The Good, The Bad and The Fangy
by dawnm
A Date With Fate
[reviews]
Author's Note: I want to take a moment to thank all of my loyal readers...you know who you are. Thank you for all of the great reviews. I have a new chapter for you. I hope you enjoy. Feedback nourishes the bard...so when you finish reading, please take a moment to review and let me know what you think.
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Chapter 11- A Date With Fate
The warrior and bard settled in each other's arms, savoring the intimacy in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Xena smiled as Gabrielle snuggled into her side, draping one leg over hers and wrapping an arm possessively around her waist. The bard placed a kiss on the warrior's shoulder, then paused to gaze up into tranquil blue eyes.
"Are you happy, Xena?" Gabrielle asked, favoring her lover with a sweet smile.
"More than happy." Xena said, caressing the bard's cheek. "What about you?"
Gabrielle smiled a blissful smile. "I had no idea that lovemaking was so wonderful. Why didn't you tell me, Xena?"
The warrior returned the smile and her eyes locked onto the curious green of her lover's. "I didn't know."
The bard opened her mouth to question her further, but closed it promptly when Xena's words registered. Still, the quizzical expression remained on her face, prompting the warrior to elaborate.
"Gabrielle, you know what my life was like before I met you." Xena's eyes pleaded understanding as much as her words. "Most of the people I shared a bed with would have killed me in my sleep given half a chance."
The bard hugged the warrior closer. "That's so sad, Xena."
"I know." She admitted. "But it's all in the past."
"Right." Gabrielle said, looking a little down.
Sensing the change in the bard's mood, Xena kissed her softly. "Hey...none of that matters now." The bard nodded weakly. "You make everything better."
"Really?"
"Every day that I'm with you heals my soul. I never thought it was possible...."
The bard smiled. "You know, I think I loved you the moment I saw you. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? But why do you think I followed you? I'd never even been out of Poteidia before and I just packed a bag and left home in search of you."
"It's not so crazy." Xena said with an easy smile. "Those slavers who had captured you and the other girls from your village...they almost got the best of me when I stopped mid-battle to look at you. There you were, just a young girl, standing in between the slavers and the rest of the girls, willing to risk yourself to save the others. I was so distracted by you that I almost got myself killed."
"No." The bard replied, shaking her head in disbelief. "You didn't even like me, Xena. You wouldn't let me come with you. And when I followed you, you were so mad."
"I was scared, Gabrielle." Xena said softly. "That's why I didn't want you to follow me. Besides, I didn't want you to get hurt."
The second part made sense. It was the first part that the bard was stuck on. "But what would you be scared of?"
"How I felt when I looked at you, Gabrielle. You affected me...and I had no control over it."
"All this time..." Tears welled up in the bard's eyes. "I never knew you felt that way."
"I always wanted you." Xena paused. "I didn't think I deserved you. So, I kept my distance."
"What about what I needed?" Gabrielle said softly. "I've never wanted anyone else. Just you, Xena. And when I thought you didn't want me...."
"It took me a while, but I finally figured that out ...how much I'd been hurting you by pushing you away. I was trying to protect you, Gabrielle, but I ended up hurting you." Apologetic blue eyes pleaded understanding.
"No more running?" The bard asked, her voice breaking.
"After tonight...I don't think I could, even if I wanted to." The warrior breathed, pulling the bard more fully into her arms.
"Thank you, Xena."
"For what?"
"For letting me in." Gabrielle said softly. "I know it's hard."
"You make it easier every day." The warrior confided, kissing her gently. The bard trembled at the tender kiss, framing Xena's face with her hands as if reminding herself that she was real.
When the kiss ended, Gabrielle wore a blissful smile. With a sigh, she rested her head on the warrior's chest, her hand slowly roaming her lover's torso. Xena closed her eyes trying to ignore the flash of desire, certain that the bard didn't realize what she was doing to her. A moment later, the warrior's eyes shot open when she felt soft lips, Gabrielle's lips, on her breast. The playful look on the bard's face left no doubt...she knew exactly what she was doing.
"Can I make love to you, Xena?" The innocence in her voice stood in stark contrast to the mischievous glint in her eyes. Typical Gabrielle.
"I see you're back to your old self." The warrior said with a wicked smile, rolling the bard onto her back and gazing down into smiling green eyes. "Here I thought all of your orneriness was a thing of the past...thought maybe I'd tamed you."
Gabrielle laughed. "You should know me better than that, Xena."
"I should, shouldn't I?" The warrior said with a lopsided grin.
The bard chuckled. "I could try to be less ornery...." She offered, running her hands along Xena's sides, accidentally brushing against the warrior's breasts.
"No no. That's quite all right." Xena said breathlessly. "I kind of missed the old Gabrielle."
"You like that I'm difficult." Gabrielle said with a knowing smile.
"I always admired your spunk." The warrior admitted.
"So...you never answered my question." The bard smiled, planting a small kiss on her lover's neck before whispering in her ear. "Can I make love to you, Xena?"
The warrior groaned. "Maybe later...." At the moment, Xena had other plans. Plans that included kissing every inch of her bard.
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The first thing Willow noticed when she started to wake was a strong arm around her waist. Next...the sensation of Buffy's breasts pressed against her back and the warm breath tickling her neck. An invigorating way to wake up, the hacker thought.
Slowly turning in Buffy's arms, the redhead took in the sight of the sleeping blonde. It occurred to Willow that the slayer didn't exist in these moments. The girl in front of her was just Buffy. She looked so young and carefree, sweet and vulnerable. Willow smiled, brushing the hair back from Buffy's face. She admired the slayer, loved her strength and determination, but it was Buffy, the girl inside of the slayer, who held Willow's heart.
The hacker leaned forward, placing the softest kiss on the blonde's lips. Buffy stirred at the touch, returning the kiss even before she fully woke. "Mmmm...what a way to wake up." Buffy said when Willow ended the kiss.
"It is kinda nice, isn't it?"
"Uh huh." Buffy smiled, pulling the redhead closer. "More please." Willow giggled as Buffy pursed her lips for another kiss, a request the hacker eagerly fulfilled.
Sometime later, Buffy reluctantly ended their kiss and collapsed onto her back with a sigh. She knew better than to get carried away. "Xena will be banging on our door any minute, you know." She advised.
"Oh...right." Willow nodded, settling in next to Buffy for some harmless snuggling.
"Buff?"
"Hmm?" The blonde, lost in her own thoughts, drew lazy circles on the back of Willow's hand.
"Do you think things are okay back at home?"
"We've only been gone a few days. I mean, I'm sure Giles is having kittens, but he can keep an eye on the hellmouth while we're gone, right?"
Willow nodded. "A-and we'll probably be home soon. Xena's plan to visit the Fates...seems like a good idea, doesn't it?"
"Yep. And if that doesn't work, we'll think of something else." Buffy said, squeezing the redhead tight. "Besides, knowing Giles, he's probably working on a way to bring us back as we speak. So...one way or another, we'll make it home."
The hacker's face relaxed into a smile. "Yeah...you're right. No sense in worrying." Willow said, her resolve face firmly in place. "We should just enjoy our vacation."
"See...now that's why I love you." Buffy said with a winning smile. "You're so smart...and cuddly--" Willow's grin widened with each compliment until she could resist no more and finally darted forward to steal a quick kiss.
"You're the cuddly one." The redhead insisted, wearing an impish grin. "Strong...but snuggly." Willow mused. "How can you be so buff, kick demon-butt every day and still be so soft and girlie?"
Buffy chuckled at the suddenly analytical expression on the hacker's face. "One of the great mysteries of life, I'm sure."
"Actually it is." Willow said thoughtfully. "So pretty...yet so lethal." She smiled at her own apt description.
"You think so, huh?" Buffy asked with an amused smile.
"Uh huh." Willow chuckled. "Maybe it's like your secret weapon...being so gorgeous. Yeah...distract the vamps with your sexy self. I mean, half of them are probably so busy ogling you in your leather that you could just walk right up and stake them."
Buffy laughed. "Yeah...that happens all the time."
"I'm sure it does...I know if I was a vamp, I'd be dust." The hacker said with a grin.
"You flatter me..." Buffy laughed shyly.
"Every word I say is true." Willow insisted.
"You really know how to charm a girl, Will."
The redhead put on a serious face. "That's good...cause there's this girl I kinda like."
Buffy chuckled. "There is huh?"
"Yep. She's really amazing, too. Beautiful and smart and funny."
"All that?" The slayer raised an eyebrow. "What's her name? I think I'm gonna have to introduce her to Mr. Pointy."
Willow rolled her eyes, giving the blonde a playful smack. "You know I was talking about you, silly."
"Oh." Buffy said, winking at the redhead. "In that case...come here." This time their kiss was interrupted by a knock at the door. The blonde growled slightly as she pulled away. "Told ya."
Willow sighed. "Someone needs to talk to her about her timing."
Buffy smiled, nodding in agreement. "Love you." She said with a quick kiss.
"Love you too." Willow grinned as the blonde forced herself out of bed to answer the door.
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"Ah, this is it." Giles said, his eyes lighting up as he read the email to Willow from Jan. "And now I'm talking to myself. I must be going mad." The watcher's eyes widened as he scanned the information and began to piece it all together. Willow had told Jan that Xena and Gabrielle were sent here from the past. The spell Willow performed was to send them back to their own time.
Giles looked away from the screen, removing his glasses, squeezing the bridge of his nose as he absorbed the information. He shuffled some books around on the coffee table until he found what he was looking for - the picture he'd found at Willow's house, the one she'd used in the spell. The spell must have worked perfectly, he realized...too perfectly. He stared at the photograph of Xena and Gabrielle, again noting the framed photo of Buffy and Willow on the mantle in the background. "Foolish girl." He admonished, thinking back on all of the times that he'd warned the redhead about magic.
Rising from the couch, the watcher began to pace. "Right. So, I'll just reverse the spell." He stalked toward his magic cabinet, coming to a halt after three strides. "No. That would bring Xena and Gabrielle back with them."
Rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, he considered his options. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him...the spell they had cast just a few weeks ago to send Vamp-Willow back to her own time and place. "That just might work." He mused aloud, making his way back to the pile of spellbooks. Retrieving a book from the stack, he quickly flipped through the pages until he found the spell in question.
Deciding that it was a viable option, the watcher set the book on the counter and picked up the phone. The instinct was to call the gang to a meeting, but he quickly realized his error. "Right, Giles. Who were you planning to call?" He asked, frustrated. "Buffy and Willow are missing. Xander's in a coma. And Angel's...." The watcher sighed, placing the phone back on the hook. At the moment, there was no gang, no one else to call.
"Well...I'll just have to take care of this myself. First, the magic shop, to pick up the items that I don't have on hand." With that, he picked up the spell book and headed for the door.
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"Beautiful day, isn't it girls?" Xena said with a wide smile, stepping up behind Buffy and Willow to put an arm around each of them as they started down the road.
Buffy glanced up at the warrior with a smug smile. "You're mighty chipper for a woman who didn't get any sleep." Willow nudged the blonde in the side and chanced a glance at Gabrielle who was smiling in spite of the blush rising on her cheeks.
Xena's smile faltered slightly and she considered aiming her death-glare at the slayer. Instead, she decided on a different tactic. "What's the matter? Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?" She teased.
Buffy chuckled. "Not at all. It's just that a hyperactive warrior was banging on my door interrupting my good morning kiss." Willow giggled.
"Sorry. I thought you'd want to get moving. Big plans today. Remember."
"Yeah...when you have a date with fate, you shouldn't be late." The redhead giggled at her lame rhyme.
Buffy chuckled in spite of herself. "That was really...."
"Bad?" Willow supplied, with an apologetic smile. "Sorry."
"There it is." Xena pointed.
"The Temple of the Fates?" The hacker questioned, looking up at the stone building directly in front of them.
"Yep." The warrior confirmed.
Taking Gabrielle's hand, Xena led the group into the temple. After their encounter with Ares, Willow was a little reluctant. Buffy squeezed the redhead's hand reassuring her as she coaxed the hacker through the doorway behind the warrior and bard. The room they entered was a great contrast to that of Ares' temple. It was plain, lacking any frivolous decoration. The only items present were several large iron candleholders, all basic black in color, holding the candles that were the sole source of light in the dimly lit chamber.
Xena approached the south wall, stopping in front of a ledge that Buffy assumed must be some sort of an altar. The warrior picked up a burning candle and stepped up to the altar to light one of the unused candles on the ledge. When the wick took the flame, Xena returned the first candle to its holder and cast her eyes toward the ceiling. "By this flame, I call on the three Fates: The Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. Return my friends, Buffy and Willow, to their home to live out their true destiny. On their behalf, I ask it."
She waited, but sensed no presence in the room. Turning to Buffy and Willow, she gestured for them to come forward. When the slayer and hacker approached the altar, three figures materialized.
"Xena..." They spoke in unison.
"Do you know--"
"What you ask--"
"Of us?"
Willow looked on wide-eyed at the three ethereal figures that finished each other's sentences as if they shared a single consciousness.
"Yes." The warrior answered. "You three spin the thread of life. Their destiny is not in this time or this place. Their fate was unnaturally altered. The future depends on them. You have the power to right this wrong."
"We do." The Fates replied.
"But--" The Maiden began
"Nothing comes--" The Mother continued.
"Without a price." The Crone finished.
"What price?" Xena asked.
"All that has been gained would be lost." The Fates replied.
"Your time together--"
"The bonds you have formed--"
"Would all be forgotten."
"As if it never existed." The Fates concluded.
"We would forget all of this?" Buffy asked, stepping forward. "Ever being here?"
"More than that--"
"It would be--"
"As if you'd never met."
"All that has been gained, would be lost." The Fates repeated.
Xena looked at Gabrielle. Buffy's eyes found Willow's. The four of them had a great deal to lose if the past week was forgotten. They stood in silent consideration. It was the slayer who finally spoke up. "Can we at least take some time to think about this?"
The Crone nodded. "This time tomorrow, the offer expires." With that, the Fates faded away.
Gabrielle approached and put her arms around the warrior's waist. Xena held her for a moment before turning to Buffy and Willow. "Let's get out of here."
The slayer and hacker nodded in agreement and the group left the temple. The warrior paused outside to gather Argo's reigns and led the way out of town. The four traveled in silence, each one lost in thought. Precious friendships had developed in the time they had spent in each other's worlds. Buffy and Willow had realized their love for one another and shared so much since then. Xena and Gabrielle had weathered the storm and came together as lovers.
The week they spent together had forever changed the warrior and bard, slayer and hacker. Could they pay the price the Fates asked of them?
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Continued in Chapter 12