"This Kiss"

This Kiss

I don't want another heartbreak
I don't need another turn to cry
I don't want to learn the hard way
Baby hello, oh no, good bye
But you got me like a rocket
Shooting straight across the sky

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's (ahh) unstoppable
this kiss, this kiss... unstoppable...
This kiss.. this kiss!

Cinderella said to Snow White
How does love get so off course?
All I wanted was a white knight
with a good heart, soft touch, fast horse
Ride me off into the sunset
Baby, I'm forever yours!

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's (ahh) unthinkable
This kiss...This kiss...unsinkable
This kiss... this kiss

You can kiss me in the moonlight
On the rooftop under the sky...(oh)
You can kiss me with the windows open
while the rain comes pouring inside...(oh)
Kiss me in sweet slow motion...
Lets let everything slide
You got me floating... You got me flying!
It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's (ahh) subliminal
This kiss... this kiss... It's criminal
This kiss... this kiss...

It's the way you love me baby
It's the way you love me darlin'

It's the way you love me
It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivital moment
It's (ahh) subliminal
This kiss...this kiss It's criminal
This kiss... this kiss
It's the way you love me baby
It's the way you love me darling!

Gabrielle sat on the log in front of the fire. Joxer sat beside her on the ground. There was enough room on the log for both of them, but she didn't want him to sit beside her. He didn't complain about the ground although she knew it was hard and cold. She felt a little guilty about making him stay there, but took pleasure in thinking that he deserved it.

He kept singing that song of his all day! It drove her crazy, but Xena started singing along with him and she didn't dare say anything. She had hoped to spend a quiet day with Xena alone, but he showed up just after breakfast and stuck around.

She glanced over at Xena, hoping that her friend would sympathize with her. But Xena was glaring at her.

She raised her eyebrows, quietly asking what.

Xena glared at her and deliberately looked at the log and then at Joxer.

Gabrielle looked away, realizing that her friend was right... she shouldn't leave Joxer on the ground when there was plenty of room on the log beside her. She would just move over to the end so he couldn't touch her. She got up and felt Joxer's eyes on her. Gods! Why was he always watching her? It made her nervous although she did not know why.

She shook off the feeling and moved over on the log. Patting the log beside her, she made an effort to smile and look friendly. Joxer looked up at her like she was a goddess. He nervously got up and sat as far away from her as he could.

She sighed, well, at least she had tried. It wasn't her fault if he wanted to make himself uncomfortable. She looked over at Xena with a look that said better?

Xena scowled at her and shook her head quickly.

Gabrielle sighed. Why was it so important about making Joxer comfortable? He was the one who sat at the end, she didn't make him do it. Looking at Joxer she indicated that he could come closer.

His eyes opened like saucers and he slowly crept another inch closer. His helmet was still on his head so he took it off and began to fiddle with it. She noticed that he was almost cringing away from her. Why was he doing that? It's not she hated him, it's just that sometimes he was so annoying... like today! Couldn't he have stopped singing once? He was quiet now, thank the gods. But he was acting like a whipped dog. Was she really so hard on him?

She thought hard... and realized that she had really acted like a bitch towards him today. Why? He didn't do anything that he didn't normally do. She shivered as she realized that it was getting colder out. She noticed that Joxer had gotten up and was going to his pack. She was about to reach down and get her cloak when she realized that Joxer was behind her and wrapping something soft and warm around her shoulders. She looked up and he smiled at her and sat down again, not saying a word.

She looked at the cloak he had wrapped around her. It was beautiful! Soft light grey fur lined with a soft grey cloth on the inside. It was warm and wonderful! She looked at him in wonder and smiled saying thank-you.

He nodded embarrassed and mumbled something about getting it as a solstice gift for her but thought she could use it now.

She was speechless! Was this the man who she was angry with earlier? He must have saved up for many months to have afforded this! She thought back to when he traded his most prized posession -- his father's scabbard -- to get her a necklace. Then she remembered how she had yelled at him and treated him like horse manure. But she still had the necklace saved in amonst her small treasure collection.

She remembered when she lost her memory and Joxer read her scrolls to help her remember her past. He could easily have taken advantage of her and lied to make her believe that she loved him, but he didn't. Well, he did, but he told her the truth later. She felt tears come to her eyes as she remembered other times Joxer had shown his love for her.

She reached down to get a cloth to wipe away her tears and came face to face with Joxer as he reached down at the same moment. They paused and looked into each other's eyes. She could feel his breath on her face. It was hot and quick. She felt her own breath quicken to match his. Slowly they came closer and their lips touched.

She felt an electric shock run through her body. Closing her eyes, she leaned in more and wrapped her arms around him as she felt his wrap around her and pull her close. She felt like she was flying! She felt dizzy and happy and Ahh! This kiss... this kiss! Unstoppable!

She felt the cloak fall from her shoulders and didn't care. Pulling away and breathing hard, she looked into his eyes and smiled.

"Baby, I'm forever yours!"

The End

Please take the time to write to Anne at JoxerBuddy@hotmail.com and let her know how you liked the story!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, and all other characters who have appeared in either series, together with the names, titles and backstories are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. Lyrics and music to "This Kiss" are owned by the copyright holders of the song. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 1999 by Anne Beaudry and is her sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.