Solstice Gift
A/N I know that Christmas was actually between Ep 8 and 9 in S3 but I figure that it would make more sense after Ep 10, just before Maternal Instincts and everything goes to pot.
Somewhere in Greece, The Known World - S3
It was Solstice Eve, Xena and Gabrielle were sitting in a tavern because it was getting too cool to sleep on the ground. Winter was creeping in and the mornings were dark, the forest wasn't as safe as the bright dawn hours in summer. "Oh come on Xena, just show me- a peek before tomorrow." Gabrielle pleaded with the warrior princess, who sat with her arms folded opposite her at the bar. A few tankards of ale were scattered around them and the place was almost heaving with all sorts - warlords and commoners alike, all laughing and jeering around tables. Solstice was a night that united people, especially in Sparta.
"Not until tomorrow." Xena replied stubbornly, regretting that fact that she'd mentioned getting Gabrielle a gift in the first place. She should've just let it be a surprise. Now the bard wouldn't get off her back about it.
"But you wouldn't be giving it, you'd just be telling me-"
"But but but, but but- Gabrielle you're not a child, can't you just wait until the morning?" Xena cut her off, taking a long drag from her flagon of ale slurping rather loudly. Gabrielle sulked, between the two of them - and the ale - they were getting quite drunk and the blonde wasn't hesitant to let her eyes wander over Xena's body. She hadn't noticed that Xena was doing the same because she was much better at hiding it. But this conversation was dragging Xena's energy, she didn't want all this talk of presents, she wanted to go to bed. Preferably with Gabrielle but she'd settle for without if she kept on about this. "Come on," she said, picking up Gabrielle's hand and trying to lead her out of the bar and upstairs where their room for the night was.
But Gabrielle refused to be lead, she pulled Xena's wrist off her and folded her arms in the middle of the tavern, men dancing and yelling all around her. "I'm not going anywhere with you until she tell me what my present is." She said, shaking her head so that her hair fell off her shoulders and spilled down her back.
"It'll spoil it if I tell you." Xena replied bluntly, "so I'm going to bed without you. Goodnight Gabrielle." She stomped upstairs, hoping with each one that Gabrielle would start following her and they could get beneath the covers together.
Eventually the blonde relented, realising that she was missing out by staying in the bar with all the brutes. And she stomped upstairs after Xena, only to find the warrior totally nude, and under the covers, half asleep. That was all the present she needed, for tonight.