"Do you have any regrets about last night?"

Gabrielle shook her head.

"None what so ever. I love you so much Xena." With
those words spoken, she kissed Xena, and did not break the kiss
until she was sure she had proven her point. "So love, what
are your plans?" She asked.

"Long term or immediate?"

"Both."

Xena smiled. "My immediate plans include snuggling with you
for at least the next few candlemarks." Her face became
serious as she spoke the next sentence. "My long term plans
center on one thing; to show you everyday for the rest of my life
how much I love you." The smile returned to her continence.
"And how about you?"

"My long term plans are the same as yours–to show you
everyday how much I love you. My short term plan is very simple.
I’m planning on starting my long-term plan right now."
She pulled Xena’s head down and kissed her and their passion
for each other flared again.

The knock at the door interrupted them. *Of all the things to
forget, Sophia forgets the Do Not Disturb parchment,* Gabrielle
thought to herself. The thought was quickly removed when
Xena’s lips found a very sensitive spot on her neck.

They both ignored the second pounding upon the door, but alas,
the third rap caught their attention.

"You wait here, Gabrielle. I’ll get rid of
them." Xena climbed out of bed and placed on a shift.
Gabrielle could hear whispering, but she thought that Xena was just
giving the intruder a piece of her mind. She closed her eyes and
pulled the covers snuggly around her. Xena climbed back into bed
and wrapped her arms around the bard tightly. Gabrielle could feel
the tightness in Xena’s muscles and knew that something was
amiss.

"Xena, what’s wrong?"

Turmoil and anger raged in Xena’s mind. It seemed like
someone was determined to snatch away their happiness. She knew she
could not hide the truth.

"That was one of the guards. It seems that the border
patrol found someone coming across the borders. They are escorting
that person to the village as we speak."

She took a deep breath before she continued. "Gabrielle, it
is your mother."

***

Daughter finally confronts her mother; the truth
is revealed; and too many bridges may have been burnt for there to
be a happily ever after ending. Stay tuned for part 1 of a new
series "Beginning Again."

Oh yeah, FEED THE BARD.
Please.

Written and (c)Copyrighted by: Paully
Adams

August 1, 2001