CHARACTERS:
Xena, Warrior Princess
Joxer, the Mighty

Rating: G or PG
Summary: Joxer and Xena chat while Gabrielle is visiting her family.
Disclaimers: You know everytime I write this part I just want to say 'Duh!' After all, I don't even own a car, what would make people think I own Xena and Joxer? I'm just borrowing them from RenPics and the Lyrics from George Harrison. Don't sue! I'm already making payments on a student loan.

"She'll talk about it eventually," the tall dark woman assured the equally tall but pale skinned man. They were both looking after a small blonde woman as she rode off toward her hometown.

The clumsy warrior shrugged and looked away. "She doesn't have to, I told her no strings attached and I meant it."

He turned and walked off in the opposite direction from the Blonde Bard. And promptly fell over a rock. The young man grunted and rolled onto his back. "Well, isn't this just typical?"

"Take it easy, Joxer." Xena crouched beside the man who was practicly her little brother. "That was a bad one." She ran her hands over his arms and legs with a little frown on her face. "It doesn't look like anything's broken."

"Nah, I'm fine," Joxer muttered. He pulled off his helmet and looked mournfully at the new dent. "But this is going to have to get fixed."

"We can get that taken care of in Trainia," Xena offered as she rose to her feet. She held out a hand to help her friend to his feet. "Now, back to the topic."

"What topic?" Joxer arched his eyebrows.

"Your favorite topic. A certain blonde Amazon Queen?" Xena's lips quirked slightly as she took Eve off her back. "I think her name is Gabrielle?"

"Ha, ha, ha, Xena," Joxer grumbled. He dusted off the seat of his pants as he settled his helmet back on his head. "What about Gabrielle?"

"Well, for one thing, I don't get why you love her. She can be pretty mean to you sometimes." Xena propped her little dark haired baby girl against her shoulder. "Why do you let her do that to you?"

"Ever hear the phrase 'negitive attention is better than no attention'?" Joxer chuckled. "And though she can be pretty mean, she can also be pretty nice. She's just.... She's just Gabrielle, you know?"

"I don't know," she frowned. "She never grabs my nose."

Joxer laughed. "She'd probably loose a hand if she tried."

Xena shrugged. "So explain it to me, Joxer."

"Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other," Joxer shrugged, "like when she doesn't see me watching her. She flows and drifts as if she's walking on air. And when she's nice to me, I just want the world to stand still for a moment. But even when she's mean, she's still touching me."

"Joxer, you know I'm glad you stick around right? That we're family?" she asked softly. Eve gurgled in her arms and waved her hands at her 'Uncle Joxer'.

Joxer's grin could have out shone the sun. "Sure I know that. You're my best friend, and even if Gabrielle never feels the same way about me that I feel for her, I'm not going anywhere."

"Sometimes, Mighty, you amaze me."

The clumsy warrior wanna-be bowed and stumbled slightly over his feet. Xena grinned at him and placed Eve in his arms. The baby gurgled again and tugged on a stray thong hanging from Joxer's armor.

"Yeah, I love you too!"

Please take the time to write to Jag at wild_jaguarita@yahoo.com, and let her know how you liked the story!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Joxer, Eve, and all other characters who have appeared in either series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. The lyrics to "Something" 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 © 2000 by Jaguarita J.H. 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.