter arrived first through the castle walls, followed by himself, then Aphrodite and I appeared.

"Ding-dong?" Ares chuckled.

"What is this?" The man turned his gaze to me. "Haven't you already got everything you wanted?"

"We need your help," I started when Ares held his hand up to cut me off. He'd only agreed to come when Aphrodite threatened never to speak to him again. Truth is, he would have chosen to help, but he's Ares, being an ass is what he does.

"Just another bite from one of your golden apples, Odin, and we'll be on our way."

Odin eyed the three of us suspiciously. "Give it up, Ares. The era of the Olympian gods are long gone, and I see myself to similar fate--it's only a matter of time. Haven't you heard? It's the rising of the One God."

"I don't want to be a God." I cut in.

"Then what do you want the golden apples for?" Now Odin's curious. I looked to Aphrodite, unsure of how to explain. Then, I stepped cautiously towards the King of Norse Gods.

"It's... it's a long story. But you see, I have to return to where I belong." I reached out to touch his face, but my fingers slipped through his flesh. He gasped. "Gabrielle--I can't let my soul mate go through the rest of life alone. If there is any way that I can have my life back, I'd do anything to get it. Anything Odin, anything."

Ares stepped up behind me and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Now old man, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way."

"Pick the easy way, Odin," Grinhilda emerged from behind with the golden apples in her hand. "Besides, the whole world owed it to Xena if you think about it--without a god sitting for love and war, the world would've been in chaos. And you and I would never have found our way back into love again."

Finally giving in, Odin nodded.

"Gabrielle..." I whispered softly and planted a soft kiss to her forehead. She stirred, still holding the urn of my ashes in her embrace. I felt the ship rocking gently against the calm waves of the sea and smiled at the fond memories of Gabrielle and her sea-sickness.

"Gabrielle..."I tried again, an arm draped across her body, my hand stroked her cheek gently. Groggily, she started to wake.

"Xena...?"

"I'm here now, Gabrielle."

Blinking, she opened her eyes slowly and as her gaze met mine, she smiled.

"Am I dreaming?"

I shook my head with a smile. She looked warily to the urn in her hands. "But..."

I placed two fingers gently on her lips and her eyes widened at realization that I was telling the truth.

"Xena?" I nodded and like she had been awoken by a splash of cold water, she sat up and embraced me. "But how?"

Then she shook her head against my shoulders before I could start to explain. "It doesn't matter, you're here now. Please, tell me you're here to stay."

"I'm here to stay," I promised and allow the tears that welled up in my eyes to fall.

Gabrielle pulled back reluctantly and looked at me in a mix of tears and smiles, then with a small laugh she wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes...?"

"It's my turn to spit into your mouth." I held a straight face and waited for the look of recognition to cross her face. Then, she laughed and I leaned in to kiss her fiercely.

Author's Note: Last bit is adapted from Coffee Talk 1 by Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor.