Author's Note: 
This story was written on June 27, 2001, shortly after FIN aired in the U.S. Although it was intended to be a short story, it ended up becoming the prequel to the longer story, The Curse of Higuchi. Because of the controversial nature of this and the full length story, I have withheld sharing You Should Have and COH, with the majority of the public, and have only submitted it to a few chosen sites. The purpose of writing this story was not to cause the controversy and outrage that was originally received by it, but it was written for two reasons. First and foremost, it was written as a way to cheer up my best friend, Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger, after the disappointment of FIN. Secondly, I wrote it as a way to urge others to not give up on the Xena dream simply because of FIN. I truly believed then, and I still believe, that like Star Trek, Xena will end only when the fans and fan fiction writers lose interest in keeping the dream alive. As long as we read and write Xena Fan Fiction, the show, in my opinion, will never die. Hopefully my predictions will be fulfilled and we will be able to see the longevity of this campy little action adventure, just as we've witnessed the longevity of Star Trek.

Credits:
For Jessica, my wife and soul mate.  She doesn't realize it yet, but I've taken great liberty with her Moroccan heritage. To Scotty who has passed away from his human body, but whose spirit is never really that far away.  And lastly, to Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger, if it hadn't been for her sadness over FIN, I might not have thrown my hat into the Xena Fan Fiction world. 

Disclaimer:  Xena Warrior Princess, its characters, and all related materials are the property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures and are not mine, if they were, I certainly wouldn't have ended the show with FIN. The other characters are mine.  Like the show, I am playing around with the historical time lines.
Rated:  PG-13
Violence:  None
Sexual Violence:  None
Subtext:  Yes

Although Gabrielle knew that it was the same size, this cabin seemed so much larger.  For some reason, on their journey to Japa, there didn't seem to be enough room for her and Xena, let alone their bags of clothing and weapons.  Now, with everything stowed away, Gabrielle discovered that there was ample room in this cabin. 

With a sigh, the small blonde laid back on the bunk and stared up at the ceiling.  As an afterthought, she sat up and reached for the familiar satchel. When found, the bard pulled her bag of clothing onto the bunk.  In an absent manner she lightly touched the lid of the urn that sat nestled deep within the bag.  Even after the few weeks at sea, she had not found a place to set the urn within her cabin.  A part of her mind told her that she wanted it safe, yet if she delved deeper into her emotions, she knew that she would have to admit that she was depressed, and simply didn't feel like bothering with it just yet.

Once assured that her bag was in order, the bard stretched out on the bunk. 'The last time, there wasn't even room to stretch, especially with the way Xena liked to sprawl and hang on me,' Gabrielle thought as her sadness began to take hold. If she had one wish to make, it would be to have her lover back, the two of them complaining about the cramped conditions of their room, like they did on their first journey.  As the memories of their shared past flooded through her mind, a single tear threatened to fall. With a shake of her head, the lithe warrior rose to her feet.

"No time," she said out loud as she moved to the contents of her bag.  In a hurried fashion she began to shuffle through her clothes and attempted to find a suitable garment to wear for her dinner with the captain.

With an inward smile, Gabrielle chose a turquoise outfit and held it up. It had been so long since anyone had looked at her in that way and the bard was finding the attention appealing.  The open looks of desire aimed toward her had been long forgotten until the Moroccan captain. Ever since she was with Xena, no one had dared to look at her in that manner. And although the warrior sometimes gazed at her with desire, it was always masked in subterfuge.  Like an old married couple, the open flirtation and courtship had become subdued with time.  Now the interested glances that were a thing of her past, were suddenly aimed at her again, and she found it flattering.

As Gabrielle changed into the turquoise outfit, her thoughts wandered to the captain.  If she had still been the little girl from Potidaea, Gabrielle might have been surprised to see a female captain on the ship.  But since her travels with Xena, she had become accustomed to seeing and expecting women to hold more prominent roles in life. 

While she dressed, Gabrielle thought over the captain's actions towards her. She wasn't certain what had initially attracted the tall woman's attention and the bard assumed it was because of the open acceptance and respect that she showed toward the captain. As she pondered the tall Moroccan's affection, she donned the silk shirt. Absently, she pulled up the dark trousers, fastened the leather belt, and then casually smoothed out the soft fabric.

"I can't believe you're actually going through with this!"  Xena's voice startled her from her thoughts.

"Jeeze, Xena, the least you can do is warn me when you pop in like that!" Gabrielle scolded and negatively shook her head as she resumed dressing.

With an almost childish pout, Xena leaned against the cabin's wall, her arms folded dejectedly in front of her.  The ghost warrior's eyes followed Gabrielle's every move.  Her jealous action was not lost on the smaller woman who continued to act nonchalantly.  As if angered by her actions, Xena huffed as she turned her glance upward toward the ceiling.

"You know, she only wants one thing." Xena's voice was low and controlled, the familiar tone indicating that the ghost was attempting to sound authoritative.

"Oh, and what might that be?" Gabrielle innocently asked, careful to remain impassive as she leaned down to clinch up her boots.

"Oh gods, Gabrielle! Can't you see that she has only has one thing on her mind?" Xena groused, her teacher tone suddenly disappearing as she began to pace the length of the cabin.

With an impish grin, Gabrielle glanced up at her ghost lover.  Fully aware of what really bothered her lover, she stood and smiled before the spirit of her soul mate.  She waited a few minutes in silence as she watched the warrior's anger boiling over. When Xena finally stopped her pacing, she looked down into the bard's shinning eyes.

"You're jealous," the bard smiled as she stated the obvious.

Like a child caught sneaking a sweet, Xena's face perched into a look of amazed innocence as she shook her head negatively.  "I am NOT jealous," the warrior attempted to proclaim her innocence.

"No?  Then what are you?" Gabrielle's brow cocked inquisitively as she leaned against the bunk, the challenge apparent in her voice.

In an attempt to think of a response, Xena visibly frowned, then waved toward the weapons bag emphatically.  "I just don't want her to get her hands on my chakram!" Xena exclaimed.

Both brows shot up as Gabrielle reached toward the bags and removed the lethal weapon from its confines.  "You mean my chakram," she corrected mischievously.

"That's mine!" Xena proclaimed, a look of shock on her face.

"Not anymore.  It's mine now," Gabrielle replied smoothly as she hooked the weapon to her belt.

"B-But...." Xena stammered, "It was mine!"

"Yeah, well," Gabrielle turned away from Xena to keep the ghost from seeing her smile. "You should have thought of that before you wouldn't let me bring you back to life, Warrior Princess."

Appalled by her response, Xena's face held an expression of disbelief.

"W-Well...." Xena stammered as she looked around, trying to come up with a response to the bard.

"Well what?" Gabrielle spun on the taller woman, as she struggled to hold her stoic expression.  "Are you sure it's only the chakram that you're worried about?"

At her question, Xena shook her head and resumed pacing the length of the cabin.  "Gabrielle, you just have to be careful.  I know women like that.  I once was a woman like that, and let me tell you, it isn't your conversation that she's after!" Xena reiterated strongly as she wagged her finger first toward the outside deck, then at the blonde.

"Oh, are you saying that she may be after..." Gabrielle turned away and reached for the katana. "This?" she asked deadpan.

"No, that's not what I'm saying..." Xena stammered. "It's just..."

"You're jealous!" the bard smiled triumphantly as she leaned toward her tall lover.

"No I'm not!" the leather clad warrior emphatically protested.

"You're jealous," Gabrielle whispered as she smiled and leaned toward her lover.  "Come on, Warrior Princess, admit it.  You are jealous!" She stated as she lightly danced around her ghost lover.  "She's jealous `cause she thinks I'm sexy!" Gabrielle allowed her words to sound like a child's nursery rhyme.

In the manner that Gabrielle was accustomed to, Xena attempted to make light of the situation.  "No, that's not it at all." Xena's words brought Gabrielle to stillness.

"Good, because I do intend to enjoy myself tonight," the bard played into Xena's bluff as she returned the katana to the bunk.  With an air of calmness, the smaller woman looked into the small reflecting glass and ran her fingers through her short hair as she allowed a soft hum of a song to pass her lips.

"And... h-how much enjoyment will you receive exactly?"  Xena asked inquisitively while she tried to portray nonchalance by examining her fingernails.

"Oh... I don't know." Gabrielle could see the tall woman's calm expression turn frantic in the mirror's reflection. With brows furrowed, the ghost warrior gazed down at the bard.  Enjoying the moment, Gabrielle straightened her garments.  "I guess we'll just have to wait and see how much the captain will like to... ummm, share," she replied casually as she turned to face Xena, the teasing smile turning the corner of her lips slightly.

"Gabrie..." Xena began to protest, but Gabrielle held her hand up to silence her soul mate.

"Xena, I'm not getting any younger, and I am still alive.  I do have needs! One of which is sharing with a warm, living body!" she proclaimed with a suppressed smile.  "And since you can't provide it, Warrior Princess," she tapped Xena's chest for emphasis, "I've got to find release somewhere, now, don't I?"

Xena pulled away from the poking finger as she said with a shrill in her voice, "Gabrielle, I'm not even buried yet! By the gods, you haven't even placed my ashes in the family tomb! Couldn't you at least let some time pass first?" Xena pointed toward the urn.

"Xena, I promised you three things. One, to return your ashes to your family tomb, two, to always keep you in my heart, and three, to not mix up your ashes with the tea."  She counted each point on her fingers, than added, "Now, in my defense, it was a really long trip just reaching the shores of Higuchi, add to that that I'm all alone!"  Gabrielle knew this statement would bring out a reaction from her lover.

"B-But, Gabrielle...didn't I please you during the trip?  I mean, what was that about?" Xena's expression turned to one of sadness.

Smiling at the memories of those days, Gabrielle allowed her mind to remember the nights of their journey.  Although Xena's body was no longer with her, their lovemaking had taken a new, different route.  Gabrielle quickly discovered that spirits could give pleasure just as well as solid, human forms could. In fact, the sensations seemed more intensified than she ever remembered it being when Xena was alive. Idly, the bard often wondered if this was behind all of the tales of incubus encounters. With a shake of her head, Gabrielle pulled her mind to her current situation.

"For your information, Xena, I like to drink, too.  Or have you forgotten that so soon?!"  She reminded the taller warrior. At the bard's words, Xena's mouth formed a sly smile as she tilted her head slightly. A slight blush covered her ghostly complexion as she remembered the times when her smaller lover would drink to her heart's desire.

"Yeah, I know how insatiable your thirst can be," she smirked, but realizing her words, she suddenly frowned and glanced down at Gabrielle, "Oh gods, Gabrielle!  I'm sorry, but..." her words were cut short by the wave of Gabrielle's hand.

"But what?" Gabrielle challenged.

"But..." Xena stammered as her mind raced to find a solution that absolved her. "I-I..."

"Yeah?" Gabrielle stood with her arms crossed as she watched her lover searching for words. 

"But I don't want you to go with another... well, not yet anyway." Xena's harrumphed as she tried to plead her case.

"Oh really," Gabrielle was fighting down the urge to laugh at her lover's situation. "Well, Xena, you should have thought of that before deciding to keep me from bringing you back," her words took on the form of a litany.

Before anything more could be said, a gentle knock was heard against the cabin door.

"Come in," Gabrielle said as she cast a warning glare at Xena.

"Are you alone?" the tall, dark hair captain asked as she looked around the empty cabin.  With an expression of confusion, the tall woman gazed at Gabrielle with intense blue eyes. Her look was one of confusion and searching. With only a wave of her hand, the bard pushed away the query.

"Yes, quite alone," Gabrielle attempting to smile as she watched Xena mimicking the captain's words and stance. With supreme strength, the bard managed to maintain an innocent expression as she watched her ghost lover's comical antics.

"Oh, I thought I heard you talking to someone," the woman's medium complexion glowed in the last rays of sunlight shining through the small cabin window.

"Just me," Gabrielle explained with a shrug as she moved toward the woman.

"Oh...." The captain seemed genuinely confused as she glanced into Gabrielle's eyes.  "Well then, if you are ready," she offered her arm to Gabrielle.  Taking her cue, Gabrielle lightly placed her hand on the captain's arm as they moved from the room.

Before Xena could mimic the woman's actions, she caught the icy cold glare of her bard and stood frozen.  As if satisfied, Gabrielle nodded toward her, and then closed the cabin door. With only a toothy growl, Xena turned and slammed her fist against the wall, flinching when she felt it go through the hard wood.

When she had first boarded the ship, Gabrielle hadn't known that the imposing woman understood her language.  She assumed that no one on the ship could understand her and for the first few weeks, she was aware of the captain's weakly veiled scrutiny.  The warrior bard knew that the leader of the ship was maintaining a stoic distance, while watching her every move.  After a time, in a way that Gabrielle would have least expected it, the captain revealed that not only could she understand Gabrielle, but she could converse with her fluently.

Now, spending time alone, away from the watchful eyes of her crew, the captain was relaxed and able to share more of herself than Gabrielle had thought she would reveal.  During her journeys with Xena, Gabrielle had become accustomed to meeting people different from herself.  She found the varied backgrounds to be intriguing and the exotic captain was no different.  Her family was from a place called Morocco, in the Northern most part of Africa and she was born into a large family of all boys, which accounted for her fighting and negotiating skills. Although she had known many hardships in her life, the tall woman had always managed to come out on top.

As the evening progressed, Gabrielle found herself comparing the ship's captain with Xena.  She stood at the same height as the warrior, and her hair was just as long and black.  But unlike her soul mate, the captain's hair fell in loose, thick, wavy curls like the mane of a lion. In  contrast to Xena, the captain's complexion was a dusky tone.

Her voice, rather than stern and controlled as Xena's could be, was soft and melodic and held a tinge of an accent.  Each story she narrated, was given in such vivid descriptions that Gabrielle could actually see the pictures in her mind. The emptiness and heartache she had felt since losing Xena seemed like a numbing pain that was beginning to heal with each story from the charming captain.

"But listen to me..." the captain's sudden words brought Gabrielle back to the present.  "I'm talking your ear off and I have yet to hear your story," she exclaimed as she reached for the wine decanter and poured some dark liquid into the bard's glass.

"No, it's all right.  Your stories are so entertaining. It's almost hard to believe that someone else has experienced so much...someone other than myself and ..." the blonde's words stopped as she thought of her deceased lover.

With a smile of understanding, the captain gently patted Gabrielle's hand.  "Something terrible must have happened to you," the Moroccan woman spoke with such sympathy. 

The bard turned her gaze away from the captain's exquisite blue eyes as she fought for control. Before she could respond, a slight gust of cold air suddenly filled the room.  Gabrielle's senses were pricked as she glanced suspiciously around the shadows of the cabin.  Sensing the change in temperature, the captain rose from the pillows and moved to light more candle lamps.

"I am sorry. This old ship is faithful, but she tends to be drafty at times," she apologized as she lit another candle.  Before she could move to the third one, a slight breeze blew out the first candle.  Puzzled, the captain's brows furrowed as she glanced at the first candle, then slightly shrugged as she moved to light it again.  As the first candle lighted, the second one blew out.

Gabrielle knew the culprit behind the mysterious wind and frowned as she gazed deeper into the shadows.  Sensing that Gabrielle was not amused, Xena smiled shyly as her ghostly form stepped from the shadows by the candle lamps.  With only a shrug of her shoulders the warrior waved, then moved to sit behind the large desk.  As the blonde returned her attention to the captain, she caught Xena examining the nautical instruments on the desk.  When the captain turned from her task, she followed Gabrielle's gaze and looked at her desk.

"I know, it's atrocious. I really must clean up my desk sometime," the woman smiled as she offered a hand out toward Gabrielle.  Smiling at the chivalry, Gabrielle took the offered hand and allowed herself to be led to a nearby couch.  "I'm sure you haven't known anyone as messy as I am," the captain mused with a slight laughter in her voice.

"Oh, I wouldn't bet on that!" Gabrielle replied as she cast Xena an evil grin.

The captain laughed.  "So tell me about yourself, Gabrielle," her tone grew softer as she turned her full attention to the bard.  Gabrielle felt her cheeks flushing from the intense attention.

"There really isn't much to tell," she said, as the captain reached out and lightly brushed the back of her hand against the bard's cheek. 

Gabrielle could see from the corner of her eye the look of shock and anger from Xena, but as she turned slightly to glimpse at the ghost, Xena looked briskly away and averted her attention to the maps on the desk.  As if ignoring everything in the room, Xena's brows were furrowed while she innocently tapped on the top of the desk map with her fingertip.

"No, I'm sure I'm not that different from the other women you know," the blonde spoke softly as she lowered her eyes shyly, then returned her attention to the captain.

"Nonsense," the captain's voice purred as she tenderly held Gabrielle's hand,  "I've never met anyone as beautiful as you, so it must be that you are unlike anyone I've ever met," her whispered words sounding like a soft melody.

Gabrielle must have heard a million lines in her life, but this one, spoken from such a soft voice, might have been enough to sway her at a different place and time.  And although she still felt the pain of losing Xena, she felt captivated by the soothing tone of this strong woman.  The captain leaned towards the bard's ear as if to whisper something softly. 

Sensing her complacency, the captain's lips lightly touched her earlobe.  With her eyes closed, Gabrielle leaned into the caresses. She felt her mouth opening in a silent gasp as the sensuous feelings seared through her. For what felt like an eternity in time, she allowed herself the luxury of enjoying the softness of the woman who was laying a slow, light trail of gentle kisses from her ear, down her neck, and over her cheek and to her lips. In that short moment in time, the bard felt herself melting into the captain's soft kiss. 

When their lips met, Gabrielle felt only a moment's hesitation before her mouth opened and allowed the kiss to linger, to explore the warmth of the captain's mouth.  The blonde unconsciously felt her arms reach out and hold the warm body close.  For a moment, she could no longer feel the cotton fabric of the captain's shirt but instead felt the bare arms, filled with strength, surrounding her.  Her memory felt lost in the touch of her warrior lover as her heart cried out for Xena ...

A thunderous crash pulled them apart.  Shocked back into reality, Gabrielle was gasping as she opened her eyes and realized that this was not her warrior princess who held her close.  As she fought to regain composure, the captain rose from her seat and moved to the edge of the table.  The half filled decanter of wine now lay spilled on the cabin's floor.

"I am sorry," the captain attempted to apologize as she removed the broken shards.  "Let me get this mess cleaned before it starts to smell like a brothel," she said as she left the room.

Gabrielle nodded understanding as she watched the captain's retreating form.  She reached up and touched her lips with a shaky hand as the vivid images returned.  The blonde closed her eyes as a flood of memories crossed her senses.  Not for the first time, her heart cried out for the loss of her love - her soul mate.  For a moment, she  thought she was going to lose it all and break down in fits of tears again, until the sound of a clearing throat caught her attention.

"You like to make messes now?" Gabrielle's deep voice accused with a smile as she suppressed the onslaught of tears before looking up at Xena.

"Sorry," was all the warrior offered as she glanced down at the spilled wine.  "It wasn't a very good year anyway," Xena shrugged and moved to sit beside Gabrielle, her back stiff as her hands rested easily on her knees.

"S-So...you like her?" Xena hesitantly asked in a soft voice as she glanced around the cabin.

With a smile and a shake of her head, Gabrielle leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. A tired sigh escaped her control. "She's nice, but I've only known her for a short time," is all she could reply for fear that her pain of losing her beloved would surface in front of her ghost lover.

Xena took in her words as she examined Gabrielle closely.  She seemed as if she wanted to ask a question, but instead, the warrior princess only sighed as she glanced around the room, then turned her attention back to the bard.  Without voicing her pain, Gabrielle found the courage to smile as she looked into the ghostly eyes of her lover. 

"I love you Xena.  That will never change."  Her voice was soft as she held Xena's cold, spirit hand in hers.  Gabrielle watched as the usually stoic warrior's eyes glazed over with moisture. 

"I..." Xena began to say, but Gabrielle quieted her words with her two fingers. 

"Shush, it's ok.  I know." Gabrielle tenderly wiped the single tear that fell down the warrior's cheek.

Their moment of tenderness ended with the sound of footfalls and crashing containers.  With the ship's stewards and the little crew member in tow, the captain gave brisk orders and watched their evening meal quickly picked up.  With a smile that never stopped, the little dark hair girl glanced at them, then waved before taking a cloth to wipe up the wine that had seeped into the cracks of the floor.  Like the whirlwind of their entrance, the scullery crew quickly left the room.

"Now, where were we," the captain's seductive voice asked as she reached a hand of offering to Gabrielle.

"Well..." Gabrielle heard Xena say as she moved away, "I guess that's my cue to leave."  She hesitated as she glanced toward Gabrielle. "I mean, I don't want to interfere with your night," the warrior shrugged as she looked from the captain to Gabrielle.

As the captain smiled at Gabrielle, she asked a wordless question by nodding toward her bunk.  With this overtly sexual invitation, Xena visibly frowned as she made a fist and her voice took on deepness. 

"No telling what I might do if I stay...might just end up pushing a certain captain out of a bed, or something," she threatened, then seeing Gabrielle, she innocently smiled weakly, growled once at the captain, before smiling again at her lover.  The combination of Xena's words and actions brought a slight chuckle from the blonde.  Suppressing her smile, the bard held the back of her hand to her lips as she looked up innocently at the captain.

"Gabrielle, I've never had a woman laugh at my offer before," the captain's voice was genuinely hurt as a look of surprise crossed her features.

Gabrielle waved away her words as she attempted to control her fit of giggles.

"I'll just be up top then," Xena interrupted again as she moved toward the closed door.  With a look of innocence, she nodded at Gabrielle and then disappeared through the closed door.

"I'm sorry," Gabrielle managed to control her giggles as she looked up at the captain.  "It's not the offer...honest!" she said as the vision of Xena pushing all of her suitors off of the bed crossed her mind.

"I understand," the captain's bright white smile put her at ease.

This had not turned out as she had planned, Xena thought as a night watchman's humming echoed into the night.  When she first decided to go to Japa, it had not been her intention to get herself killed, but like most things about her, she had simply walked into it.  Once in it, she couldn't think of any way to avoid the outcome of her own death.

The ghost warrior knew that this was a mess that she could not get herself out of.  In the past, she was always able to find ways back from the dead, but now that she was having regrets about her actions, she could find no solution for coming back to life. As the sudden realization hit her, she sighed as she gazed up at the twinkling stars.

Xena realized for the first time that this was where she had made the mistake.  She had always tried to be in control of her life, always tried to do what was best for the people who fell victim to her past actions.  Now she realized she had hurt the one person who meant the world to her.  Although she was no longer a cold blooded killer, her nature of running headlong into danger hurt the one person closest to her.  Like in the past, her thoughtless actions had brought nothing but pain to the one woman, whom she had come to know as her soul mate.

With a shake of her head, Xena stood tall and allowed the night winds to brush pass her form.  The warrior knew that Gabrielle would have joined her to the ends of the earth, and this was why she should have consulted with her lover long before deciding to run head first into the fires of Japa.  Maybe then they wouldn't be in this mess.  Had she simply trusted her partner's judgment, as she did during the Higuchi fires, Gabrielle might have found another way to solve the problem of the lost souls of Higuchi.  Then maybe she would not be finding herself alone on the ship's deck while her lover was being made love to by another woman.  If only she had done things differently, it would be her and not a ship's captain who shared with Gabrielle tonight, she thought as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Xena remained silent as Gabrielle finished fastening her belt, then adjusted her top.  Gabrielle could feel her lover's protective wall firmly in place. Ignoring Xena's stance, she leaned against the rail and watched as the morning sun rose over the distant horizon.

"She still asleep?"  Xena's voice was neutral as she spoke.

Maintaining her own control, Gabrielle sighed as she stood by the tall woman's side.  "Yes, like a baby," she answered as she saw Xena wince from the words.

"Good...good," Xena's voice remained controlled. "First time with you usually ends up that way," Xena commented dryly as she tried to lace her words with a chuckle.

Gabrielle smiled as she remembered the first time that she had made love to Xena.  It was true that they both had slept for a long time afterward, and the innocent girl in her wasn't all together certain if that was normal, or if she was perhaps doing something wrong.  In her mind, anything that caused such fatigue must not be right, but eventually, the bard learned that with them, their energy was drained because of the intensity of their love making.

"So... Gabrielle," Xena's voice remained neutral as she seemed to be asking a question, but was hesitant to verbalize.

"Yes?" Gabrielle maintained her stoic expression.  With an inward smile, the bard crossed her arms as she gazed off at the dark sea. She absently watched the distant waves while waiting patiently for the warrior to verbalize her unspoken fears.

"Are you... I mean, will you be..." Xena seemed unable to find her voice.

Smiling, Gabrielle tilted her head as she gazed up at the ghost.  At that instant, she felt the cold sea air brush past her short locks. For a moment, the bard basked in the light touches of the wind.  She inhaled the scent of the sea, then opened her eyes, and looked up at Xena.  "Will I be staying with her?"

"Well... yeah." The ghost warrior seemed afraid of Gabrielle's response.

"No," Gabrielle shook her head as a sigh of relief escaped Xena's control.  "She's nice, and very sweet, and compassionate..." she laughed as Xena turned away, her expression holding a mask of angst.

"Gabrielle, I don't need a full account!" Xena's anger began to seep through her voice as she tried to silence the bard's words with a wave of her hand. 

"Xena," Gabrielle lightly touched her lover's arm.  In a more forceful way of getting the bigger woman's attention, the blonde reached up and cupped the warrior's chin, forcing her to look down and face her.  "Xena, nothing happened."

"Nothing happened?" Xena asked disbelievingly. "Really?"

"Really!" Gabrielle smiled, then added in a teasing voice, "not that it couldn't, or wasn't about to..." she began to say with a slight chuckle in her voice.

"What?" The ghost warrior's eyes grew wide as her features looked down at her in fear.

"But nothing happened!" Gabrielle took hold of her lover's arm.  "Xena, you're my soul mate.  You are the one I'm meant to be with," she assured.

"Really?" Xena asked again as if needing reassurance.

"Yes, really.  And besides, Zara thinks she might know someone who can help." 

"Zara?" Xena rolled the name over her tongue as if trying to speak a new language, then she looked down at Gabrielle.

"Yes, Zara, the ship's captain," she began to explain nonchalantly.  "Anyway, while in bed together, she said that she might be able to help us."

"I thought you said you didn't do anything?" the tall woman pulled slightly away and gazed down at the bard as her eyes searched for answers.

"Oh, we didn't, Xena.  But we were in bed together, and it was then..." Gabrielle tried to continue, but was interrupted by the ghost's sharp voice.

"You were both in bed together?" Xena's back suddenly stiffed as she glared toward the captain's cabin.

"Well, yes... and while there..." Gabrielle held a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she kept her voice neutral.

"And how far did you get `into bed'?" Xena pulled away and crossed her arms in front of her as she glared down at the bard.

At the question, Gabrielle concealed her smile as she continued her story.  "Oh, we were in bed alright!" she nodded confirmation.

"And how familiar did you both get?" the warrior ghost failed to conceal her boiling wrath.

"Very familiar, why, I even noticed the birth mark on her..." the bard gazed down at herself and lightly touched at a spot on her left bosom.

"Never mind!" the ghost protesting halted the bard's words. With only a shake of her head, Xena turned and leaned back against the rail of the ship, "I don't need to know that!"  Xena cringed then looked back down inquisitively at the bard, "But nothing happened?"

"No, nothing.  But like I was saying, not that it couldn't because we were all over each other!" the smaller woman laughed as she remembered the clumsy attempts that they had both made with each other.  "Mind you, Xena, I was raring to go! Oh boy, was I ever in need!" the bard chuckled as she shook her head, then sobered when she saw the hurt in her lover's eyes. "But then," she smiled up at Xena and softly touched her cold cheek.  "Then I realized that she wasn't you, and... and something happened and next thing I know, I broke down and started crying. Xena, she was so kind to me, so gentle. She just held me tight as I took everything out on her. When I calmed down, I began to tell her everything about Higuchi."

"Y-You told her everything?" the tall warrior failed to mask her look of surprise.

"Well, just everything about the recent past.  I thought she was going to have me locked up the minute we get into port, but then she said that she understood."  Gabrielle laughed.  "Seems there are a few people in her family who not only see ghosts, but can have conversations with them as well!  So it wasn't that hard for her to grasp," she explained and allowed the information to sink in.

"Anyway, Xena, one of Zara's lovers might be able to help. Oh, by the way, you were right, Zara has a girl in every port.  Anyway, her lover, the one I'm talking about, she's a High Priestess in Egypt, and this woman has the magical power to bring all dead, even ashes, back to their former life!  All we have to do is get to the Temple of Isis on the island of Philae before the next rising of Al-Bahr!"

Xena smiled from ear to ear as she looked down at her lover. "Say that again."

"The whole thing?" Gabrielle looked exhausted as she gazed up at the warrior.

"You know, say it again," Xena smugly asked as she crossed her arms in satisfaction and leaned back against the railing.

Understanding her request, Gabrielle sighed as the smile crossed her lips.  "Yes, Xena, you were right.  Zara was only after one thing.  But she didn't get it this time," Gabrielle pointed out.

"Well that's good...for her sake, I mean," the humor rang out in Xena's voice.  "So, I gather we're going to see this lover of your captain's to see if she can help?"

"Yep, should be there by the New Year in plenty of time before the Nile rises."

"Good, I'd like to get my body back, and then I can get my chakram back," Xena stated with finality as a contented sigh escaped her control.

"Think again, Warrior Princess.  The chakram is mine," Gabrielle's voice held a steady tone.

"Gabrielle!  That's mine, you're going to give it back to me, right?" Xena pleaded as she looked down at her in disbelief.

In a teasing manner, Gabrielle seemed to be thinking about the question deeply before turning to her lover.  With a quickness, which surprised even Xena, she removed the chakram from her belt.

"This baby is mine!  You're going to have to find your own, Warrior Princess." The bards eyes crinkled as a smile crossed her lips.

"B-But..." Xena stammered, "There isn't another one like it, and the chakram has always been mine!"

"Nope," Gabrielle wagged her finger at Xena, "Not anymore.  It's mine now."  Gabrielle replied as she returned the weapon to her belt.

"B-But...But..." Xena stammered, "It was mine!"

"Yeah, well," Gabrielle turned away from Xena so that she wouldn't see her smile, "You should have thought of that before you wouldn't let me bring you back to life, Warrior Princess."

Shocked by her response, Xena's face held an expression of disbelief.  Now for the first time, Xena realized that this was a phrase she would be hearing for quite some time. With a shake of her head, she watched as her smaller lover turned to her. As she tilted her head slightly, the small blonde began to lightly dance around the ghost.

"You want it, you've got to get it, Warrior Princess!" Gabrielle teased as she took a fighting stance.  In mock battle mode, she held out both arms to her ghost lover, then wiggled her fingers, "Come on, Warrior Princess, take it from me if you can!"  the bard dared as she darted out of Xena's grasping hands.  "Is that all you can do!  Why, my mother's nurse maid could do better than that!" the small bard exclaimed as she began to dance  around the tall specter.

She had so much wanted to have the little blonde.  In all ways, the bard was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.  But Zara knew that such a union could never take place.  She was fully aware of the bond that some people shared, and knew that no matter how badly she wanted to make love to Gabrielle, it could never be.

With a smile, the Moroccan captain turned to her charts and she began to plot a new route.  It would take many moons of traveling, but once they reached the port of Philae, the High Priestess would be able to help both Gabrielle and her warrior lover.  With only a shake of her head, the tall woman began to make the mathematical calculations of their new route as she mentally chided herself for being a fool.

`No, it could be no other way' Zara mused.  `The two soul mates were always meant to be together, and such a strong bond can never be broken.'

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