Rating: G
Spoilers: None
Summary: GJRS lyrics challenge response. Gabrielle and Joxer return to camp from a shopping trip.
Thanks: A big thanks to Sue Ellen for the lyrics, though I don't think she worked too hard to come up with a song for me! ;)

Summer Breeze
by Seals and Croft
lyrics by James Seals (c) 1971

See the curtains hangin' in the window
In the evening on a Friday night
A little light-a-shinin' through the window
Lets me know everything's all right

Chorus:
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind

See the paper layin' on the sidewalk
A little music from the house next door
So I walk on up to the door step
Through the screen and across the floor

{repeat chorus}

Sweet days of summer -- the jasmine's in bloom
July is dressed up and playing her tune
And I come home from a hard day's work
And you're waitin' there
Not a care in the world

See the smile awaitin' in the kitchen
Food cookin' and the plates for two
Feel the arms that reach out to hold me
In the evening when the day is through

{repeat chorus}

The sun had begun to set over the narrow isthmus as the young girl sat on the low hill watching the cattle graze. It was her favorite place, her favorite time. She could see the tops of the fields in the distance waving in the soft, salty breeze that gently swelled around her, but the smell of jasmine is what filled her senses. The shrub beside her had once been small, like her, but now it grew wild, climbing over the crude stone wall that she leaned against. The delicate flowers' pale yellow hue matched her wind blown hair; the blue-green leaves reflected in her large, unblinking eyes. Dreams of what could be moved behind those eyes; all the possibilities stretched out around her.

"Gabrielle!"

Her mother's voice pierced through her mind's wanderings and she twisted around to see her mother stepping out from the village, a small babe perched on her hip.

"Coming, momma!" she cried, as she jumped up. Her little legs skipped over the wall and she began running toward her mother, the smell of jasmine carried along with her.

"Joxer! Will you hurry up?" The young Amazon woman turned her back to the oddly armored man and continued walking along the dusty trail. She could hear him picking up his pace; the metal of his ill-fitting armor clanging together causing birds to fly from their resting places.

She wiped the sweat from the back of her neck as she once again cursed her friend, Xena, for leaving her alone with their sometime traveling companion. She wondered if the warrior was testing her again; seeing how long her patience would hold out.

Joxer fell in step beside her and said, "Remind me why we have to run back to camp, Gabby."

"I'm going to fail this test."

"What test?" he asked.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

The pair walked in silence, climbing to the crest of the next hill where the sun hung in hazy brilliance. A breeze, warm but sweet smelling, met them at the top. They both paused to look out at the countryside that rolled out in front of them.

"You know, when I was a kid, I used to climb to the top of our house and look out over all the other roof tops and watch the heat just rise up from the city," Joxer began in a low voice. "That's about the only place you could catch a breeze. On a clear day, you could see the farmland in the distance. I used to dream about having a little place, working the fields. What it would be like."

He dropped his head, and raising his voice from the soft hush of his memories, said, "That's just when I wasn't aching to be off fighting alongside Dad and Jett, or training with the old sword." He reached over and patted the hilt of his sword as he met her eyes.

"Joxer the Farmer, hmm?" she teased.

"Well," he said, "sometimes. I guess most people want what they don't have at some point." He began walking again, winding down the side path that would take them back to camp.

Gabrielle took a few quick steps to catch up with him. "I used to do the same thing." She looked up at him and smiled.

"Yeah?"

"I used to sit at the edge of the village at sunset, not a care in the world. I'd dream of going to the city... well, everywhere." She swept he hand out in front of them, then turned her gaze to the packed earth at their feet. The forest grew around them, sheltering them, finally, from the heat of the dying sun.

"Did you ever think it would be like this?" he asked, raising his brows.

"No. Never," she stated, flatly.

They looked at each other and began to laugh. Gabrielle shifted her pack to the other side and took Joxer's arm. "Joxer."

He stopped laughing and looked down at her, apprehension creeping into his eyes. "What did I do?"

"Nothing," she said with a nudge to his arm. "It's just... you're all right, Joxer."

"I'm all right? Was I sick?"

"No." She laughed. "You're all right when you're you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. Joxer the Farmer."

"Hey!"

"Okay. Joxer the Dreamer?"

"Dreamer." He rolled his eyes. "I'm a man of action," he boomed.

Gabrielle's laughter grew as she tugged him forward.

They stumbled into the camp a few minutes later still laughing and talking. The dark woman that sat on the fallen log by the small fire looked up from the sword she was sharpening.

"Hi, Xena!" Gabrielle managed to say. She dropped her bag next to the warrior. "We got everything we needed."

Xena stood and sheathed her sword. She placed a hand on Joxer's shoulder and asked if anything was wrong.

"No," he said with shrug. "We're just talking."

"Just talking," Xena repeated.

"Yep," he answered, then joined Gabrielle at the fire and began cutting vegetables into the pot.

"C'mon, Xena," Gabrielle called over her shoulder. "Have you gotten us a rabbit yet, or do we have to do everything?"

Please take the time to write to Raye at summrbrez@thebookcase.org, 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. The lyrics to "Summer Breeze" are owned by the appropriate copyright holders. This story is copyright © 2000 by Raye 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.