Joxer lay on his bedroll looking up at the stars. He smiled slightly as Gabrielle started to mutter in her sleep on the other side of the fire. Xena looked up and chuckled. Joxer rolled onto his side to look at the Warrior Princess. She was beautiful, but she wasn't Gabrielle. He rolled onto his back again.

Who am I kidding? He thought to himself. It isn't like I really have a chance with either of them, even if the only one I want is Gabrielle. I'm an idiot.

"Joxer?" Xena frowned at her young friend. "Something is wrong. What is it?"

"It's nothing, really," Joxer sighed. He closed his eyes and pretended he was asleep.

"I'm not buying it, Joxer. I know you better than that."

Joxer rolled to his feet. "It isn't important."

"It is if it's keeping you awake this late." Xena set aside the knife she was sharpening. "It's about Gabrielle."

"You always have to be right don't you?" Joxer muttered. Xena smiled warily and waited for him to continue, after all Gabrielle said the same thing all the time. "I can't fight this feeling anymore, Xena. What started out as friendship, has grown stronger. I only wish I had the strength to let it show. But you know as well as I do she'd only reject me."

"Is that right? Well, Meg never rejected you. I don't think Lila would, either. The Amazons like you and I know more than one of them wishes you'd go to the villiage more often." Xena watched as Joxer started to pace. "Come sit down over here, Joxer. Come on I don't bite."

"Much," Joxer said with a small trace of his familiar goofy grin. He sat down on the log facing away from the campfire and the sleeping woman he loved. "Meg is great, Xena and I do love her... But not like I love Gabrielle. I mean, it's not like my heart would break if Meg found someone else, got married and had a family. I'd be thrilled for her... Everytime I think of Gabrielle with Perdicus, or any other man... I want to rip his lungs out for touching her. And if I could I'd do worse to Dahoth for what he did to her, god or not."

"And you haven't told her any of this." Xena looked over at Gabrielle. She knew the young bard had woken up when the muttering had cut off abruptly. "Why not?"

"I tell myself that I can't hold out forever, I said there is no reason for my fear. But the thought of actually saying to her face that I love her scares me witless." Joxer scuffed his boot toe in the dirt in front of him. "She's a great bard, an Amazon Queen. She could have anyone she wants, so why would she want me?"

Gods, Gabrielle thought as she held stone still, he's in love with me? Am I blind or is he a better actor than you'd think?

"Good night, Xena," Joxer muttered as he went back to his bedroll.

"Good night, Joxer."

Gabrielle was left alone with her thoughts as her two friends lay down in silence. He's in love with me? Is that why he hangs around? Why he lets my pull on his ears and nose? He's just my friend. He said he couldn't fight this feeling anymore. I wonder if it's the same feeling I get when I see him? Is that love?

Gabrielle rolled over. She sat up and looked over where Joxer was sleeping. He looked sweet with his hands curled up under his chin and his legs bunched up when he was laying on his side. Sweet, that summed him up quite well. He was sweet.

She smiled a little and scrubbed her hand through her short blonde hair. Maybe she was in love with him, too. Just a little. But maybe someday.... Maybe someday it would be more.

Gabrielle laid down and went back to sleep.

The End

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COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, and all other characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. The lyrics to "Can't Fight This Feeling" are owned by the appropriate copyright holders. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 1999 by Ephiney 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.