A/N by the gods this one is a little dramatic but bear with me as it also begins to hint at a lot of things I am trying to incorporate into the story. (Hint- past lives aren’t involved at all- nudge nudge.)

Things went on like that for a while. Xena would pick Gabrielle up in her cop car and they’d go on another date, or sometimes they would meet at the beach for a walk after her training. The more Xena got to know Gabrielle the more she fell for her and soon enough she was able to tell, that Gabrielle was feeling the same way.

They had their first kiss one Sunday night when they had been walking down the streets after getting dinner and some guys attempted to attach them and take Gabrielles purse. Xena had of course intervened, and Gabrielle had kissed her for it.

Another time, when Xena had taken Gabrielle for a hike near the beach, she had saved Xena from falling off of a cliff as she had daringly gone near it to try to impress her. Xena had kissed her than.

Although their relationship had progressed quite a way since they had first met those few months ago, they hadn’t yet talked about the deep stuff. Xena was beginning to pick up on hints to Gabrielles past, but she didn’t have the full story yet, and as much as she would have liked to know it, she knew not to push her as she didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable or scare her away. Besides Xena had her own fear of sharing to get through as well.

She could only hope that they would get through that milestone together.

It was a Saturday morning when they had first begun to train together. Xena met up with Gabrielle at 6 AM sharp and allowed her to show Xena some of her moves. Xena had to admit that Is was externally enjoyable, she especially liked the way Gabrielle held onto her hips as she lead her in the most alluring dance she had ever taken part in. When it came to Xena’s turn to show Gabrielle some moves, Gabrielle watched her intently.

She studied the way that Xena moved her body in the fighting stances as she worked through the drills, and Gabrielle followed along. It was when Xena picked up a long stick and started twirling it around though, that Gabrielle really got excited.

“I’ve always wanted to learn how to use a bo in combat!” She said eagerly.

Xena chuckled.

“Alright, well here.” She said as she gently put her arms around her middle and placed the staff in Gabriella hands.

“So you start by holding it like this.” She whispered as she guided Gabrielle’s right hand to hold the stick in an upwards position, and her left hand holding it the other way.

“Than you pull one foot back.”

Gabrielle sucked in a breath of concentration as she allowed Xenas foot to help her own pull backwards until she was in a semi crochet position with her knees bent.

“Now you just pull the staff up with your elbow, like this. Yes, That’s it.” Xena guided.

“And than you do this.” Gabrielle said, and before Xena could even direct her, she broke away as she began a drill.

Xena watched her gobsmacked as she went through the drills she hadn’t yet taught the girl, perfectly.

Once she had finished Gabrielle looked up at Xena, the other woman staring back in wonder and pride.

“How did I do that?”

She asked, sounded a little spaced out.

“I was just about to ask the same thing. Didn’t you say you’ve not done this before?”

Gabrielle just blinked at her for a moment before shaking her head.

“Never.”

Xena shrugged.

“Perhaps your just a fast learner than?”

Gabrielle looked at her like she was born yesterday.

“Xena I just went through a whole drill with zero lessons on how to do it… don’t you think that’s weird?”

The cop chuckled and shrugged again as she walked up to Gabrielle and put a comforting hand around her middle.

“Maybe it’s just a past-life thing. Who knows, you might have even been a warrior princess.” Xena replied, thinking that it would make the other woman laugh, but when I shed tears welled up in the others eyes, Xena’s heart leapt with panic.

“Gabrielle? I’m sorry… did I say something wrong?”

Gabrielle took a step back as she tried to take deep, steadying breaths.

“I-I’m ok. Sorry, I… I-I have to go.”

She said as she took some more steps back but wobbled on her feet. Xena was quick to swoop in to prevent her from falling.

“Gabrielle what’s-“

But she was cut off as a voice came from behind her.