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 story was inspired by Pat Kelly's Becoming One. There is some 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 reconsider before proceeding.

Soulmates
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Callisto entered a small town and went to the market to buy some things she needed. As she walked among the crowd, she suddenly had a very strange feeling, a good one actually. She stopped for a moment, frowning, and then continued on her way.

Near by, a young woman also had that same feeling. She stopped and looked around. She quickly noticed a blond warrior woman who had stopped for a moment, and she instinctively knew that she was somehow important. She hesitated for a moment and then decided to follow her.

Callisto soon realized that the feeling didn't go away and she was confused. She went to a wall and decided to wait until it passed. She was reluctant to admit it, but she actually enjoyed feeling like this, even though she didn't know why. She looked around if perhaps one of the gods was trying to distract her, but she didn't notice anything suspicious. She did notice a young woman about her age though, looking at her and that strange feeling became stronger. For some reason Callisto had a feeling that the woman was somehow important, but she didn't know why.

She stared at her for a few moments and then turned away. She took a few deep breaths, trying to shake the feeling away, but it didn't go. She finally sighed, annoyed, and moved on.

After she had gotten all of the things she needed, she decided she had enough dinars to treat herself to a room in a tavern. She walked towards one when she suddenly had a feeling that she was being followed. She changed her direction and went into a narrow street. As soon as she disappeared around the corner, she stopped and waited.

A few moments later her pursuer came. It was the woman she had seen looking at her and she realized that she had been expecting her. The woman stopped abruptly when she saw Callisto.

"Are you lost?" Callisto asked.

The woman gulped, surprised and a bit scared.

"No," she said.

"You've been following me. Why?"

"I don't know," the woman said and Callisto saw that she was sincere.

"You're kidding, right? I mean, I don't exactly look harmless, do I?"

"No."

"Then why were you following me?"

"I told you, I don't know. I mean, I was walking among the crowd when I suddenly had a strange feeling. I turned around and when I saw you, that feeling became stronger." She hesitated. "You had the same feeling?"

Callisto didn't answer immediately and she observed the strange woman.

"Yes," she finally admitted. "Who are you?" she then asked.

"Iocaste."

"And what do you do?"

"I'm a healer, I heal people." She paused. "And you?"

Callisto stared at her for a few moments before answering.

"I'm Callisto. I'm a killer, I kill people," she said with a grin.

Iocaste paled a little.

They stared at each other for a while, Iocaste a bit scared and uncertain as to how to proceed and Callisto confused at how strong the strange feeling had become when Iocaste came so close. It was a good feeling and she liked it, but she preferred being alone.

"I suggest you leave and stay out of my way," Callisto then said menacingly.

Iocaste nodded and stared after Callisto as she left. For some reason she liked the blond warrior, but she was also afraid of her.

As Callisto walked to the tavern, she was annoyed to find out that she kept thinking about Iocaste. For some unfathomable reason, she liked the woman and it confused her.

The next morning, Callisto left the town. She walked slowly, she wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere. Then she saw a couple of local thugs harass a woman. She didn't recognize the woman from that distance, but she did get a strange feeling that she needed to help. She hesitated for a moment, confused, and then quickened her pace.

When she got close enough to recognize the woman as Iocaste, she started to run. She quickly reached her and stabbed one the thugs while kicking another. The third thug looked at her, surprised, and was about to attack her when Callisto ran him through with her sword. Then she spinned on her toes and slit the third thug's throat. Then she looked at Iocaste, confused, and back at the three corpses. She wiped her sword.

Iocaste stared at Callisto, astonished and afraid. She was grateful for saving her, but at the same time she was shocked by the brutal way Callisto disposed of the thugs.

Callisto looked back at Iocaste, stared at her for a few moments and then walked away.

"Wait!" Iocaste called after her, quickly got up and followed her. "Thank you," she said, but Callisto ignored her, still disturbed by the fact that she had felt the need to help Iocaste.

When Callisto didn't respond, Iocaste quietly walked half a step behind her. When Callisto finally noticed her, she stopped.

"Why are you following me?" she asked Iocaste.

"I'm not," Iocaste said, "we're just going the same way."

Callisto considered the answer for a few moments and then continued to walk.

They walked till about noon and then Callisto decided it was time for lunch. She made a camp and Iocaste quietly joined her. Callisto observed her for a few moments.

"You don't expect me to provide food for you?" she then asked.

Iocaste quickly shook her head.

"No, I have my own."

Callisto stared at her for a few more moments and then sat beside the fire. When she glanced at Iocaste, she noticed that she was staring into the fire as if in a trance. She raised her eyebrows and then began to stare into the fire herself.

In the evening, they reached a village, but Callisto decided to spend the night outside. She was surprised when she saw that Iocaste didn't proceed to the village. She also realized that a part of her was glad.

"Why don't you go to the village?" she asked her.

"I feel safer with you," Iocaste said.

Callisto frowned for a moment and then started to laugh.

"You feel safer with a killer like me than in a village full of harmless peasants?"

"Yes."

Callisto stopped laughing and looked straight into Iocaste's eyes. She noticed that Iocaste was serious.

"Fine with me," she said after a few moments of hesitation and then frowned.

"Thank you," Iocaste said.

Callisto glanced at her, surprised, and then started to make fire.

When Callisto woke up in the morning, she noticed that Iocaste was having a nightmare. She observed her and listened as Iocaste called for her mother. She jerked in pain when Iocaste suddenly woke up with a scream. She knew that scream, she had screamed it all too often herself.

Iocaste sat up, trembling, covered her face with her palms and cried. When she stopped, she wiped her tears and took a few deep breaths to calm down. When she looked around, she noticed that Callisto was staring at her thoughtfully. She quickly looked away, embarrassed.

"What did you dream about?" Callisto finally asked.

Iocaste looked at her.

"I don't know," she said.

"You don't know?" Callisto asked, surprised.

"Well, I know what the nightmare was about, but I don't know why I keep having it."

"It's not the first time?"

Iocaste shook her head.

"No." She paused. "I started having it when I was little."

"What's it about?" Callisto asked, feeling the need to know.

"I'm not sure. I keep dreaming that I'm a little girl. Then one day a black-haired warrior woman comes and there is a fight. A fire breaks out and my parents and my sister die in it. I mean, not my real parents, my dream parents."

Callisto frowned, recognizing the dream.

"I also had other nightmares, but this is the only one that's repeating itself."

"What were the other nightmares about?" Callisto asked after a few moments of hesitation.

Iocaste sighed.

"Well, I remember killing someone in cold blood. I think he was her husband."

"Her?"

"The redhead's. I keep seeing her in the company of that black-haired warrior woman. Then I recall that she let me drown in the quicksand, the warrior that is, and I went to Tartarus. And then one of the gods saved me, I think it was Hera, and I poisoned someone's family."

Callisto was shocked when she realized that Iocaste was dreaming about her life. It made her feel vulnerable and she didn't like that. She grabbed her dagger and was holding it on Iocaste's neck within a moment. She was surprised when a moment later she was still holding it, somehow unable to slit Iocaste's throat. She stared at Iocaste for a few moments, confused. Then she quickly packed her stuff and left, almost running instead of walking.

Iocaste stared after her, confused and terrified. One moment Callisto had looked just curious, almost innocent, and the next she was about to kill her. She didn't know why Callisto was suddenly so upset nor did she know why she then decided to let her live.

When she calmed down, she quickly packed her belongings and followed Callisto. But when she arrived to the village, Callisto was not there. By the time Iocaste found that Callisto had apparently not stopped in the village, it was already too late for her to follow her on foot. She sighed and went to an inn and bought herself a breakfast.

Several days later, Iocaste was still following Callisto's trail. One morning, when she was having breakfast, a group of bandits attacked the village in which she had spent the night. She tried to remain hidden, but when she saw a young boy standing in the middle of the street, unable to move from fear, she quickly ran to him and carried him to safety.

And then, when she turned, the black-haired warrior woman from her dreams came riding down the street. Iocaste stared at her, shocked, she had never imagined that the person from her dreams was real. She stared at her and she didn't see one of the bandits approaching her with raised sword.

Just as the sword descended toward its victim, it suddenly stopped in mid air, blocked by a staff. Iocaste turned, surprised, and was even more surprised when she saw who her savior was. She stared at the young red-haired woman, who was probably younger than she was, as she disarmed and knocked out the bandit. The woman then told her something, but Iocaste was too surprised to understand what it was.

The young woman stepped closer to her and Iocaste immediately backed off. The young woman, obviously satisfied, returned into battle. Iocaste stared at her, still shocked.

When the battle was over and the bandits retreated, Gabrielle looked around to see where she could help. She noticed that the young woman whose life she had saved was still staring at her.

Iocaste watched as the red-haired young woman approached her. She suddenly realized that she was afraid and ashamed at the same time.

"Hi," Gabrielle said when she got close enough. "Are you okay?"

Iocaste stared at her.

"You're... You're... real," she said.

Gabrielle looked at her, confused.

"Of course I'm real."

"Come on, Gabrielle, they need our help over there."

Iocaste turned her head and saw that the nightmare warrior was approaching. She gasped and started to back off, terrified.

"Are you okay?" Gabrielle asked her, noticing her fear, but Iocaste backed off even further and then ran away.

"What was that all about?" Xena asked.

"I don't know," Gabrielle said, staring after Iocaste.

"Come, let's go help the wounded."

Iocaste ran for a while. When she finally stopped to look behind her, she noticed that the nightmare warrior didn't follow her. She took a few deep breaths and realized she was trembling. She closed her eyes for a few moments and tried to calm down. She was terrified. She had never imagined that the people from her nightmares were real and it scared her.

She realized she was trembling again and she took a few deep breaths to calm down. She suddenly realized that if the black-haired warrior and her red-haired friend were real, then perhaps they could tell her something about her nightmares. She gulped, not sure if she had the courage to face them. She hesitated for a few moments and then decided to see what they were doing. She was a little less afraid when she remembered that the red-haired woman was trying to help her.

She slowly walked back to where she had last seen them. She quickly got there and she carefully looked around. They were not there anymore and she had to search for them, but fortunately the first person she asked knew where they were. She slowly went there and finally saw them. She was surprised when she saw them helping the wounded, she hadn't expected that. She observed them for a while and then, deciding that they weren't going to attack her, approached them.

She realized that she didn't even know their names and she didn't know what to say, so she went closer and did what she knew best, help the wounded.

Xena was the first to notice her.

"Your friend is back," she told Gabrielle.

Gabrielle looked.

"You know her?" she then asked.

"No. You?"

"No." Gabrielle thought. "She seemed to know you. And me."

Xena nodded.

"Yes."

"I'll go talk to her."

"Just don't scare her away."

"Me?"

Xena smiled and Gabrielle got up and went to Iocaste.

"Hi," she said when she got closer and Iocaste jerked, surprised. "I'm Gabrielle," Gabrielle introduced herself. "Need any help?"

Iocaste looked around for Xena and when she saw that she was still at a relatively safe distance, she looked back at Gabrielle, who kneeled beside the wounded man Iocaste was helping when Iocaste didn't immediately respond.

"Thank you," Iocaste said. "Can I touch you?" she asked after a few moments of hesitation.

Gabrielle looked at her, surprised.

"Sure. Why?"

"I just need to be sure that this is not another dream," Iocaste said and touched Gabrielle's arm.

"A dream?" Gabrielle asked, curious.

"Yes," Iocaste said and glanced at Xena. "The black-haired warrior, is she your friend?"

"Xena? Yes."

"Xena? The Warrior Princess?" Iocaste asked, surprised, and glanced at Xena again.

"Yes. You know her?"

Iocaste shook her head.

"No."

"But you seemed to recognize her. And me too."

Iocaste hesitated for a moment.

"I saw you before, in my dreams."

"In your dreams?"

Iocaste nodded. Gabrielle wanted to ask her about the dreams, but she noticed that Iocaste obviously didn't feel comfortable talking about her dreams.

"So, what's your name?" she asked instead.

Iocaste glanced at her.

"Iocaste," she said and finished bandaging the man. "That's it," she told him.

"Thank you," the man said and let Iocaste and Gabrielle help him up.

Gabrielle looked at Xena and saw that she had already finished bandaging the woman and was now standing and waiting.

"Em, do you want me to introduce you to Xena?" Gabrielle asked Iocaste and Iocaste glanced at Xena, uncertainly. "Don't worry, she has changed."

Iocaste nodded and they went to Xena.

"Xena, this is Iocaste. Iocaste, Xena," Gabrielle introduced them and the two women nodded at each other. "Why don't we go to the tavern and get something to drink? I'm thirsty."

Xena nodded and she and Iocaste followed her to the tavern.

After they ordered, they were quiet for a while, none of them quite sure what to say.

"Em, Gabrielle, I need to ask you some personal questions," Iocaste finally broke the silence.

"About your dreams?" Gabrielle asked.

Iocaste nodded.

"Yes." She hesitated. "Did... Were... Were you ever... married?"

Gabrielle was surprised.

"Yes," she said.

"Your... husband. What happened to him?"

Gabrielle sighed as she remembered.

"He was killed."

"In some desert-like surroundings?"

Gabrielle glanced at Xena, surprised.

"Yes. How..."

"Was he ran through with a sword?"

Gabrielle was now very confused.

"Yes."

Iocaste took a deep breath.

"By who?"

"Callisto."

Iocaste looked at her, surprised.

"Callisto?"

"Yes."

Iocaste looked at her drink and thought. If that dream was about Callisto then others were probably too. She sighed and looked at Xena.

"What happened to Callisto?" she asked her.

Xena raised an eyebrow.

"Back when I was still a warlord, I attacked her village. A fire broke out and her family died."

"Did... Did she have a sister?"

"Yes," Xena said, surprised and confused.

Iocaste sighed. She knew now who she was dreaming about, but she didn't understand why.

"Did you let her drown in the quicksand?"

"Yes," Xena confirmed.

"And she came back from Tartarus?"

"Yes."

Iocaste clenched her fists when she realized she was trembling.

"You are dreaming about Callisto?" Gabrielle asked.

Iocaste glanced at her.

"Yes," she said quietly.

Gabrielle and Xena looked at each other, surprised.

They were all quiet for a while and then Iocaste got up.

"I have to find her," she said and left.

Xena and Gabrielle stared after her, not sure what to do.

Even though several days had passed, Callisto was still upset. She kept thinking about Iocaste and she was confused that she could not bring herself to kill her. What surprised her even more was the fact that she felt a profound sense of loss, which was almost as strong as the one she felt for her family.

Not to mention that Iocaste had been dreaming about her life, including the nightmare. She didn't know how it was possible for some total stranger to see in her dreams what happened to her in the real world. On one hand, it scared her that Iocaste knew her so intimately, but on the other hand, she instinctively knew that Iocaste understood her. But that still didn't answer the question. How was it possible?

She stopped and thought for a while and then decided to find out. She didn't know where Iocaste was, but she had a feeling that she was following her, so she decided to go back through all the villages and towns she had passed, hoping she would run across Iocaste in one of them.

And she did. Several days later, when she was about to leave a small village, she saw Iocaste walking down the main street. Even though she only saw her from behind, she recognized her and that feeling she had became stronger.

As she started to approach her, Iocaste suddenly stopped and looked around. Callisto was surprised for a moment, but then she remembered that Iocaste had the same feeling.

Iocaste quickly spotted Callisto and she smiled. She had not expected to find her yet and was even more surprised when she saw that Callisto was approaching her.

"Callisto," she said with a smile when the Warrior Queen approached her.

"We need to talk," Callisto said.

Iocaste stopped smiling and she nodded.

"Yes," she agreed.

"Follow me," Callisto said and started walking.

Iocaste followed her and they went out of the village.

When they got to a large flat rock, Callisto stopped and sat on it. Iocaste quietly joined her.

"Who are you?" Callisto asked after a few moments of hesitation.

Iocaste looked at her, confused.

"I am Iocaste."

"I know your name," Callisto said angrily. "What I want to know is why..." she trailed off, now wanting to tell Iocaste that she was the one she dreamed about.

"You want to know why I dream about you?" Iocaste asked and Callisto looked at her, surprised.

"You know?"

Iocaste nodded.

"I ran into Xena and Gabrielle. I was afraid of them at first, but when I saw that they were helping people, I decided to talk to them."

Callisto looked away, even more upset.

"So now what?" she asked after a while. "Are you going to tell me I should let go of my hatred and start helping people?"

Iocaste shook her head.

"No. I won't tell you what you should do, but I want to be with you and try to make you happy."

Callisto stared at Iocaste, surprised.

"And just why would you want that, hmm? You wouldn't happen to be in love with me, would you?"

"I don't know," Iocaste said. "I mean, I know there is a bond between us. Well, I do love you, you know, like I love my family, but I don't know if I love you like, well, a lover." She blushed. "I mean, I've had several boyfriends, but there was always this feeling that something was missing. Now I know what it was. You. I mean, sure, you are a gorgeous woman, but because of this bond I'm not sure whether I love you or not. Yet anyway."

Callisto stared at Iocaste, even more surprised. She had accepted the fact that there was some sort of bond between them, but she had no idea what kind or why. And then there was the strange fact that Iocaste was dreaming about her life and that now she knew about it. That made Callisto feel vulnerable and she didn't like that. She pulled her dagger and swung it at the astonished Iocaste, but for some reason she stopped the blade only a couple of millimeters from Iocaste's chest. She looked at her hand, surprised, and tried to push the dagger further, but she couldn't.

She screamed, frustrated. Twice she had tried to kill Iocaste and neither time could she bring herself to do it. And she didn't know why. She put her dagger away, got up and started to leave.

Iocaste quickly pulled herself together when she saw that Callisto was leaving.

"Don't run away again!" she called after her and got up.

Callisto turned around, angry.

"I'm not running away," she said.

"Yes, you are. You're trying to get rid of me. You've tried to kill me and you couldn't do it, so you're running away instead. Don't you want to be happy?"

Callisto glared at her for a few moments and then slowly approached her.

"I seriously suggest you stay out of my way. I may not be able to kill you intentionally, but if you make me angry, I won't have the time to think," she said menacingly.

Iocaste gulped, scared.

"Look, I didn't mean to upset you," she said, trying to calm her down, "I just want to help you."

"I don't want your help!"

"Why?" Iocaste insisted.

"Because I don't need it."

Iocaste thought for a moment.

"Are you happy?" she then asked.

Callisto stared at her, surprised.

"Do I look like I'm happy?" she asked.

"No."

"Then stop asking stupid questions."

"Look, I want you to be happy, Callisto. Please, let me help you."

Callisto stared at her for a few moments with mixed emotions. For the first time someone wanted to make her happy, but she was too afraid to accept help. She shook her head and walked away.

This time Iocaste didn't bother talking to her, she just followed her.

Callisto did notice that Iocaste was following her, but since Iocaste didn't talk, she ignored her. She had wanted to send her away, but the part of her that liked having her around won the internal quarrel.

When lunch time came, Callisto stopped and made a camp. Iocaste quietly sat on the opposite side of the fire and waited.

Callisto soon noticed that Iocaste apparently wasn't going to eat.

"Aren't you going to eat?" she asked her.

"No," Iocaste said. "We met before I had a chance to buy anything."

"You don't expect me to give you some of mine, do you?"

Iocaste shook her head.

"No."

Callisto stared at her for a few moments and then returned her attention to her food.

In the afternoon, they passed a small village and Iocaste quickly bought herself some food and then ran after Callisto.

The next morning, Callisto woke up with a scream. Iocaste woke up as well and she looked at Callisto, who was trembling. She knew exactly which nightmare Callisto had had.

Callisto heard Iocaste's movements and she looked at her. Iocaste gave her a sympathetic smile. Callisto stared at her for a few moments and then got up.

"Callisto," Iocaste said and Callisto turned. "I'm not going to think any less of you if you cry."

"I don't cry," Callisto said coldly.

"Perhaps you should. It would make you feel better."

"Crying is for the weak."

"No. Crying is for easing the pain. Even the strong need to cry sometimes. You should give it a try."

Callisto stared at Iocaste for a few more moments and then left, ending the conversation.

Iocaste sighed as she watched her leave.

Callisto walked fast at first and then slowed down. She was surprised when she realized that she was slightly trembling and that it wasn't because of the nightmare. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down, but she couldn't. She realized that for some strange reason Iocaste was important to her more than she imagined. She also realized that in a way she liked her. Not many people dared stand up to her and live to tell about it, though she knew that the only reason that Iocaste was still alive was because she somehow couldn't make herself kill her.

There was still the matter of Iocaste trying to help her. She was completely lost as to why someone would want to help her or want her to be happy. A part of her liked that and appreciated it, but another part was afraid, not of accepting it but of losing it after that.

When Callisto approached the camp and she saw that Iocaste was still there, she realized how much she missed having someone to come home to. She frowned at her last thought. Home? She didn't have a home. She shook her head.

When she got closer, she noticed that everything was packed and ready to go, except her food. She looked at Iocaste and Iocaste gave her a warm smile. She stared at her for a few moments and then quietly started to prepare the food.

After they broke camp, Callisto walked in front of Iocaste at first, but then slowed down so Iocaste walked half a step in front of her. She was annoyed when she realized that she kept glancing at Iocaste. She looked at her again and frowned when she realized what she was thinking. So what if Iocaste was a beautiful woman? She had seen quite of few of them, but she never seemed to notice. Was she falling in love?

Her thinking was interrupted by Iocaste.

"Callisto?"

Callisto looked at her.

"What?"

"A couple of bandits are attacking a family."

Callisto looked up the road.

"So?"

"Would you help them? Please?"

Callisto stared at her for a moment.

"Why?"

Iocaste sighed.

"Don't you wish someone had been there to help you when Xena attacked your village?" she asked.

Callisto frowned and glared at her for a few moments.

"Your point?" she asked coldly.

"There was no one to help you, but you can help them."

"And why should I do that?"

Iocaste rolled her eyes.

"Then I'll help them."

Callisto laughed.

"You? And just how do you intend to do that? Hmm?"

"You'll see," Iocaste said and ran to help the family.

Callisto watched curiously, but the closer Iocaste got to the bandits the more nervous she got. When she saw Iocaste talk to the bandits, she almost started to run, but then the bandits left and she slowed down, surprised. She was also annoyed that she had panicked when she saw that Iocaste might be in danger.

"What did you say to them?" she asked when she got to her.

Iocaste smiled.

"I told them you were coming and that you weren't in a good mood."

Callisto gave her a blank stare.

"And they believed you?"

"Yes. Apparently one of them saw you before."

Callisto raised an eyebrow and then glanced at the family.

"So, you think you saved them, hmm?" she asked, her eyes glowing.

"Yes," Iocaste said, not liking the look in Callisto's eyes.

"And if I kill them?"

"You won't," Iocaste said determinedly.

"Oh, really?" Callisto asked, amused. "And why is that, hmm?"

"Because I won't let you."

Callisto laughed.

"And how do you think you can stop me? Hmm?"

"All I have to do is stand between them and you."

Callisto's face became serious and she stared at Iocaste for a few moments. Then she left.

"Callisto, wait!" Iocaste called after her, but Callisto ignored her.

Iocaste stared after her, hesitating. Then she sighed and turned back to the family, the instinct to help winning the internal fight.

"Let me take care of those wounds," she said and approached the father.

The man opened his shirt and let Iocaste do her job.

"That was Callisto?" he asked and glanced after her. "The Warrior Queen?"

"Yes," Iocaste confirmed.

"Is she your friend?"

Iocaste sighed and threw a quick glance after Callisto.

"I hope so," she said.

"But isn't she a murderer?" the man asked, curious.

"Yes," Iocaste confirmed. "But she doesn't kill because she's evil, but because she's hurt."

The man raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment.

His wife and three children left their hiding place behind the wagon and slowly came closer.

"Melanipus?" the woman asked, worried.

"I'm fine," her husband assured her.

Iocaste glanced at her.

"He should not stretch until his wound has healed," she said. "You will have to change his bandage about two or three times a day until the bleeding stops, then only once a day will do. Oh, and you should go to a healer so he would check up the wound and give you a salve."

The woman nodded.

They were quiet until Iocaste finished.

"There," she said and got up. "Is any of you hurt?" she asked Melanipus' wife and glanced at the children.

"No, we're fine," the woman said, shaking her head.

"Good."

"Here," Melanipus said as he reached into his pouch.

"What?" Iocaste asked and looked at him. "Oh. No, you don't have..."

"You saved our lives and our property," Melanipus said. "It's the least I can do."

"No, really, I..."

"We insist," his wife said.

"Don't worry, we're not poor," Melanipus said and handed her a couple of coins.

"I... that's too much!" Iocaste protested, surprised, when she saw how much he'd given her.

Melanipus smiled.

"As I said, we're not poor. Take it."

"I... Thank you."

Iocaste put the money away. She glanced in the direction Callisto had gone, but Callisto had already disappeared.

"I have to go," she said.

Callisto had quickly noticed that Iocaste was not following her and she was surprised when she realized she felt hurt. She risked a quick glance backwards and saw that Iocaste was dressing the man's wound. She was surprised when she felt a pang of jealousy. She frowned. She was jealous? She was confused at first, but then realized that she was jealous because Iocaste chose to help the man instead of following her. She shook her head, angry with herself for feeling the way she did. There was no need for her to feel jealous, she and Iocaste weren't involved. She frowned, realizing that the reason for her jealousy was the fact that she missed Iocaste's attention. That realization caused another frown. She growled, annoyed.

She walked, thinking about the emotions she was experiencing lately. When she heard someone running, she didn't have to turn to know who it was and she would have known even without the bond. She was surprised that her heart started to beat faster from excitement.

When Iocaste caught up with her, she slowed down, a bit breathless. Callisto expected her to say something, but Iocaste didn't and for some reason that was worse than if she had chastised her. She was confused, since when did she care what other people thought? It was frustrating.

"Callisto," Iocaste said when they stopped for lunch and Callisto glanced at her over the fire. "I would like to know what happened to you."

Callisto looked at her.

"I thought you already know everything."

"No. I may see the events in my dreams, but I don't understand them. I want to."

Callisto stared at her for a few moments, considering, and then returned to preparing lunch. She thought for a while. She normally didn't feel the need to explain her life to anyone, but in Iocaste's case it was different, she wanted her to understand. She told her.

Although Iocaste already knew all the events, had seen them and felt them, it still shocked her. She noticed that Callisto was also upset, even though she tried to hide it. She wanted to comfort her, but she was afraid Callisto would run away if she tried to approach her.

When Callisto finished, they were both quiet and Callisto avoided looking into Iocaste's eyes, afraid of what she might see in her eyes. When she finally risked a peek, she was surprised to see tears. She realized that she herself was also holding them back. She wondered, for a moment, if she should let it go, but decided against it.

"You're crying," she then said, puzzled.

Iocaste looked at her.

"I thought I knew your pain," she said after a few moments and sobbed. "I was wrong."

Callisto stared at her, surprised. She had expected to hear some sermon, but she got sympathy instead. She was completely surprised, although she knew she should have expected it. It made her feel warm, she realized, that someone understood her so completely, but at the same time it also scared her a bit, even though not as much as it did when she first met Iocaste.

"Aren't you gonna tell me I should change?" Callisto asked, curious and a bit afraid.

Iocaste gave her a sad look.

"Later," she said. "I need to think about this first."

Callisto looked down, feeling ashamed.

After lunch, they quietly continued, Iocaste thinking about what Callisto had told her, Callisto dreading more and more what Iocaste would say.

"Callisto," Iocaste spoke after dinner and Callisto looked at her, feeling uncomfortable. "Why did you kill Gabrielle's husband? Why do you kill innocent people?"

Callisto looked away, ashamed, and thought about it.

"Because then I'm not the only one that suffers," she said quietly, surprising even herself with the answer.

Iocaste thought about it.

"Do you love your family?" she then asked and Callisto looked at her, confused.

"Yes."

"Would you like to be with them after you die?"

"Yes," she said quietly and looked away, knowing that that won't happen.

"Then why don't you do something about it?" Iocaste asked and Callisto glanced at her, surprised. "I know you think it's too late, but it's not. You're still alive, you can still do something about it. And I'll be there to help you."

Callisto stared at her for a few moments, with mixed emotions, and then looked away. She didn't think much about afterlife, all that mattered was making Xena suffer, but now that she had experienced emotions she didn't think she was still capable of experiencing, the afterlife suddenly started to matter. She remembered the brief time in Tartarus when she met her mother after switching bodies with Xena, it was the only time she had felt sorry and ashamed prior to meeting Iocaste. She had forgotten about it, pushing it down into the deepest recesses of her mind where her most painful memories were stored.

The next day, when Iocaste woke up, she saw that Callisto was still lying, staring up in the sky. She hesitated for a moment and then lay back and waited for Callisto to get up first, not wanting to interrupt her thoughts.

After breakfast, they moved on. Callisto was obviously deep in her thoughts and Iocaste kept quiet, not wanting to disturb her, even though she was curious to know what Callisto was thinking about.

When they reached a small village about an hour later, Iocaste stopped to buy food. She was glad when she saw that Callisto was quietly waiting for her. She wasn't quite sure if Callisto was still thinking or merely afraid of talking to her.

After walking for several more hours they came across a group of slavers leading a small group of slaves. Iocaste was just considering whether she should ask Callisto to help the slaves when Callisto drew her sword.

"Wait here," she said and started to approach the slavers.

Iocaste slowed down a bit and watched as Callisto approached the slavers. She saw the slavers approach her, their weapons ready. A fight ensued and Iocaste felt the tension creeping up her muscles as she watched Callisto take on the slavers. Suddenly she noticed one of the slavers at the end of the train taking his bow.

"Callisto!" Iocaste called and started to run. "Callisto!"

But Callisto didn't hear her. Iocaste ran as fast as she could and she managed to tackle the archer just as he let go of the arrow. As a result, the arrow went high and both the archer and Iocaste crashed to the ground.

The archer swore and quickly got up. Iocaste noticed that he was preparing to shoot another arrow.

"Callisto!" she called, got up and attacked the archer.

But the archer simply hit her in the face, sending her sprawling to the ground. Iocaste was a bit dizzy from the hit, but when she saw that the archer was about to fire another arrow, she quickly got up and threw herself in its path.

Callisto heard the scream and risked a quickly glance, just in time to see Iocaste fall to the ground with an arrow in her right shoulder. She felt fear and panic sweep through her body and then anger. She quickly deflected the blows from the last two slavers and threw her dagger at the archer. She hit him straight in the neck, making sure that his death would not be easy. Then she returned to the two slavers that were attacking her and killed them as quickly as she could. Then she ran to Iocaste.

She kneeled beside the healer and checked her pulse, she was still alive.

"Iocaste," she whispered and a few tears slipped down her cheek.

Iocaste opened her eyes and smiled.

"I'm still alive," she said and tried to lift her hand to caress Callisto, but she couldn't. "Help me dress my wound."

Callisto nodded and helped Iocaste sit. She removed her bag and spilled out its contents. She broke the arrow and quickly pulled the back end out.

"Sorry," Callisto murmured when Iocaste gasped in pain.

She took her gourd and wetted a cloth she found in Iocaste's bag and started to clean Iocaste's wound.

"There are some herbs in that pouch," Iocaste said and pointed at one of the pouches. "Put them on my wound."

Callisto reached for the pouch and put the herbs on the wound.

"Do you need help?" one of the slaves, who had by now freed themselves, asked.

Callisto gave him an angry look and the woman retreated, afraid. Callisto returned her attention to Iocaste's wound and bandaged it.

"Thank you," Iocaste said with a smile.

Callisto stared at her for a few moments and then looked away.

"Can you get up?" she asked.

"I think so," Iocaste said and Callisto helped her get up.

"Whoa," Iocaste said when she was up.

"What is it?" Callisto asked, concerned.

"Just a bit dizzy," Iocaste said.

"Oh." Callisto thought for a few moments and then reached a decision. "Can you walk?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Then go ahead. I need to clean up my weapons, I'll catch up with you later."

"But..."

"You're wounded and therefore slow. Now go."

Iocaste hesitated for a moment, having a bad feeling, then nodded and started to walk. Callisto stared after her for a few moments and then picked up her sword and cleaned it. Then she went to the archer, removed the dagger and cleaned it as well.

When she was done, she got up and stared after Iocaste for a few moments. Then she turned the opposite way and started to run.

When Iocaste glanced back the first time, she saw that Callisto was still cleaning her weapons. She was relieved. But when she glanced back the second time, she saw that Callisto was running in the opposite direction.

"Callisto!" she called and started to run after her. "Callisto!"

Unfortunately, the wound was pretty severe and she had lost blood. Running didn't help and she soon fell down, exhausted.

As Callisto ran, she thought about Iocaste. She was starting to like the woman, really like, and when she had seen her wounded, she was afraid to lose her. She didn't want to get too attached to her because the pain of losing her would be unbearable, that's why she ran away. But another part of her missed the healer and wanted to be with her.

When she glanced back after a while, to see Iocaste one last time, she noticed that she was lying on the ground. Fear swept through her again and she wanted to run away, but this time the part of her that wanted to be with Iocaste won and she ran back.

"Iocaste?" she said when she got to her, tears running down her cheeks.

She turned her around and cradled her. Iocaste opened her eyes.

"Callisto," she said and smiled.

Callisto hugged her tightly, causing Iocaste to gasp from pain. But she didn't say anything, she would suffer any pain, if only it would make Callisto feel better.

Callisto kept hugging Iocaste for a while and Iocaste quietly bore the pain. When Callisto finally pulled herself together and looked at Iocaste, Iocaste smiled at her.

"I'm still alive," she said and caressed the blond warrior.

Callisto stared at her in pain.

"I'll be fine, Callisto," she said and wiped Callisto's tears.

Callisto stared at her for a while and then helped her up. She hesitated for a moment and then let Iocaste lean on her.

They walked slowly, but fortunately Callisto soon spotted a suitable place for a camp. She gently helped Iocaste lie down and then built a camp.

"Callisto," Iocaste said when Callisto was done and Callisto immediately came to her.

"Yes?"

"Please don't run away again."

Callisto stared at her for a few moments.

"I won't," she said. "I promise," she added when Iocaste just stared at her.

Iocaste smiled.

"Thank you."

Callisto turned away, embarrassed.

Iocaste slept through lunch and most of the afternoon and Callisto used that time to think. She jerked when she felt someone touch her hand. She looked and saw that it was Iocaste, who was smiling.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"Thirsty."

Callisto reached for the gourd and then helped Iocaste drink.

"Thank you," Iocaste said when she had enough and Callisto put away the gourd.

"I'll check your wound," she said and Iocaste nodded.

Callisto took off Iocaste's shirt and removed the bandages. She was distracted for a moment when her eyes wandered around Iocaste's chest, but she quickly pulled herself together and concentrated on the wound.

"Callisto," Iocaste spoke after a while, "why did you run away?"

Callisto gulped and didn't respond. She was relieved that she was currently behind Iocaste and didn't have to look into her eyes.

"You know," Iocaste continued after a while when Callisto didn't respond, "I still have a family, but I felt alone most of the time. They're rich and they don't understand my desire to roam the country and help people, especially the poor. And then there were my nightmares, they didn't understand them and they avoided me. I left as soon as I could, I wanted to find the person I was dreaming about, you." She paused. "I found you and I don't want to lose you. I know you can die in a fight, but I want to be with you, even though I know that I will be hurt when you die." She paused again. "For the first time I feel like I belong somewhere."

Callisto listened quietly to Iocaste's confession. She too felt for the first time in a long time that she belonged somewhere, that she had a home and a family. As strange as it appeared, this gentle woman made her feel loved and complete. As long as she was with her, she would not be alone. But the thought of losing her scared the Tartarus out of her.

"I won't leave you. I promise," she said and Iocaste smiled. "I ran away because I like you," she continued after a pause, "a lot. When I saw you get shot, I was afraid of losing you. I ran away because I felt it was better to hope that you were still alive than to know that you were dead."

They were both quiet and Callisto continued to redress Iocaste's wound. When she was done, she helped Iocaste lie down.

They were both quiet for the rest of the day, both thinking about what the other had said. In the evening, Callisto helped Iocaste eat dinner. When they were done, Callisto lay next to Iocaste.

Iocaste was the first to wake up the next morning. She quietly observed Callisto, who was lying next to her. She looked so innocent, like the girl in her nightmares who had lost her family in the fire. She searched for Callisto's hand beneath the blankets and took it into her own.

When Callisto finally woke up and opened her eyes, she saw that Iocaste was observing her. She didn't want to look into her eyes, but she found herself unable to look away. Iocaste smiled and gently caressed Callisto. Callisto jerked, the caress was full of love, just like her mother's.

"Good morning," Iocaste said.

Callisto smiled back.

"Good morning. How do you feel?"

"Better."

Callisto looked around.

"It's late," she noticed.

"Yes," Iocaste confirmed.

They both stared at each other, neither wanting to interrupt the feeling of closeness and peace they felt.

"Em, I think we should get up," Iocaste finally said.

Callisto nodded.

"Yes," she said and remained lying.

"I mean it," Iocaste said a few moments later.

Callisto sighed and sat up.

"Do you want to eat first or shall I check your wound first?"

"Check my wound first."

Callisto nodded and helped Iocaste sit up.

"Looks like it's healing nicely," she declared when she removed the bandages.

"Yes," Iocaste agreed. "You know, I was thinking," she said after a pause. "I would like to defend myself. Would you teach me how to fight with a staff?"

"A staff?" Callisto asked, surprised.

"Yes," Iocaste said. "I saw Gabrielle fight with one and she's pretty good, even though she doesn't strike me as a warrior kind."

Callisto laughed.

"She's a bard."

"A bard?" Iocaste asked, surprised.

"Yes. Apparently she left with Xena so she could write about her."

"Oh. Well, anyway, she's good and she knows how to defend herself. I mean, who knows when we might get separated and I'll need to know how to defend myself in case I'm attacked."

"I'll teach you," Callisto said without hesitation.

"Thank you."

Callisto smiled.

They spent the next couple of weeks away from people, except when they visited a village to get the staff for Iocaste. Callisto started to teach Iocaste how to use the staff. She was careful at first because Iocaste's wound was still healing, but when the wound healed, Callisto pushed Iocaste to her limit. Iocaste was a quick learner, but Callisto noticed that she was afraid of hurting her. She tried provoking her, but Iocaste let her beat her rather than hurt Callisto, so she stopped. It was confusing to Callisto. She hoped that when they encountered real bandits, Iocaste would fight for real.

Iocaste finally had enough of camping in the woods, doing nothing but practicing, and she wanted to move on. Callisto didn't object as she herself was a bit bored. They didn't have to go far to find trouble.

"Look, there's a fight going on," Iocaste said when she noticed commotion in the distance.

"Yes," Callisto said, not really interested.

"Aren't we going to help?"

"It's Aphrodite's temple. She's a goddess, she can handle them."

"You sure?"

Callisto gave her a blank stare.

"She's a goddess, Iocaste."

"She the Goddess of Love, what can she do?"

Callisto rolled her eyes.

"All right," she said and started to walk faster.

Iocaste followed her. She was a bit excited, but also afraid of hurting her opponents.

The bandits soon noticed them and they wanted to have some fun with them, but they were quickly discouraged when Callisto killed the first two and proceeded to the next. While most bandits concentrated on Callisto, two of them went after Iocaste. Iocaste started to back off, but when the two bandits came too close, she hit them like Callisto had showed her. The bandits fell down, dazed. Iocaste didn't use all her strength because she was afraid of hurting them. But now the bandits were angry and when they attacked her again, Iocaste used all her strength and sent them into the land of dreams.

Meanwhile Callisto played with the bandits. The were local thugs, not an organized gang, and she made short work of them. Those that were still standing soon realized that Callisto was way out of their league and they ran away. Callisto looked at Iocaste, who was examining the unconscious bandits.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.

Iocaste glanced at her and smiled.

"I'm fine."

"Did you knock out those two?" Callisto asked, noticing two bandits she knew she didn't fight.

"Yes," Iocaste said, a bit embarrassed.

"Nice work," Callisto said and smiled.

"Thank you," Iocaste said, blushing.

"They can forget ever falling in love," Aphrodite said, upset, when she appeared a few moments later. "You know, you mortals came be just oh so lame." She observed Callisto for a moment. "You know, you and help somehow don't fit together in my head. But then neither did Xena and help." She looked at Iocaste. "My, what have we..." She trailed off and looked at Callisto, then back at Iocaste. "By Daddy, there sure are a lot of you running around these days," she said.

"What do you mean?" Callisto asked, not liking the sound of that.

Aphrodite looked at her.

"Oh, nothing," she quickly said.

Callisto slowly approached, putting on her best maniacal smile.

"Why don't you tell me, hmm? Or I'll continue where the bandits stopped?"

Aphrodite stared at her for a few moments, surprised, and then looked around the temple.

"I just had it redecorated," she whined and looked back at Callisto. "All right, but don't tell anyone I told you this or Daddy will kill me."

Callisto raised an eyebrow.

"Right," she drawled.

Aphrodite hesitated for a moment and then waved Iocaste to come closer.

"You two are soulmates," she said in a conspiratory voice.

Callisto blinked.

"We're what?" she asked.

"Soulmates," Aphrodite repeated, annoyed. "What do I have to do, spell it out?"

"How do you know?" Iocaste asked.

Aphrodite gave her a blank look.

"I'm the Goddess of Love, girl, it's my job to know these things."

"Oh."

Callisto thought for a moment.

"Are Xena and Gabrielle also soulmates?" she asked.

Aphrodite looked at her with a smirk.

"Can't tell you that. I shouldn't even have told you two what you are, Daddy doesn't want mortals to know about soulmates."

"Why?" Callisto demanded.

Aphrodite hesitated for a moment.

"Well, together you are as strong as gods and your children would be even stronger."

Callisto gave her a blank stare.

"I don't feel like a god," she said.

Aphrodite gave her a smirk.

"Of course not," she said.

Callisto raised an eyebrow.

"But we're both women, we can't have children," Iocaste said.

Aphrodite looked at her.

"That's no problem."

"What do you mean?" Iocaste asked, confused.

"Sweet cheeks, if together you are as strong as gods, that means that you have special powers."

"So we can have children together?" Iocaste asked, excited.

"Of course."

"Wow."

Aphrodite looked around.

"Well, since you saved my temple, I guess I could grant you a wish," she said thoughtfully.

"A god offering to grant a wish out of free will? Now that's something new," Callisto said sarcastically and Aphrodite rolled her eyes.

"Mortals, no gratitude."

"Can you bring back Callisto's family?" Iocaste asked before Callisto could turn down the offer and both Aphrodite and Callisto looked at her, surprised.

"Em, afraid I can't."

"Is there any way that she can be with her family again?" Iocaste insisted.

"Well, if she changes like Xena did, she can be with her family in the afterlife."

"Oh," Iocaste said, a bit disappointed.

"I can talk to Hades," Aphrodite offered.

"No," Callisto said and both Aphrodite and Iocaste looked at her, surprised.

"Callisto..." Iocaste started.

"No," Callisto repeated. "I don't want to owe any god anything."

"Don't worry, girl," Aphrodite said. "I said I'd grant you a wish and her wish was for you to be with your family. I can't do that directly, but I can talk to Hades. Sure, I'll owe him a favor then, but you will have nothing to do with it."

Callisto didn't respond.

"Thank you," Iocaste said.

"And what do you wish?" Aphrodite asked Callisto.

Callisto stared at her for a few moments.

"That gods would stop interfering with my life."

Aphrodite hesitated for a moment.

"Well, I'll have to talk to Daddy about it. We'll see." She looked around her temple again and sighed. "Guess I better have this mess cleaned up." She looked back at Callisto and Iocaste. "Ta-ta," she said and vanished.

Iocaste stared at the spot where the Goddess of Love had stood a moment before and then looked at Callisto.

"Callisto?" she asked, noticing the look in her eyes. "Are you okay?"

"You would give up your life with me so I could be with my family?" Callisto asked, her voice slightly trembling.

Iocaste smiled softly.

"I would go to Tartarus if it would make you happy," she said.

Callisto quietly stared at her, moved, and Iocaste noticed that tears were welling up inside her eyes. She smiled warmly and gently hugged her.

"Shh, it's okay," she said and caressed her.

Callisto hugged her back and let the tears run down her cheeks.

Near by, the invisible Aphrodite sighed.

"I just love scenes like that," she said.

"Come, let's go," Iocaste said when they broke the hug.

She took Callisto's hand and Callisto followed her, feeling very good.

As they sat by the fire that evening, Callisto moved closer to Iocaste and took her hand. Iocaste looked at her, surprised, and Callisto smiled. Iocaste smiled back. Yes, Callisto thought, she had a home and a family, she had Iocaste. She leaned her head on Iocaste's shoulder and Iocaste leaned hers on Callisto's head. They were home.

The End