She huffed, trying to get comfortable but continually rubbing up against him.

"I didn't mean to set fire to your pelt. How was I to know that smell was?"

"The smoke lifting up from my bedroll might have been a clue..."

She pursed her lips. For Joxer, that was downright snarky. She wriggled again, and she could feel his body growing rigid behind her.

"Gods, Joxer!" she sighed, her temper slipping from her control. "Can't you just relax? How am I supposed to get comfortable with you all uptight like that? I may as well sleep on a pile of rocks!"

There was a pregnant pause, and Joxer murmured, "I'm hard like rocks?"

He sounded very amused. She melted, her cheeks burning, and she half-turned. "I meant your arms and legs, they're all in front of you, like I'm going to hit you or something."

"Then what do you want me to-"

Rolling over and propping herself up on an elbow, she grabbed his arms and put them beside him, pushing his thighs till his legs were in a more relaxed position. With a sigh, she nodded.

"There!" And with that, she lay back down, half on top of him. She wriggled and sighed, content this time. "That's much better."

She wasn't aware that she'd just arranged Joxer like a pile of pillows, or the soft smile on his face. It didn't take her long to fall asleep.

"Gabrielle..."

The voice poked her from a warm, soft, dark place. She wanted it to go away.

"Gabby..."

She grunted at the voice in the hope that it'd piss off.

"I gotta move..."

"No," she murmured into the squishy warm thing she was currently sleeping amongst. On. In. She was wrapped up in it. It was the most comfortable thing she'd fallen asleep against in months. "Don't move. Everything's perfect."

"But I-"

"No!"

She grabbed whatever felt so nice and squeezed. There was a funny little squeak.

"Gabrielle," came a new, drawling voice. "Let Joxer go pee."

Opening an eye, she saw that she was sprawled out on top of Joxer's chest, hugging it to her, her face pillowed on his chest. She peeled her face from his funny, ragged vest and turned over away from him, blushing deeply.

"Thanks," he said, racing off into the bushes.

"Hurry up!" she growled after him. "The bed roll will get cold." With that, she buried herself in it again.

Xena shook her head and went back to sleep, cuddling Eve to her.

Please take the time to write to Nancy at tosh@opera.iinet.net.au, 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 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. This story is copyright © 2006 by Nancy Lorenz 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.