Gabrielle awoke the next morning feeling oddly nervous and unsure if what had happened last night had all been a dream or not. Xena was not next to her, but from experience, in her life and now, even in death, she had an idea of where to find her tell friend. Fixing her clothes slightly, and running her hands through her hair to quickly work out the small tangles and cowlicks, she walked outside into the fields. Sure enough, Xena was doing her drills; even death could not seem to stop this repetitive morning ritual of lethal grace. Gabrielle stood at the barn door, and just watched…watched the dark beauty's every move and sound, and the cat-like grace which beheld a part of Xena's mystery. To watch Xena unseen, even if she knew that she had probably been detected, was a thing of wonder, especially for the young woman to this very day. She was one of the few people who saw the human side to this creature of death, even with this ritual that was the very signifier of the word. Xena stopped, and looked up, her blue eyes looking straight into Gabrielle's own green and she smiled. It was hard to admit that this woman was dead, though one had to admit it was truth, even regrettably, which is what Gabrielle did.

Walking over to Gabrielle she stopped just short of the smaller woman. Xena looked down, and could sense the confusion and nervousness of her eternal companion; she waited for the smaller woman to speak first.

Almost afraid to speak it, the young woman spoke softly, taking her eyes, fearful of what the answer may be, away from Xena's own gaze, "Tell me Xena, was it all a dream, last night…did you really mean it?"

Xena smiled, not a broad smile, but a knowing, loving smile and shook her head, "No, Gabrielle, it wasn't a dream, if it means that much to you…to us… for us to be together in life, then I meant it. For the sake of love, I'll do it for you." She held her arms out and pulled Gabrielle close, her head resting on the smaller shoulder, whispering softly, "I can't stand to see you so unhappy…it hurts my heart too much," she kissed the bard's temple, and just held her for a moment. Pulling away now, she spoke only the truth behind what it would cost the two of them to get her life back: a way to get it. "Gabrielle, you realize that in order to do anything we have to have a plan."

"I have an idea Xena, trust me," Gabrielle smiled.

"Gabrielle, are you sure this will work? It's not like anything here has any of his interest at hand."

"Xena, Ares owes us…if anything he can tell us how to do it or who can help us, I'm sure of it," Gabrielle said confidently, though there was still a glimmer of doubt. She extended her hand to Xena who took it, as they walked up the temple steps together.

"Ares, show yourself, we have something to ask!" Gabrielle shouted to the seemingly empty room. She mentally prayed he would show up.

In a flash of blue light, the God of War appeared, it was mildly interesting to see that he retained the gray hairs that had grown on him as a mortal, but that was another issue altogether, and not the way of going about what the bard and warrior wanted and needed from him.

"For Xena's bard and protégé, I would appear. What do you want, or should I guess?" Ares said, his voice low, coarse and domineering…at least, domineering to those who held only fear for the immortal. He held his fist tucked under his chin, as if amused or in thought.

"I want Xena's life back," Gabrielle made her demand simple and blunt.

Ares looked first at the bard and then her ghostly companion. "I can't do that," he said simply, no emotion flowing through his words, he turned to leave when the blond stopped him in his tracks.

"Why not?!" she demanded.

"Understand me Gabrielle, it's not that I wouldn't do it for Xena, and it's not that I wouldn't do it for you, whom I might add made a stunning impression upon me…" the god paused with the slight confusion that washed over the bard's face, "Oh, word gets around the immortals of all religions sooner or later." He said off handily before continuing, "But the point it, I can't bring Xena back. It's not in my power to do so."

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle," Xena whispered behind her.

"No Xena," the warrior-bard insisted, "Ares!!! If you can't help me than find someone who can, you owe us!"

Ares was helpless as far as gods go, though he would never admit it to mortal or god. His face a mask of indifference, as was common among the immortals, he spoke, "Gabrielle, understand me when I say that I alone cannot bring Xena back, for you, for her, or for anyone." He walked closer, speaking quietly to both of them as if his next words were the ultimate secret, "But for what we have gone through in all the years I've known you two, I will try."

"That's all I ask," Gabrielle said, now turning to Xena, a slight smile grazing her lips, she said quietly, "there's a chance, Xena" and grinned softly.

"Don't give your hopes up Gabrielle," were Ares last ominous words, before he disappeared from sight just as he came.

Gabrielle turned to Xena, who was smiling at her. Quietly she said, "Well, at least I have hope to hold onto." She smiled and cupped the warrior's cheek softly before turning to leave, with her taller companion in suit.

"Ares it's a good idea!" Aphrodite insisted from their Olympus home, "I just think that if Xena and Gabrielle want to be together, we should do what we can to help them."

"You're always thinking with your title and not your brain!" Ares said.

"That was a low blow, bro! This coming from a guy who spent all his time with an army of thousands to get one woman, Xena, back. All I'm saying is we should at least try and find a way." Aphrodite turned her attention back to her nails as she listened to her brother.

"Okay, sis, now tell me, do you even have a plan in mind? Hmm?"

With the new found attention to her plan, she sat up from the love seat she was lounging on. "Okay, here's the deal oh brother of mine," she smiled, "I was listening in a bit on your little conversation with miss storyteller and well, also, you know I like to check up on the girls. Anyway, I got to thinkin' about what it might take to get warrior babe and her bard back together. And I thought, 'Duh! We could hold council with the gods of the world' I mean, Ares, think about it, that's the only way to defy these kind of immortal laws, ya know…"

"Aphrodite!" the other immortal interrupted loudly, "We can't just have a meeting with the other gods. Especially for this reason…"

"Take a chill pill! And my dear older brother, please learn not to interrupt me. As I was saying, don't ya think they've done enough for us, and any of the other gods elsewhere to deserve this? Hmm?"

There was a silence between them for a long moment before Ares spoke, "You know sis, that it's not that easy, Xena and Gabrielle have to do their part."

"Yeah...I know," the goddess looked down regretfully.

Ares let out an exasperated breath, "Let's get this plan of yours going."

"You know Xena, people are going to start thinking I'm insane if they catch me talking to you," Gabrielle stated matter-of-factly to the dark-haired woman sitting next to her. They had stopped for lunch, or at least the Gabrielle had, and the bard found time to ponder her musings.

"But at least they'll think you're a happy crazy person," Xena threw back at the bard, getting a chuckle and grin from her companion.

"That's only because you can be such a big, silly oaf at times, Xena!" Gabrielle pointed to the warrior and laughed as Xena feigned injury.

"Oooh, that hurt Gabrielle, who would've thought the words of such a nice, friendly bard could be so painful," the warrior mocked.

"You would have." They both chuckled at this.

A quick flash of light alerted them to the war god's presence. Gabrielle, out of habit developed from years of experience while living with the late warrior, immediately took up arms and stood defensively, waiting for any trickery, or attack. Xena stood up behind her, proudly amused with the blond warrior, and waited out the transaction; there would be nothing she could do in her otherwise intangible form.

"Ares," Gabrielle acknowledged, "What do you want with us?" She remained wary, hoping he had agreed to help bring Xena back to the living.

"What do you think?" He raised his hands innocently when the smaller warrior was about to protest, "Don't worry, I'm here to help. We…"

"We?" Gabrielle repeated questioningly. When Aphrodite made an appearance and smiled at the bard.

"Yes honey, 'we'," the goddess said sincerely, "We all, have heard about you guys' little problem, and we thought we could try to help?"

"How?" the blond woman said skeptically, but with hope.

"Well sweetpea, Ares and I…well we talked," the blond immortal started.

Ares took up from there, "And we decided that the only way, to bring your friend back, was with the powers of the gods of other nations: Norse, Chin, and the southern gods of Africa, among others. We held council among them. They have decided to grant Xena her life back, only if you can prove yourself. You will have to make a choice in the end, but we cannot tell you yet what it is."

They waited patiently for a reaction as Gabrielle looked at them for a moment, taking in what she had heard. She turned to see Xena behind her and walked back to her. Quietly, they discussed the situation. With a nod from the tall warrior, and a dual grin between the couple, they looked up. Speaking for both of them, a determined bard said, "We accept."

With that they were swept up from their camp as the two gods disappeared, taking the women with them. They came to the top of a tall hill, overlooking a wide green field that extended as far as the eye could see. Extending his arm out in the direction of the masses of grasses and hills, War opened his palm and the flattened greenery morphed into that of a dense forest. At the end of the forest where a small clearing was seen, set up with many colorful banners flew, as if honoring a grand tournament. Behind it, was a mountain – a volcano, spewing ominous ashes in clouds of smoke over the green valley.

"Out there is where your path lies," he said to the pair. At one point you may be reunited with Xena, but for you Gabrielle, this is your journey. All of your will must go into this fight for Xena's life. Do you understand this?" The god bellowed to the warrior-bard. She nodded as he continued, "Everything you see here is real…a 'simulation' if you will. Xena can do almost everything she could in life, including kill, though she is not alive. If this were the real world, none of this would be possible for her. This is not real life nor is it an illusion. Do not confuse the two. Oh, Gabrielle, do not misunderstand me, you may live through the ordeal, but your failure resigns Xena to her fate as a spirit. This is a warning," With that, Ares disappeared out of sight. Aphrodite remained a moment, having been silent throughout. She walked up to the bard and warrior and gave them a meaningful hug, and whispering her hopes in success, before disappearing as Ares had.

There was a silence as Xena and Gabrielle stood atop the hill together.

Xena turned to Gabrielle, "For friendship, and love…I wish you luck, Gabrielle. May we see the end of this journey together," Gabrielle smiled and reached out to hug her partner when Xena started to disappear.

"What's happening Xena?" Gabrielle said worriedly.

"I don't know Gabrielle, go now!" Xena smiled softly and then slowly faded out. With new determination, the blond woman set out into the unknown.

Gabrielle trudged through the dense greenery of the forest cautiously, her senses tuned in for any possible attack or surprise. Taking in her surroundings, there wasn't much light to go by in the event of an attacker. 'Plenty of trees to turn to though,' she thought, referring to the old Amazon traditions of retreat to the protection of the trees and shrubbery – seemingly forgotten in the new tribes. On this note she shook her head and sighed. As much as they claimed her sisterhood to them, this was not the same tribe she joined. No, it had changed too much. She heard a noise off in the distance, not too far up ahead of her. Pausing her in her path, she stood and listened, ready to draw her weapon at a moment's notice. Whoever – whatever it was, it wasn't coming out on it's own accord. Deftly, she moved up silently in the direction of the noise, coming to a thicket. She saw a rabbit and stood up, her guard now lowered with the absence of an ambush. She felt no one's presence.

"Very good Gabrielle," a voice said sarcastically. The young woman heard it behind her, and turned around suddenly, finding Callisto before her: the old, despised, and unredeemed Callisto. She was slouching against a tree, and looked calm as ever, but her brown eyes played evil trickery wherever their gaze fell.

"What do you want, Callisto?" She asked, purposefully forgetting all that had happened with Callisto's redemption from hell.

"I dunno," she stated casually, giving the surrounding greenery looks of mock interest, "What? You not happy to see an old friend again?" She smiled, though disdainful irony dripped from her lips as she spoke the words, "I thought you might be more pleased…what with our history together and all." She smiled, though not one of joy, but of hatred and insanity, "Tell me dear, since your loves have died, one by my had of course and the other recently, well…" she walked closer, seeming to break past Gabrielle's defenses as she always managed to do, "I was thinking we could have a broken heart to broken heart chat? So…do you hate her?"

Gabrielle was trying not to listen, she didn't want to hate Xena, and she didn't hate Xena. But she'd be damned if this crazy woman didn't make her want to. In her heart she knew that Xena only followed her heart, she didn't like it, even despised it, but could never hate Xena. It was too powerful an emotion to evoke on her love. She shook her head, "No Callisto…I don't, I can't hate her…"

"Oh but you want to," the she said seductively, bringing her hand up to caress the bard's face in that sickening way that the bard hated, "You want to hate her for leaving you…for someone else. You don't really want someone who will only betray you back in your life, do you?" Callisto taunted.

Gabrielle shook her head violently, squirming away from the menace that tormented her heart. "NO! Shut up!"

"What? It hurts too much to admit the truth, doesn't it Gabrielle…" the taller woman spoke with an irking calmness, "of course it does, she always hurts you in the end." She backed away from the irritated bard.

"That's right Gabrielle," another voice chimed in, familiar, but unheard of for years to the bard's ears.

"Najara?" she looked up questioningly to the face that once promised her peace.

"I told you she would hurt you one day. What with her warring, unpurified ways," Gabrielle shook her head violently with denial to the harsh, yet calmly spoken remarks, "She's corrupted the light in you," the zealot continued, "it's for the best she left you…"

"She left you…" Callisto repeated.

"She left you," A familiar voice said, but the bard didn't dare look up, she knew who it was: a mirror image of herself, Hope.

" I said SHUT UP! Damn you, I love her," Hot tears of pain and hate flowed over her flushed cheeks and she covered her ears to block out the echoing mockery, "I can't hate her for that, she made a choice, and now we're righting it!" In a fit of raw anger, she drew her sword and jabbed it through her the crazed zealot who disappeared, unharmed. Gabrielle slashed violently at the visions of Hope, screaming at the hated sight, her green eyes wild with loathsome rage. Callisto simply stood there, not the least bit intimidated by the cold stares of the angry woman.

"Well…" she said, the ever-present contempt still oozing from her flirtatious voice, "I guess you'll have to prove just how much you care for your love in the end." She pouted her lips in familiar jest, "But, my little brat, just remember what we've learned here today." Callisto gave her an annoyingly coy and sadistic smile that left the smaller, and already boiling, woman cold. With a spontaneous round of thrashes, Gabrielle aimed to strike her nemesis who disappeared, unscathed, and laughing inanely as she had always done in past years of torment.

Gabrielle felt the hot tears of her defiance running down her face and she collapsed to her knees. Callisto was partially right, but the young warrior would never let her own jealousy consume her again, she wouldn't let that woman ruin what she held dearest in her heart.

"Xena…" She whispered softly to only the forest around her, and no one else. She wiped the salty moisture from her eyes and took a deep breath before running off to complete her journey.

Xena awoke in a tent, not even remembering how she had fallen asleep, let alone in the unfamiliar surroundings. She sat up took take it all in better and felt the soft texture of thick cotton surround her body. Looking down, she was dressed in a very eastern look. Her legs covered in black pants that might be considered harem pants, and her upper body adorned in a loose tunic of like coloring covering all except her hands, though her head and face were left unmasked. From her travels – particularly those that had gotten her dead in the first place – she recalled a special warrior, a spy more or less called the ninja. They were masters of every fighting technique, and she had only heard the stories of their exploits. She only knew this much and that they were a neutral fighting trust who would not take sides for a battle, but would aid both nonetheless. Why she was dressed as such a fighter, she could not figure out.

Standing up, she walked over quietly to the tent entrance, seeing two guards posted. Somehow she deemed this a part of the plan to get her back to life, but for the life – or death – of her, could not figure out why. Not one to be content without answers, she poked her head out. Outside she saw the tournament field, or what she thought to be one, that she and Gabrielle had seen from a distance. She looked over at the man before her to her right. To her left there was a woman guard, perhaps half a hand shorter than herself. That was a surprise to Xena only in that women were rarely made to stand watch in the male dominant world she knew – unless you were an amazon of course.

She turned to the woman guard, "What's going on over there?" she asked.

"A fight," she said curtly, Xena only gave her an amused and somewhat confused look, before the woman guard looked up, "Weren't you told? You are to fight a warrior to the death."

What in Tartarus does death have to do with my life? Xena asked herself. Waiting a beat, she looked down, "Who am I fighting?"

"I can't tell you, because I don't know. Both of you will be masked anyway. Now get back in the tent before I have to force you in." Her voice was stern and commanding, neither of which concerned the experienced warrior, but she obliged nevertheless.

"Where are you Gabrielle?" She asked the air around her, not expecting an answer.

Gabrielle came to a clearing, and saw that field she and Xena had observed from afar. There were tents scattered and banners flying. Definitely for a show of some kind, she mused to herself. Nearby the heard the rustling of leaves and turned her attention to it. Caught off guard, about five men stepped out, all armed and directed to her.

"Gabrielle, no one will hurt you, come with me," one of them chimed in. The young warrior did not flinch when he knew her name…after the excitement of her previous encounters, she didn't doubt that there could be much else in the way of surprises.

"Where are we going?" she asked, a touch concerned that she had no idea who these men were.

"There is a fight, and you are one of the participants," The leader said back.

"A fight?!" Gabrielle found herself stopping in her tracks a moment before being pushed forward.

"Yes," was the only answer she got from him.

They walked along until they reached an assortment of tents. Shoving her gently, the guard handed her a folded pile of dark navy cloths. "Put those one, you will be asked to fight with the mask on, so don't forget it."

Gabrielle nodded in acknowledgment. As the men who escorted her had left, she sat down a moment on a small stool provided for her. Now confused, and not knowing what to do or what was going on, besides there being 'a fight', she sighed and made quick work of changing.

"It's time," a gruff voice echoed in Xena's ears and her attention was now acute. She nodded resigning herself to this fight. She walked out to a field and saw her opponent. She sized the smaller warrior up with her eyes. The clothes prevented her from distinguishing a sex, but he was about Gabrielle's height and looked sturdy. Just the way her opponent walked, she assumed 'he' – for lack of a better substitute – was well built and formidable. Still, there was something oddly familiar about his presence, very oddly.

Gabrielle stood out on her end of the field, her opponent stood, and the warrior-bard knew 'he' was looking at her. She didn't know why she always assumed a masked, unknown figure was given the male title automatically. Strangely enough, her taller opponent had an air of femininity, making a gender harder to distinguish. There was something very strange indeed, for there was a personal familiarity to the tall form across the field.

They were handed simple, but well crafted swords. They both tested the weight in their hands. Xena grinned beneath her mask at the similar habit of the other fighter. Walking out to the center of the green arena, they stopped short several feet apart, neither of them pinpointing the aura of familiarity between them. Before either of them made eye contact, a voice was heard overhead near the balcony. Strange, they both thought, that wasn't there before.

"This, is a fight to the death!" a male voice shouted, "No one is to speak, not even the fighters. Any refusal to do so will result in your own deaths." In an amusing way, there was no one but the guards, the current speaker, or Xena and Gabrielle who could talk and break the rules. That is… until they both looked up to see who he was talking about, and saw a crowd of shouting and cheering people. "Let the fight, begin!" was the cry; the crowds fell silent and both women stood back a moment, before pulling their weapons up, now ready for the challenge.

Circling each other for a moment, Xena struck first, taking a backhanded sweep with her blade as she aimed for the smaller warrior's neck. It was blocked with ease and the navy fighter stepped back to relieve the tension before making her own sweep to Xena's side and then a quick jab at the chest as the first move was blocked followed by the next blow. Gabrielle could feel the heat between them, and her opponent was strong, and very good. Too good, she thought as she blocked a thrust to her gut. This continued as they kept their eyes on each other, but were too up in the moment of concentration to really think about the surge of familiar presence they had. Xena took a kick to the jaw from Gabrielle and another in her stomach, throwing her off for a moment, but not long enough for the smaller woman as Xena lunged with an overhead strike. Gabrielle felt the strain of the blow and lost her balance. Xena released the lock she had, and came around with a sweep, knocking the bard off her feet. Not willing to give up, when the next blow came from the taller warrior, she blocked and held it as Xena strained to crush the navy covered warrior. Their eyes met, jade to sapphire and it hit them in the gut harder than any of the initiated blows between them. Like a bolt of electricity they separated as if stung with a burning wound.

"Gabrielle?" Xena said, panting. She couldn't believe she had been fighting the woman who meant everything and more to her, and tried to kill her. Most off all, the lack or recognition on her part weighed heavily on her heart and made her feel sick.

The bard too felt this, and nearly retched on the spot before regaining her composure. She had tried to kill her best friend and soulmate. How could I have not recognized her? This question baffled both of their minds and they were oblivious to the harassing shouts of the tournament host and the crowd. All they could do was pull each other into a tight embrace and held it for what seemed an eternity, tears welled up in both their eyes as neither of them could believe what had happened, or how they let it happen.

"I'm sorry Gabrielle," Xena spoke first, shaking her head in disbelief. Gabrielle on her part could only shake her head, still speechless from the ordeal. They stayed that way for what seemed forever before a man and woman guard came out to greet them, only the greeting looked anything but friendly. The man who was announcing the fight came out too.

"You need to kill her!" They shouted, "it's in the rules, Xena…you must obey them. Kill your friend."

"I can't," Xena said, removing her mask as her blackened hair fell out, "I won't," She stood in front of Gabrielle, "and I don't want to."

The woman guard, the same who had spoken to the blue eyed warrior earlier, "What if we said that was the way to come back to life? Hmm, your bard here even said she would give up her life without hesitation for the return of yours."

"I can't, I won't let you do this Gabrielle," Xena said, turning to her partner. Gabrielle started to protest, but was silenced by two long fingers in her lips. "No, Gabrielle, I don't care," she said quietly, "I would rather spend an eternity by your side as a ghost, than an eternity in heaven without you… If," her words became softer with a quiet pain, "if your desire is to live without me until your time comes, I accept your decision. I won't have you sacrificing yourself for my life, and I don't think I could forgive myself if I was the hand that took your life away for mine."

Gabrielle felt tears in her eyes and caressed her soulmate's cheek softly, "It was a good try then Xena," she sniffled, "I love you." She pulled herself into Xena's chest and held her tightly, never wanting to let go.

"You can still have your life back Xena," came the familiar voice of Ares.

"Stay back you bastard!" the angered warrior said, her blue eyes ignited with an internal fire, "You put us up to this...impossible task, you know I could never kill her."

Aphrodite appeared, changing from the woman figure into her own, "Xena, this was a test."

"A test?" Xena exhaled with a mix of exasperation, anger and annoyance, "of what? You know I will do anything for Gabrielle, and you also know I won't stoop to killing her, even for my own life!"

"It wasn't to prove that you would kill her, or not, it was to see how far you would go, and what you would do when the window of opportunity came…how you would react, if you could find Gabrielle in her eyes alone and not care if you stayed dead," the goddess sighed, "We knew he whole time you would pass, but you had to prove it to all the gods…"

"Now what?" Gabrielle chimed in with an optimistic hope in her voice, "What's left to do?"

Ares spoke first to both of them, "In order to be brought back to life, you both need to sacrifice. Xena, you need to sacrifice Gabrielle and Gabrielle your life for Xena's. But you both get them returned," he added hastefully, "If the love you two share is pure, are you willing to throw yourselves into the volcano for each other, knowing it might not work?"

There was silence. The bard spoke first, "Alright…I'll do it, for love." She managed a weak smile.

"Gabrielle…" her tall companion started.

"No Xena, we have to put our trust somewhere," the blond warrior spoke calmly, "lets do it with each other."

"Alright" Xena said weakly as she broke into a proud grin. They walked hand in hand up the mountain, with only each other and the love they shared between them.

"Gabrielle, are you…"

"Yes…I'm sure, Xena," the bard answered calmly. They neared the top of the volcanic mountain and could feel the heat radiating towards them. Up ahead, they saw a cloaked figure, it was obviously male from the masculine voice that came from his figure.

"Are you prepared to risk everything, for her life, Gabrielle? You said so before, can you say it now?" He asked solemnly in a thick, unnerving monotone. She nodded and swallowed. Xena did the same. "Then come with me to the edge of your fate." They walked over tentatively, but with each other found nothing but confidence and pride.

The elderly man told them he would recite the incantations, and then they would jump together. Time stood still as he prepared his prayer. "From the earth we are born, and to the earth we return," he shouted, "Through the fires of conflict and the binding of souls, true love is redeemed…"

His chanting continued, but neither Xena nor Gabrielle heard it. They simply looked at each other, their shared gaze of green and blue never parted between them while everything seemed to halt around them.

"I love you Xena…" Gabrielle said quietly.

"I love you too Gabrielle," They smiled knowingly at each other, and only heard the ending of the incantation.

"…Return to the earth if your hearts are worthy, and may two halves of one soul, be reunited on earth, as they are meant to be!" There was a deafening silence, not even they wind was heard. The warrior and bard's breath became labored and all focus rested on each other. They nodded to each other and jumped into the molten lava, never releasing the grip on each other's hands. Neither felt the burning of heat, nor thought of anyone or anything but her eternal companion at her side.

Gabrielle felt warmth, a solid tangible warmth across her skin. She didn't want to stand up, or pull away...didn't want to do anything that would prove this an illusion. She was too afraid it wasn't real. It smelled like Xena, so refreshingly like Xena…she had missed it. Ghosts don't have scents, no matter how much you can hold them and still wish they smelled human. She didn't even open her eyes, it was too much to take in, too much not to be real and she didn't want it to end. She felt a gentle stroking on her back through the thick fabric of her tunic, she not only felt the fingertips, but they had weight to them. She reluctantly pulled back and found a face so familiar, that it was the most beautiful thing to look at.

Xena smiled only the smile she could, not saying a word. She held her hands up and looked at them. To her they felt, different; death feels so much different than life, and yet, when one is a ghost who can hold people, the reality never sets in. They hadn't spoken and the warrior held out her hand Gabrielle's face and could feel warmth – her own against someone else's. She stroked the bard's face lightly.

"We're back," Xena managed softly. Gabrielle nodded and pulled herself back into a warm hug, her face resting lightly on the warrior's chest. They held each other for several minutes more before Xena stood up to stretch, pulling her companion up with her. Still adorned in the clothes they fought in, they walked off hand in hand to the nearby marketplace. Gabrielle smiled when she saw a familiar street vendor selling scrolls, and smiled wider when she looked up again at her soulmate grinning back at her, with all the love anyone could ask for and more.

"Welcome home, Xena…" Gabrielle said for only the warrior's ears.

"Only if you're with me." They smiled and started to walk off to an unknown destination.

"Gabrielle?" Xena asked quietly, her eyes still focused on the undefined road before her.

"Yes, Xena?" Gabrielle responded curiously.

Xena's face took on a mischievous smirk as she turned to face the bard, "Do you think we can practice that water passing thing again anytime soon? I'm thinking it may come in handy and you know what they say, 'practice makes perfect."

Gabrielle only grinned while taking Xena's arm in her's as they walked off to live another day by each other's side.

Part I

Fanfic | Main Index