YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME

 
She went up the steps so fast, she had to catch her breath at the landing. It was hard to contain her excitement as she knocked on the door.
“Just knock the door in then!” Dantien yelled.
“Dantien, it’s me! Guess what we’re going to do!” Gabrielle called out, shifting the bundle in her arms.
The door opened, and Dantien’s mouth with it. Gabrielle brushed past her and victoriously sat the pile onto the table.
“My clothes…you got my clothes.” she touched them as if they might break, her voice barely audible. She whirled suddenly and engulfed Gabrielle in a jubilant embrace.
“Thank you! You’re so-ouch!” she pulled away, rubbing her back. “What did you hit me with?”
“Oh!” Gabrielle held up her left wrist. “Yes, these. Sorry.”
Dantien arched her eyebrows. “And are those part of what we’re going to do?”
“Yes, well, um- No! I mean, not like that!” Gabrielle stammered as she caught on.
“Damn. And I wanted to go first too.” Dantien winked and pursed her lips in an exaggerated pout, then threw one of the shirts over Gabrielle’s head.
“I mean,” came the voice from under the shirt, “we’re going for a walk.”
“A walk? A walk…chained to you?” she sat down. “What, you don’t trust me?”
“Not me. Gareth.” Gabrielle had removed the shirt from its perch and returned it to the table.
“That ra-” Dantien closed her mouth sharply at the sight of Gabrielle’s look. “You’re killing me, Gabrielle.”
“ I think I’m killing Gareth more than you.” Gabrielle pushed the pile towards her. Dantien flashed her a smile, scooped up the pile, and trotted off towards the bedroom.
“Wait! I need to borrow one of your shirts! Unless you want people to see us cuffed together!”
Dantien spun about and tossed one to her. “Whatever you want, Gabrielle!” she twirled again and ran.
Gabrielle put the silk shirt on slowly. There was that smell, sliding over her skin.
She closed her eyes, a smile on her face, savoring the past and present.
“What Gabrielle wants, Gabrielle gets.”


“Incredible. I don’t how she does it.”
“What?” asked the King, putting down his tea and coming to stand by Gareth at the window. They watched as Gabrielle and Dantien walked down the path into the woods, holding hands.
“First Xena, now she’s got that witch following her around on a chain like a dog.”
“She looks a lot better than a dog.” the King mused.
“With a far worse bite. You didn’t have to patch up those four guards after she came to. It would have been worse if she’d had those boots on.”
“Well, they look happy….badly dressed, but happy. It certainly seems they’ve gotten close. I suppose Gabrielle will have something to tell us soon.” the King went back to the table and his tea.
Gareth focused his eyes on Dantien’s retreating form. His gaze wandered down to her hips, watching her as she walked. Dantien playfully bumped Gabrielle with her hips, and a look of pain flashed across his face. He muttered under his breath.
“Indeed. Much too close.”
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