He saw her from the foot of the same hill; she sat there in the grass, dressed in a simple white gown and bare feet. She was gently touching a wild rose and her face that was half hidden in her long brown hair, looked sweet, innocent, and sad. He walked closer, the lady never once looking up. Taking one last step he knelt down beside her, this action not starting her as he had expected, instead she looked up at him, offering a small smile. Her eyes, though sad, were peaceful and soft. The way Gabrielle's had been years ago. He smiled at himself, always finding something that reminded him of her. A daisy in a field, a scent it the air, the look in a young lady's eyes, no matter where he was, she was always there.

"Are you ok?" He asked the woman gently. "You seem sad, can I help."

"Oh... that's ok, I'm fine." She replied in a voice that was light and smooth.

"Well, I'm Joxer the Mighty." He told her with an extended hand, she smiled and shook it softly.

"My name is Cherysh." She told him.

"Are you here all alone?" She nodded her head in response. "It's really dangerous out her, and it's almost nightfall." He bit his lip thinking then smiled. "Why don't you come with me? I'm going to met up with my friends, I bet you would like them." He told her proudly.

"Oh no, I couldn't. I..."

"I insist." Joxer said gently tugging on her hand, which was still in his. He smiled at her and she melted, she loved that smile. She had watched him many times, and knew him well. After he asked please, she agreed and let him lead her through the woods.

Xena sat on her furs next to the fire, running a sharpening stone rhythmically over the edges of her sword. Gabrielle sat on the other side, looking at a new scroll, running a hand through her short blond hair as she thought. Suddenly the peaceful evening was disturbed by a soft clank nearby; the bard laughed softly, "Joxer's here." She said to no one in particular, and she kept writing. A moment later Joxer appeared through the trees and stepped closer to the fire.

"Hi guys." He told his friends cheerfully, removing his hat. Xena nodded and Gabrielle smiled at him briefly, their way of saying hello. "I want you guys to meet someone." Joxer told them, then waved a hand to the nearby woods, slowly a woman emerged and crept to Joxer side. "Meet Cherysh." Gabrielle looked up at her, she was beautiful, but that wasn't her first thought, Joxer is with a woman, an unease settled in her stomach, but she quickly pushed it aside and welcomed their guest.

"Hello Cherysh, please come have a seat." She said patting the ground beside her. "This is Xena, and I'm Gabrielle." With a nervous glance to Joxer, she quietly took her seat next to the bard.

"I met her not too long ago, she was sitting alone just outside these woods. I thought it might be safer for her to stay with us for the night." He paused, "if that's ok with you." He said looking at Gabrielle.

"Yes of course, that was nice of you Joxer." She told him, pondering why this news made her feel better. She wasn't upset at the idea of Joxer finding someone, was she? She stood her head slightly and turned her attention back to the young woman beside her. "So what brings you this way, and why are you alone." Gabrielle asked her gently.

Cherysh shifted a bit on the furs, not meeting the bard's eyes. "I just didn't want to go home." She said quietly, looking over at Joxer with loving eyes. Gabrielle noticed the look, there was something wrong here, she thought, if they only just met how could this girl have feelings for him, and after all this was Joxer, maybe she just didn't know him like she did, she mused.

"Can I ask why you don't want to go home." Gabrielle pried.

"I don't fit in there." She said simply. The bard caught her best friend's look at the girl; Xena knew there was more to it as well. Looking back to the girl, she realized she was scared, she looked nervously at Xena every few moments. Gabrielle noted she was acting quite suspicious.

"Why not."

"I... well they just don't like me." They fell into silence, as the bard thought about the mysterious girl.

Cherysh again looked to Joxer, lost in her own thoughts. I shouldn't be here, she thought, I'm supposed to be keeping my distance, I promised myself I would. But look at him, I know you need me, I need you too, she silently told him.

Suddenly something buzzed in front of her face; with a small scream she jumped up and backed away from the insect, obviously terrified of the bug. Joxer immediately got up from his spot. "Don't worry I'll get it," he told her, taking his helmet he swatted at the mosquito, missing he tried again. Gabrielle stifled a giggle with her hand, and Xena smirked at the humorous scene.

After quite a few moments of watching Joxer try very desperately to kill the bug, and yet only managing to trip over everything in the camp, Xena set down her sword and stone, took out her chakram and slung it. Zooming through the air, it hit a tree, then a rock on the ground and then flew into a tree, sticking in its trunk. Getting up the warrior walked over, and pulled her weapon out, two pieces of the bug falling to the ground. "It's dead." She said solemnly as she sat back down and continued sharpening her sword. From the corner of her eye she could she her friends look, and hid a smirk.

"I had him right where I wanted him." Joxer protested, "I could have killed him." He sat back down with a small defeated look. Cherysh walked to him, then kneeling beside him kissed his cheek.

"I thought you did wonderfully." She said softly, then returned to her seat. Joxer smiled at her, then caught Gabrielle's look and lowered his head. What is wrong with me, Gabrielle thought, why did the sight of Cherysh kissing Joxer's cheek bother me?

"Let's all get some shut eye, we have a long day tomorrow." Xena told them, then laid down. They all followed suit. Yet before closing her eyes, Gabrielle saw Joxer sharing his covers with the girl, with an overly loud sigh, she rolled over and tried to get some sleep.

It was morning, the sun shined down, promising to be a beautiful day. Cherysh was still awake when Xena and Gabrielle got up. After the friends ate breakfast, Cherysh was about to say goodbye and go on her way, but Joxer stopped her.

"Would you like to come with us?" He asked her, "Is that ok Xena." The warrior looked at her friend's hopeful face, then to the bard scowl of disapproval.

"Fine by me." She said, then chuckled softly at Gabrielle's grunt. She knew her best friend was jealous, but this might just be the thing to get her to realize her feelings for the would-be hero, she mused while getting Argo ready. Finally getting the girl to agree, Joxer and the rest of them went on their way.

The small group walked in relative silence, except for Xena and Gabrielle playing their usual game of guess who I am. They came to a town near noon and decided to stop in and get a few supplies. The center of town was busy, with people buying goods, and stands selling them, while walking though, they stopped as a fight broke out in front of them.

"Get out of here Marcus, we have no need for you and your god here." The first man said.

"What of you and your god, Darien." The second came back. The arguing continued back and forth, Xena started to intervene but amazingly Cherysh was already between the two angry men.

"Why do you fight?" She asked them in a tender voice, the men looked enchanted, which was no wonder with her looks, and she was almost more charming then Aphrodite herself. Finally the first man snapped back to reality and answered her.

"Because this village worships Demeter god of earth and harvest. He worships Ares god of war, we have no need of that here." The man told her.

"He has a point, Ares ain't no good." Gabrielle chimed in, but Cherysh ignored the remark and continued.

"And what does he wish to do that will bring this village to harm?" She asked.

"He wants to fight." The man insisted.

"Sometimes you have to fight." The other man said. P> "Do you have any problems with warlords or such in these parts?" She asked Darien.

"Yes Mam, that's why we need to get his kind out of here, he's just attracting them bandits."

"Why not have Marcus build a defense for your town, then he can be in charge of that and you can each worship your own gods, no one would get hurt and your village would be protected. Would you do that Marcus?" She asked.

"Yes, I don't have a problem with that." He agreed.

"And you Darien, does this sound good to you?"

"Well, I guess it would do. As long as he and his men don't create any problems." He warned.

"Of course, so then it's settled. Now you two shake hands and be friends again." She smiled; they both did so and smile sweetly at her.

"Thank you, what is your name girl?" Darien asked after the other man left.

"Cherysh." She answered a bit shyly.

"Well it's a pity there ain't a goddess like you Cherysh, you have a knack for making peace." He told her, then walked away.

Gabrielle had watched the whole scene, most people didn't stop and listen like that, but something about Cherysh made them do so. The bard, although still uneasy about this girl's feelings towards Joxer, gained a respect for her and her peaceful ways.

"That was very nice what you just did for them. Helping them with their problem like that." Gabrielle told her.

"Thank you, I just really hate to see people fight needlessly. I've never been able to understand why people can't talk more instead of turning to violence, I think it's pointless." She suddenly shied away and her head sank. "Sorry, I didn't mean to go on like that." She told the bard softly.

"You know Cherysh, I think we're going to be friends." Gabrielle said, taking the girl's arm, they walked away talking of their ideals.

Later that night, after setting up camp, and getting dinner, everyone was settled down for the night. All except Cherysh, she sat there looking at the people around her. It felt so good to have friends, but they wouldn't be friends much longer. They were great people, but she didn't fit here, once they learned what she was, they wouldn't like her anymore. Xena and Gabrielle didn't like gods, and Joxer didn't like anyone that the bard didn't like. It was late when she got up from her bedroll, and started off, pausing a last time, to look at Joxer. Someday, she thought, maybe someday. She turned to walk away when a voice stopped her.

"Where are you going?" Gabrielle asked, sitting up on her bedroll. Cherysh froze, then taking a deep breath, slowly turned around.

"It's time I should be going." She said.

"This late at night?" The bard asked in puzzlement. "Why not leave in the morning?"

"Gabrielle, I haven't been completely honest with you."

"Ok...why don't you start now." She told her, patting the ground beside her. Cherysh swallowed hard then took the seat.

"Um... well, where do I start?" She said with a nervous laugh.

"Just start at the beginning."

"Yeah, you're the bard." She tried to joke. "Well, it was a few years ago, I was just a girl in a small farming town. I was expected to sew, cook, and help in the garden, among other things. But I was no good. I tried to do things right, but they always turned into disaster. I wasn't like them, I didn't have skill for the normal duties of a housewife, and my father often said that no man would marry me. I know this sounds dumb..." "Not that dumb." Gabrielle smiled, remembering her own youth, and how she wanted more, she hadn't been cut out for the home life.

"Well, I was tired of getting teased, I was tired of leading a dull life, I wanted adventure, most of all I wanted to show them that I could be good at something." She continued sadly, Gabrielle understood all too well. "So I set out on my own, a long while later, I kind of by accident found ambrosia. The food of the gods, I thought that if I ate it, and became a god, I would be able to do anything. Gods are perfect, or so I thought."

"So you ate it... so that means that you are a goddess." The bard offered.

"Yes, I didn't want to tell you guys, because I know how you and Xena dislikes gods, but to be near Joxer was worth the risk to me." Cherysh said, keeping her eyes to the ground in front of her. "When I became a god, I found out that nothing changed, I still couldn't do anything right, no matter how hard I tried. And the other gods were worse then the people in my hometown had been. So I've stayed alone since then. I saw Joxer one day, and saw how much we had in common," she smiled at the memory. "He tried so hard to do everything right, but failed a lot, and he too was the butt of many jokes."

"So why didn't you introduce yourself then." Gabrielle asked, feeling a pang of guilt because she knew she had been the one to make a lot of the jokes, and criticism towards Joxer.

"Because soon after that I had fallen in love with him, I watched him often and still know him well. But by that time I had to keep my distance."

"Why."

"He was in love with someone else...you." She told the bard softly.

"Joxer." She scoffed. "He doesn't love me, we're just good friends." Gabrielle insisted. Cherysh wasn't going to argue, so instead she continued.

"I wanted to go to him, many times, but I can't hold him against his will. As long as you are in his life, his heart will always belong to you. I didn't want to know you, I wanted to hate you." She continued close to tears. "But then he happened to see me, and now I have met you and Xena, you're both so nice, and I have so enjoyed having friends for a while." That was the breaking point for her, the tears finally came, she hid her face in her hands and remained silent while she tried to regain her composure.

Gabrielle put a gentle hand on her shoulder, though her own thoughts we in turmoil. Joxer in love with me, was all she could think. She mentally shook herself; this girl needed her now. "You haven't done anything wrong, Cherysh, we can still be friends if you'd like." She sniffled one last time, and looked up at the bard with glossy eyes.

"We can?" she asked in confusion.

"Of course." Gabrielle told her.

"But what about Xena... she doesn't like gods." She worried.

"Xena doesn't hate gods, we just get a lot of flack from a lot of them." She laughed. "Come on, why don't you get some sleep and we will talk more in the morning."

Cherysh smiled and nodded her head. "Thank you Gabrielle." She whispered, pulling the bard in to a hug. "I've never had a friend."

"You're welcome." She said, giving her a hug back, then laid down. Though Gabrielle didn't sleep much that night, thoughts of her clumsy, would-be hero friend kept running through her mind. So many questions, not too many answers.

The next morning, after Xena and Joxer were told the whole story, Cherysh decided to leave for a while. Joxer walked with her to say goodbye, and they stopped at the edge of the woods. Gabrielle had followed, wanting to say her own good-byes as well, but she stopped when she saw them talking. She slipped behind a tree, so she wouldn't be since, and listened.

"I still care about you Joxer, and I probably always will." Cherysh was saying.

"I love Gabrielle though... even if she hates me." Joxer told her.

"I know, and don't give up on her just yet, ok." Joxer nodded. "Just know that if things don't work out, just call my name. No matter how long it takes, my calendar will be open." Just then the bard walked up.

"Thank you Cherysh." Gabrielle began.

"For what."

"For making me see a few things." She winked at her, Cherysh smiled in return, she would be happy as long as Joxer was happy. And having friends was kind of nice too. She turned to leave.

"Wait...Cherysh..."

"Yes?"

"You are good at something." Gabrielle told her.

"What's that?"

"At making peace, you know, there isn't a goddess of peace around. And it does have a nice ring to it." Cherysh smiled brightly and blushed.

"Thank you." With quick hugs to her new friend, the goddess vanished.

With a content smile of her own, Gabrielle looped her arm through Joxer's as they walked back towards Xena. Joxer loves me... she thought... I might be able to get used to that.

Please take the time to write to Tabs at fairywoodqueen@sbcglobal.net, 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. The lyrics to "Keeping my Distance" are owned by the appropriate copyright holders. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. The character of Cherysh was created by Tabs for use in this fiction. This story is copyright © 1999 by Tabs 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.