DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. This is my sequel to T. Novan's After All These Years. There is some explicit subtext in this story, so, if this kind of stuff is illegal where you live, if you're under 18 or you find the notion of two women making love offensive, you might wanna think again before proceeding.

Love Hurts
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Kellas walked down the road, away from the Amazon village from which she had been banished. It hurt her so much that Gabrielle had dismissed her without so much as a second glance. After all these years. It wasn't fair. She was there for Gabrielle, gave her back the will to live, damn, she gave her her heart, her soul. And still, she had to compete with Xena, even though she was dead for all intents and purposes. And then Xena came back and her love didn't matter anymore. She didn't want to kill Xena and she was still surprised that she actually cut the rope, but she just wanted her to be gone, to cease to exist, she wanted Gabrielle to forget about Xena and move on. Yet Gabrielle could not. She envied Xena for being so close to Gabrielle that not even years or death could break that bond. She wondered if Gabrielle still remembered that there was another woman in her life, a woman who had given her her heart and her soul. Was she ever anything but a cheap substitute for Xena? She, however, would never forget the love that could never be. She was still a bit shocked that she had tried to hit Gabrielle and she felt ashamed. She wondered if she would have actually hit Gabrielle had Xena not stopped her. It didn't matter, it was too late now.

She walked around for weeks, not really caring where she went. When she finally snapped out of her melancholia, she realized that she hadn't gone far from the Amazon territory, she had instinctively kept near it, near Gabrielle.

Maera lay on the bed and watched Kellas as she bathed. She remembered the first time she had met the gorgeous Amazon warrior. She had liked her from the moment she saw her and she had wanted to help her.

She still remembered when Kellas had first walked into her tavern. She still remembered the sadness in her eyes. She remembered how Kellas had often gone to the near-by hill and stared into the distance toward the Amazon territory. She remembered how she had often gone there herself to bring Kellas back or to cover her with a blanket if she had already fallen asleep.

She also remembered how Kellas had fought with abandon against some warlord intent on pillaging the village. She hadn't understood it then, but now she knew that Kellas wanted to die then. She remembered how she had nursed her back to health, how she had treated Kellas' wounds and how she had sat by her bed through the long nights and listened to Kellas as she called for a woman named Gabrielle in her delirium.

She remembered how she had felt jealous and hurt, she had fallen in love with Kellas by then, but Kellas had kept mostly to herself, in spite of the fact that she had accepted Maera's offer to stay with her and help her out on her little estate. But slowly, over the next two years, she had managed to make Kellas happy again and finally, against her expectations, Kellas had fallen in love with her.

The past year had been the happiest in her life, in spite of Kellas' occasional dreams about Gabrielle. She had never asked her about Gabrielle and Kellas had never spoken about her.

Kellas finally got out of the tub and Maera watched as water ran down the soft curves of Kellas' lithe body. Kellas smiled as she dried her body with a towel. Then she joined Maera in bed.

It was wonderful. Kellas and Maera made love like so many times before, only this time something was different.

"Gabrielle," Kellas whispered as she came.

"What?" Maera asked, surprised.

Kellas opened her eyes and looked at her. She was confused for a moment and then she realized what had happened, she had said Gabrielle's name while making love to Maera. She closed her eyes and thought about Gabrielle, the woman who still held her heart.

"Kellas?" Maera asked, but Kellas turned away, leaving Maera confused.

Maera stared at her lover for a while and then lay beside her. She thought for a while, trying to find out what exactly had happened, but she couldn't. When she finally decided to go to sleep, she heard that Kellas was weeping. She was still confused about what had happened earlier and now Kellas was crying. But she knew better than to ask and she simply hugged Kellas from behind and soothed her to sleep.

When Maera woke up in the morning, Kellas was not there. She got up, dressed and went out to look for her. She found her in the stable, saddling her horse, all her belongings packed.

"Kellas?" she asked, alarmed.

Kellas gave he a long, sad look and then returned to saddling her horse. Maera gulped, she knew that something was seriously wrong. She went closer and put her hand on Kellas' shoulder.

"Kellas, please, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Kellas said, not looking at her.

"Did I do something?"

Kellas shook her head.

"No."

"Then what is it?"

Kellas stopped. She hesitated for a moment and then looked at Maera.

"I have to go," she said.

"Why?" Maera asked, confused and hurt.

"I have to," Kellas avoided the answer.

"Please, Kellas, I need to know."

Kellas sighed and looked down, thinking. She knew it would hurt Maera if she told her the truth, but she decided it would hurt her less than if she left her wondering whether it was something that she did that drove Kellas away.

"Okay," she said and finished saddling the horse. She took a deep breath. "Do you remember when we first met?"

Maera nodded.

"Yes, you were grieving."

"Yes," Kellas confirmed. "I was grieving, but not because someone had died."

Suddenly Maera understood.

"Gabrielle?" she asked and Kellas nodded.

"Ten winters ago I joined one of the Amazon tribes and I met her there. She had been grieving the loss of her lover, Xena."

"The Warrior Princess?" Maera asked.

"Yes. We thought she had died, but then, seven years later, she returned." Kellas paused and thought back. "It took me years to give Gabrielle back the will to live and fall in love again. Xena was dead, but I still had to fight her ghost." She sighed. "When I finally proposed a joining, Xena returned. I immediately knew that it would be over between me and Gabrielle if I didn't do something, so I tried to kill Xena. She survived and Gabrielle banished me."

Maera was glad to finally find out more about Kellas, but she was still confused.

"What does this have to do with me?" she asked.

Kellas sighed and Maera noticed that her eyes were getting wet.

"I still love Gabrielle," Kellas confessed. "I'm leaving you because I don't want you to suffer like I did."

Maera understood.

"Then stay," she said.

Kellas bit her teeth.

"I can't. I'm sorry."

Kellas took her horse's reigns and took it outside. Maera slowly followed her as she slowly absorbed the fact that the love of her life was leaving.

"Where will you go?" she asked when Kellas mounted her horse.

Kellas gave her a long look.

"Back to the village," she said and Maera knew what that meant.

Kellas spurred her horse and rode away, leaving Maera behind, crying.

When she got to the Amazon territory, she dismounted and led the horse by the reigns, waiting for the sentries to show up. They soon did and when she refused to leave, they took her to the village.

"Kellas," Ephiny said when she saw her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came back."

"You know what will happen if you remain?"

"Yes."

"Take her to jail," Ephiny ordered two of the sentries. "You, take care of the horse, you, get the Queen."

The Amazons moved.

Kellas patiently waited until several minutes later Gabrielle and Xena came. She smiled at Gabrielle.

"Hello, Gabrielle."

"Why have you returned?" Gabrielle asked.

"I came here to die," Kellas explained.

Gabrielle bit her teeth. She still cared for Kellas and she didn't want her to die.

"Kellas…"

"No, Gabrielle," Kellas interrupted her. "I have made my choice, don't blame yourself."

Gabrielle gulped. She stared at her ex-lover for a few moments and then left, tears forming in her eyes. Xena turned to follow.

"Xena," Kellas said and Xena turned back. "I'm sorry." Xena was surprised for a moment and then nodded. "Take good care of her."

"I will," Xena said and went to console Gabrielle.

Two days later, the sentries brought another trespasser.

"Who are you?" Ephiny asked the woman.

"Maera."

"This is Amazon territory."

"I know."

"What do you want?"

"I came to see an Amazon named Gabrielle."

Ephiny was surprised.

"Gabrielle? You know her?"

"No."

"Then what do you want with her?"

Maera sighed.

"It's personal."

Ephiny hesitated for a moment.

"Get the Queen," she then ordered and one of the Amazons left.

"Queen?" Maera asked, surprised.

"Yes, Gabrielle is our queen. You didn't know?"

"No," Maera said, shaking her head.

The quietly waited until Gabrielle came, followed by Xena. Maera immediately knew who was who. She took a good look at Gabrielle and then stared at her eyes.

"I am Gabrielle," Gabrielle said when she stopped.

Maera smiled.

"I am Maera. I understand now why Kellas couldn't forget you," she said, staring into Gabrielle's eyes.

"You know Kellas?"

Maera nodded.

"We… We were lovers," she said and Gabrielle noticed a shade of pain cross her eyes.

"Were?" Gabrielle asked.

"She couldn't forget you, that's why she returned."

Gabrielle bit her teeth.

"I'm sorry."

Maera smiled bitterly.

"She wanted to spare me the pain she felt when she lost you, but it was already too late," Maera continued and sighed. "Can I see her?"

Gabrielle nodded and looked at a sentry.

"Take her to Kellas," she ordered.

When Kellas saw Maera, she was surprised.

"Maera," she whispered and Maera smiled.

"Hello, Kellas," she said and turned to the Amazon guard. "Would you please leave us alone for a few minutes?" she asked.

The Amazon hesitated for a moment, but then nodded and turned to leave. Maera quickly hit her on the back of the neck, knocking her out.

"What are you doing?" Kellas asked, surprised, but Maera ignored her, took the guard's keys and started to open the cell. "I'm not leaving," Kellas said.

"I know," Maera said, entered the cell and locked the door.

"What are you doing?" Kellas asked, confused, when Maera threw the key back to the Amazon.

"You can't live without Gabrielle and I can't live without you," she said.

"Maera…" Kellas started, her eyes getting wet.

Maera smiled.

"You've made your choice and I've made mine," she said and sat down beside Kellas. "I've met Gabrielle," she said and took Kellas' hand, "she is wonderful. I understand how you couldn't forget her."

Kellas bit her teeth.

"Maera…"

"No, don't blame yourself. I don't blame you either."

Kellas wanted to object again, but Maera gently pressed her finger against Kellas' lips and then kissed Kellas' knuckles on the hand she was holding. Then she leaned against her.

The Amazon guard soon recovered and looked around. She was relieved to see that the door was locked and surprised when she saw that the visitor was now in the cell. She got up and picked the keys she noticed beside her.

"You are not allowed into the cell," she said as she checked that the door was actually locked.

"I came here to join Kellas," Maera said.

The Amazon stared at her for a few moments, confused, and then left to report the incident.

About a minute later, Gabrielle and Xena came.

"Maera?" Gabrielle asked, confused.

Maera smiled.

"Kellas can't live without you and I can't live without her," she said and gently squeezed Kellas' hand. "I came here to die with her."

Gabrielle gulped.

"Please don't do this," Gabrielle said.

"Remember how you felt when you thought Xena had died?" Maera asked.

Gabrielle glanced at Xena and their hands met. Gabrielle nodded and sighed. She remembered all too well the pain she had felt. She too had wanted to die and she would have if Kellas hadn't saved her. She knew she could have Maera removed by force, but she also knew that Maera would find a way. She gently squeezed Xena's hand and then left, taking Xena with her.

"Gabrielle?" Xena asked outside and Gabrielle stopped.

"I know how they feel," Gabrielle said after a few moments of thinking. "If it weren't for Kellas, I would be dead."

"What do you mean?" Xena asked, surprised.

Gabrielle looked at her.

"I wanted to kill myself," she confessed.

"What?" Xena said, surprised.

"I couldn't take it anymore." She sighed. "I still care for Kellas," she admitted. "She still means a lot to me and I wish I could do something to help her. Help them."

Xena thought as she absorbed the information.

"Perhaps Aphrodite could do something," she suggested.

Gabrielle shook her head.

"Full moon is in two days and the nearest temple is more than two days away," she said.

"Then ask Artemis to call her, they are sisters."

Gabrielle's face brightened.

"Yes. Come."

She started to run to the temple and Xena followed her.

In the temple, Gabrielle performed the sacrifice and then they waited. A moment later, the goddess Artemis appeared and they both kneeled.

"Gabrielle, my Chosen One, get up. You too, Xena."

Gabrielle and Xena got up and Artemis smiled at them.

"My goddess," Gabrielle said.

"So, what can I do for you?"

Gabrielle hesitated for a moment.

"Actually, I need Aphrodite's help, but the nearest temple is more than two days away. I was hoping you could call her."

Artemis was surprised. She looked at Xena, but Xena didn't say anything.

"Aphrodite, hmm? Okay." She concentrated for a moment. "She should come in a moment, if she's not too busy being massaged or something."

Xena grinned at that.

"You called, Artie?" Aphrodite chirped when she appeared. "Oh, what do we have here? My favorite couple." She looked back at her sister. "What's up, sis?"

"They need you help," Artemis said.

"Oh, really?" Aphrodite chirped. "Hey, why didn't you come to my temple?"

"It's more than two days away and by then it would be too late," Gabrielle said.

"Too late for what?"

Gabrielle sighed.

"I'll tell you," she said and told the Goddess of Love the story of Kellas and Maera.

"Ooh, mucho complicated." She looked at her sister. "Mortals have such complicated love lives."

"At least they have them," Artemis said.

"Ouch, that hurt," Aphrodite pouted.

"Will you help?" Gabrielle interrupted the goddesses' bickering.

"Yeah, sure, no problem. Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Okie dokie. Be seeing ya!"

Aphrodite disappeared and Artemis wrinkled her nose at the smell of her sister's perfume.

"She used that one on purpose," she said.

"Thank you," Gabrielle said.

Artemis smiled.

"Good luck," she said, winked and disappeared.

"Hey, babes," Aphrodite said when she appeared in the jail. "Hmm, could use some redecoration," she declared as she looked around.

"Aphrodite?" Kellas said.

"The one and only," Aphrodite said and spread her arms.

"What do you want?"

"Well, it would seem you two have a problem," Aphrodite said. "You are in love with her," she said and pointed from Maera to Kellas. "You are in love with Gabrielle, Gabrielle with Xena and Xena with Gabrielle. My, what a mess."

"So?" Kellas asked, confused.

"So, I'm going to fix it."

"How?"

"By making you fall in love with her," Aphrodite said and pointed from Kellas to Maera. "Yes, I know, you love Gabrielle. Well, don't worry, you'll still care a lot for Gabrielle, you just won't be so darn desperate, it's not good for your health. By the way, Gabrielle still cares about you a lot."

"She does?" Kellas asked, almost hopefully.

"Yep."

"How do you know?"

Aphrodite rolled her eyes.

"I'm the Love Goddess, it's my job to know."

"Oh."

"Anyway, you ready? I'm kinda in a hurry. There's this guy who gives absolutely divine massages and I was interrupted in the middle of one. Actually, I think I'll make him immortal. Yep. Anyway, back to you two. You ready?"

Kellas looked at Maera.

"This is your choice, Kellas," Maera said.

"Tell you what," Aphrodite said, "I'll let you experience the change for a few moments."

She snapped her fingers and Kellas gasped.

"What did you do to her?" Maera asked, concerned.

"No sweat, dear, she'll be okay."

"Kellas?" Maera asked.

"I'm fine," Kellas said and thought.

What she had experienced took her by surprise and she needed to think about it before making a decision. She looked at Maera and she knew what Maera wanted and she knew that whatever decision she made, Maera would support her, even if it meant her death.

She thought back, about her time with Gabrielle and then about the time with Maera. She wanted to be loved, but she knew that Gabrielle would never love her the way Maera did. She wondered how Maera would feel, knowing that Aphrodite had something to do with it.

"How would you feel, knowing that it was Aphrodite's doing?" she asked her.

Maera smiled.

"I know you love me, Kellas. The love is in you, Aphrodite will just help you get over Gabrielle. You won't love her any less nor me any more, you just won't feel the pain anymore."

Kellas sighed. She still loved Gabrielle. She was jealous of Xena, but she was glad that Gabrielle was happy. On the other hand, she also cared… loved Maera.

"Okay," she and took a deep breath. "Do it."

"My pleasure, dear," Aphrodite said, smiling, and snapped her fingers. "Gotta run now. See ya!"

Aphrodite disappeared and Kellas and Maera looked at each other.

"How do you feel?" Maera asked, concerned.

"Better," Kellas said and caressed her.

They stared at each other for a few moments and then their heads started to close in on one another until finally their lips met. They heard the door open a few moments later, but they didn't let the newcomers disturb them.

It was Gabrielle, Xena and the Amazon guard and Gabrielle smiled when they saw that Aphrodite had done a good job. They waited until the two lovers stopped kissing.

"Are you two back together?" Gabrielle asked when Kellas and Maera looked at them, holding their hands.

Kellas and Maera looked at each other and then back at Gabrielle.

"Yes," Kellas said.

Gabrielle smiled.

"I'm glad," she said and turned to the Amazon. "Open the cell."

"Yes, Queen," the Amazon obeyed.

"You're free to go."

Kellas sighed and nodded. Both she and Maera got up and left the cell, still holding their hands.

"Um, Kellas, where will we go?" Maera asked.

Kellas looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean? To your place, of course."

"Well, I don't have it anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"I sold everything before I came here."

"Oh," Kellas said as she realized just how serious Maera was.

"You can stay here," Gabrielle offered. "If you want."

The two lovers looked at her, surprised.

"Are you sure?" Kellas asked. "I mean, I've been banished."

"Not to mention that I'm not an Amazon," Maera said.

"Neither is Xena," Gabrielle said and smiled. She looked at Kellas. "And besides, I'm the Queen, I can revoke the banishment."

Maera smiled back and looked at her lover.

"How do you feel about it?" she asked, her look serious again.

Kellas considered for a few moments.

"I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

Kellas smiled.

"Yes."

Maera smiled back.

"Good."

"Call Ephiny," Gabrielle told the Amazon guard.

"Yes, Queen," the Amazon said and left.

"How about we get out of here?" Gabrielle said and Kellas nodded.

"Gabrielle?" Ephiny asked when she got to the group.

"I'm revoking Kellas' banishment. She and Maera will stay here. Take care of them."

Ephiny lifted her eyebrows, but didn't comment.

"Come," she said.

Kellas looked at Gabrielle.

"Thank you, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle smiled.

"You're welcome."

Kellas and Maera left.

"You okay?" Xena asked her lover.

Gabrielle nodded and then looked at Xena.

"Does it bother you that I allowed her to stay?" she asked.

Xena shook her head.

"No."

Gabrielle looked back at Kellas.

"I'm glad she's happy," she said.

"Yeah," Xena agreed.

The End