And then it was Xena’s turn to blush. She blushed like she’d never done it before, picking out a few long strands of grass and throwing them over her hip. ”Don’t make fun, Gabrielle …”

”I’m asking.”

So she answered. She answered all of Gabrielle’s curious questions, admitting that she DID think of Gabrielle that way from time-to-time, which was an under-representation of course, but true nonetheless. She opened her heart because she knew that Gabrielle was just as invested and just as hopelessly excited by HER. She laid on her back while Gabrielle rested a chin on her stomach, and then she was on her side, facing her beautiful friend. They switched positions just as frequently as they changed the subject, but it was an entirely revealing conversation, and it was all of a sensual nature.

Xena knew how Gabrielle needed to talk about things, and she had to admit that she was enjoying all of the honesty, too. In fact, they talked for so long that the darkness of the night had died away, and slipped off just as a morning glow was coming up from the horizon.

The pastel light of day was just awakening as Gabrielle shifted flat onto her back, and tilted her head aside to stare into Xena’s eyes for the hundredth time that night.

”Does it feel good for you to lay on top of me?”

Xena enjoyed in Gabrielle’s curiosity, smirking as she wondered just what Gabrielle had in mind. ”I can’t say I’ve done it much …”

”I … liked it. With you …”

Taking a cautious shift closer, Xena leaned up on her forearm and acknowledged the soft green of Gabrielle’s eyes when the light was catching it just so. ”You did?”

Gabrielle moved her hands up beside her shoulders – the palms turned up in what looked to be surrender. Her fingers were shaky, but her eyes were certain. ”… Would you try it? – Again, I mean.”

”You asked me to get off you the first time … I wouldn’t want to … push things, Gabrielle.”

But without a word, Gabrielle had assured her that this would be different, so Xena rolled onto her. A knee between Gabrielle’s. A hand on that slender wrist, just touching her arm although the feeling gripped them both with electricity. It was something they had never done before in all the time they’d travelled together: touching and acknowledging its excitement.