The
trip back to meet Gabrielle was wonderful. The two warriors
hadn't met any kind of trouble and the time they spent
together was full of laughter and romantic moments. Xena had never felt so alive. As they neared
the Amazon territory boundary, they remembered the
uncertain task before them of telling Gabrielle about
their new found relationship. They had been together as
friends and traveling companions for a long time. The
little hidden infatuation that Joxer had had for
Gabrielle had been mostly one-sided. Joxer realized that
his feelings for Gabrielle were just that-- infatuation--
and he had completely gotten over the hurt that he felt
over her. Now, with Xena, he understood the difference
between infatuation and real love. He loved Gabrielle
like a sister and a friend; but with Xena it was different, much deeper, yes it was real with her.
They both loved Gabrielle
and the last thing they wanted to do was hurt her. The
thought of not having her friendship as a part of their
lives was unbearable to both of them. They were a team--
three warriors fighting for the Greater Good of all! They
wanted the three of them to stay together!
All they could do was hope
that Gabrielle would understand, and that her feelings
for each of them would make it easier for her to accept
the changes in their relationship.
"Stop Right
There!" A voice from above their heads startled them
from their thoughts about Gabrielle. Xena looked up just
as Solari and two more Amazons jumped down from a tree in
front of them. Xena immediately assumed the Amazon
greeting stance by clasping both arms high above her
head. Joxer did the same.
"Xena! Welcome.
Gabrielle has been expecting you to show up any day. I
should have known it was you. I hope I didn't startle you
too much." With that, Solari relaxed and returned
her sword to its sheath.
"No, Solari, you
didn't startle me. You are a very good lookout."
Solari looked Joxer up and
down, then asked, "Who is he? It's not often we have
a man traveling in our territory."
"Joxer, Solari!
Solari, Joxer! He's with me!" Xena smiled as she put
her arm around Joxer and snuggled close to him.
"Oh I see! Nice to
meet you, Joxer. Welcome." Solari smiled an
understanding smile at Xena and gave her a playful wink.
"Come on to the camp.
Gabrielle will be excited that you are here."
As Xena and Joxer walked
into camp, Gabrielle saw them from a distance. She
hurriedly walked toward them, anxious to greet them both.
Suddenly, she stopped. As she watched, she noticed that
Xena and Joxer were holding hands! Now, this was totally
out of character for Xena! "Hmmm, I wonder what is
going on? Maybe some trick to throw me off guard or
something, who knows with those two...."
As Xena's eyes found Gabrielle,
she waved to her. With her big blue eyes shining, Xena said,
"Well, here we are!"
Gabrielle hugged Xena and
then greeted Joxer by giving him her usual "Keep out
of the way" glance. "Oh, Xena! You should have
been here! There's so much we have to talk about
here...."
Joxer went about his own
business, looking for something to eat. Presently, he
returned with a dish of meat and fruit. He offered Xena
some, which she gladly accepted as she talked with
Gabrielle. "Strange" Gabrielle thought to herself as she noticed the tender look that Xena had given him when he handed her the fruit.
Gabrielle noticed
something different about her companions. Somehow, they
seemed different. Normally, Xena would have been full
of questions about what she missed out on. Joxer would
have normally been babbling foolishly to Gabrielle, since
he was obviously very fond of her.
Xena had business with
Ephiny, so she excused herself for a little while. Gabrielle
turned to Joxer, only to see him contentedly sharpening
his sword.
"Joxer, why do you do
this? I mean, you never get into sword fights!" But
she remembered Xena's wounded arm, and suddenly figured
out that the bandage was from Joxer's shirt.
Joxer still continued his
sharpening task. "Well, Gabrielle, this time I had
to fight--for real."
Noticing a difference in
Joxer's attitude, Gabrielle asked what was going on.
"Have I missed something?"
Drawing a deep breath,
Joxer began. "Gabrielle, I finally realized that you
and I could never be....well...uh...in love. But something has
happened.... Xena....I am in love with her...I mean we are in love...together...uh...w-with each other...."
Gabrielle stood,
speechless, with her mouth open. Could this be? Yes, she
had seen them holding hands, but was it true? Finally,
she managed to ask, "You and Xena--lovers?"
"Yes, Gabrielle. It's
still hard for me to believe, but yes we are."
"Well, how did it
happen? What does Xena think? I mean, does she feel the same?"
"Ask her,
Gabrielle," Joxer smiled as he continued sharpening
his sword. " I know now I was wrong about there ever being an 'us' Xena has taught me what real love is like. With her it's real. I still love you as a sister and a friend, Gabrielle...I always will..."
As Xena returned, she saw
the look on Gabrielle's face. She was relieved that Joxer
had "broken the ice" with her. In a way,
she felt sorry for her, but then she knew that it served
her right. After all, Joxer had been in love with
Gabrielle for a long time. It was Gabrielle who laughed
at the idea and had hurt him, and had rejected his love.
"Xena...."
"Yes, Gabrielle. It's
true. Joxer and I are lovers now. We...I..it just kinda happened.... By the way, you should see him fight! I
knew he had it in him!"
"Joxer? Fight? But,
Xena...."
"We have to leave
early in the morning. I'm tired."
The hustle of the Amazons
swept over all three travelers, and there was no time to
talk over these deep emotions. Gabrielle shrugged her
shoulders and went about her preparations, as usual. It
would be different, but she could handle it.
At first light, Joxer and
Xena were up and ready to travel. As they started to
leave, Gabrielle called to them, "Wait!" As she
caught up with them, she asked, "Mind if I tag
along?"
Xena and Joxer breathed a
sigh of relief. "I wouldn't have it any other
way!" Xena smiled.
Joxer put his arm around
Xena and smiled at Gabrielle.
As the threesome started
on the trail out of the Amazon village, Gabrielle said to
herself, "This is fine...it's going to take some
getting used to....but it's fine........"