How do I write about a day that to me was only a single day, but for my soulmate it lasted what seemed like an eternity? Of all the adventures we've shared, this one has to be the most unusual.

Or will there be others I say something similar. That it's difficult to write about because of circumstances. Not because of how devastating the repercussions were or how difficult they were to endure.

All I know is what happened for me. I'll, for once, allow quill to be given to my soulmate so that her memories can be written upon parchment. Then maybe I can understand it for the first time.

The thing I do remember was feeling being taken care of. As always, everything Xena did was to make certain that I was safe. Reluctantly Joxer as well. Just kidding.

I know from our talk after the adventure that there are some painful times for my soulmate. So when she has the quill, I'll be right there next to her. I'll be there to support her every step of the way.

Xena squeezes my shoulder. I know she only disappears when I'm writing because I become so involved that I sometimes forget everything that is happening around me.

Plus, it bores Xena to death. A sound I can never get enough of and makes my heart soar sounds. It's my soulmate's laughter.

I know she didn't laugh much with the following adventure. I can't blame her. It was a day of innocent deaths, including Joxer, Argo and myself. None of which could be easy for Xena to live through. And now…She relives them again for me and our chronicles.

BEEN THERE…DONE THAT

Before Gabrielle was even awake, Xena was out of the stables. The bard sat up disoriented. It was even before the blasted rooster crowed to wake them.

Gabrielle was proud as she watched her soulmate make peace between two families. From what she gathered, it had been a feud that went back a generations. No one truly knew what started it. They only knew how to keep it going.

The best part would be the uniting of families. Gabrielle couldn't wait to write in her scrolls. It was the romantic in her that loved a good story. And even better was a happy ever after.

The rest of the day was spent celebrating the engagement. It was a tired bard and company that gratefully went to sleep.

Somehow, Gabrielle wound up covered by hay. As the rooster crowed, Joxer was telling everyone to rise and shine. There was no way the bard would shine.

Xena was excited over turnips for breakfast. Life was going on? Seize the day? Gabrielle loved the sound of her soulmate's laughter. She would find out the real reason her lover was in such a good mood. Later. And without Joxer.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

The rooster crowed. It brought with it Joxer telling everyone to rise and shine. Finally beneath the hay, Gabrielle rose but refused to shine.

Nothing important was hit indeed. And the horseshoe falling on Joxer reminded Xena that Argo needed new shoes. The blacksmith was across the village. Xena would have to get the shoes and bring them to the stableman to be shod. Interesting.

As they walked toward the blacksmith, Xena couldn't help but inwardly smirking when her bard asked about goose eggs. After all, Gabrielle wasn't a fan of goose eggs. It was all a deception so they could be alone without Joxer.

It was funny…until Joxer was placed in danger. Xena had to interject, but it was too late. The warrior princess could see how devastated her bard was. Even though he was annoying, his death was not something Xena wanted so early in his young life.

It was Gabrielle's turn to wonder 'what if'. What if she hadn't sent Joxer for the goose eggs. What if she had gone with him. Xena attempted to comfort her soulmate. Sleep now. Things would be better in the morning.

The next thing Xena knew the rooster was crowing once again. The warrior princess was ready to console her soulmate once again when she heard the familiar refrain. One was saying they should rise and shine and the other saying would rise but wouldn't shine.

Joxer should be dead. Xena couldn't believe her eyes. That's when the horseshoe fell on the bumbling warrior's head once again. Before the warrior princess could tell about her unusual dream, the stableman was apologizing. Exactly the same way.

Attempting to explain how it was too real for a dream or not a vision was difficult. And explaining how their yesterday was not Xena's yesterday and that they simply didn't forget, it never happened, was impossible.

Instead of allowing Joxer or Gabrielle to intervene with the argument that was hastily escalating, Xena sent them down the alleyway and hopefully to safety.

Xena managed to stop each of the fights along the way. It was a tiring day. She didn't even get the horseshoes Argo needed. As they arrived at the stable, they found a beaten stableman.

Inside was a sight no one should see. Every horse that was being stabled by the stranger had been killed. Including Xena's most treasured steed. Argo and she had been through so many times. And now she was gone.

It was Joxer second guessing himself. It was Xena once again comforting someone. Telling them that it wasn't their fault. It was the fault of those that killed horses because of a feud.

Again, the damned rooster was waking up Xena. It was to a beautiful sight. Seeing her trusted steed was still alive had the warrior princess feeling much better.

There was the same words of rise and shine and refusing to shine. There was the warning by the warrior princess for Joxer to move and him refusing, only to be hit by the horseshoe.

Slightly different, yet the same in attempting to convince Gabrielle and Joxer that it was something only Xena could control. That the day was repeating. There were no poison darts. That she was all right.

Enemy of my enemy did have an appeal. But no, Xena was convinced that she needed to stop the fight before it began. She would need to learn all she could about the village, especially this Casca.

Another day starting with the crowing. This time Xena pushed past Joxer. She managed to make it to the old man who had trouble hearing before harm could come to him.

Every suggestion that Gabrielle and Joxer make are rebuked by Xena. She's tried everything to keep the day from repeating. It's not the fates. It's not Ares. It's not something she ate. There were no dart marks. And it wasn't the Bacchae.

Hickey? Xena watched as Gabrielle blushed. The warrior princess hastily kept speaking. Of course it was a hickey. Her bard would have to be more careful when Joxer was with them.

Saving one man didn't help. Another fight broke out. Xena wasn't certain what to do. All she knew was she needed Gabrielle to find safety. As she was attempting to interject, she heard the voices.

Wrong alleyway! Xena held onto her lifeless bard. She couldn't believe she'd been so foolish to send her soulmate down the alleyway. It had to be all right. The day would repeat and with it would bring Gabrielle back to life.

Crowing. Moaning that never sounded so good to Xena's ears. The refusal to shine. It was her bard. She was all right. It was amazing, until Joxer just had to do a group hug.

Another day spent learning what she could. Another day ending with fights by both sides in the never-ending feud. The more frustrated the warrior princess was becoming. She even took Joxer's advice and killed the rooster.

More crowing. More attempting to keep Gabrielle and Joxer safe. Even though she knew the explanation wasn't the best, Xena needed them to stay put. At least her bard was listening. To get Joxer to, she had to threaten with the fact that he was madly passionately in love with Gabrielle.

More crowing. Another day of stopping one fight right after the other. Even before Xena could stop the previous fight, another one breaks out. She couldn't be everywhere.

In a move of pure desperation, Xena allowed Joxer to do his enemy of thy enemy bit. What did it get them? All of them being targeted by both families. Meaning…

Crowing. Chakram thrown into Joxer's chest. Xena running as fast as she can to attempt to stop the fights. To learn what she can about both houses.

Finally, each day was used to gather facts. One day she spent with the apothecary. One interesting fact was how night's bane was missing.

Another day was spent with the midwife. There was a sacrifice as the muffin was horrible. But the information was invaluable that Xena discovered.

After speaking with Gabrielle and Joxer attempting once again to convince them the day had repeated that many times, Xena went into the village armed with the knowledge she'd earned. Peace was achieved. But would it be enough to end the day repeating?

Crowing. Temper tantrum. Xena had attempted everything, even made peace, and she still had the same day repeating itself. What had she missed? It had to be something simple.

As it turned out, it was something simple. The night's bane was already taken by Hermia just after sunrise. No matter how fast she ran, there was no way Xena could save the young woman from herself.

Xena listened as Miron told of the love they shared but that they were in feuding families. It was his wish that the day repeat so that someone, such as Hercules, could stop his betrothed from killing herself.

It may seem impossible, but Xena was the warrior princess. She thrived with the impossible. This was just another challenge to get her warrior juices flowing.

Right from the rooster crowing, Xena had a plan. It was to measure every little nook and cranny. It was to calculate the angles. It was to not worry about the fighting. Not until she could stop Hermia from consuming the night's bane.

Rooster crows. Shove Joxer out of the way. Release the chakram. Xena arrived just a few moments after her weapon broke the vile so that Hermia didn't drink the deadly poison. Now to make peace between the families and have the day stop repeating for her.

Crowing. Rise and shine refuse to shine. But instead of goose eggs, Joxer brought turnips. It was wonderful to have a brand new day to look forward to. To have her bard by her side. To even have Joxer by her side.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Xena was tired of answering questions. Gabrielle had, for the most part, merely accepted that something happened. While her bard couldn't fully understand, she would take things on faith.

But Joxer would not let Xena alone. She needed away from the bumbling warrior. It meant time away from her bard, but that was the sacrifice she was having to make.

Having disappeared under the guise of hunting, Xena found a clearing. It was a place she looked for at nearly every campsite they chose. It was the perfect place for her drills.

After warming up, Xena went through her routine. Her mind cleared. It was the only time certain images would disappear. The one that most haunted her was her bard in her arms. Lifeless.

So many invisible enemies had succumbed to Xena's sword when she heard the tree branch snap. She remained at attention, though she was nearly one hundred percent certain that it was her soulmate who had come looking for her.

"Xena?" Gabrielle knew that something was wrong. While hunting was something necessary, their supplies made it unnecessary. If the bard knew her soulmate, something was bothering Xena.

Xena relaxed as her intuition was correct. "Gabrielle." Immediately, the warrior princess sheathed her sword and opened her arms. She needed to hold her soulmate. She needed to be reminded of just how alive she was.

Gabrielle didn't hesitate in being held by the woman she loved. By the woman who meant everything to her. That she loved without reservation. "What's wrong?"

The warrior princess inhaled deeply. It was her bard. She had to keep convincing herself that Gabrielle was alive. "I know it only happened in my memory, but you dying has me needing to know you are here."

"I thought it was more than just Joxer not taking the hint." Gabrielle tightened her grasp on her warrior. "I understand fully where you are coming from. I've thought you dead twice now."

"You, of anyone, would understand. Until now, I've only thought I lost you once. And you came back to me." Xena kissed the top of her bard's head. "You've come back to me twice now."

"I'll always come back." Gabrielle leaned up on her tippytoes. She kissed her warrior on the lips. "If Joxer weren't with us, I'd convince you just how here I am."

Xena shuddered with desire at the thought. "Don't tease me." This time it was the warrior princess who initiated the kiss. "I want you so much. Where is Joxer?"

"Gathering firewood." Gabrielle gently shoved her soulmate against the tree at the edge of the clearing. "In the opposite direction we both came."

"Are you…" Xena's words were cutoff by lips upon her own. Her hand was guided to find her soulmate had no undergarments on. "Oh Gods!"

It wasn't easy, but Gabrielle managed to slip a finger beneath the leathers. It was enough to graze an engorged clit. They both stroked at the same time.

"Just look into my eyes." Gabrielle's words were coming between gasps of air. "This is me you are touching. My beating pulsating body you are about to make go over the edge. I love you Xena."

"I love you, Gabrielle." Xena continued to stroke her lover as her bard continued to stroke her. It was in near unison that they came crying out one another's names.

There was the rustling of leaves. Xena used her many skills to make it appear that nothing had been happening. In fact, she had a long branch in her hand and was acting as if she was training her bard.

"I thought you were hunting." Joxer had an arm full of firewood. "If you wanted to drill, Gabrielle, you could have learned from me."

The pair snickered at one another. Joxer would never know what he nearly interrupted. It was something Xena had needed. To touch her soulmate to be reassured that she was alive.