Disclaimer:Xena,Gabrielle,Solan,Borias and Joxer,along with Callisto and any other Xena character belong to RenPics.This is just a fan story not ment for enfringement..This story is for entertainment only!

WARNING!You must be sixteen or older to read this!If mentions of abuse or actuall spousal abuse bother you please don't read.

Feed back:Welcomed! Email :Xenas_Little_Shadow@Yahoo.com

Vision of Heaven by:Jessica L Brewer

Xena sighed.The day was seeming like it was never going to end.How could they kill these pirates when it seemed more and more came back.

For her two friends,Joxer and Gabrielle,the event seemed to be wearing them down as well.Even Joxer had managed to get in a couple of good hits.And for him,that was unusual.

"Xena I'll divert them and you go sneak inside the hut and get Appollo's sword." Gabrielle said to her friend,as she twirled her staff high in the air and brought it down on a pirate's bald,tatooed head.

He crumpled at her feet.

"I don't know." Xena replied worridly.She punched an oncoming pirate.If it hadn't been for the fact Appollo's sword was very dangerous,turning a mortal into an immortal,Xena woulda let the whole thing go.There was no love lost between her and the God of Truth.

"C'mon Xena." Protested her friend. "I can take some of these boneheads...you can't fight them all"

Xena sighed. "Okay.But don't get carried away." She warned the bard.

"Since when do Iget carried away?"Demanded Gabrielle. She turned sharply to the wanna be warrior. "Don't even answer Joxer." She warned

Joxer rolled his eyes. "Gabrielle?" He asked.

"Yes?"

"Shut up." Joxer had been hearing Gabrielle's whining all day long,and frankly,he was tired of it.It wasn't his fault the pirates had been in town.Okay,so maybe he did piss off that gigantic leader of theirs.And,he and Gabby nearly had their heads whacked off, save for the chackram.But anyone could make that mistake!

Gabrielle bristled. "Whatever Joxer." She hissed at him.A pirate reached out as if to make a grab at the bard,and she elbowed him.But the next move neither of them saw coming.Another pirate had a long sword that curved like a wave.He raised it and sliced it down.The sword hit Gabrielle in the stomach.

"Nooo!"Howled Joxer and with a burst of adrenaline,he grabbed Gabrielle's staff and began to assult the pirate.

Gabrielle whimpered.Her side hurt.She'd never felt pain like this before.And it hurrrt....She slumped to the ground moaning.she just needed to close her eyes,just for a minute...

"Gabrielle!"Joxer hollered.He hit another pirate square in the head,then raced toward the woman he loved.He cradled her head on his lap. "Gabrielle,you're going to be okay." Joxer said and wished now he'd paid attention to when his father was showing him how to see how deep a wound was.

Gabrielle smiled softly up at him. "You know what?" She asked him.

"What?" Joxer replied,stroking her long blond hair.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" Joxer asked her. "What did you have to be sorry for?I'm the fool,you've told me that a hundred times."

"That's it." Gabrielle nodded. "I'm so mean to you Joxer." She said softly. "I never ment to be,y' know.You're...my---"Gabrielle never got to finish the sentence.Blackness took her into a safe,hazy dreamworld.

***

"Ahh Gabrielle!" Gabrielle turned to see Hades,God of the Dead before her. She widened her eyes.

"Am i dead?" She asked the god.

Hades chuckled. "Well...sorta.I mean,techinally you are,but I have other plans in mind for you."

"What?A Bacche?" Gabrielle asked with a smirk.

Hades laughed. "No.You see Gabrielle,my niece,Aphrodite was supposed to pair you up with the person who was to provide for you.Not your soulmate,that's Xena,but a..."Hades paused and let his hand roll in explanation. "Companion.You were to bear his child."

"You mean a husband?" Gabrielle asked the god.

Hades nodded. "You married the wrong man,Gabrielle." Hades explained.He led her over to a bowl of water.But, when she peeked in,she saw herself at the temple where she had married Perdicas!

"You were to marry Joxer." Hades explained.

Gabrielle stared at him dumbfounded. Joxer she demanded. "Are you sure?"

Hades nodded. "Now,to get this mess right,we can give you your life back."

"Really?" Gabrielle asked, overwhelemed.

Hades nodded. "Everyone you know and love will still be there.Even Xena." He added figuring he would score points for that one. "But---only one thing will be changed."

"What?" Gabrielle asked.

"Who you are.You will be the wife of Joxer.You will have his baby."

Gabrielle stared. The thought of marrying Joxer made her remember when Cupid's arrow had shot the two so they were infatuated with one another.Xena had got Cupid to take off the arrow's spell.

"Are you serious?" Gabrielle asked doubtfully.

Hades nodded. "Dead." He replied and laughed at his own joke. "That's the only way you can come back into the world,Gabrielle.As Joxer's wife,to fullfill your own destiny.Do you accept?"

"And Xena's still my friend?" Gabrielle had to make sure.

"Oh,of course!" Hades exclaimed. "You're very close."

Well...she could learn to love Joxer...she supposed. "Okay." Gabrielle agreed. "I'm ready."

"Good.Close your eyes and say these words..." Hades told her some Latin. Gabrielle said the words.A bright light filled the room and soon Gabrielle was gone!

***

"Gabrielle!" Gabrielle heard someone very familliar yell her name. A voice she loved....Xena!

Gabrielle opened her eyes,seeing the Warrior Princess looking down at her. "Xena?" She asked,and started to sit up,but got very dizzy.

"It's okay Gabrielle.Be still.Joxer will be here soon." Xena soothed. That's when Gabrielle noticed Xena's outfit.She wore a pale blue dress,and her long dark hair was let loose and framed her face.

"Xena?" Gabrielle asked and slowly sat up this time. "Where are we?"

"That must've been some fall." Xena said and chuckled softly. "We're in Corinth, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle heard a familliar voice shout out 'Mother' and didn't belive her eyes when she saw Solan run up to Xena.

"Mother is Aunt Gabrielle allright?" Solan asked.

Xena nodded. "She just had a fall Solan,that's all. You're okay right Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle still couldn't belive it.Solan was alive!Oh, she could've cried. Remembering the time they had been through a 'rift' when Gabrielle had lied to Xena,she was so overwhelmed with happiness.

"Gabrielle?" She heard another voice ask. They all turned to see Joxer. But, not the Joxer Gabrielle expected. This Joxer wore fine armor,and had a beautiful sword resting near his hip.

Gabrielle stood. "Joxer?" She asked in amazement. "Is that you?"

"She hit her head." Xena explained.

Joxer nodded. "I see. Are you allright?" He asked.

I don't know thought Gabrielle. I'm finding you awfully attractive! She bit her lip to keep from laughing. This was so...weird.

"Good." Joxer said. "Jaia's been calling for you all morning. You should go see her."

"Jaia?" Repeated Gabrielle. "Who's that?"

Joxer eyed her. "Your daughter." He said. It was apparent Joxer wasn't happy with Gabrielle.He turned to Xena. "Tell Borias I'm going to see what we can do about those damned pirates.He can join me if he wishes.

Xena nodded. "C'mon Solan." She said to her son. "Let's let Gabrielle rest.She'll wanna go visit with Jaia."

"Okay Mother." Solan agreed.

"Xena?" Gabrielle whispered to her friend. "Jaia...what's wrong with her?" She wondered what Xena must be thinking right now.probably that I'm a loon Gabrielle thought.

"She's sick Gabrielle." Xena said with a shrug. "We don't know what it is.It happened... right before Joxer became a---" Xena's voice wavered lightly.

"A what Xena?"

"A warloard.He killed his brother Jett,remember?Because he wanted to join Callisto's army...Jett was trying to stop Callisto."

Say what? Thought Gabrielle. If Jett was trying to stop Callisto, and Joxer killed him...that ment...that ment Joxer was the evil one!Oh,oh! What had she gotten herself into?!

Suddenly, the old clutzy Joxer didn't seem so bad compared to this Joxer.Thought Gabrielle as she walked inside her 'home'. It was to get a lot worse...

Candlemarks later...

Joxer hadn't said more than two words to Gabrielle.All he did was grumble at her,and complain because she didn't have any venison. "Can't you do anything right?" He snarled.

Gabrielle eyed him and contemplated hitting him in the head with her heavy frying pan. That oughta shut him up for a while.She thought but decided against it.Hades could pop in any time,see she wasn't doing what she was supposed to be,and end her life.She didn't want that!

"I thought I told you to quit daydreaming." Joxer snapped,watching her carefully.

Gabrielle turned to him. "I wasn't.I was thinking." She replied.

"I don't like the tone of your voice." Joxer snarled at her.

"I don't like the tone of yours". Countered Gabrielle.

Joxer widened his eyes.Before she could react,he brought his hand up and wacked her hard in the face!Gabrielle looked stunned.Even more so,that it left a red mark.

"Don't talk back." Joxer said,pivoted and left the house.

Gabrielle stared after him,stunned.She felt herself begin to tear up,wondering what had happened to the old Joxer.She shook her head and headed into the baby's room. Jaia was in her crib,asleep. Gabrielle couldn't help but smile.

"Poor little thing." She whispered tucking the child in.Jaia made a contented sound.

"Gabrielle!" She heard Joxer cry out.She huried out of Jaia's room and into the living room.Joxer was picking up his sword.

"What is it?" Gabrielle asked.

"I have to go into town.Some prisoners escaped,and he's holding a little girl hostage."

Gabrielle nodded. "Right.I'll get my staff and met you there." She said,forgetting she wasn't a fighter,just a regular woman.

"Staff?" Repeated Joxer. "Gabrielle,be serious here.This is man's work.Borias and I will handle it.You take Jaia and go to Xena's.She's going to the Oracle."

"Appollo's Oracle?" Gabrielle asked

Joxer nodded. "The oracle said she could heal Jaia.I want you to be there.C'mon,I'll make sure you get there safely okay?"

Gabrielle was going to argue that she didn't need him to walk her over to Xena's but she decided she didn't want to make him mad.Joxer was reminding her of his brother Jett---the Jett he knew,and the old Xena.That scared her.Gabrielle quickly gathered up the baby and followed Joxer to the path that would lead them to Xena's.It was strange to think of Xena as being helpless.

Solan was outside,playing with a friend. "Hi Aunt Gabrielle!" He greeted. "Mother's inside. Uncle Joxer,father said to meet him at the gates." Solan told Joxer.

"Okay thanks Solan." Joxer said. "Gab,you stay with Xena.I'll be back later."

Gabrielle was beging to get tired of being helpless.It was a feeling that did not set well with her.It never had.That was why she had chose to travel with Xena in the first place.To learn to be like Xena.A warrior.Brave.Strong.So that no one would ever call her girl and treat her like a child.

Gabrielle followed Solan inside. "Gabrielle." Xena smiled softly.She reminded Gabrielle of Princess Diana. And so,a strange thought crossed her mind.

"Xena,do you know a Princess Diana?" Gabrielle asked her friend. Xena took Jaia and smiled at the infant.She looked up at Gabrielle and frowned.Solan went back outside to play with his friend

"Princess Diana?Oh...you mean Diana the Destroyer." Xena remarked. "Yes.Remember Gab, she looks like me?"

She called me Gab Thought Gabrielle,feeling an overwheliming desire of homesickness. She didn't want to live in this world anymore!

"Mother!" Solan raced back inside. "At the gates---someone saidFather was hurt!" Solan exclaimed.He pulled on Xena's hand. "Come on,we have to go see!"

Xena handed Jaia back to Gabrielle.The three of them headed towards the gates.Some prisoners were still being subdued,Gabrielle felt the itchings to grab her staff and knock some heads in.

If I had my staffShe thought sourly.

"Where's Borias?" Xena asked a townsmen.

He looked at her sympathetically. "Xena--"

"Noooo!" Xena holwed and rushed through the crowd.She pushed people out of her way.Joxer was kneeling next to Borias. He turned to see Xena,sympathy shadowing his face.

"Xena,I'm sorry...he's dead."

Xena let out a scream.

They attended Borias's funeral that night.Xena sang the funeral song,her voice threatining to break at any moment.Solan didn't go too far from his mother.They looked so lost without Borias. The oracle did heal Jaia.She told Gabrielle that her family was in dire danger.Gabrielle only looked at her and nodded knowingly.

***

The next morning...

Asephus arrived in Corinth.He was a former priest of Appollo,until the god had caught him messing with his favorite maiden.Appollo had forced Asephus to see the truth of who he really was:Not a preist,but a scavanger.So he had become a pirate.And now,the Oracle was in town.

Asephus couldn't have planned it better.So was Joxer the Mighty.

Asephus drove towards Appollo's golden temple.It was quiet.That was strange.Usually,people would line up to see the Oracle.Oh well.They managed to sneak in.Asephus knew this temple very well.He walked through it until he came upon a priestess

"What are you doing here?" She asked. "Visiting hours are over.Please come back tonight."

He slapped her down and continued on.Asepus and his men walked to the main temple room,Appollo's favorite. "Trash it!"Asepus yelled

His men gladly obeyed. "What about the priestesses?" Nilos asked eyeing some scared looking girls who huddled together.

"Do what you wish with them."

Joxer was at the market,getting some new metals for his armor.It had to be worked on to keep it in the top condition that his was in.He looked up to see Priestess Laurel running to him.

"Joxer!" She sobbed. "Pirates!They're ransacking the temple!Please help!"

Joxer nodded. "Just let me get my sword.It's at home."

"Please hurry!" laurel cried out.

Joxer knew he shoulda brought his sword with him.He frowned.Things were just not going as well in his life as everone thought.His best friend had just died...his wife was acting weird. "A staff." He mumbled. "Imagine Gab with a staff!" The thought struck him funny. But he had no time to laugh.He had to fend off these pirates first.If Asephus was there it would be easier said than done

"Where are you going?" Gabrielle asked him. She was playing with Jaia.

Appollos' temple.Pirates are ransacking it."Joxer expalined. He picked up his sword and stuck it in his sheath.

"Pirates!" Exclaimed Gabrielle. That was how this whole mess started!She,Xena and Joxer had been fighting a bunch of Pirates in Appollo's temple to save a ceartin sword...oh!She had to help Joxer! "I'm going." Gabrielle stood.

"Are you crazy?Gabrielle you can't fight.Stay here where I know you'll be safe.

"No." Gabrielle picked up Jaia. "I can't Joxer.I have to go,it's hard to expalin...I have to set something right.Oh by the gods I do." She moaned.

"No.Stay here with our daughter." Protested Joxer.

"I'll leave her with Xena." Gabrielle said firmly.

Joxer saw he was getting nowhere. "Fine.But you stay where I can see you,understood?"

"Of course." Gabrielle hurried over to Xena's to drop Jaia off.She didn't have time to talk. Joxer was halfway to the temple.Gabrielle quickly caught up.They heard shouts coming from inside,mumbled prayers floating out.Joxer and Gabrielle quickly hurried inside. Soon Asephus saw Joxer.

"Well well lookie here.It's Joxer the Mighty!And what did he bring with him?" Asephus asked grinning. "A token of appreatiation?"

"Not exactly." Gabrielle said and looked for an object to use.She saw a wooden pole,about the same length as her staff.Well,that would be as good.She grabbed it off the rack,breaking vases as she did so.

A fight ensued.Joxer used his sword and kicked punched and blocked. Gabrielle swung her staff in dizzing circles conecting with a lot of pirates.They all fell down.

Soon it was just Joxer against a young man.The young man jabbed his sword out at Joxer, but Joxer hit it so ot was flung aside. He then stabbed the young man,who let out a surprised gasp. Blood trickled out of his mouth.

The young man fell backwards. Asephus looked up and shock colored his face white. "Lisephus!" He exclaimed. He jumped over some fallen objects,until he faced Joxer. "You killed my son." Asephus growled.

"More like I put him out of his misery." Joxer snarled.That done it.Asephus began to swing his sword at Joxer,hwo thrust and blocked.The sound of sharp metal against metal clanged and Gabrielle was frozen,transfixed. She had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that someone was going to get hurt...

Joxer whirled around,dodging a blow.But he didn't see the next one coming.Asephus raised it and twirled,and stabbed Joxer in the stomach.Joxer looked stunned.He looked down to see Asephus's sword in his side.He fell backwards.

"No!" Gabrielle screamed. "Joxer,no!" She raced to Joxer.He was already loosing a lot of blood from the looks of things.The men in the temple cleared out.Gabrielle cradled Joxer's head in her lap."You're going to be okay." Gabrielle whispered to him.

Joxer tried to smile. "No,No I'm not Gab." He whispered taking her hand.His face was ashen now. "Gab I just want to say a few things.I'm sorry being most of it."

"For what?" Gabrielle asked him.

Joxer looked so tired. "You know." He said. "Gab I know I promised you I'd make you a good husband."He began,and coughed.

"Don't try to talk."

Joxer shook his head waving her aside. "You saw in me something that wasn't there." Joxer told her. "I thank you for that.For loving me...giving me the chance to love you.Maybe I never said it enough but I do.Gab--"

Joxer's breath began to rattle.He sucked in a deep breath,but nothing else was said.His eyes glazed over.Gabrielle let out a cry. No! Joxer was dead!

"Hades!" Gabrielle screamed. She mumbled the latin words he told her to in the begining of this mess. A huge white light flashed.Gabrielle was back in Hade's 'office'.

"You rang?" The god asked. "I see you're not happy with your life."

"Damned right!" Exclaimed Gabrielle. "What are you thinking?Making Joxer into a brute? Making Xena a helpless---villager?Is this supposed to be funny?"

"No no calm down Gabrielle." Hades replied. "There was a mix up,as is obvious.The 'vision' you got was supposed to go to Joxer's brother Jett.We made a mix up.Our fault,not yours."

A mix up? The bard screamed at Hades. Hades winced. "Do you know what that life was like?No, no you don't! So of course this is your fault!"

"Well,I've discused it with Zeus." Hades began carefully, glad Gabrielle's staff wasn't in sight. He had been taking note of how many heads Gab cracked with it. "And Zeus agrees since we made a goof up,you'll be aloud to return to your normal life.How's that?"

"How's that?" Gabrielle was dumbfounded. After all that, he could only say, 'how's that?' She'd show him how that really was....

Hades snapped his fingers. In an instant Gabrielle was gone. He let out a collective sigh of relive. "And they say redheads are bad." The god mumbled.

***

Xena sighed.It had been a long week.Joxer had kept a vigilant over Gabrielle's bed in the hospital.He wouldn't leave.He had made Xena go do 'regular' things and he'd take care of her. Xena knew how much Joxer loved Gabrielle.She wondered if the bard had similar,hidden feelings about Joxer.Xena looked up into the deep blue sky. "I know I don't pray much." She began. "Maybe I should,I just never needed it before. Now I do.You gave me something much better than I ever realized.You gave me my best friend in the whole world.She taught me how to love and care again.If you make her let go,don't you see that I'll let go as well? Please, don't do that to me.I need Gabrielle.We all need Gabrielle."

Back in the hospice,Joxer put a clean damp washcloth on Gabrielle's forehead. "Please don't die Gabrielle." He begged. "I couldn't stand it.Please.I have something I need to tell you." He touched the side of her face gently,moving back her long golden hair as he did so. "I know I get on your nerves." He whispered and took her hand. "But...really you and Xena are my family.I love you.That's what I wanted to tell you,Gabrielle.I love you...so much.Don't leave me.Please."

Suddenly Joxer felt Gabrielle grip his hand. He looked down at the bard,happy to see her stirring. "Joxer." She whispered.

"Gab--Gabrielle?You're alive!" He cried out joyfully.

Gabrielle slowly sat up.She looked around. "I'm in a hospice?" She asked. "What happened?" It took a few moments,but she remembered. "Oh...the pirates...I was stabbed.It must've been just a dream!" She cried out happily. She turned to Joxer. "It was just a dream!" She exclaimed to him.

"What was?" Joxer looked confused but Gabrielle pulled him into a hug.

"I'm so sorry Joxer." The bard said. "I never saw in you what was really there.Now I do. Now I do."

Joxer raised an eyebrow. "What's that?" He asked her.

"A vision of heaven." She replied. "Come on,we have a lot to talk about.Let's say hi to Xena so she doesn't worry.Then,you and I need to be alone."

On Mount Olympus...

Aphrodite watched the reunion between the bard and the warrior. They hugged talked for long moments,then Gabrielle and Joxer left---together.Like it was supposed to be.Aphrodite smiled happily.Hades little trick had worked like a charm and neither would ever know.She watched Gabrielle confess her hidden emotions for Joxer,and Joxer doing the same for her.It was so sweet!

She materalized a pink lace hanky and blew her nose. She watched Gabrielle and Joxer kiss. "I just love my work." Aphrodite said aloud. "Ain't nothin' like a little lovin'."

The End