Subtext Reports
Those crazy posts about the episodes originally posted to the nutforum and saved here for posterity in their error riddled entirety (since they were written 'on the fly'). 
Homecoming Series
A series of five (not so short) stories about Xena and Gabrielle building their life together as a couple. 
Magic Series
Janice Covington and Melinda Pappas find love as they uncover more writings of Gabrielle about her warrior princess. 
Conversations by Campfire Series
Set during Season Four, parts of the episodes are worked into chats between Xena and Gab, particularly the subject of Najara and the bard. 
Changes of Heart Series
My take on what happened after Gabby got Chakram'ed upside the head by Xena in the Season Five ender. 
Bonding of Souls Series
This series picks up where 'Changes of Heart' ends with Xena and Gabby back together. Each 'episode' is an expansion of the episodes of Season Six.
Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
How DID Ares get stuck in that tomb from the Xena Scrolls? This story answers that question. 
The Play
Xena and Gabrielle have to play the leads in a performance for a ruthless king to save Salmoneus' neck. Unexpected consequences and confessions are the result. 
The Queen, the Regent, the Warrior
Xena leaves Gabrielle in the care of the amazons, only to have Ephiny and Gabby fall in love. Xena does return and chaos and secret confessions follow.
The Contest
Ares and Aphrodite battle over Xena's spirit. 
Loss of Virginity
Romantic musings from one of our gals. 
Moment of Truth
Gabrielle does anything it takes to keep Xena out of a battle that's foretold to take the warrior princess' life. 
Thank the Gods For Henbane
At an Amazon festival Gabrielle has one too many henbane brownies, which results in a funny and sexy night for Xena. 
As It Should Be
The Queen gets taken by the Warrior Princess at the Amazon Village.
Family Ties
Xena takes Gabrielle back to home to spend a little time with the 'in-laws'. 
Dueling Cousins
Xena's look-alike cousin, Sappho, has always been competitive but now the Tenth Muse wants the ultimate prize - Gabrielle. 
The End
Alternate 'demise' of Xena and Gabrielle based on the Season Four crucifixion. 
Truth or Dare
Sexy romp between Callisto and Gabrielle set during 'A Necessary Evil' 
November 29th, 1942
A little romance fic between Janice and Mel. 
Inside Outside
Set after the events of 'A Family Affair', it's a scene told through the eyes of four people - Gabrielle's Father, Mother, Gabrielle herself and Xena.
Something To Talk About
Xena and Gabrielle's friends are all surprised that the pair aren't lovers so they consider why not.
Henbane, Horsenappings and Other Obstacles
A 'murphy's law' comedy where everything that can go wrong for Xena and Gabby but, of course, they still end up saving the day.
All That Matters
During Gabrielle's birthday party in' Takes One To Know One', Xena reflects on her love for the bard.  
Warlord
What if Gabrielle was actually the one behind all the folks who influenced Xena's journey toward good? 
Have Yourself a Merry Little Solstice
A little Winter Solstice tale that's available in general (not lovers) and alternative (lovers). .
Little Moments: A Day in the Desert
A tale told through the eyes of Janice and then Mel while on a dig.  
Candy or Chaos
'Classic Xena' general Halloween story with Xena and Gabby return for the Potiedaia Harvest Festival.
Conquering Heroine
Gabrielle is the Conqueror in this piece. How exactly? Give it a read and find out. 
Watching and Waiting
Set after FIN II, Xena watches from afar as Gabrielle moves on with her life. 
1971
Police Office Carol and Protestor Erin clash but find they're fighting for the same things. A short story based on my novel, 'One Belief Away'. 

Title: All That Matters

Author: CN Winters

Fandom: Xena Fanfiction, Xena fanfic, Xena fan fiction, Xena and Gabrielle fanfiction

Rating: G

Disclaimers: Xena and the gang aren’t mine. They belong to MCA/Universal/Studio USA and a bunch of other folks who now own them. It is the musings of a certain warrior princess and her affection for another woman. If the thought of two ladies in love is unappealing please proceed on to another story.

Author Note: The story is for my Amazon elder, smeef, who asked for a heartfelt non-gratuitous story. Hope you like it smeef (G).

Synopsis: During Gabrielle's birthday party in 'Takes One To Know One' Xena enjoys watching her bard. 

Feedback: Drop me a line at cnwinters71@yahoo.com.

All That Matters

Silently, I watch her. Every move. Every gesture. They are captured by my eyes, just as solidly as she has captured my soul.

Our friends and family surround her with smiles and laughter. The joy that flashes in her eyes with every single smile her sister makes, or every chuckle Autolycus allows to escape, makes my own heart sing.

She opens her gifts with childlike delight. She’s a woman now... in every sense of the word. But she still manages to stay connected with the little girl she once was. Her heart has stayed unhardened by all the pain she’s encountered. Her mind is still open to accepting every soul she meets. At times, I envy this ability of hers and at others, such as tonight, I revel in it. Her elation of new experiences somehow contagiously infects me.

Years ago, she taught me how to smile again. But more importantly she taught me how to enjoy it. She speaks often of how much I’ve given her; how much I’ve taught her – but I know the truth. She’s the real teacher here, showing me that hope and love can go on in spite of a troubled past and I am her humble and grateful pupil.

Soon she’s finished opening her presents – a set of scrolls from Joxer, a silk sleeping robe from Autolycus, an assortment of dried foods and nutbread from my mother, a quill and ink blotter from Minya and a hair clip from Lila who sees it as a useless gift, given my bards new hairstyle.

But Gabrielle, ever the optimist, soon has her sister smiling genuine smiles. Lila’s nervous ‘failure’ as a gift giver is laid to rest. She has this power.

In fact, she has many powers. The power to find light in even the darkest hour. The power to make handsome men weak in the knees with a coy grin – men and even one warrior princess. I’ve never surrendered to anyone but I can surrender to Gabrielle.

She makes me blush too – something else no one has been able to do. No one but her. Yet, instead of finding embarrassment, I find love. ‘Red is a good color on you’, she teases me often. I act offended but she knows the truth. I love it. I smile now as I the memories of such times return to my mind.

"So little one, are you enjoying yourself?"

It’s the voice of my mother.

"Very much so," I tell her. My eyes have yet to leave my bard. When I do look, I see a well-rooted smile on my mothers' aging face.

"She’s very beautiful," she comments.

It’s a simple statement, but it conveys so much meaning – things that go far beyond the physical beauty of Gabrielle. Beautiful is only one word. I could think of a million others that could mean just as much. 

XXXXX

The statement brings with it a sense of peace. I can feel my mother’s approval with my choice. After bringing her so much pain and shame. I delight in bringing her this joy. The joy of Gabrielle. My mother would always love me, but Gabrielle would have a special place in her heart. She knows as I do, it’s Gabrielle who keeps me sane, keeps me hopeful and keeps me grounded.

I travel the countryside, but I’ve never felt this ‘settled’ and it’s a wonderful feeling. I belong to something other than the fight, or a cause or even myself. I belong to Gabrielle – mind, body and soul. And there’s no other place I’d long to be.

I suddenly think of married men who we meet in our travels. Men who have bored of their wives and try to find comfort in the arms of another – usually my bard by the way, which I promptly stop. I can’t imagine that ever happening to me because when I look at my bard, I see my whole life. I only pray she feels the same as she looks upon me. As her eyes now catch mine from across the room I can tell, I should not have such fears. For she loves me, as I love her – utterly; completely.

Gods know I’m not easy to live with and vise versa. She’s not always a festival of laughs to be around, nor am I. However, we take our quirks, as she calls them, and adapt, sometimes even comically.

I chuckle silently in my mind as I think of my early riser quirk and Gabrielle’s means to ‘fix it’.

At an inn near Athens I woke one morning to having my feet and hands bound to our bed. My first reaction, being ever the warrior, was panic and I thrashed.

"Relax," my bard whispered softly. "I’ll let you go... after I sleep in for once."

With that, she rolled over and dozed once more. I must admit, at first, I was pretty cross about the whole experience. But after my initial anger cooled I found it wonderfully devious and I was actually surprised my bard hadn’t thought of it sooner. In afterthought, I realized she probably had thought of it, but she was now comfortable and secure enough with our couplehood that she finally acted on the thought.

Of course, when she did finally wake up to face the day, her ‘apology’ she gave me for capturing me was creative and... stimulating... to say the least. I feel one of my ‘blushing’ moments coming on with just the remembrance of that morning.

"So," I hear my mother begin, drawing my attention back to her and away from my delightfully wicked thoughts. "When did you fall in love with her?"

I never ‘proclaimed’ my love for Gabrielle to my mother. I didn’t have to – it was written all over my face. It was simple – Gabrielle was the one, the only one. I watch my bard once more and I smile as she brushes her short locks behind her ear – a new habit of hers I find totally arousing for some unknown reason. I don’t question it much; I just enjoy it like so many other qualities she possesses.

I consider my mother’s question seriously though. When did I FALL in love? Was it after the amazons helped us get the Ambrosia? Was it after the battle with the Persians that I realized the importance that she held in my life? Was it the first day I laid eyes on her – watching her stand up to Draco’s men? In honesty, it was all these times... and many more... that earned Gabrielle ownership into the good parts of my soul. Parts I didn’t know existed until she showed me.

"I don’t know," I answer sincerely meeting my mother’s caring eyes. "All I DO know is that I love her... And that’s all that matters."

The End

 

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