Setting: This story takes place in the early 1950's in the United States and Canada. This is an UBER story. An uber is "A story involving the characters of Xena and Gabrielle in which they retain essential qualities of the original Xena and Gabrielle while existing in another time. In an Uber-Xena story, the characters do not have to be mirror images of the originals they are based on - both physically and spiritually there could be differences but again, the ESSENCE of the originals must be there." I borrowed and reworded that definition from Lunacy's site.
In the case of this story, there is more than just the "essence" present. I want the reader to visualize Xena and Gabrielle in a different setting, but retaining those qualities that make them such a perfect team, in more ways than one. I'm very particular about uber stories...if I can't picture Xena and Gabrielle, I usually don't even bother finishing them. When I'm writing this story, I'm SEEING Xena and Gabrielle living it.