Rated: PG (I think)
Warning: Death
Summary: Gabrielle tells Joxer she loves him but death takes her away again
Author notes: This is my very first story based around Joxer and Gabrielle. Takes place during the 5th season.

My Cup Runneth Over
by Ed Ames

Sometimes in the mornin' when shadows are deep
I lie here beside you just watching you sleep
And sometimes I whisper what I'm thinking of
My cup runneth over with love

Sometimes in the evening when you do not see
I study the small things you do constantly
I memorize moments that I'm fondest of
My cup runneth over with love

In only a moment we both will be old
We won't even notice the world turning cold
And so, in these moments with sunlight above
My cup Runneth over with love
My cup Runneth over with love
With love

Joxer the Mighty sat in the tavern nursing his ale. He sighed deeply. Gabrielle was gone again. She had died saving his life. Xena in her grief left right after the Amazon funeral and Joxer never felt so low. He missed them both so much, but he missed his Gabrielle more. He wondered what made him do something so stupid, running into the fight unprepared? He remembered the sword coming down towards him waited for the death he knew would come. Suddenly someone slammed against him knocking him out of harm's way. He didn't have to see who it was. He knew. Her death scream still haunted him. He didn't move, just watched, as Xena ended the life of the man who killed Gabrielle. He watched as The Warrior Princess held the body of her best friend and screamed up into the sky.

He remembered that he had not been invited to the funeral. Neither Xena nor any of the Amazons wanted him there. But he watched anyhow, from a safe distances. Soon after the funeral Xena disappeared. Now Joxer sat alone in the tavern missing Gabrielle. He remembered that just yesterday everything was right with the world.

Joxer waited for his friends. They had sent word that they were coming home. He waited for the boat to come in. He could not wait to see them again. He had written a song for Gabrielle and he could not wait to sing it to her.

Gabrielle stared out at the pier as the ship docked.

"I am sure he's here."

Gabrielle turned to look at her friend and smiled. "I am sure he is too."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"I don't know Xena. I want to, more then anything."

"Then what's stopping you?"

"I am afraid that if I tell him, I will lose him too."

"Gabrielle, you can't keep living in the past; you have to go on. Tell him, Gabrielle, before it's too late."

Gabrielle nodded her head. Suddenly she saw the familiar armor and the man attached to it. Gabrielle turned and looked at her friend.

"Go to him, Gabrielle. I think he's waited long enough."

Gabrielle smiled at Xena. "Thanks, Xena, I do love you too. You know that? Right?"

"I know, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle ran down the plank of the ship and flew into the arms of a very surprised Joxer.

"Hey, Gabrielle. I really missed you."

"Oh, Joxer. I missed you so much. But I am glad you were not there."

Joxer sadly lowered his head. "Yeah, I guess I would have been in the way."

Gabrielle lifted his chin so she could see his eyes. "No, Joxer. I am glad you were not there because there was no way to keep an eye on you and you might have been killed. I love you, Joxer, more then life itself, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you - and beyond."

"What do you mean keep an eye on me? Gabrielle, I don't need anyone to keep an eye on...." Joxer suddenly stopped talking as he realized what else the Bard had said. He looked dumbstuck at her. "Gab... Gab. Did ...uh? Did you just say you loved me?"

Gabrielle's eyes shone as she smiled at him. "Yes, I did, and I would gladly shout it to the whole world." Gabrielle turned around and lifted her head and shouted.

"I LOVE THIS MAN!"

A few people walking by smiled and nodded their heads; some just stared. Gabrielle stopped shouting and turned back to Joxer, who was now lying on the ground with a big stupid grin on his face.

"I think you made him very happy," said Xena.

Gabrielle smiled. "Yeah, I know. Come on Xena, help me get him up."

They were now sitting in the tavern and Gabrielle was talking up a storm. It didn't matter to Joxer whether he understood what she was talking about or not. He just wanted to hear her voice. He knew that Gabrielle's voice made all the Goddesses jealous. He just sat there and soaked in all she was saying.

"Joxer? Hey Joxer?"

"Huh? Oh Gabrielle. Sorry, I must have been dreaming. Did you ask me something?"

Gabrielle laughed. In the past this would have made her mad, but now, for some reason it didn't.

"Yes. I asked you something. I asked you to marry me."

Joxer stood up, knocking his chair over and causing a mug of ale to spill all over a big scary-looking man. The man picked up Joxer and stared him into his eyes and he growled "Hey you moron. What's the big idea?"

Joxer didn't have a chance to explain - the big man threw him into the table. The big man started laughing. He turned around to his friends. They were all laughing, too. As the big man turned back around the little blond's fist caught him off guard and he landed on the floor.

"No one, and I mean no one, attacks my boyfriend."

The group of men stared at their leader lying on the floor and back at Gabrielle, who was now on the floor helping Joxer.

"Come on Joxer, open your eyes."

Joxer slowly opened his eyes and stared at her. "Gabrielle? Did you just ask me to marry you?"

She nodded her head. Joxer looked at her. "Yes, Gabrielle. Yes, I will marry you."

Gabrielle and Joxer both stared at each other, for what seemed a lifetime. Then Joxer took Gabrielle into his arms and he kissed her. They agreed to be married in the Amazon village, and were on their way when all hell broke loose. The same men from the tavern attacked them. Joxer rushed head-on into the fight. He was reaching for his sword when he found out in horror he didn't have it. The same big man from the tavern knocked Joxer down with the back of his sword. He then raised his sword to bring it down for the killing blow...

He could still hear her scream. He sat looking at his ale, hot tears streaming down his face. Why Gabrielle? Why? he thought to himself. Suddenly he remembered something. Xena had once gone to the underworld to find Gabrielle. Why couldn't he do it? He shook his head. He had no idea how to get to the underworld. So he decided to do the next best thing. Joxer entered the temple of Hades and placed his offering on the altar. He knelt down and prayed to the God of the underworld.

"Hades, I beg you to hear my call. Please let my love Gabrielle return to this world."

Joxer waited for Hades. It was not long before Hades did reply. There was a loud thundering sound and the wind blew so fearsome that it blew out all the candles in the temple. It was now pitch dark in the temple and it took a few minutes for Joxer's eyes to adjust. But when they did, they were focused on the God of the underworld.

"Joxer, even if I wanted to grant your request, I cannot. Gabrielle is not here. Her soul has gone to the Amazon's underworld."

Joxer stared at Hades. "But aren't you in charge of that underworld too?"

"No. I am not. Artemis the Amazons goddess has assigned a noble Amazon Warrior to be in charge. In order to get Gabrielle back you must go to an Amazon village and ask to go to their underworld."

Joxer stood tall and looked at Hades. "If that's what I must do, then so be it."

Hades shook his head. "It will not be that easy, Joxer. You are a man, and as far as I know, no man has ever come out of the Amazon's underworld."

Joxer though for a moment "But it is possible? Right?"

Hades only looked away. Joxer waited for him to answer but he didn't. He just vanished. Joxer signed but he decided to go to the Amazon village hoping to go to their underworld and get Gabrielle.

As Joxer approached the Amazon village he was met by two of the Amazons.

"Why are you here?" asked the first Amazon.

"You are not welcome here," replied the second one.

Joxer stood his ground knowing that any minute his life could end. "I wish to see Cyanne."

The first Amazon shook her head. "It's not possible. Cyanne will not allow you into the village."

Joxer threw up his hands. "Then please tell her I wish to see her. As Gabrielle's betrothed I have that right."

"You lost that right when Gabrielle died. You no longer have it."

Joxer turned and looked at Cyanne. He saw in her eyes that she still hated him. But he was determined. He was going to get Gabrielle back.

"Please let me go to your underworld and get Gabrielle."

"Never. There is no way a man like you will enter Amazon's underworld," replied Cyanne. She turned to walk away but Joxer grabbed her.

"You hate me for what happened to Gabrielle. You blame me. All right, I accept that. But please don't punish Gabrielle because you hate me."

"If you had just stayed out of the fight Gabrielle would be alive."

Joxer looked at the person he had not seen since Gabrielle's death.

"Hello, Xena."

"Please go, Joxer. You are the last person I want to see right now."

Joxer felt hurt but he again stood his ground.

"Xena. I know you hate me for what happened to Gabrielle. But please let me fix this."

The Warrior Princess turned her back on him. She knew deep down inside it wasn't his fault, but she just could not forgive him. It was too soon. She turned back to him. "Please go, Joxer. I have something to do. I am going to get Gabrielle back."

Joxer suddenly forgot to whom he was speaking to and he grabbed Xena. "How? Tell me how you are going to do it."

But before Xena could answer him, Cyanne gave him a small vial, saying, "By drinking this she will be able to go to our underworld."

Joxer grabbed the bottle from Cyanne and drank it before Xena could stop him. He staggered, his unfocused eyes rolling to the back of his head. He gasped for breath but found none. Suddenly he crashed to the ground and laid still. Xena bent down, listening for a heartbeat even thought she knew it would not be there. She looked up at Cyanne with burning hatred in her eyes.

"Why?"

Cyanne held her head up proudly. "He wanted to go to our underworld. I was only giving him what he wanted."

Xena stood up from Joxer's body. "But he was not prepared." She picked up his body and looked at Cyanne. "Please keep his body warm - we have time to prepare him."

Cyanne stared at Xena. "I will not help you with that man. I hated him more then anyone."

"Then do it for Gabrielle. He was her beloved - her consort."

"Yes, and because of his stupidity she is dead. No, I will not help you."

Suddenly Artemis stood before them. She said nothing only placed her hand on Joxer's head and was gone. Xena stared. Cyanne only shook her head and muttered.

"She prepared him. Bring him to the temple." One of the Amazons took Joxer's body from Xena. Cyanne walked over to her. "You may come, but remember Xena, no matter what happens, you may not interfere."

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