CHRISTMAS IN COSTA RICA
A Mel and Janice Adventure

By 
J C Wilder
jcwilder@hotmail.com

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I offer this as a gift to those who like alternate fan fiction and 
loved the X:WP episode, 
"The Xena Scrolls"

DISCLAIMER: This is a short piece of nonprofit fan fiction 
intended for adults only. 
Romance and sex between women exists in this story.
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     I sat by the fire wrapping presents with Mel.  The aroma of 
pine needles and popcorn along with the warmth of the fire soaking 
into my body made me feel kind of cozy and…well, like everything 
was perfect.  And it was downright remarkable how Mel lost her 
southern accent when she sang.  The melody of Greensleeves, made 
poignantly sweet by my friend's voice, filled the room as we 
passed ribbons and decorative paper back and forth.     

"What Child is this, Who laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleep - 
ing?  Whom an - gels greet with anthems sweet, While shep - herds 
watch are keep - ing?"

     She began the third stanza with a smile and I realized I was 
humming along, almost in harmony with her.  

"This, this is Christ the King, Whom shep - herds guard and an - 
gels sing:  Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of 
Ma - ry!"

     As if on cue the ringing chimes of the doorbell punctuated 
the end of our first verse.   Mel signaled for me to continue 
while she stood up to go answer the door.  On my own, Greensleeves 
lost its charm and I wondered who would be visiting this snowy 
evening.  

     Mel called to me, "It's a telegram and this poor frozen boy 
says you have to sign for it."  I did and sent the boy on his way 
back to town with a generous tip to compensate for his trek to the 
mansion in the chilling weather.  Mel pulled me out of the cold 
hallway and stood anxiously by my side.  "Well, my goodness 
Janice, who is it from?"

     "One of my dad's old archaeology buddies, Gitano De Silva."  
I was surprised by his unexpected message.  "He says I should come 
to see what he's found in Costa Rica, a message in a cave with 
Xena's signature."

     "That's impossible, it's too far away from Greece."

     "I'm going.  De Silva's a square-shooter Mel.  Even though he 
lost his wife and child ten years ago while he was at a dig site 
with dad, he's still searching for evidence to prove a theory of 
dad's - that Xena was the first person to navigate a ship around 
the world. Frankly I haven't given it much credence, but this 
could go along way towards proving it.  If not in one ship, then 
in several perhaps."

     "Janice, of course we'll go then, but after the Holidays."

     "Nope.  Now…I've got to go now.  What's here today can be 
gone tomorrow, every archaeologist knows that.  Anthropologists 
too, Dr Pappas," I added with a wink to soften my pending 
departure.  "But you've got some family here to spend the holidays 
with Mel.  I don't expect you to come with me. I appreciate you 
inviting me to spend the holidays here with you and all but…"  

     "But?  Janice Covington, you're closer than any relatives I 
have and I'm not letting you spend Christmas out of the country 
without me.  No ma'am, wither thou goest…and all the rest of it 
this Christmas.  Don't you know yet that I…I love you?"  

     Damn, this woman was sweet and a better friend than I 
deserved.  Mel had a way of making me feel at home whenever she 
was near.  But I was uncomfortable with sentimental matters and 
this was no exception.  Unfortunately, if I was reading her body 
language correctly, Mel was waiting for me to requite her 
feelings.  I wished I were better at this sort of thing.

     A long awkward pause allowed me to wrack my brain, searching 
for a way to express my feelings for her, my appreciation for her 
friendship.  "Yes I know, and of course I feel the same.  You're 
the best friend I always wanted and finally found."  Whew!  There, 
that should do it.  I patted her hand affectionately.  "All right 
then, I'll book a flight for two to Costa Rica."  When she smiled 
I felt relieved and moved on to solid ground.  "Just imagine Mel, 
what better gift could there be than to verify that the Warrior 
Princess made her mark in Latin America way before Columbus sailed 
along or the Spanish colonized it.  I mean, from an 
anthropological perspective this could be tremendously 
significant."  I knew this was probably too good to be true but I 
could not resist the pull of such a possibility, and I doubt Mel 
could either.  And I had not seen De Silva since my dad's 
funeral.  It would be good to see the old Spanish brick once 
again.

     "What better gift?" Mel repeated.  "Hmmm.  As wonderful as 
that would be Janice, I can think of an even better gift and it 
has nothing to do with archeology or anthropology."  Finally.  For 
weeks I had been curious to know what she really wanted for 
Christmas but she wouldn't say more than "I'll love whatever you 
get me," and other such irritating things.  I was up front from 
the beginning of the season, letting her know I wanted my favorite 
musk and cigars from Cuba.  I assumed that at least two of the 
boxes she wrapped for me contained these items.  And since I did 
not relish the idea of any more shopping in crowded department 
stores, I hoped she was finally going to tell me her heart's 
desire, and that it was in one of the boxes that waited for her 
under the tree. 

     "Really?  What?"  I crossed my fingers.

    She removed her glasses before pulling me down to sit beside 
her and whispering in my ear,  "Can't you guess?"  

     Her breath tickled my ear and made me want to do the same to 
her.  I moved long dark hair off her shoulder and whispered back,  
"Something to wear?"

     "No," she giggled.  Damn, that dropped most of my gifts to 
her off the list.  "Guess again," she requested, and moved her ear 
closer to me. 

     "Umm…Something to drive?"

     "No, silly!"  She slapped my arm.  Good, a new car was not 
within my limited budget. Hmmm. She had her own perfume made from 
the flowers in her garden so that was out.  Boy, this was hard.

     "Cuban cigars?  No, that's not you.  Wait, is it something 
you can cuddle with?"  She smiled and shivered.  All right!  I was 
getting there.  "Something warm and furry?"  Now she looked 
unsure.  "Something that'll lick you good every time you hold it 
up?"  She looked worried.  "I mean a puppy, do you want a puppy?"  
She frowned and I pulled away.  "Well what then?  I'm no good at 
guessing games."

     "Lord above, what an understatement.  Forget it Janice, I 
guess there's just nothing better than a good archeological 
discovery.  I'm going to pack, all right?"  

     "Yeah, sure.  Me too."  I went up the stairs knowing I had 
just disappointed her.  I was a little disappointed too.  For the 
love of Mike, I'm no mind reader so why couldn't she just tell me 
what she wanted?  It seemed I had another mystery to solve, and 
one Mel would not help me with.    

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     After flying from South Carolina to the capital of Costa 
Rica, we rode the train from San José to the coastal Caribbean 
city of Puerto Limón, seen by Christopher Columbus in 1502.  He 
named it "rich coast".  That did not seem so long ago since I had 
been searching for Xena scrolls more than two thousand years old.  
As the train slowed to pull into the station we passed another 
banana plantation and a large trading market filled with bins of 
coffee beans, coconuts and cocoa protected from the heavy rain by 
large canopies.  The train stopped and we gathered our luggage, 
making our way to De Silva's tropical hotel with the help of rust-
covered taxi.  "It's too warm here to seem much like Christmas 
time," Mel said while we sped by the forest.  When we stopped I 
handed the driver enough centimos to cover the ride and with a 
piece of luggage under each of our arms and an umbrella one of my 
hands we began the short walk from the road to the hotel.  As 
usual, Mel stopped to smell the flowers.  "Oh my," she exclaimed, 
"would you just look at these orchids?"

     "Yeah, yeah.  This must be the orchid capital of the world."  
It was getting difficult to shield us both from the rain with her 
bending down like that.  

     "You could be right Janice, there's more than a thousand 
species of orchids in this country."

     "Amazing."  I tried to keep the sarcasm out of my voice while 
I leaned to keep her covered and then she suddenly rose up, 
knocking me backward onto my butt.  My luggage and I sprawled in 
the dark brown mud.  It was times like this that reminded me 
why I wore pants.  

     Mel put her hand to her chest and remained in perfect 
southern belle form while she looked down at me, first with an 
expression of regret and then with laughter she could not 
contain behind the manicured hand over her mouth.  "I do declare 
Janice, you're an awful mess."  She put down her luggage, picked 
up the umbrella and pulled the wet cigar from between my teeth, 
tossing it over her shoulder before offering me her hand.  "Let me 
help you up."  A monkey suddenly swooped onto Mel's shoulder and 
she let out a shriek.  She turned to shake the little devil off 
but he held on tight and she lost her balance, landing beside me 
in the mud before he scurried off.  And there it was for the 
entire world to see. A most unladylike display of thighs if you 
asked me. Fortunately, it seemed I was the only observer around.  

     I got to my feet and held out my hand.  "May I help YOU up 
darlin'?"  

     "Ewww!"  She lamented and let me tug her up.          

     "I wish you'd wear pants on our excursions, Mel."

     She straightened her glasses.  "I'd still be all muddy, no 
matter.  Sweet Je…Did you see how that long-tailed monkey attacked 
me?  Good Lord, I thought he was going to bite off my ears."

     "You're lucky he didn't if he thought we were violating his 
territory."

     Gitano De Silva met us in the hotel lobby.  Somewhat elegant 
in middle age, his dark eyes sparkled with sudden delight and 
contrasted with the gray hair worn unfashionably long and tied 
back in a ponytail.  "Janice?  Is that you mi Chiquita Pelirrojo?"  

     "Damnit De Silva, I'm not your 'Little Redhead'."

     "Janice, please …"  I could tell Mel was going to ask me to 
watch my language when De Silva came to my rescue.

     "No, no you're right.  You're all grown up.  You are El Perro 
Loco Covington now I think, yes?"

     And then I had to laugh at the nickname I had earned before I 
met Mel.  "I don't know which is worse.  Can't you just stick with 
Janice?"

     "Okay Chic… Janice.  And who is this vision of loveliness 
beside you?"  
  
     Still the charmer, I mused.  "My partner, Dr. Melinda Pappas.  
We just had a little accident, so I'll save the handshake for 
latter.  Mel, meet a fellow anthropologist, Dr. Gitano De Silva. "  

     "A true pleasure doctor."  He bowed gallantly, taking Mel's 
hand and kissing it despite the thin layer of mud.  

     "Oh my goodness, it's m-my pleasure too Dr. De Silva."  Mel 
beamed her thousand-watt smile at him.  She batted her eyes and 
looked at me with surprised blue eyes. She liked the attention 
from De Silva, that much was clear.  My eyes rolled of their own 
accord. Wonderful, I thought with irritation.  She was attracted 
to the brick.  I wondered if I was going to have to put up with a 
ridiculous flirtation between them the whole time we were in Costa 
Rica.  Well, better her than me.  If he ever kissed my hand like 
that I would have to belt him.    

     "I saw the mishap."  De Silva finally removed his offensive 
lips from my friend's hand.  "Please forgive Jasper, he didn't 
know you are friends.  But now he does."  The offending creature 
scurried under the swing door.  "C'mere boy."  De Silva gathered 
the monkey into a towel and hauled him up to his chest.  Mel 
watched him warily.  "Don't worry Dr. Pappas, he won't hurt you.  
He would never harm such a beautiful woman, never would I let him.  
Your room is waiting for you so check in here, freshen up and 
meet me in my suite when you are ready, sí?"

     Soon we were clean and dry, sitting in De Silva's room.  
"Jasper is the one who found the cave.  It was after mass one day 
last week when I was walking home from the cathedral.  He ran to 
me and pulled at me until I followed him to a place behind several 
boulders.  I think he just wanted to show me it was there.  The 
next day when I explored it I could not believe what I saw: 
symbols that were Grecian carved in rock.  I recognized Xena's 
name.  If it is her signature, then it means she traveled at least 
this far from Greece.  And she beat Columbus and the Spanish by a 
good fifteen hundred years.  Your father had a good theory Janice.  
Come, I'll take you to it."  We put on raincoats and boots and 
packs and then forged into the forest for a mile or so until we 
came to the beach.  

     "There," he pointed to a pile of gray boulders.  "It's the 
entrance to a cave that's almost hidden when the tide is in."  We 
lit our lanterns and followed him down into the damp cave smelling 
of salt and seaweed.  Sand crunched beneath our feet with each 
step and produced a slight echo as we walked deeper.  After awhile 
I believed we were far from the beach and the sand had become 
compact dirt.  Many years ago people had lived in this cave.  More 
like a cavern, really.  Mel walked beside me the rest of the way, 
placing her hand in mine and I squeezed it for a moment while our 
fingers remained intertwined, knowing we shared the same 
excitement.  Finally we came to the end.  "Look here," De 
Silva held his lantern high.  And there it was. Grecian symbols, 
neatly carved into the rock wall.  Mel translated ancient Greek 
better than anyone I knew and she dropped my hand to get a closer 
view.

     I had the gist of it but she filled in the gaps.  "Do not go 
further or you will join the multitude of others who have become 
my offering to Hades."  The depiction of human skulls and 
crossbones came after that followed by, "Xena of Amphipolis".  "Oh 
my lord!" Mel added breathlessly. 

     I pushed my hat off my forehead and placed a cigar between my 
teeth but did not light it.  "Whew!  This is either a silly hoax 
or Xena actually carved this.  It does look like her signature, 
doesn't it Mel.  But why the threat?  What was she protecting?  
Anyway, we can't go any further.  This is the end of the cave."

     "Ah, but remember little spitfire, it was different in here 
two thousand years ago."

     "That's right Janice," Mel said.  "Why, this place had to 
have been a lot bigger when Xena was here, but the dirt has filled 
in spaces."

     "But this is a rock wall."  I paced for a minute.  "Maybe if 
we dug down a few feet here we'd find an opening to another room.  
Perhaps treasure."

     "Treasure?" Mel asked.

     "That's right, at least one treasure chest, maybe two. Your 
ancestor led many lives in one, and if Xena left this warning it 
was during her days as a pirate.  What would she put here but her 
stolen treasure? "

     "You have a point Chiquita.  And if we find treasure I will 
gladly split it, fifty percent to you and Melinda and fifty 
percent to me."  He turned to Mel.  "Unless you can prove 
that you are really a descendent of Xena.  I would gladly give you 
half if it were true.  Is it true?  Your beauty alone could sway 
me I think.  Your eyes - even behind those glasses - are 
magnificient."

     "It's true," I responded.  

     Mel continued despite her blush. "I would be happy to tell 
you why I believe Xena is my ancestor but Janice is really the eye 
witness to the proof, if you will accept her account."

     I quickly told him about our encounter with Ares and Xena a 
year earlier.  "…And after Ares told me it was Mel who was her 
descendent, not me," I still choked a little at this part, "Xena's 
spirit took possession of her.  It was amazing, watching Mel fight 
like a supernatural warrior.  She defied the law of gravity 
almost, and her wits made her the god's equal.  Then Xena left as 
quickly as she came and we barely made it out of the tomb before 
the vault closed, locking Ares in.  I blew up the entrance to keep 
others from making the same mistake we did.  Believe me, the God 
of War is not someone you want to deal with."

     "I wish I could remember it," Mel added wistfully.

     De Silva stared at Mel with blatant admiration.  "I will 
accept the tale as true, because I want to believe it, if nothing 
else mi corazón."  Mel stared warmly back at him.

     Nauseating.  "Doesn't that leave me with nothing then?"  For 
the love of Mike, was I whining?  I was.  Damn.  I needed a minute 
to regain my dignity.  I chewed on the unlit cigar.   

     "We both loved your father and he would want me to do it this 
way no?  I say let's give it all to Xena's descendent, Chiquita."

     "Well, I'm going to donate whatever my share turns out to be 
to charity," Mel stated happily.  "But don't you think the warning 
means something, like there's a booby trap around?"

     "We'll be careful.  Let's all be careful." I added.  "Lets 
get cracking on this first thing in the morning, right now I just 
want to make a rubbing."  Mel and De Silva held their lanterns 
high while I taped a large sheet of paper over the carving and 
very gently rubbed a piece of fine graphite over it to produce a 
negative.  Then I held the paper away to spray a fixative on it 
before rolling it up and placing it in a tube and into my 
backpack.  

     "There is no way to determine how long ago this was carved is 
there?"  De Silva inquired of Janice.

     "No, not with any technology I know of.  We can only date the 
rock itself.  But who knows what else we'll find compadre."  I 
smiled.  "Thanks for sharing this with us Gitano.  You know, 
you're one of the few people who stood by dad.  I don't care about 
making money from this, I just want to know more about the Warrior 
Princess."

     "And you want to justify your father's work.  I know.  He 
always stood by me Chiquita.  Did you know he introduced me to my 
wife, God rest her soul."  With his finger De Silva traced the 
sign of the cross from his forehead to his chest.  "If only I had 
been here that night, I could have saved her and our baby from the 
fire."  His eyes clouded with silent tears.

     Mel put her hand on his shoulder and he allowed himself to be 
drawn into the comfort of her arms. Watching them, I suddenly felt 
like an intruder.  I did not like this feeling when it came to Mel 
but I refused to resent De Silva.  Damn, sometimes things happened 
that we can not control.  If Mel and De Silva wanted a 
relationship or something I would not stand in their way.  But I 
was not going to stand around like an idiot much longer either. I 
patted his back.  "It must be hard, especially this time of year.  
I know I miss dad."  My own eyes started to get wet and then I 
heard Mel speak her father's name and I knew I could not take any 
more.  "Well," I pulled away and grunted, "we have each other 
this Christmas."

     "Yes, Yes we do mi amigas!  And lovely company you are too."  
De Silva straightened up and wiped his face with his handkerchief 
before pulling my hat over my face, chuckling when he saw Mel's 
shocked expression.

     Irritated, I moved my fedora back into place.  "You're the 
only one I ever let do that."

     "That's because I gave you your first one Chiquita."
 
     "Good reason", Mel added with a laugh.

     "Yeah," I had to laugh too, remembering the too large hat 
that always fell over my eyes.

     By the time we arrived at the hotel, the three of us had 
planned our little excavation.  De Silva invited Mel and I to 
dinner but I declined, knowing that I would be in the way of 
their budding romance.  Besides, I did not want to witness it any 
more than I had to.  "No thanks, I'm bushed.  You two go ahead."  
Mel squinted her eyes at me and pursed her lips.  "Really, I'm 
tired.  I just want a comfortable bed."  

     "I've never known you to miss a meal unless you're sick."  
Mel touched my forehead before I could move out of her range.  
"You do feel a little warm.  Go ahead and I'll get some chicken 
soup for you."

     "Okay."  I went to the room and quickly changed into my 
pajamas, getting between the cool sheets and shivering.  Maybe I 
was coming down with something.  I really did not feel good.
 
     Mel came in and sat beside me on the bed, holding out a 
thermos.  "Wait until this cools and then drink it down.  But take 
these now."  She handed me two aspirins and I quickly chewed and 
swallowed them.  "Ewww.  I don't know how you can stand to do 
that, Janice." 

     "That's how I've always taken them.  Its no big deal."  She 
touched my cheek lightly.

     "You remind me of a man sometimes, you know that.  You take 
aspirin like a man, you give pain like a man and you take it like 
a man too…don't you."  It was not a question.  Her eyes were 
engaging and she seemed about to cry.

     "I suppose so.  Is that a bad thing?"  She looked away but 
her hand remained still on my cheek.  "Hey, what's wrong?"  I took 
her hand in mine and held it against my chest.  "Look, if this is 
about me not guessing what you want for Christmas, I want you to 
know that I've given it some more thought."

     "Really?"  She turned and smiled.  De Silva was a right.  She 
was beautiful.  Blue eyes sparkling, shiny black hair cascading 
down her shoulders.  Wonderful smile, those lips perfectly 
contoured.  Her jawline begged to be touched so I did.

     "Yeah, I have.  I should've known you're not a dog person.  
No, of course not.  You're a cat person.  It's a kitten that you 
want, right?"    

     She rolled her eyes upward.  "Lord is this your way of 
teaching me patience?"

     This really meant a lot to her.  "All right, all right.  
Don't give up on me yet, there's still some time left here."   I 
could not believe that I was starting to feel desperate to 
know what it was she wanted. 

     She kissed my forehead before freshening up for dinner with 
De Silva.  "I'm not about to give up.  Now drink your soup."  

     It seemed hours passed before she returned.  It was hours.  I 
had checked the illuminated numbers on the clock so many times it 
seemed like an old companion.  She entered our darkened room and I 
heard her change into her nightgown and walk across the floor to 
the bathroom.  She brushed, gurgled and spit.  Most people sounded 
awful when they did those things but Mel.  Her noises were cute.  
She slid beside me into the double bed.  I wanted to ask her about 
her dinner with De Silva but I did not want to hear how charming 
he was, how he kissed her goodnight.  Just thinking about her 
kissing him made my stomach hurt.  I think I must have groaned 
because Mel sat up and asked me if I was okay.  "Uh huh.  Just a 
stomach ache."

     "Poor baby.  I hope you feel better by morning."  

     Her sympathy was like a healing balm, even though I did not 
like being talked to like I was a child.  "Thanks mom."  Mel 
laughed and I relaxed some more.  

     "Don't you want to hear about dinner?"  

     "Maybe later."  

     Soon I heard Mel softly humming.  It was a Christmas song.  I 
drifted to sleep and dreamed of giving my true love turtle doves 
and partridges and French hens.  "Now I know what you've wanted 
…birds!"

     "Of course," she replied and rewarded me with a toe-curling 
kiss.  "I knew you'd get it right if I gave you time to figure it 
out."  We did much more than kiss.  When I woke, my world was 
changed.  For the first time I had something to hide from my best 
friend.  A secret I could not share.  I lay on my back to look at 
the illuminated clock.  It was only 1 A.M.  

     Mel turned toward me in her sleep and snuggled against my 
side.  A long leg traveled over mine and a soft hand rested on my 
stomach.  She looked younger without her glasses.  And even more 
beautiful.  The passionate dream was fresh in my memory and I 
could not prevent my arms from holding her or my lips from kissing 
the damp hair that curled darkly at her forehead.  I never really 
understood what bittersweet was until then.  Before I feel asleep 
again I rolled away from my friend.

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     "Wake up sleepyhead.  Feeling better?"  Mel was up and 
dressed in pants for once.  I grumbled that I was going to live 
and stumbled into the shower while Mel chatted away about her 
dinner with De Silva.  "He is so entertaining.  He told me stories 
about you that are so priceless.  You were always stubborn, 
apparently."

     "Don't tell me you talked about me all night," I shouted over 
the shower curtain.

     "No, we talked about how hard it is to lose loved ones.  It 
breaks my heart to think of how much he misses his wife and 
daughter.  His daughter was barely two years old when she died."

     "I know.  It was a terrible tragedy."  I wondered just how 
much she comforted him after they ate dinner, and then berated 
myself for my uncharitable jealousy.  "So, you had a good time.  
He's a handsome man don't you think?"

    "Yes, he is.  And charming."

     "So, when are you going out with him again?"

     "What?…Oh, right.  Sweet Jesus, I get it.  Well I'm going out 
with him again tonight Janice."

     Why did she sound angry about it?  "Yeah, well he's a 
straight-shooter and I doubt if you could do any better - even if 
he is old enough to be your father…Mel?"  I stepped out of the 
shower and she was gone.  I heard the outside door slam and knew 
she'd gone to meet De Silva.  Now I really had to hurry if I 
wanted any breakfast.

     I found them deep in conversation in the hotel restaurant.  
"Ah, good morning Chiquita," De Silva greeted me.  You are feeling 
better this morning, no?"

     "No.  I mean yes De Silva, I'm fine."  I sat down and Mel 
would not look at me.  But she sure looked at De Silva.  She was 
more flirtatious than I had ever seen her.  And he was too.  She 
and the Spanish brick made quite a couple.  My appetite was still 
not up to par so I left most of the food I ordered.  

     Soon we were at the place I named "The Xena Rock."  Before 
noon we had shoveled away more than five feet of dirt from the 
rock and finally Mel was speaking to me again.

     "I think I've found something Janice."  I noticed with some 
satisfaction that she told me first, and not De Silva.  "It's a 
solid floor I think."

     I began pulling dirt away with my hands, directly beneath the 
carving.  "I think you're right Mel."  She looked so appealing and 
when her eyes met mine I thought I saw hurt. Hurting my best 
friend was the last thing I wanted.  I could not stand it.  I 
leaned over and rubbed her cheek.  "Please don't be mad at me.  
I'm sorry for making that crack about De Silva being old enough to 
be your father.  I just don't want to lose my friend, you know?"

     Her voice trembled.  "How could you even think you'd lose 
me?"

     I hugged her tightly for a moment and then began brushing 
dirt away from the stone floor again.  "Well, if you and Dr. De 
Silva…you know what I mean, friendship always take a back seat to 
romance."  

     "Oh Janice, you've got it wrong."

     "I do?"

     "Yes.  All wrong.  And It's time you got it right.  Dr. De 
Silva and I have a mere acquaintance.  And you and I are…much more 
than friends."

     "We are?" 

     "Yes.  But you're just so stubborn, sweet Jesus I don't know 
what to do about you."

     "You don't?"  

     De Silva distracted us when he made contact with the stone 
floor at his end of the narrow rock.  "Holy Madre!  This floor, it 
was put here in blocks."        

     Sensing we were close to finding our treasure, we made short 
work of uncovering the first group of stone blocks.  The one below 
the carving had a large "X" etched into it.  "Well, X marks the 
spot, doesn't it?"  I began to pry it up when Mel stopped me.  

     "Wait.  We've got to be careful and think like a pirate.  A 
very cunning pirate.  She'd know we'd go for the X, especially 
after warning us not to.  No Janice, leave this block alone."

     "Sí, I think you are right mi mujer mas hermosa."

     "What did he say?"  Mel whispered to me.

     "He took the words from my mouth.  He called you his 'very 
beautiful woman'," I whispered back.  

     She stared at me.  "Really?" she whispered.

     I stared back.  "Si, verdad, mi mujer mas hermosa," I 
whispered back again.

     "And you are my very beautiful woman too," she said so 
quietly I almost had to read her lips.  

     "Yo también ."  I stared at her lips, in a dreamlike state.  
"Mmmm, mas hermosa, novia."

     "Hey you two, this is no time for a Spanish lesson.  Come 
over here, I want to show you something else.  Alguna otra cosa.  
¡Anda!  Aiyiyi, I'm sorry, you know I speak Español when I get 
excited.  Quickly!"

     I was beginning to understand why he did that, since Latin 
words kept popping into my mind.  Mia novia.  Mia amor.  Hacer 
amor.  Sexo caliente.  ¡Alto!  I shook myself and joined Mel and 
De Silva.

     "I think it's a riddle Janice.  Look here, what do you think:  

'What goes up must come down, X marks the spot but only the quick 
get the pot.'"

     "I didn't know Xena was a riddler.  Hmmm.  This adds another 
dimension.  I think she's telling us to lift the "X" block but 
quickly let it fall.  Let's give it a try and see what happens," I 
suggested.

     "Yes, yes!  But let me be the one to lift it," De Silva 
requested.

     "I appreciate you courage but I'm afraid it's going to take 
all our efforts, it's a heavy block.  What do you think Mel?  Xena 
was inside your head once. Is it a trap?"
 
     Mel closed her lovely blue eyes for several moments.  "I 
think we've got sixty seconds to lift the bloc all the way off the 
floor and put it back again in one piece.  It's risky but 
I'm sure Xena would want us to go for it.  So, lets do it."  Mel 
was certainly confident.  And that was unusual.  "I wish we had 
one more person though."

     "Jasper!"  De Silva exclaimed.  "¿Qué Dios?"

     "I don't think your monkey can help us," I said.

     "No!  Behind you Chiquita, look."  I turned and saw Jasper 
tugging a girl along behind him.  

     Mel motioned for the girl to come forward.  "Do you speak 
English?"

     "Yes señora, I do.  Is he your monkey?"

     "No," Mel laughed.  "Jasper belongs to…"

     "He is my friend chica, and belongs to no one," De Silva 
broke in.  "And I think you must be brave to follow him down 
here?" 

     "I am," the girl spoke without hesitation.  Jasper handed her 
a shovel.  

     "Where did you find Jasper anyway?" I asked De Silva.

     "He found me, I believe.  Yes, he found me when I moved to 
this hotel.  He hung around and we became compadres."

     "Well, what now?" the girl asked.

     "So impatient chica."  De Silva laughed.  "Now we lift up 
this stone and put it down again as quickly and as carefully as we 
can."

     "Why?" 

     "To get a pirate's treasure.  Want to help?"

     The girl's eyes were huge.  "Okay, sure, as long as my family 
gets some of the treasure."

     "Deal," said De Silva, "as long as Dr. Pappas is willing to 
share it."  

     Mel saw the rags the girl wore.  "I wouldn't have it any 
other way."

     "All right, let's all get into place and put our shovels…" I 
looked at my metal tripod, "or whatever you've got under the block 
and lift with everything we've got on the count of three.  Ready?"  
Mel, De Silva and the girl nodded.  "Go!"  The block came up.  

     "Higher!" De Silva yelled.  The block cleared the floor.

       Down!"  I shouted and we pulled out our tools.  The block 
easily settled back into place.  A low rumble sounded from the 
rock and Mel grabbed me tight while the De Silva huddled with the 
girl and the Monkey.  The rumble grew louder and a crack appeared 
in the rock.  We took turns pushing a lantern through and peering 
in.  There was a chest in there.  But how could they get to it, 
let alone get it out?  We all turned to Jasper.

     "C'mere boy", De Silva coaxed him through the gap.  "Open it.  
Open the chest."  The lock on it was rusted through and Jasper 
easily pushed the lid off and the entire wooden chest crumbled.  
Jasper puffed his cheeks and blew away the debris.  He scooped up 
handfulls of jewels and sparkling gems and deposited them at Mel's 
feet.

     "What a marvelous creature," Mel remarked, the humiliation of 
their first meeting forgiven.  

     "All-in-all I'd say you're rich Dr. Pappas."  De Silva 
grinned at her.  

     "She's always been kind of rich." I commented.

     Mel scooped up the treasure and placed it in her backpack.  
"Tell me girl, what's your name and where do you live?"

     "My name is Julia De Silva and I live at the orphanage here 
in Limón with the rest of my brothers and sisters…my family."

     Gitano De Silva collapsed onto his knees and drew the girl to 
him.  "Your name is Julia De Silva?"

     "Yes.  What's wrong?  You don't like my name?"

     "How old are you?" 

     "I'm twelve señor."
 
     "And your parents?  What of them?"

     "My mother, she died in a fire in San José when my father was 
away.  The only place for me was to come here.  My father, he 
never made it home.  I think he must be dead too señor."  Her eyes 
were too sad for one so young.

     Gitano De Silva held her small hand and smoothed her curls 
away from her pale face.  His strong voice shook with the power of 
his emotion.  "Su padre no es muerte.  I'm alive.  Julia, I'm your 
father."  He hugged her tightly to his chest.

     "¿Papá?  ¡Papá!"  The girl clung to her long lost father.  "I 
thought you were dead."

     "I thought your were dead too mi preciosa."  He stroked her 
hair and they both cried as he explained how he had come home ten 
years ago only to be told that wife and child had both died in the 
fire.  "Pero elogio Dios, you are alive."    

     Mel and I held onto each other while we watched the heart-
rending reunion.  And Jasper made monkey sounds while he executed 
summersaults until he was good and dizzy.  It was a memorable 
Christmas Eve.

     Mel gave all of Xena's treasure to the mission that sponsored 
Limón's orphans, with the stipulation that any children who wanted 
to attend the university in San José would be granted a full 
"Friends of Gabrielle Scholarship".  The priest invited her and 
Janice to the Christmas celebration at the orphanage scheduled for 
the next day.  "We have much to celebrate now, I mean in addition 
to the birth of our Messiah.  Jade and her father have found each 
other and you, Dr. Pappas, must be our special guest since your 
magnificent gift is going to improve the quality of our children's 
lives.  ¿Bien?"

     "Bien Padre."  

     While De Silva stayed to meet his new extended family, Mel 
and I took a taxi to our hotel since the rain returned and made 
the walk too long.  The driver liked his music loud and between 
the sound of rain splashing hard against the windows and the 
blaring of guitars and trumpets from the radio, it was hard to 
hear anything else.  But it was cheerful music and despite the 
bumpy, mostly unpaved road, I smiled as I held Mel's hand, loving 
her all the more for generosity.  Now I could vent my curiosity 
about the name she chose for the scholarship.  

     "Why 'Friends of Gabrielle' instead of 'Friends of Xena'?  
It's Xena's treasure and she hadn't even met Gabrielle when she 
left it here."

     Mel squeezed my thigh and winked, causing me forget 
everything but the electricity that reverberated between us.  
"Come here," she crooked her finger and drew me even closer, like 
a fish on a line.  "Xena told me it was to be in Gabrielle's 
name."  I could see she was not joking by the passionate 
expression she wore.  I felt her intensity trembled.  "In the 
cave, before she told me how to get to her treasure without 
getting us killed.  She said Gabrielle taught her how to give out 
of love and she wanted to honor her."

     "I think I understand why she would want to do that."  

     "Do you Janice?"

     "Yes.  You're teaching me how to give out of love.  I hope to 
honor you by being more giving somehow.  Perhaps someday…"

     "You already have."

     "I have?  When?"

     "You gave me your share of the treasure didn't you?"

     "De Silva made that decision for me I'm afraid."

     "But you freely agreed.  And you have given me this," Mel 
moved her hand and placed it over my heart.  "Haven't you?"

     I felt the vitality of her body and soul, the depth of her 
beauty and goodness.  I wanted to give her everything I had.  
"Yes," I answered.  When she would have removed her hand I 
captured it under my own and moved it down, pressing it into the 
warmth between my legs and closed my eyes.  "And I want to give 
you this."

     I did not mean to completely derail her but I did, at least 
for a moment.  Collapsing against me, she held me tight.  "Oh…" 
Mel's breath ejaculated thick and hot against my ear, "I've been 
waiting so long for you…so very long...Oh sweet Lord, Janice…."  
Her searching hand clutched me through my pants and then I was 
derailed too.

     I sank my fingers into her thick black hair and brought her 
face to my own, pushing my lips hard against her's.  Her glasses 
fell to the floor of the taxi.  In those moments I was complete, 
feeling her warmth and the form of her long, firm body while her 
hand moved at my center.  I pressed her down onto the seat and lay 
upon her. The noise of the raindrops beating on the windows and 
the music dimmed in comparison to the thundering of my heart.  
Mel's soft lips parted for me and I thrust my tongue in and out of 
her, an intense hunger for more taking control.  The movement of 
her hand matched the rhythm of my thrusts, every penetration into 
her sweet wetness causing a response as we rocked together in the 
most ancient of dances and my thigh found a welcome home between 
her legs.  My blood was on fire.  I squeezed her breast.  She 
bucked her hips hard against me and turned her head.  With a 
strangled cry she spoke my name and then my swollen sex burst, 
sending waves of pleasure and warmth crashing through me.

     Reason returned to us slowly.  I murmured endearments to Mel, 
first in English and then in Spanish, which earned me a dozen 
dreamy sighs and soft kisses.  Her face bore the flush of sex and 
I know mine did.  I reached down and retrieved her glasses.  She 
put them on and at the same time our eyes drifted up to view the 
back of the singing taxi-driver's head, still moving to the rhythm 
of the music on the radio.  Before Mel released her hold on me she 
whispered, "I accept."

     "Yeah, it kind of felt like that was your decision."  I took 
one more kiss from her perfect lips before sitting up and 
straightening my clothes.  I had to help Mel with her hair a 
little bit but when stopped at the hotel the driver only smiled 
and thanked us for the large tip.  Now that was memorable taxi 
ride.                 


     And so I discovered what Mel had been wanting for Christmas.  
It turned out to be what I wanted too, even more than that box of 
Havana cigars I was sure waited for me back in South Carolina.      

     We shared dinner in our room, feeding each other between 
kisses that began playfully and became serious.  "I'm so happy," 
Mel unbuttoned my shirt and kissed the hollow of my neck.  "This 
morning I wanted to kill you and now I get to eat you up."  When I 
began to help her remove my shirt she stopped me with a simple 
shake of her head and a whisper, "I want to."  I was overcome, 
lost in her unexpected forcefulness and the way those remarkable 
hands removed my clothing.  Time stood still while the southern 
belle gave me joy beyond my dreams.      

     Startled, I opened my eyes. "God, oh god Mel, is that ice 
cream?"  I looked down at the mass of dark hair brushing against 
my stomach.

     "Mmmm."  Mel touched her tongue to the cold spot that quickly 
became hot under her handling.  Moans and groans mixed together in 
our magical new duet that testified to the change in our 
relationship and drove me higher.  "I love you," she breathed 
against my skin before she claimed me with her lips.  Nothing I 
had experienced before prepared me for this pleasure that was 
almost pain.  I'm sure I shouted her name before I left, only to 
return and find myself in her arms.  Her wonderful lips parted to 
show me that thousand-watt smile.  I melted all over again, 
hopelessly in love.  "That was even better than I imagined it."  
She crushed my cheek against her own.  "Sweet Jesus Janice," she 
purred in my ear, "I've wanted to hear you shout my name like that 
for such a long time, I can't believe this is real."

     I rolled her under me easily and the softness of her breast 
under mine was heavenly.  "I might be slow Mel, but I'm going to 
make up for lost time."  

     She drew my head down to her chest.  "Oh, I'm counting on 
it."

```````*`*`*`*`*`*```````

     The next morning we realized what happens when you unwrap a 
Christmas gift early and play with it all night.  

     "What time is it Mel?"  

     "Late.  We should've been at the orphanage an hour ago."

     "Meet me in the shower?"

     "Absolutely."

     "¡Aiyiyiyi mia novia, estar enamerado!"  I drug my love out 
of bed and to my surprise she picked me up before she entered the 
shower.

     "Whatever you said, I'm sure it's about time you said it."  
She kissed me until my feet touched the floor of the stall.  

     "I have loved you, I do love you and I will love you Mel.  
I'm in love with you."  I wrapped my arms around her waist.

       "I think I fell too soon.  It was when we met really, after 
you shot off all those guns in Macedonia.  You were so sure of 
yourself and your commitment to find the scrolls…so appealing.  My 
goodness, I couldn't help myself from falling for you."  She 
captured my lips in a brief kiss.  What about you?  I mean I've 
known that you've loved me for a while - even before you knew it 
yourself - but when did you know?"

     "I didn't know it was love…I mean amor, the aiyiyi kind until 
I thought I was loosing you to De Silva."

     "Uh huh.  Jealousy serves its purpose.  I couldn't believe 
you were so dense about my feelings for you.  I really was angry."
  
     "Well, I'm not very good with feelings, in case you haven't 
noticed."

     "My goodness, you feel pretty good to me."  We remembered to 
turn the water on about twenty minutes later.  

     By the time we arrived at the orphanage De Silva was nearly 
beside himself.  He certainly looked the part of Santa Clause with 
his long gray hair and fake beard, not to mention the costume.  
"¡Dios!  I've been waiting for you an hour at least."

     "What's the matter Santa, lost your sleigh?"  I pulled his 
beard and let it snap back."

     He slapped my hand away.  "No!  But I need my elves to help 
me hand out the toys.  Here is your vestidos."  He handed us both 
a green outfit.

     "Well Janice, at least we match."  
 
     We changed into our elf costumes and just as we were set to 
make our debut for the children I heard Mel shriek.  There on her 
shoulder with his arms wrapped tightly around her head sat the 
monkey.  De Silva reached into his pocket, pulled out a small 
green cap and placed it on Jasper's head.  "Bien.  Now we all 
match."  

     Even more than the candy-filled piñata, the children loved 
the arrival of Santa and his three elves.  Yes, they loved the 
Christmas gifts and as Mel said later, their joyful smiles 
were precious.  But none smiled as big as Julia, a child who found 
her a father's love.  For her smile and the other gifts that 
Christmas, I will always remember Costa Rica as one of the best 
times of my life, thanks to Xena.  Es una amiga mia.  And I no 
longer doubt my father's theory.  I'm sure Xena navigated the 
globe.  Yep.  Mel tells me about it now and then.     


```*`*`*` `   Buenas Noches y Feliz Navidad   ` `*`*`*```