Much later — when Joxer was already snoring, and Gabrielle somehow managed to fall asleep in spite of it — unable to sleep herself, she sneaked out into the night, heading for the stream.

She was taking off her boots, about to step into the water, when she felt it; a tingle over the nape of her neck, spreading across her back.

She heard him materialize steps behind her. Her heartbeat pulsing in her ears, she stepped forward, dozens of tiny pebbles pressing into the soles of her feet, the trickling water cool around her ankles. She sat down and splashed some on her face, closing her eyes, rubbing her temples; trying to ignoring the unmistakable warmth nearing her back.

"You came to collect?" she asked coldly, fishing out a pebble from her hand and tossing it in the shimmering water in front of her.

"Xena—"

"I came here to be alone."

"I didn't come to argue."

"Oh... so, how do you wanna do it? Fuck me and knock me up now, or are we waiting for something?" she couldn't help herself as bitterness flooded her.

He drew a deep breath through his nose, his energy changing; she could feel him tense. Gods, she didn't have strength for this now.

"Xena, I was just pissed off—"

"Good, so you know how I'm feeling."

"I would never want it like that; not with you — not if you didn't want it, too."

She snorted. "And that's it? That's all you have to say?"

"No, but we're not gonna talk like that."

"What the fuck are you doing?" she muttered when, taking her completely off guard, he caught her up in his arms and put her down facing him, her feet on the grass.

"You're gonna look me in the eye when we talk."

"So, talk," she said sternly, distracted by his hands around her waist, mad at herself for not pushing him away, for longing to feel the back of his head under her palm. "Why are you helping us? You're not gonna coerce me into any sick deal of yours—"

"I know."

"So, why did you do it?"

He inhaled, casting his eyes down. "Somebody I love once told me, it's what you do when you care about someone — guess I just wanted to give it a try," he said, a corner of his mouth curling up in a subtle smile that never reached his eyes, failing to mask the apprehension there. "And when you're looking at me like this… I guess it's all starting to make sense now."

"What does?"

"How wrong I've been so far," he said and looked down, his hand finding hers, squeezing softly.

What a damn bastard… why did he have to — she blinked, her sight blurring; and, wanted to say something, but no words came, a lump in her throat. There was just her heartbeat, loud and drumming, and some weakness in her muscles, overbearing when he pulled her closer, when her hands landed on the bulky muscles of his bare arms, her thumbs brushing the warm flesh; gods, how come his skin was so soft?

"I wasn't lying, Xena…"

"You weren't lying…?" she echoed distractedly, her focus dispersing as his hands roamed up her back, fingers grazing the bare skin above her leather dress.

"About being hopelessly in love with you, no."

"Hopelessly?"

"Well, I tried to fix it, somehow, but it just won't go away." His forehead creasing slightly, he pressed his lips together, looked down, then up into her eyes, his brows arching a bit, a little smile playing in the corners of his mouth, giving him a boyish look.

"Sorry about that."

"Are you?" he asked, and, when the smile reached his eyes, she couldn't hold back a grin, and reached out to touch his face.

"Does it bother you that much?"

"It's kinda overwhelming, you know?" He closed his eyes at her touch, tilting his head to lean into it.

"It is, isn't it?" she said pensively, rubbing her thumb against his cheekbone, along his lower lip.

He kissed her thumb and drew her closer, till his breath was in her face, the scent of him in her lungs, overwhelming. "And how would you know?" he asked quietly, the question ringing in her ears, echoing, but all she could focus on was his lips, slightly parted, inviting; she claimed them softly, a fluttery rush coursing through her abdomen.

"I guess I can imagine," she said, slowly pulling away.

"You don't even have the guts to say it to my face, do you?" he narrowed his eyes, turning her own line at her.

"I don't," she blurted before she could stop herself, a little frown creasing her forehead as she looked down, eyeing the pendant on his chest, the silver metal shining in the moonlight.

"Well, it will do for now," he said playfully. But when she looked up and met his gaze, there was no amusement there; his eyes wide, fearful almost; human as she'd never seen them.

She cast her eyes down, tears welling up.

It wasn't going to work. No matter how drunk she was on this moment, it would be over. Soon, they would be back to their lives each, the usual wedge between them; sleep with each other from time to time, maybe. It wouldn't be more than that. It could never be more.

And she should be fine with it, it should be enough.

It would be; eventually.

Maybe it would all pass; maybe she was just hormonal.

She snaked her hands around his neck, loving the way he closed his eyes, the way he grunted softly as she run her fingers up and down the back of his head; and she smiled, disarmed by the sight, in a way one was disarmed when a wild beast purred at their touch.

Then, she closed her own eyes when he took her hand and pressed it to his mouth, kissing from the middle of her palm up to her wrist, making the tears find their silent way from under her lids, down her face, down to her chin; and she knew it would never be enough; and that it would hurt, in ways she didn't realize it could.

The night felt good, like his mouth on her; hot and quiet.

Like a calm before the storm.

THE END