Love Songs
Copyright 1999
Gabrielle found Joxer on the edge of the Amazon Harvest festival. He wasn't even watching the dance around the bonfire. He wasn't watching the little girls and boys and little Centaurs chase each other around the trestle tables so loaded with food that the wood groaned under the weight. Nor was he watching the older boys, girls and Centaurs chase each other on the edge of the firelight, even though his niece Jerrina was the girl most often chased.
This was the one time of year when there were as many men in the village as women, and all of them seemed to be making the most of what promised to be a long hot night.
Joxer didn't recognize who had sat down beside him until the pretty blonde pushed her mask off of her face. "Hi, Gabrielle. I thought you'd be in the middle of the dancing by now."
"I'm danced out right now, thanks," she grinned at him. "I thought Valla and Aeona would have dragged you into their hut by now."
"So you heard about last year's festival huh?" Joxer blushed.
"Uhhuh." Gabrielle patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about the twins this year. I heard they dragged someone else off all ready."
"Thank Aphrodite!" Joxer muttered in soft prayer. "I just hope they let him out before the next full moon!"
Gabrielle could only laugh. From what Ephiny had told her when she and Xena had arrived yesterday the twins seemed to be pulling more outrageous stunts every year.
"It isn't funny, you know." Joxer tried to pout, but those two could have given some of Meg's girls a run for their dinars.
Just then, Iolaus ran passed them heading for the woods as fast as he could, without about half his clothes. Valla and Aeona were right behind him giggling like mad women. As the three of them crashed into the brush, Joxer and Gabrielle heard Iolaus call out, "Ladies, please! I'm only one man!"
"But what a man!" Aeona hollered.
"Yipe!" Iolaus bolted back the other way.
"Drat! Where'd he go?" Valla called to her twin sister.
Iolaus had by then bumped into Ephiny, literally. "Oh! Sorry, Ephiny, but the twins..."
"Relax, I'll take care of it." The Amazon Regent said, her words were a little slurred.
"There he is!" Aeona called out. "Oops! Hi, Ephiny!" The girls giggled as Iolaus ducked behind the tall blonde Amazon.
"Girls." Ephiny said dryly. "Obviously you haven't heard. I got first choice."
"Oh," the twins said together.
Valla shrugged, "C'mon, Aeona."
"Maybe next year," sighed Aeona. She glanced around. "Ooooooh, Joooooxer!
Gabrielle heard him make a strangled sound and decided on impulse to save him form the lusty clutches of the twins. She set her mask aside and placed her hands on Joxer's shoulders. "Do you trust me?"
"Sure, but I've really got to..." Joxer yelped in surprise when Gabrielle's weight bore him to the ground.
"Rats." He heard Valla say faintly. But Gabrielle's lips kept him to busy to really pay attention. Then....
"Uh.... Ephiny..." Iolaus said. "Ephiny!"
"Ooo, Iolaus!" Ephiny giggled.
After that Joxer was too busy to notice anything else. He rolled on reflex and ran his hands over Gabrielle's body. "Gabrielle.... Are you sure?"
Her hands answered for her.
Jerrina slipped away from the crowd of the festival in to the woods. It was quiet there in the darkness, alone. She sighed and sat down on a fallen log.
"About time you got here," said a soft voice. Xenan's voice.
"I had to loose a few dozen boys with delusions of grandeur." Jerrina said. A smile lit her slim face. "Nothing to difficult."
Xenan settled to the ground beside her. "I just don't want anyone else to touch you. Not like that anyway."
"No one but you right?"
"Only when you're ready, and when you're sure you're ready." Xenan brushed a hand across her cheek. "I love you, and I'm not going to push."
"Thank you." Jerrina brushed a kiss against his palm.
"This is sickening," came a hard male voice.
Jerrina's head snapped around. "And who asked your opinion?"
"Why don't you come see what a real man has to offer?" the man leered at her.
A hand closed over his mouth. "That's no way to talk to my little one."
Xenan surged to his feet and pulled Jerrina to her feet beside him.
"Allow me to introduce you to my father. Jett, King of... well, I'm sure you've heard of him," Jerrina said. "Now let him go, Daddy. He gets the point."
Jett glared at his daughter. She was securely tucked against Xenan's broad chest, Jett could see the scar from where his dagger had gone into his human stomach. "Nice to see you survived, colt."
"Daddy." Jerrina gave him a warning look.
"Oh, all right," Jett growled. He gave the man a shove away. "So how's my Amazon Princess doing?"
"Always prepared." Jerrina grinned suddenly. She pulled a dagger from between her shoulders and flipped it easily, then snapped it back to its sheath. "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd stop in on my way to Gaul." Jett shrugged.
"For recreation or do you have a job?" Jerrina asked nudging Xenan until he let her go.
He stared at her wondering how she could talk so calmly about what her father did for a living. But, like when she left with him before, it was because he was her father. Suddenly it hit the young Centaur, she was used to her father being an assassin. "You want me to get lost, Jerri?"
"Don't mind me, colt." Jett waved his hand calmly. "Jerrina has my word that I won't hurt her..... friends. No matter how many legs they walk on."
Iolaus burst into the clearing holding his trousers up while trying to run. He tripped over a twisting root after a few steps. Ephiny was right behind him and fell over on top of him. They both started laughing. Iolaus looked up, "Oh, hi, Joxer."
Jett arched an eyebrow at the blonde man and golden haired woman tangled together on the grass. "I'm not Joxer."
"Oh, sorry." Iolaus resumed kissing Ephiny.
"Who is that idiot?" Jett asked quietly.
"Iolaus, and he isn't an idiot," Xenan said, but he rolled his eyes at his mother's antics with this clumsy creative Iolaus.
"Then what is he?" Jett muttered.
Jerrina chuckled, "Clumsy?"
"Not at everything," Ephiny called.
Jerrina chuckled again and took his hand. "Come on, you two."
Xenan and Jett traded hostile looks, but for Jerrina's sake said nothing. Nor did anyone else when the three of them entered the village.
Eventually, they were pulled apart in the swirl and press of people. Jerrina sighed and went to the hut she shared with her Aunt. She was tired anyway.
No one saw Jett until he slipped out of the twins hut in the early light of morning.
"Hello, Jett," Gabrielle said from where she sat in front of Janna's hut. "Enjoy yourself last night?"
"Indeed I did." Jett looked closely at the Amazon Queen. "Something's been nagging at me ever since I left Jerrina here. Why did you give her the Rite of Caste?"
"Because she's going to be a great woman when she's grown up." Gabrielle smiled. "You seem to have done something right, in spite of yourself."
"Very funny, little bard." Jett gave a sardonic smile. "I see why you didn't mistake me for Joxer. So my little brother finally got up your skirt."
"Shut up, Jett," Joxer said as he came out the door.
"I love the new back bone," Jett taunted.
Joxer rolled his eyes and dropped a kiss on Gabrielle's neck. He was starting to like her new short haircut. "Good morning, Gabrielle."
"Good morning," Gabrielle gave him a wicked grin. "Pookie."
Jett rolled his eyes. "You two make me sick."
"Oooooo, J-ett!" came two voices from the hut behind him.
"On the other hand." The assassin made a rapid entrance into the hut his sister and daughter shared.
"Good morning, Jett," Janna said handing him a wrap with sausage and eggs mixed with onions and peppers.
He took a large bite and reached for the milk pitcher. He poured a glass and took a deep gulp. "Just like Mom used to make." Janna flinched.
"Uh oh. What happened?" Jett cupped a hand under her chin to make her meet his eyes.
"Nothing unusual for our family." Janna shrugged and pulled away. "Mom didn't like the idea that I was planning on leaving. She tried to stop me."
"The way she tried to stop Jace." Jett finished for her. "We got more use out of her herbs when we were hurt than when we tried to leave."
"But Jace didn't almost die," Janna said softly. Her hand locked around his wrist before he could go off in a rage. "Malinda saved me, Jett. She helped me purge the poisons from my body, and I found where I really belong. Is it so bad, Jerrina becoming an Amazon?"
"Not really." Jett grinned suddenly. "If she can't be a warlord, why not a Queen?"
Janna chuckled. "Typical."
"Morning, Daddy," Jerrina said grabbing a wrap on her way out the door.
"Where is she going?" Jett frowned.
Jerrina shrugged. "Probably hunting. She and some of the younger hunters are going after deer."
"What about Xenan?"
"He is going to his father's village for the Centaur Harvest Festival." Janna resumed scraping the skin off carrots for the stew starting to bubble over the hearth fire.
"Good. You really should do something about them." Jett helped himself to one of the chopped carrots.
"Such as?" Janna sighed.
"Keep them apart somehow." Jett shrugged.
Janna laughed. "That's going to be impossible. Either it will burn out, or they'll get married when they're older."
"I won't allow that."
"You can't do anything about it." Janna chuckled. "Jerrina will make up her own mind. Now start chopping."
"Why did the gods curse me with a headstrong daughter?" Jett grumbled as he started to cut up an onion.
"They seem to run in the family." Joxer said from the door.
"Has anyone seen Xena?" Gabrielle asked, ducking in behind him. "She never came back here last night."
Everyone shrugged.
Jett sat on his sister's porch and watched life go on in the Amazon village. It wasn't all that different from life in any other village. Few men were left after the Festival last night, and for the most part Jett himself was ignored. Joxer, on the other hand, was very much a part of life here. The women teased the clumsy warrior gently but he teased back and laughed with them as they worked. For a moment Jett thought Joxer would have been better off being born into this place, to these people.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" Gabrielle asked as she sat down beside him.
"That I don't belong here." Jett glanced at her. "Being kind of forgiving aren't you?"
Gabrielle shrugged, "I've grown. So has Joxer. He wasn't this comfortable here before Janna and Jerrina settled here."
"What was Joxer doing here before then?"
Gabrielle shrugged again. "He's my friend."
Jett shook his head. He couldn't believe that Joxer had made friends with so many powerful friends. Xena, Hercules, the Amazons, and fromsome of the stories he'd been hearing, Aphrodite. The goddess of love seemed to have a thing for his wimpy little brother.
"Look, leather boy," Aphrodite flounced into view in front of the assassin, "My boy Joxer has more class and pure style than you'll ever have!" The blonde beauty pouted as she got an eye full of Joxer's brother. "And why haven't I seen you at any of my temples? Don't you like girls?"
"No doubt you're thinking of Jace," Jett muttered. He looked up at the goddess of love and beauty trying very hard not to be captivated. "I have never needed your help."
"With those looks, it's no wonder." Aphrodite giggled, dropping the pout like an out of style robe. "Look, cutie-pie, Joxer is a good boy. Ares gets you, I get Joxer. Everybody's happy."
Gabrielle tilted her head to one side. "Aphrodite, about last night..."
"Had zilch to do with me, or Cupid." Aphrodite giggled. "How much wine you had? Maybe."
Gabrielle sighed. Aphrodite winked at Jett and vanished with the advice that he lighten up.
"That's Aphrodite for you," Gabrielle muttered.
"Good morning, Gabrielle. Is Janna in there?" Maxus trotted up grinning at the young Queen. "Have I mentioned I love your new haircut?"
"Yes, to both." Gabrielle grinned back at him. "I'll go get her."
Jett leaned against the corner post of the porch and looked coolly at his sister's husband to be if the rumors were right. "Maxus, right?"
"Hello, Jett. Slither in last night?" The Centaur responded icily.
Jett blinked. Most people on first glance couldn't tell him and Joxer apart. "How did..."
"You smell different." Maxus shrugged. The move called attention to the lute slung across his human back. "Joxer smells like trees and wood smoke and dried grass. You smell like iron."
"You know how to play that thing?" Jett motioned toward the instrument on Maxus' back.
"Very well actually." Maxus shrugged again. Several Amazons paused to watch the muscles ripple across his chest then continued with what they had been doing.
Xena watched silently from across the way. She had found Gabrielle and Joxer together last night, and honestly didn't know what to make of it. She wanted them to be happy. But after what had happened when Bliss had gotten a hold of Cupid's bow and arrows..... She hadn't really thought they'd wind up together. She finally sighed and went over before Jett and Maxus could gut one another.
"You don't have to like me, Jett," Maxus was saying quietly. "But Janna and I are getting married."
"I don't recall saying yes, yet," Janna said from the door with a smile.
"Well?" Maxus arched his dark eyebrows at her.
"I'm thinking," She teased.
Maxus snorted and scooped her up into his arms. "You, my little warrior, think entirely to much."
Janna laughed. Jett stared at his sister, she looked...... Happy was the only word he could think of. She was happy in a way that she'd never been at home. His head snapped around when he heard the sounds coming from behind the hut. It was Joxer's lute. The assassin had seen it in the hut, but hadn't known it was kept tuned.
Xena moved in the direction of the music. She was surprised when she found Joxer alone. "Joxer? I thought Gabrielle would be with you."
"She's around the village somewhere." Joxer shrugged and smiled up at her. "You didn't come home last night."
"You and Gabrielle needed some privacy." Xena shrugged and sat down beside him. "About that..."
"Don't." Joxer shook his head. "What happened last night, I know it isn't likely to happen again. It was a gift."
Xena blinked. "You mean you and Gabrielle..."
"Aren't planning anything permanent."
Xena stared at him. None of this sounded like the insecure young man she had know for the last few years. "You're not?"
"What kind of life could we have together?" Joxer shook his head. "Gabby belongs at your side. I know that, I've always known that. So I entertained a few daydreams about her settling down with me someplace, here maybe. But I know that isn't going to happen."
"Oh." Xena blinked again.
Joxer grinned at her blank expression. "Besides, I kind of enjoy roaming around, too."
Relief painted itself across the warrior princess' face. "Oh."
"Worried?" Joxer chuckled.
"A little." Xena admitted.
"I know how much Gabby means to you, Xena."
"Thank you, Joxer." Xena sat down. "Don't stop playing on my account. I like hearing you play. It means you're happy."
"Yeah. I guess it does." Joxer murmured as he ran his fingers across the strings.
The End
Please take the time to write to Ephiney at ephiney@yahoo.com and let her know how you liked the story!
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena,
Gabrielle, Joxer, Jett, Aphrodite, 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. No infringement
of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction.
The characters of Janna, Jerrina, and Maxus were created by the author for
use in this 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.