You Should Have... By L. Crystal Michallet-Romero Copyright © June 27, 2001 L.Crystal Michallet-Romero All Right Reserved Updated 9/20/02

Author's Note:
This story was written on June 27, 2001, shortly after FIN aired in the U.S.  Although it was intended to be
a short story, it ended up becoming the prequel to the longer story, The Curse of Higuchi.  I have withheld
sharing it with the masses, and have only submitted it to a few chosen sites, because of the controversial
nature of this and the full length story.   Owing to the fact that I once wrote Star Trek fan fiction back in the
early 80?s, the purpose of writing this story was not to cause the controversy and outrage that was
originally received by it, but was written for two reasons.  First and foremost, it was written as a way to
cheer up my best friend, Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger, after the disappointment of FIN. Secondly, I wrote
it as a way to urge others to not give up on the Xena dream simply because of FIN.  I truly believed then,
and I still believe that like Star Trek, Xena will end only when the fans and fan fiction writers lose interest in
keeping the dream alive.  As long as we read and write Xena Fan Fiction, the show, in my opinion, will
never die.  Hopefully my predictions will be fulfilled and we will be able to see the longevity of this campy
little action adventure, just as we?ve witnessed the longevity of Star Trek.

Credits:
For Jessica, my wife and soul mate.  She doesn't realize it yet, but I've taken great liberty with her
Moroccan heritage.
To Scotty who has passed away from his human body, but whose spirit is never really that far away.
And lastly, to Ambyrhawke Shadowsinger who is my best friend, if it hadn't been for her sadness over
FIN, I might not have thrown my hat into the Xena Fan Fiction world.

Disclaimer: Xena Warrior Princess, its characters, and all related materials are the property of
MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures, if they were, I certainly wouldn't have ended the show with
FIN.  The other characters are mine.  Like the show, I am playing around with the historical time lines.
Rated: PG-13
Violence: None
Sexual Violence: None
Subtext: Yes


The ocean waves gently rocked the cabin.  With a sigh, Gabrielle glanced around the room.  The cabin?s sparse
condition showed that this ship had not been built to accommodate travelers.  As the bard took a mental inventory
of her surroundings, she sighed and sat tiredly on the bunk.  The length of the trip was beginning to take its toll
on her and as she felt a familiar melancholy, she reminisced about her last voyage on a ship very similar to this
one.

Although Gabrielle knew that it was the same size, this cabin seemed so much larger.  For some reason, on their
journey to Japa, there didn't seem to be enough room for her and Xena, let alone their bags of clothing and
weapons.  Now, with everything stowed away, Gabrielle discovered that there was ample room in this cabin.

With a sigh, the small blonde laid back on the bunk and stared up at the ceiling.  As an afterthought, she sat up
and reached for the familiar satchel.  When found, the bard pulled her bag of clothing onto the bunk.  In an
absent manner she lightly touched the lid of the urn that sat nestled deep within the bag.  Even after the few
weeks at sea, she had not found a place to set the urn within her cabin.  A part of her mind told her that she
wanted it safe, yet if she delved deeper into her emotions, she knew that she would have to admit that she was
depressed, and simply didn't feel like bothering with it just yet.

Once assured that her bag was in order, the bard stretched out on the bunk.  ?The last time, there wasn't even
room to stretch, especially with the way Xena liked to sprawl and hang on me,? Gabrielle thought as her sadness
began to take hold.  If she had one wish to make, it would be to have her lover back, the two of them
complaining about the cramped conditions of their room, like they did on their first journey.  As the memories of
their shared past flooded through her mind, a single tear threatened to fall.  With a shake of her head, the lithe
warrior rose to her feet.

"No time," she said out loud as she moved to the contents of her bag.  In a hurried fashion she began to shuffle
through her clothes and attempted to find a suitable garment to wear for her dinner with the captain.

With an inward smile, Gabrielle chose a turquoise outfit and held it up.  It had been so long since anyone had
looked at her in that way and the bard was finding the attention appealing.  The open looks of desire aimed
toward her had been long forgotten until the Moroccan captain.  Ever since she was with Xena, no one had dared
to look at her in that manner.  And although the warrior sometimes gazed at her with desire, it was always
masked in subterfuge.  Like an old married couple, the open flirtation and courtship had become subdued with
time.  Now the interested glances that were a thing of her past, were suddenly aimed at her again, and she found
it flattering.

As Gabrielle changed into the turquoise outfit, her thoughts wandered to the captain.  If she had still been the little
girl from Potidaea, Gabrielle might have been surprised to see a female captain on the ship.  But since her travels
with Xena, she had become accustomed to seeing and expecting women to hold more prominent roles in life.

While she dressed, Gabrielle thought over the captain?s actions towards her.  She wasn?t certain what had
initially attracted the tall woman?s attention and the bard assumed it was because of the open acceptance and
respect that she showed toward the captain.  As she pondered the tall Moroccan?s affection, she donned the silk
shirt.  Absently, she pulled up the dark trousers, fastened the leather belt, and then casually smoothed out the soft
fabric.

"I can't believe you're actually going through with this!"  Xena's voice startled her from her thoughts.

"Jeeze, Xena, the least you can do is warn me when you pop in like that!"  Gabrielle scolded and negatively shook
her head as she resumed dressing.