"Hey!" Xena yelled out. "No fair using godly powers!"

As Xena swam out to Gabrielle, she started a water fight, splashing Gabrielle mercilessly. But unknown to Xena, Gabrielle caused a large wave to come up behind Xena and hover over her. But before it got too large Xena glimpsed it out of the corner of her eye and said, "Remember – no powers."

"Okay," Gabrielle said, releasing the wave, letting the water drop over Xena.

After playing and swimming a while longer, they both headed to the beach. Gabrielle let herself fall on her back, closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on her skin.

"Turn over," Xena commanded. "Let me give the old back a little rub down." Gabrielle did as she was told.  Xena started massaging her shoulders. "You know," she said to Gabrielle, "If I had some oil, this could be a bit more relaxing."  Gabrielle reached back to Xena with a small bottle of oil. Xena uncorked it and smelled it as she poured some in her hand.

"Sandalwood, huh? I’d forgotten about that. But it seems like I’ve forgotten a lot about our trip to India."

Xena proceeded to rub the oil into Gabrielle’s skin as she gradually worked her way down from her shoulders to her back and sides, then to her waist, her buttocks, thighs, calves, and feet. By the time she finished both feet, Gabrielle was asleep, but Xena worked her way back up anyway, enjoying it as much as Gabrielle.

When she got back up to Gabrielle’s shoulders, Xena stopped, and studied her cherished friend. "I may not have the powers of the gods," she whispered, "But I’ll fight with my dying breath to protect you."

And from somewhere inside, Xena could feel the sleeping Gabrielle return the feeling.  Xena lay down next to Gabrielle and put her arm over her shoulders. Slowly Xena let her eyes close, feeling the sun on her back, and Gabrielle’s hip and leg touching hers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Xena, I cannot believe you got sunburned so badly," Gabrielle said looking at Xena’s back, butt and legs. "I would have thought that you, of all people, would know better than to lay out in the sun half the day like that."

"What can I say? I fell asleep.  It happens to the best of us. Besides, if you weren’t there asleep, I wouldn’t have been either."