DISCLAIMER:
As you all know by now, Xena, Ares, Gabrielle, Cyrene and company belong to Renaissance (Oi! You silly people out there who can't remember that there are two s' in renaissance: there's only one farking n!) Pictures and Studios USA. No copyright infringement is intended. Apologies to any Japanese people who read it. I know nothing about Japanese mythology, so... Sorry.

WARNING:
Violence: ooh... kinky. *lol* Yes.
Sex: nyaaah... not much, but yes. The plot isn't based on a whole lot of sex. A few times I get descriptive, so you strange strange people who don't think Xena and Ares should be together probably should just skip this one... and the rest of my stories while you're at it. Running away, are you? FREAKS!!
Language: the occasional four-letter word, but I'd say pretty clean.
Subtext: see any, get your eyes checked.
Rating: NC 17
Size: 286 KB

Uh. This story is based on a variety of ideas that weren't originally mine. Don't be surprised if you see some similarities to Ranma 1/2 #9, "The Joining" by LadyKate (although this was actually unintentional. Gorgeous story), "When the Stars Shine Bright Enough" by someone whose name I'll find out eventually and "The Betrothal" by P.L. Nunn (God, you're an incredible writer. I hate you. jk). Don't ask me why these similarities exist, they just do. On the same note, don't ask me why Ares and Xena are paired. I just know that they are; they're practically made for one another.

This is set after You are There, but let's assume that Cyrene's still alive. We need her matchmaking abilities.
A word of warning. Gabrielle-bashing is my passion. To be polite, I'll just leave her out of most of it.
AN: Don't even try to find any sense in this. This is what happens when you stay up too late studying for exams. It's actually two stories combined, so I had to kind of stretch. That's why some scenes are so pathetic. It mostly revolves around Ares and Xena and their relationship, so all you Ares and Xena shippers out there: battle on. (That was a fecking long disclaimer, and guess what? I'm not done yet.)

You can find more stories by Atrophy at X:WP Fanfiction

Send feedback to xf_ihavenolife@hotmail.com

Sweet Provenance
by Atrophy

Provenance: origin, place of birth

Folk Song (Of One so High)

Mark the fall from far up high
Love never again a lie
One so mighty whose knee doth bend
His soul so pierced no thread can mend

Cry, cry, so long to wait
When can be mine who so hate?
When the dark burns light enough
When the stars fly free enough

Firefly dancing did beauty light
But captured dreams not burn so bright
The sweetest rose but plucked too soon
In fearful hands did fall to ruin

Cry, cry, a love not mine
Fateful threads how intertwine?
When the moon shines bright enough
When the tree grows tall enough

Jealous time will never cease
Gone from sight and forgotten with ease
'Til from soft lips a smile did fall
Lost life found, the proud gladly crawl

Cry, cry, ghosts now found
Lost trusts, so eternal bound
When the dove lives long enough
When the sky lies blue enough

That's when I'll be with you.

Performed by: Various bards
Music and lyrics by: Xena, twelve summers daughter of Amphipolis (now forgotten)

:: Over the summer, I have been conducting extensive research so as to make my writing more historically accurate. I have been learning ancient Greek. (Which, I must say, is a breeze after struggling with French because the gods-be-damned teachers never taught me pronouns.) So, I've discovered this: the 'Greece' in Xena:WP and Hercules:TLJ, is screwed. For example, the town of Amphipolis is-I'm sorry-was rather large, belonged to Athens, and was located in Macedonia during the reign of Alexander. At one point, it was part of Chalkidike. Never Thrace, for some strange reason. Now, I admit that boundaries may have changed over the millennia, but I couldn't prove that Amphipolis was ever in Thrace. Of course, maps didn't exactly exist before and/or during the Minoan period... ::

:: Also, Poteidaia (Potidaea) was a fishing town in the region of Chalkidike (Chalcidice). These two towns (Amphipolis and Poteidaia) played a large part in the Hellenes' war for freedom against Sparta and other various powers in the 400's AD. ::

:: Another thing: "Greece", "Greek", those names were given to the (multi...national?) peoples by Romans. The first time those peoples of Attica, Macedonia, Thrace, Crete... etc. were united under one name was in the 8th century BC, the Hellenic world, at least a millennium after the Dark (Bronze) Age the shows were alluded to be set in. There was more than one Dark Age. I'm not talking about the one in the medieval times. Therefore, to make my writing historically accurate, I would need to dissemble and rebuild the entire "Greek" world. ::

:: ... a rather daunting task for a fifteen year old. A historian would have a field day trying to sort out Xena's "Greece". Let's just assume that Xena's "New Greeceland" is not anything near our "Greece", but a powerful empire situated by the Mediterranean, 3000 Thermopylae Ave., Apt #4, Xenaverse. ::

Xena stared across the field at her opponent. His face half concealed by the simple black mask, and his hair covered by the black hood, he was sufficiently nameless and faceless. But something about him touched a chord. The arrogant tilt of his chin, the strength in his stance... she knew him well!

The Warrior Princess adjusted her own mask nervously. Leaning down to her mother, she whispered in the now elderly woman's ear, "I can't beat him."

Cyrene blinked in surprise, "What do you mean you can't beat him? I've been told that you're the best warrior alive!"

"Yeah, sure. But the problem is he's not alive. He's a god."

"A god??"

"Yes. He's too damn strong," she tugged at her hood with a groan, "I hope you didn't wager anything valuable."

"Uh, Xena?" Cyrene's quiet tone filled her daughter with dread.

"What did you bet?"

The older woman knew her daughter well enough to hear the masked (AN: pun intended. sorry) panic.

"You."

Ares cast another glance at his opponent. It was presumably a male, but the loose black tunic and trousers could hide any sex. He was tall, but slight of build, with solid, but not wide enough shoulders and a thin waist. None of this was significant, but the way he moved... he possessed a grace and fluidity that seemed so familiar to Ares.

So that was the villagers' champion. His eyes flicked to the man by his side. The god had come across the young king searching for a champion in his playful bet with some little village. Apparently he'd wagered a herd of his best cattle against a village girl he obviously had a huge crush on. Mortals, who knew what their idea of romance entailed? Out of sheer boredom, Ares had volunteered for the job. Now he was facing the kid he was soon to kill.

The two sable-clad forms entered the square cum arena. They clasped arms, and Ares was surprised by the strength in his grip. Falling back, they awaited the signal.

"Begin."

Both half-crouched, circling the other warily. Suddenly, the village boy sprang at Ares with startling savagery, and the god dodged, watching his opponent land with catlike grace. He had underestimated the boy badly!

The battle beginning in earnest, the two warriors traded blows in a deadly dance too fast for common eyes to follow. Ares found, to his shock, that he was steadily being forced on the defensive. The boy was pulling no punches. Receiving a cross to the gut immediately following a hard hook, Ares snarled, his hand whipping out with inhuman speed to catch the boy's wrist. How in Tartarus was this villager able to score so many hits? His pride wounded, the god moved to end the scuffle. He smashed his fist to the side of his opponent's head. The boy reeled, but to Ares's grudging admiration, never gave an inch. His hand snapped out to bash Ares' chin in a lightning fast effort to escape. Ares grabbed that wrist too, at the same time kicking to boy's leg from under him.

With a grunt, they both went down, Ares not being so stupid as to let go of the boy's hands. He pinned the villager under his body, avoiding the efforts to throw him off.

Suddenly, soft lips pressed to his with a kiss devastating in its hunger and passion. A long, wonderfully talented tongue slipped through his yielding lips, sweeping the roof of his mouth while his innards melted to mush. It teased him mercilessly before slowly withdrawing.

Dazed, a moment passed before Ares noticed the dagger at his throat, its sharp point biting into his flesh. He blinked up at his opponent, silhouetted against the bright sky. His subconscious slapped his brain sharply, reminding him of the recent reversal of position he so stupidly ignored. The villager straddled the god's waist, grinning wickedly.

"That," Ares announced with a glare, "was cheating."

"No, that was levelling the playing field. Need I remind you that while you are the god of war, I am not?"

The smooth voice, the woman's voice, sank into his recognition, and his nerves went haywire. Deliberately, he sighed, affecting an air of nonchalance as he focused on large eyes he already knew were a rich shade of azure. "Whatever you say, my Princess."

Xena laughed softly, pulling her mask and hood off. Long black tresses spilled over his chest, and his heart began beating far too fast for its own good. "Give me a break," she purred, "No mortal is able to move with your speed, My Lord Ares." She would be able to make the honorific sound like a curse.

He pushed off his own mask. "You make up for it in agility," he argued.

An inky brow lifted, "Are you saying you didn't want me to kiss you?"

"Oh gods no, I'm not saying that!" He licked his lips, "Do it again?"

"Surrender first."

"Gladly," he raised his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "I'm no match for the Warrior Princess!" he bellowed to the spectators.

Xena reluctantly grinned at his antics before rising to her feet. She indicated the god, "He says he surrenders."

The king, who had been watching the proceedings with a sinking heart, also rose. His cheeks reddening, he announced, "This bet started when I asked your mother for your hand in marriage, Xena." Getting a blank stare, he hurried on, "But I can see that we are not meant to be, so I declare Amphipolis the winner, and you shall receive the promised cattle." At this point, his eyes suddenly unfocused, a bit of drool collecting at his lips. Xena, sweating, had pulled off the black tunic and stood clad in only a very tight undershirt with thin little straps, and *drool* rather low cut. Xena had used it to bind her breasts so a blow to the sensitive chest wouldn't be so painful. It ended a few inches below her breasts, and the black pants rode low on her gently flaring hips.

Trying not to stagger, the king stepped off the promontory and took her hand, raising it to his lips. Smiling uneasily, Xena tugged her hand away, surreptitiously wiping it against her clothes.

Ares scowled blackly, wrapping his arms possessively around Xena's slim waist, and glared at the king over her bare shoulder. His brown gaze fairly screamed "MINE".

Gulping, the king ducked his head, and scurried away.

Satisfied, Ares turned his attentions to the lovely creature in his arms. She had that bemused and absent half-smile on her lips that denoted thinking. "Now," he murmured by her ear, "about that kiss you promised me."

She seemed genuinely surprised, "I never promised you anything."

His emotions ran a relay race between shock and hurt as he replayed their argument in his mind. He pouted petulantly, "You tricked me!"

Whirling, Xena let their mouths meet, hard. She drove her tongue into his throat. Withdrawing, she muttered, "You're just like a little kid, you know that?" before crushing already swollen lips with hers once more. She winced as she broke the kiss, reaching her hand up to gingerly touch her head above her ear. "That's gonna bruise." Ignoring Ares, who was apologizing profusely, she headed back into the inn to change.

As the god stared after her daughter, a mixture of love and dry amusement in his warm brown pools, Cyrene screwed up her courage to approach him. "What exactly is your relationship with my daughter?"

Ares grinned innocently into suspicious blue orbs incredibly similar to Xena's. It wouldn't do to get on the bad side of the Warrior Princess' mother. Who knew what Xena would do? Laugh lines mapped her advanced years, and snow white hair was pulled in a low ponytail, but her bearing was anything if not regal. Her skin was still tight across her jaw, the set of which particularly reminded him of his own disappeared mother. "She's my warrior. What other relationship would there be?"

"Oh please. I saw how she kissed you."

"She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you."

"Hey, I'm not complaining. Hate is just a different perception of love, Cyrene. It's just as attractive. Xena herself said that the burns to fight me and fuck me are indistinguishable."

"Ares!" Xena clipped his muscular bicep, "You do not say those things to a civilian!"

The god shrugged, "Not like she's a blushing virgin."

Xena reddened slightly, "You son of a-"

He grabbed her fists, turning conversationally to Cyrene, "I love it when she gets shocked." Then, he strode from the square, dragging the protesting and cursing Warrior Princess with him. Seeing as it was slightly awkward since she was attempting to injure him with every step they took, Ares soon lost patience and simply swept her up into his arms. Xena, stunned, didn't start struggling until they had almost entered the wood.

"Put me down, you bastard!"

Cyrene grinned. There was a man who could handle her daughter, and that in itself made him special.

Xena stacked the last of the kindling silently, aware of Ares' steady stare. Taking a swallow from her waterskin, she turned to face the god. They stared blandly at each other for a long moment, both refusing to back down from the contest of wills.

Oh fuck this. Why are we always at each other's throats? Xena broke the silence first, suddenly sick of the childish games. "You've changed, you know that?"

"Changed how?"

"You aren't as cold anymore. You used to sneer at me a lot, like I was a disobedient child, and act so superior. Now you... you treat me like an equal."

"I'm not as cold? This coming from the woman who used to be the definition of Ice Princess?"

"Really? Me? Cold?"

"You might have been a funeral pyre when you were irritated, but you were absolutely frigid when you were angry. Believe me, I've been on the receiving end a few times to say the least."

Ouch. Xena leant against the wood pile he sat on, carefully keeping a safe distance from the god. Time to change the subject. "You seriously dragged me out here so you could watch me do my chores?"

"Sort of. I just wanted to get you alone. You're much less stiff around me when no one else is around."

Something in his voice stabbed her sharply, "I'm stiff?"

"Yeah, it's like you have to prove to everyone around you that you aren't affected by me. You have to prove that you can hurt me."

It stung. It really did. "...Oh gods, you meant it."

"Meant what?"

"Back on the Amazon lands. You said I was mean, that I-I was like one of those three-headed dogs-" And you said... Power... No, not now. Please gods, not now.

"Shit. I'm really sorry about that. I, I was deranged, you know."

She met his dark eyes accusingly, "Don't apologize. You meant it... and it was true. Oh gods, I should be the one apologizing." Her gaze dropped to the stubby grass by her boots.

"Don't," his fingers jerked her chin up, "It's not all your fault. I've noticed that everywhere. I'm a plague to be avoided and beaten at all costs. If someone so much as speaks reasonably to me, they're seen as weak, as followers of evil. Of course. This bastard isn't actually a person. He-no, it-wouldn't have any feelings."

"And then you can see how lonely you really are."

His hand dropped from her face.

"But you're not really alone, Ares. I won't let you be alone." Xena's soft voice was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard in his immortal existence. She took his hand in hers, brushing her lips over his palm... and promptly walked away with the kindling, ignoring him again.

Catching up to her, he watched her sculpted features, searching for any hint of that sweet vulnerability he had just seen. There were no cracks in her warrior façade.

He didn't mind. She still didn't trust him enough to let her guard down for long, but she understood. It felt so much less lonely already.

Ares watched his goblet refill itself with far better wine than any mortal would be able to create. The red liquid swirled gently as the level rose, smelling slightly of the tangy spices. Thank, well, Xena actually, that Dionysus was still around. Xena. Where was she?

With the amount of work she was doing, Xena seemed about geared to take over the tavern. And she'd said something about not letting him be alone?

Oookay. Deep breath. Getting a little worked up there. His fingers slipped into the pouch on his belt of its own accord, stroking the smooth facets of the gem. How he'd come across it had been a stroke of luck...

Ares wandered into his brother's now cold forge. Of all his family, Hephaestus was the only one he'd admit to missing. Perhaps it was because they two were actually the only legitimate children Zeus ever had, or perhaps it was because the ugly smith was the only god who understood. He was lonely too. Ares meandered aimlessly through the cluttered space, admiring the finely crafted odds and ends strewn about the stone tables. Suddenly, a brilliant flash caught his eye. He turned around. There it was again. Picking it up, he stared at the pendant. It wasn't particularly large (in the volume sense): two, three carats at most, but it was a beautifully rich shade of red-black, almost like warm, fresh blood. Ares had had some experience with precious gems, and he could recognize a good ruby when he saw one. This was not a ruby. Picking up a small chisel, he scratched it with all his godly strength. Not a mark appeared.

Hephaestus must have made it for Aphrodite, he deduced, his fingers closing around the diamond. He could just see Xena's face if he gave her something like this. He stifled a laugh. What a thought. But that was besides the point, because the necklace belonged to Aphrodite. Dropping the delicate white gold chain into his palm as well, he wished himself to the Halls of Love.

Aphrodite's eyes had misted over with tears of love and joy, just like Ares had expected. He sometimes envied them for having each other-for loving each other in a way he couldn't understand before. Before Xena.

What he hadn't expected was that Aphrodite would place the pendant back into his palm.

"Thanks for bringing it here, bro, but red's just not my colour."

Surprised, the god of war stared mutely, before he finally saw the understanding in her cornflower eyes. She smiled, blinking back more tears, "It's a symbol of love, Ares, and the man I loved is dead. It'll mean a lot more if it was a symbol of living love. Give it to her. I know you want to."

All Ares could do was silently nod his gratitude before he went to find her...

...And now she was nowhere in sight. The god sighed audibly. He should have known. She'd always been willing to work herself to death, he remembered, just like back when he'd been training her. A particular session popped into his mind's eye...

It was before they... when she was still a virgin. She'd always had trouble with the three-length-chucks. They were hardly predictable, flying about in that manner. He'd stormed out in disgust last time when one of the lengths had doubled back and whacked her in the stomach, and hadn't returned for a fortnight. Their training had only just resumed, and Ares naturally wanted to work on the three-lengths. To his surprise, the lengths whirled about in her hands with lethal precision. Her control was incredible! In short order, she'd disarmed him.

Ares stared at her, stupefied, and she just grinned back. Being the dramatic little girl she was, she attempted to walk away in triumph; but as she pivoted, her right knee buckled, and she went down. The god barely caught her.

Confused, he studied her face. Gods, how'd he miss it? A sheen of cold sweat covered her features, her azure eyes feverishly bright. The dark circles under her bottom lashes contrasted sharply with the pallid cast of her skin. Touching her forehead in concern, he found it scorching hot. Lifting her, he transported them to her chamber, and tucked her-almost paternally-into bed.

"Dammit, Xena, what were you doing to yourself?"

The teenager chewed on the inside of her lip, obviously trying to think through the pounding headache. "I-I was training. Three-length drills."

"Did you eat? Sleep?"

"Uh... Some."

Ares loomed above her, his brown pools cold and hard. "You don't do that, girl. You could put yourself and your army in danger. Being sick equals being dead, and I will not have a dead commander fighting in my name. Think for once!"

Her brow creased, "I didn't want to disappoint you."

That didn't feel too good. Ares waited until she'd fallen asleep before kissing her lightly on the temple, "Don't ever scare me like that again."

He went to cajole Apollo into healing her...

...There she was.

He watched her set the flatbread platters on the counter, her movements quick and precise. Contrary to common belief, the Warrior Princess could cook, and quite well. She didn't grow up in a tavern for nothing. She'd just rather not. Ares remembered watching her: most of the time, she'd be so consumed in her thoughts or other duties, she'd completely forget about the food and let it burn to a crisp. This was how she could even burn water. On the rare occasion, she'd sabotage a meal by purposely over- or under-seasoning it. Hey, if they thought she couldn't cook, all the better. They'd had quite a few good laughs over her "culinary talents" before, Ares being one of the only people she'd cook properly for, which was rather a waste, since he didn't quite need to consume mortal food. Honestly, Ares thought it was pathetic how mortals believed what they were shown and not what a blind man could see, the truth. How could a seriously culinary-challenged woman be able to prepare those precarious healing potions of hers, in which the slightest error could lead to disaster? Oh well, he wasn't about to tell. She'd be really pissed if he did.

Shoving his pride aside, he jumped to his feet and started chasing her around. "Xena, can I talk to you?"

"I'm busy."

"I can see that. You're going to work yourself sick again. Sit down and rest for a bit. Please?"

"What do you mean ag-oh. Right," she headed back to the kitchen, taking orders along the way. "I'm fine. I won't be sick."

"That's what you always think," he caught her arm, but was shrugged off, "Come on, Xena, it's not like you're the only one working here."

"My mother needs all the help she can get."

"Your mother's a tough girl. She can afford to let you rest for a moment."

Cyrene had been watching the god tagging along after her daughter like a terrier in amusement. "He's right," she called, "You're really pushing yourself too hard, Xena. Take a break."

Xena set the last order down, "But there's still the beds-"

"Xena," Cyrene interrupted, using her sternest "mother" voice, "I'm not an invalid. I can do them. Rest."

"But-"

"REST."

Stifling a grin, Ares tugged her off toward his table. Between the two of them, he and Cyrene could make the woman they both loved take care of herself, for despite her maturity, Xena was in fact still a child in some respects.

She reluctantly allowed herself to be pushed into Ares' vacated seat, while he stood behind her, his fingers slowly kneading the stiff muscles in her neck. Her head drooped forward with a sigh. Gods his hands felt good on her shoulders.

A twinge of foreboding weaseled into her consciousness. From beneath lowered lashes, she watched red boots (AN: are they still red?) stride forcefully over to stand before her. Groaning lightly, she raised her eyes, "Yes, Gabrielle?"

The blonde's eyes were focused on the wargod, hostility emanating from her being. "Don't touch her."

Ares' voice was more than a little impatient, "What are you talking about, Blondie?"

"I saw how you dragged her over here and forced her to sit down."

"Yeah, well she needs to sit down before she dies of exhaustion. Didn't see you helping."

It was actually rather amusing: watching them snipe like that.

"Xena knows what she's doing."

"How would you know? I've only known her for seventeen years."

"You bastard!"

"Get her to coach you if you want to use lines like that."

"Serves you right."

"It was all your doing."

"What?"

"You made her hate me."

"You're blaming me for the fact that you're an asshole?"

"I'm not. We just had a misunderstanding, that's all."

"Oh, I think you understood each other perfectly!"

Their words died on their tongues as both the god and the bard suddenly focused on the rather sharp sword separating their noses. The torchlight flickered off the perfected hewn point.

Xena stood, keeping her sword between the two quarrelers. "Shut up, will you? I've got a headache now."

Gabrielle glared at the god, "See what you've done?"

Ares glared back, but didn't say a word.

The Warrior Princess growled, "Did I say continue arguing?"

The bard flushed, "I'm sorry."

Satisfied, Xena laid the naked blade down on the table, and resumed her seat. Directing tired eyes at the war god, she asked, "You wanted to talk to me?"

His tongue suddenly felt dry. Swallowing, he nodded, then shook his head. With fumbling fingers, he retrieved the pouch and pulled the necklace from it. The deep scarlet diamond glittered, its facets catching every drop of golden light. The two women stared at it, awe written across their features.

"It's beautiful!" Gabrielle gasped.

Biting his lip, Ares put the gold chain around his princess' slender neck, miraculously doing up the clasp on his second try. The gem nestled between her collarbones, just under the curve of her throat... and paled in the shadow of her beauty. Their eyes met with intensity. "A diamond is forever, right?"

Her hand rose to touch the pendant, "Why would you-?"

The god's silky brown pools dropped to the sword on the table. He murmured, "Aphrodite said it's a symbol of love."

She rose, and a small hand rested lightly in his arm, "That must have been difficult to say."

He captured her fingers, bringing them to his lips, "Not to you."

Her laugh was warm, "Liar."

Relieved that she wasn't making a big deal of it, he pulled her toward him. To his shock, she didn't resist. Her hands slid to his waist as their lips met in a kiss more tender than passionate. Ares let his eyes fall shut. This was how they should be. He never wanted to let go. She pulled away, smiling up at him as she laid her dark head upon his shoulder.

"Thank you. This really means a lot, coming from you."

"Was that an insult?" His arms tightened around her. Just typical of her, thanking him and insulting him in the same breath, and damn it all to Tartarus he loved it.

"Oh, definitely."

They shared a quiet laugh.

"This doesn't change anything, though," she forced him to look at her, "I've got my own path-"

"-And I've got my job."

They were silent for a moment.

"Would you say the odds have increased?"

"What?"

"One in a billion, you said. Is it still that hopeless?"

Xena's azure pools glowed violet in the torchlight, "That should be down to one in nine hundred million."

"Oh joy."

"Maybe ninety million."

Cyrene hated to interrupt, but Xena looked positively asleep, "Xena, turn in. I've got the inn covered."

The warrior glanced around. The room was pretty empty. "Alright," she acquiesced, slipping from Ares' arms. Retrieving her sword, she kissed her mother, "Good night, Mom."

"Good night, sweetheart."

As her daughter bid her best friend 'sleep well' and strode off, Cyrene noticed that Xena hadn't even glanced at Ares again. Shooting a look at the war god, she realized that Xena didn't have to. Ares grinned almost shyly before he vanished, chocolate pools brimming with joy.

Xena laid her sword down by the bed, and paused when a flash of movement caught her eye. Turning, she stared into the bronze surface of the tall mirror, and dark blue shards stared back at her. It was an image she had hated for years, though she'd finally come to terms with it now. She looked the same. She didn't understand; was there really anything special about the way she looked? The brilliant diamond flashed in the candlelight, breathtaking in its perfection, but other than that she saw no trace of the beauty sung by those excruciatingly annoying bards. The same sky coloured eyes, fringed with thick black lashes; the same smooth planes and angles of her cheeks; the same dark, full lips... Why did Ares love her of all women? It didn't make sense.

Gabrielle found her like that, glaring at her reflection. "Xena?"

"Am I beautiful, Gabrielle?" The warrior gazed at her friend's reflection in the mirror, knowing, upon seeing her bewildered face, that she'd just thrown a curveball at the blond. She turned, clarifying, "Why would the god of war choose me?"

Gabrielle decided to answer the easier question first, though she knew Xena hadn't really wanted an answer to that one. "Xena, you're as beautiful as Aphrodite."

"But so are many others?" the Warrior Princess prompted.

"Not many, but some, yes."

"Then why doesn't he go sling the word 'love' at them?"

"I don't know. He might... care about you for fighting him, or understanding him, or just being you. I don't know."

His husky voice reached their ears before he appeared, "Sorry, couldn't help but overhear." The bright blue flash heralded his arrival.

Xena glared, "You were eavesdropping."

"You were talking about me," he shot back.

"So?"

"I have a right to know what I did wrong this time."

"Why do you think you did something wrong?"

Ares's dark eyes followed her movements as she unconsciously brushed the pendant with her fingertips, "Because that's usually when you talk about me." He willed himself across the small distance, sat down on the rather board-like bed, and swiftly pulled his princess into his lap. She cursed her inattentiveness, but it was too late, and Ares had his strong arms wrapped about her form. He rested his forehead on her shoulder, "But, seriously. I been thinking about the same thing over the last few decades, and I think I know now. I'll answer your question, Xena. I owe you that much.

"For once, I'll admit Blondie's right. I do care about you for fighting me, understanding me and-and..."

"Being herself," Gabrielle supplied, pleased by his words.

He nodded his thanks, "Being yourself. But more than that, I... because you care... among other things, but mostly because you care. Even Goldilocks here," his gaze flicked to Gabrielle briefly, "she's all nice to everyone, but she wouldn't give a damn if I were hurt or in danger. She might feel pity or something, but she wouldn't care. To you, I'm a bastard, a son of a bacchae, and all the rest of the stuff you always yell at me, but I'm still worth caring for. I'm a person."

Her arm slid around his waist of its own volition (AN: silly word. Should be volation), "Hard not to, actually. I've known you for what? Forty years?"

"Sweet, you haven't been alive for forty years."

"Damn. And here I was thinking that we were an old married couple." As her words sank in, Xena suddenly flushed, "I, uh, I mean..." Instructions: open mouth, insert foot.

Ares decided to do her a favour, "Xena!" His tone was one of mock surprise, "Are you trying to ask me something?"

"In your dreams." Well at least her wit was back.

He leaned forward, "Want to know what else is in my dreams? I have the most interesting dreams, I assure you."

Xena counter-attacked, "So do I."

It was Ares' turn to blush. "Fuck you," he muttered, visions of the Warrior Princess warm and soft beneath his hands dancing torturously through his head. The familiar warmth spread through his groin.

"With a loaf of bread," Xena added mischievously, her voice pitched so that Gabrielle had no idea what they were discussing with their heads so close together. She didn't know why Ares seemed to suddenly choke and gasp with laughter.

"Gods, Xena, I didn't know you were so... accommodating."

She cast him a filthy look, continuing the exchange. "That was a metaphor. I don't mean a real loaf of bread, I meant..." her gaze flicked to the tell tale bulge in his pants.

"Thanks, I guess."

"It wasn't a compliment," she pushed herself out of his embrace. "Just because I have to be civil and treat you like a real person doesn't mean I have to be nice about it."

She allowed him a brief kiss before he left, then turned to Gabrielle. "So that's why he likes me. He's insane."

The blond grinned knowingly. Xena never cracked jokes unless she was pretty happy, and pretty happy almost automatically equalled a visit from a certain god of war. With a soft 'good night' that Xena never heard, Gabrielle left her friend to her dreams.

The god of war swore steadily, watching the other priests close Ciaranne's blind staring eyes. He'd arrived too late to intervene on behalf of the priestess when the attack on his temple occurred, and now she was dead. The thieves must have been crazy to infiltrate a temple of War. What bothered Ares to no end was that the murderer had escaped. True, many of his comrades had died at the hands of the warrior-priests, but not the one that mattered. His name was Mekran, a cowardly warrior wannabe, and his days were over.

However, for Ciaranne to be properly laid to rest, the Rite of Passing had to be performed, and she had to be avenged. It wasn't what had to be done that made the usually unshakable god uneasy, it was who had to do it.

Determined to get it over with, he stepped into the aether... and arrived in Amphipolis.

The blond gave him a short look, parroting the words she had heard her friend use many times over. "What do you want?"

The god ignored Gabrielle, instead fixing his gaze on her. Words were not needed to convey the message.

Xena sat up, "What happened?"

"My priestess Ciaranne was killed," he said simply.

She inhaled sharply. Ciaranne. The priestess had been only a few years older than she when Xena first initiated as Ares' Chosen, and they had been friends.

"What's it got to do with Xena?" Gabrielle butted in.

They ignored her, "The murderer?"

Ares shook his head slightly.

"Damn," Xena didn't particularly care for this part of the job.

"What?"

The wargod gave the blond an impatient glare. "She died in a fight, which is hardly counted as a natural cause for death. The Rite of Passing must be done for her to continue on her way to the Underworld because being my priestess, she is bound to me, and must be released. The Rite must be performed by my High Priestess."

"Why do you have a High Priestess? I'd have thought you'd have a High Priest."

"I always did. This is the first time I've ever had a High Priestess."

"Oh," Gabrielle frowned, "You want Xena to what? Avenge her?"

"Partly."

"Who's the High Priestess?"

Xena groaned, "Why must you be so dense sometimes?"

"What?"

The Warrior Princess glared at her friend, "As Ares' Chosen, I'm the High Priestess."

"No way! You mean you do rituals and preach to unbelievers?"

"Gabrielle!"

Xena could hardly see in the ceremonial hooded cloak, its edges embroidered with the familiar silver runes of War. Grumbling a bit at the general stuffiness of the ritual, she followed Mekran's trail. The fool didn't know how to cover his tracks at all.

If she were religious, she'd have been praying for forgiveness about now. Dammit. She was stepping off of her path for him. She had found her way of redemption in India, followed it faithfully throughout the last few years, and now she was throwing it all away for some pagan bloodletting ritual. Damn him-and damn her fucking sense of loyalty. Hah. If she were religious: an interesting thought for a High Priestess.

There was his camp site. Forgive me, Eli. This is for Ares.

Mekran's light brown eyes widened at the sight of the hooded specter bearing down on him. Scrambling to his feet, he contemplated fighting for a brief second, then turned tail and fled for his life.

It didn't take much. A quick kick and he went down. Swallowing the bile, she jerked his head up, exposing his dirt caked throat. Her dagger pressed against his sensitive skin. As he shook and blubbered with terror, War's High Priestess intoned,

"In the name of Ares, God of War, I bring vengeance.

"In the name of Ares, God of War, I bring absolution."

A jerk of the wrist, and a thin red line appeared against the paleness of his skin. As the blood began to drip in long streamlets to the packed ground, she caught it with a small black urn.

Oh gods...

"With this blood, I make sacrifice to War.

"With this death, I grant freedom."

Her grip on his convulsing form never loosened as his life blood drained into the urn. When it was full, she let him fall to the forest floor.

Stepping back, she drew her hood back, one hand cradling the urn to her chest. The moonlight spilled across her black shrouded figure, lighting her wide blue eyes, clear and austere against the clear night sky, in which the hazy band of stars lit the way back to Him.

"I'm sorry."

They were ready when she returned. Ciaranne's body lay upon Ares' black marble altar, enfolded in a long black robe, and a traditional dagger emblazoned with the runes of War rested in her folded hands, lying across her stomach. Avoiding Ares' concerned gaze and Gabrielle's inquisitive stare, Xena mounted the steps to the altar, urn in hand. He went and took his seat on his throne, behind the block. Two columns of sable-clad warrior-priests fell into position behind their High Priestess.

She knelt, as did the other priests.

In her clear, strong voice, she spoke, "In the temple of War, blood calls for blood."

A sibilant, murmuring wave followed her words as the other figures echoed the ritual chant, filling the temple with the eerie antiphony.

"In the temple of War, blood will bind.
In the temple of War, blood will bind.

"In the temple of War, blood will avenge.
In the temple of War, blood will avenge.

"In the temple of War, blood will release."
In the temple of War, blood will release.

With the chilling words still rippling through the silence, she tilted the urn, and a slow, twisting stream of dark liquid splashed to the stone floor. She poured until the container was empty, and the cold pool seeped to the edge of the altar. Once it touched the black stone, there was only one more part of the ceremony.

She raised her hands high, and the loose sleeves fell back, exposing her bare arms, on which the same runes as on the dagger were drawn in scar tissue. In the twisted, perverted light that filtered into the temple, they looked crimson as fresh cuts.

"In the name of Ares, God of War, we sacrifice this blood!" With this, she slammed her hands down into the widening pool of darkness.

Then it was over.

The other priests rose, but Xena remained kneeling, her expression stony as she pulled her hands from the sluggishly flowing blood. Ares practically tore to her side. Pulling her to her feet, he searched for some sort of reaction. He had never thought it possible to feel this guilty before.

Her features were beginning to take on a repulsed cast as she stared mutely at the blood staining her palms.

He enfolded his Chosen in a tight hug, wishing he could somehow take this all back. Almost a full minute passed... and then her arms slid slowly around his neck.

"I'm sorry, Xena. I'm so sorry..." he whispered, not wanting to ever let go.

Naturally the blond had to spoil it.

"Was that blood... human?"

Xena looked pained, so Ares answered for her, "Yes, the blood of the murderer."

"Oh, Xena..."

"Don't," the Warrior Princess choked out.

Gabrielle pushed back the priestess' sleeve, unsure what she would find. "Xena, the scars..."

Her mind clouded, Xena laid her head against her god's shoulder weakly, "They're there. They're invisible under normal circumstances, but they're there."

"How?"

"It was part of the initiation," Xena's ghostly grin was mocking and sardonic, "You see, Gabrielle? I literally have War carved into my flesh." Her voice dropped to a whisper, "And I did it myself."

Later, Gabrielle glanced up from her bed at the silent figures in the seat on the other side of the room. Xena had seemed much better when they settled down for the night, but he'd insisted.

Ares sat there, leaning back against the far wall. His eyes were closed, and in his arms was cradled the Warrior Princess. She curled upon his thighs, long legs drawn up to rest on the bar intended as an armrest. Her head pillowed on his chest, her hands laid against his thick arms around her waist, holding her close. And Xena slept, knowing that she was safe until dawn.

Ares glared at the short asian goddess, cursing her pretty, heart-shaped face and almond eyes. The god had run into the foreign deity while overseeing a large scale pillaging of Higuchi by one of his warlords. The lady had flown at him in a divine rage, demanding that he remove the horrid barbarian from her lands. Being in an unusually euphoric mood, Ares had complied, sending the warlord on a mission elsewhere.

Now he was beginning to regret his good deed of the century.

The goddess had latched onto him, simpering about what a good man he was, and how much she'd love to have a man like him. Hint hint, nudge nudge. Chyogate, she called herself. Bah.

"Look," Ares felt it was a measure of his desperation that he was resorting to reason, "I need to go home. I've got a, a fiancée waiting for me," when in doubt, lie, "You have to tend to your people here, so let's just part company on good-" relatively, "-terms, alright?"

Chyogate gazed soulfully at him, setting his teeth on edge, "Oh Ares! You are already promised to another?"

"Yes!"

"I am devastated and heartbroken. Who is she? Who is the one who so commands your affections?"

Oh shit. "Uh, her name is... Xena." Forgive me. I'm a slave to the circumstances.

The petite woman's dark brown eyes flashed, "This Xena is not worthy of you! I will fight her, and when I defeat her, you shall be mine!"

Oh. SHIT.

"You don't want to do that! She's a very good warrior," Ares rushed to assure her. At least that was true...

"The best warrior in the world could not withstand the rage of my sword when it is tempered by love eternal!"

Ares groaned, his patience snapping like a strand of rusted wire, "That's it. Let go of me. I am going home, and you had better leave me-and the woman I love-alone!" Ooh, that felt nice.

Stepping into the aether, the god of war transported himself back to Amphipolis. The bitch had better not try to hurt Xena.

Xena felt him the moment he oriented on Amphipolis. When he didn't materialize, she shrugged mentally. Fine, let him play hide and seek. She could care less.

She lifted the urn, and set it upon her shoulder. Damn water for being so heavy. Did Cyrene want to bathe the entire populace of Greece?

There was a soft whistling sound like the passage of some small weapon, and Xena flung the pottery away form her head before it exploded and imploded at the same time. Not a pretty sight. Whirling, her gaze focused on the small asian woman glaring at her and fairly exuding hostility. The rather sharp sword in her hand enhanced the aura of enmity. She wore a bright, blood red robe, embroidered with golden chrysanthemums. She bore no jewelery, but her black hair was piled exotically upon her head, and held by a red fan shaped pin. Her face was painted unnaturally white, while pink and black planes and lines greatly exaggerated her features.

"I am Chyogate. And you shall die for keeping my darling from me."

"Couldn't you have let the water alone?"

"Damn!" She recognized Ares' voice just before he appeared just in front of her. He was facing the asian, almost as if he were... protecting her?

"I told you to stay away!"

Chyogate sniffed self righteously, "I shall prove my love for you, lord!"

"Go find some other idiot to love. I'm not interested!" Glaring at Xena's muffled laughter, he caught her about the waist and transported them both to Cyrene's tavern.

She glanced around and frowned, "But I didn't get the water."

Ares gestured, and an identical hip high urn appeared, brimming with water.

"Thanks," Xena scowled. Damn him for being reasonable for once. Taking a bar seat, she propped her chin on her fist, regarding the wargod solemnly. He returned the gaze. She let her eyes just roam over his tall form, taking in the perfect cut of his hair, the dark, banked fire burning in his velvety brown orbs, the way his earring glittered so brazenly, the way his vest fell apart to show a tantalizing hint of the smooth bronze flesh beneath, the way his tight leather pants accentuated... Oh gods. Not going there.

Xena swallowed, dredging up the last vestiges of her self-control. "I could have taken her, you know. She was too confident."

He shook his head, "Confident or not, she's a god. Ergo godly powers which you can't retaliate against."

"She's in love with you?"

Ares glared, "No. Obsessed is more like it. She won't let me alone."

"Poetic justice."

"If you're referring to how I was, er, am obsessed with you and wouldn't leave you alone... Oh."

The Warrior Princess leaned back, a smile threatening to break loose, "What does she want me for? What did she mean I was keeping her from you?"

"I, uh, ahem... I told her I was betrothed."

"So what's that got to do with-No. You didn't!"

"I did say you were my fiancée..."

"Ares!!"

"Don't worry; I shielded our passage. She won't be able to find us. I want you to stay here in case she's still around though. It's too dangerous when a crazed goddess is involved."

He would pull something like this to cover his sorry ass. And what hurt even more was the fact that the implications meant nothing to him. Xena laid on the sarcasm heavily, trying to hide the bitterness in her tone, "Why? So I won't get in your way on your date?"

His expression wasn't the least bit humorous, "That was an order, Xena. I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull rank this one time."

"But-"

"Don't argue."

Gabrielle watched, shocked, as the mighty Warrior Princess bowed down to the wargod's decision. Not fair! Xena never listened to her! "Why do you do what he says?"

Don't let on... No, I can't blame him for being a heartless bastard, that's simply the way he is. It's my own fault for reading too much into it. Xena shrugged, "He usually knows what he's talking about. Being a rather good commander, his plans are generally foolproof, and I trust that."

"Except against you, of course," Ares grinned wryly, indicating the many 'foolproof' plans he'd dashed to pieces against the Warrior Princess' tactical genius.

"And he's my god. I'm sworn to obey."

"Yeah right."

"I do!"

"Like when?"

It was frightening: how well they knew each other.

"Remember when I laid siege to Brauron (AN: now known as Vravrona)? They were catapulting fireballs at us, and you sent in my best scouts to draw the fire. It was a suicide mission, and I didn't want to lose them, but I still let you do it."

"If I recall correctly we had a screaming match over that one."

"We were warlords, Ares, we don't scream."

"My apologies."

Her blue pools took on a faraway quality, "Of course, I did yell 'You have no right to make those decisions for me'."

"And I said, 'I'm a god! That's what I do! You have no idea how hard it is for me.'"

Her lips curved slightly, "I thought we had that conversation before..."

"Those never end too well."

"You stomped out, didn't come back for I don't know how long."

"Sorry," he actually looked a bit sheepish, "You didn't need me, right?"

"That depends on how literally you're thinking," she studied him, frowning thoughtfully (AN: thoughtfully... I need an editor), "So tell me, then."

"What?"

"Tell me what it's like to be a god."

Taken aback, Ares struggled for words. This was the conversation they should have had so many years ago. He shouldn't have stormed out on her back then. "I-I can hear it all. Everybody. They're all so confused and scared, and at the same time sure that they're right-that's the price of power: the power itself-they all want to win; they all want my help. And I can't put any one life over another. After a while, they all start looking like insects to me. And what they don't understand is that there's no black; there's not even shades of gray. It's all white, just facing in different directions, and I have to choose who wins.

"I get so tired of making decision that I get careless, and then you blame me for it. It's, it's hard!"

The Warrior Princess looked skeptical, but she had a sneaking suspicion that she understand the enormity of what he was trying to say. "You're telling me that you have to decide the greater good?"

"If you mean decide what's best, sure. All the time," he stopped suddenly, as if struck by a thought. "No, not all the time. Not when it comes to you. The world can go to Hades for all I care, but I'm never letting anything happen to you."

Xena's tone became slightly indignant, "'Not let anything happen?' What are you talking about? What about that time you framed me for murder? Or those armies you pitted me against? Or when I was nearly killed when you sent me to assassinate Asklepios in Trikka (AN: now known as Trikkala) for your father? I'm not even going to start on all those times you threatened or tried to kill me yourself!"

"I, uh, I'm sorry about Trikka. I made a bad call, alright?" Ares shrugged, "And if you didn't trick me into vindicating you, I would have been disappointed, and I needed someone to get rid of those armies for me. I knew you'd beat them."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence-"

Before her last words were fully formed, there was a roar, and a flame appeared, whirling and spitting out tongues of fire. Any patrons who hadn't eased out during the two warriors' waltz (AN: or maybe samba. I can't really see them doing anything as formal as a waltz) down memory lane now ran screaming from the inn. The fire coalesced into the form of Chyogate, right under the unimpressed noses of the said warriors. Gabrielle, on the other hand, blanched.

Xena turned to Ares in a droll fashion, "And you were saying about shielding?"

"Hah!" the goddess cried triumphantly, "You may try to hide your path, but I am Chyogate, and I can sense your despicable presence anywhere!"

"Yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before. Now, see, there are some people who know when they're not wanted. They're called the 'smart' people for some reason. Others, keep pushing even after the man makes it very clear that he doesn't want you. Those people are called 'idiots'. I wonder which one you are?"

Chyogate's face reddened under the makeup, creating a shade of sickly pink, "How dare you insult me, mortal!"

Xena's cool blue eyes widened, "I didn't insult you. Did you hear me outright insulting her, Gabrielle? Ares?"

The two shook their heads, failing miserably to smother wide grins.

"See? Some people have the strangest senses of hearing."

Chyogate had acquired a furious red aura, but she visibly calmed herself and stared maliciously at the Warrior Princess. Sauntering up to the tall woman, the goddess looked her up and down, a disdainful expression on her pretty face, "So you're the one my Ares is in love with," she shook her head, and yelled, "Ugly!!"

Xena's brows rose, and the goddess kept talking, "I don't know what he sees in you, ugly girl!"

Gabrielle gulped, noticing how her friend's normally clear blue eyes were rapidly becoming a stormy, pale steel. That was never a good sign. Xena rose to her full height, jaw twitching. No one had ever called her UGLY before! Especially not short, infuriating foreign gods!

A quick step, and she was draped across Ares' shoulders. The wargod stared at her as if she had gone mad, but she just smiled, sickly sweet, at the goddess, "Well, apparently Ares here likes the ugly girl, so who's the loser now?"

Chyogate stiffened, radiating jealousy, "We'll see about that!" Turning her heel, she began to stalk out, but suddenly pivoted and yelled right under Xena's nose, "UGLY!!"

"Argh!" Xena snarled as the goddess disappeared.

Hopping onto the bar, she crossed her long legs and arms, seething. Seeing the bewildered expressions of the god and the bard, she suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. "I just made the situation worse, didn't I?" she gasped out.

Xena's laugh was infectious, and soon Ares and Gabrielle were chortling along with her.

"I've never seen you get so pissed over a petty insult!" the words were forced out between peals of laughter.

"I've never been called ugly before!"

It was a while before Xena calmed down enough to grin sheepishly, "Sorry."

"No one likes being called ugly," Ares patted her shoulder condescendingly, and she kicked at him. He dodged, and smirked, "I guess I'll have to stick around and make sure she doesn't make good on her threat."

That quickly sobered them.

Gabrielle gave the wargod a cursory glance, trying to seem as controlled as the Warrior Princess, "So I assume you'll be staying for a while?" she shrugged, "At least I can threaten to get Xena to beat you up if you misbehave."

"Won't work," Xena's short retort was more resigned than testy.

"Why? All those times you beat him-"

"-Because he let me. He's bigger, stronger, faster... He's a god, for fuck's sake!"

'He' smirked, "I didn't think you realized."

"Oh, I'm safe enough. I can still whup you when it comes to strategy, and as long as I don't really piss you off, you'd never hurt me."

Ares chuckled shortly, dismally, then groaned, "Godsdammit I'm whipped."

"Glad you can admit it."

"I never thought you'd be so manipulative. I mean, using my weaknesses against me? Hardly done for the 'Defender of the Faith'."

"Seventeen years, Ares," she reminded, "You taught me well."

"Glad you can admit that."

Xena rolled a baleful eye in a good-humoured fashion, "I'm conceited, not brain-damaged."

"Shit, there's a good memory," conforming to the cliché, Ares' voice dripped sarcasm. Another portion of that not so amicable encounter surfaced, "I... You remember what you challenged me to say? In Tartarus?"

"I remember. And as far as I'm concerned, you still haven't."

"What??" he gaped, "I did!"

"What? When you were helping the Furies make Gabrielle kill my daughter? That wasn't worth anything. You were just saying that to distract me while my daughter was being murdered," she knew her words were angering Ares, but he'd asked for it, bringing the subject up.

"How can you say that?" he snarled, "I gave you the fucking diamond, didn't I?"

Xena's hand rose to her throat, "You want it back? Sure, why not? It obviously meant nothing to you." She reached for the clasp.

"No." he had her wrist in a death grip.

The Warrior Princess' free hand clenched around his gauntlet, reminiscent of the children's' game where one player continuously attempt to cover the other player, while the other player does the same, building a ladder of hands of sort, "Then say it!"

He froze, staring at her in terror.

"Say you love me," her voice was soft, bordering... pleading.

The god opened his mouth. And closed it again. The fearful shake of his head was almost imperceptible.

Almost.

Humiliated tears gathered in her rapidly paling azure pools, and her jaw clenched angrily. She directed her gaze downward...

"I love you, Xena."

Her wide eyed stare shot back to him, and he cringed, unsure what would happen next. She smiled through the tears, rapidly blinking them away, and whispered, "Thank you."

A blur, and she'd hopped off of the bar and given him a tight hug. Releasing him quickly, Xena bit her lip sheepishly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forced-"

"No. I'm sorry. I didn't realize I never said..." he broke off and composed himself, a great feat after the scare she'd just put him through, "So. How many times did I technically say that I loved you?" he teased.

She fiddled with the pendant, something that was rapidly becoming a habit, not that Ares minded, "Um. Three."

"Three."

Xena grimaced. He obviously wanted more detail, "Well. That time in the rain, when you were helping your family kill Eve, and then when the Furies were driving you insane, but seeing as you were... insane, I didn't think you meant... it."

There was a pause, "And the third?"

She arched an uncomprehending brow, "Just now?"

"Oh," he coughed, "right."

This was awkward, "I'm sorry. I don't... usually-"

"I know you don't."

Gabrielle bit back a snigger as the two warriors shifted like teenagers in the solid silence. It wasn't long before Xena started to laugh softly again.

"Well," she blew a stream of warm breath up at her bangs, "This sure reminds me of a first date."

"What's a date?" Gabrielle frowned at the unfamiliar (AN: not to mention anachronistic) term, recalling that her friend had first used it very recently.

Xena blanked, "You know, I don't know either." It was probably something Ares had mentioned occasionally.

When his arms slid around her waist (trust the arrogant pig to not miss the slightest chance), Xena contemplated telling him 'You know how much it hurt when you didn't say anything back then? I thought I would lie down and die.' No, not a smart thing to do. In addition to the frightening nature of the revelation, they were one of a kind; he would only use it against her.

"What are you thinking?"

He knew too much already. "Chyogate's not going to be a really big problem, is she?"

"No way."

"Good," she elbowed him hard, and he let go with a grunt.

They had gotten Ares settled into a room at the inn. Somehow, the manipulative son of a bacchae had secured the room right next to Xena's. It wasn't as if distance mattered at all, with his being a god and possessing the ability to instantly transport himself from one end of the world to another.

No. What was she thinking? She did not want the god visiting her in her room. Well, maybe. Gods, he's gorgeous.

Xena mentally slapped herself. If he could hear what she was thinking, he'd get a real kick out of it. The three of them-Xena, Ares and Gabrielle-were seated at the Warrior Princess' favourite corner table, resting after a hectic evening at the tavern. It had gotten so exasperating that Xena found herself offering a silent prayer to Ares out of sheer reflex when a patron dumped his drink on her. Horrified, she shot a glance to the wargod, only to see him smirking at her, having heard her prayer. Smug bastard. He graciously inclined his head, a God granting a boon, and her soiled lavender peasant's tunic immediately morphed to a raven toga and underskirt, his identifying runes of war etched along the hems in silver embroidery. Count on Ares to stake his claim over her even in her clothes. Biting back a grin, Xena played along, setting one foot behind the other and dipping her knee, curtsying.

He had roared with laughter, and his Princess carried on her duties, ignoring Cyrene's speculative scrutiny.

Picking at the glittering embroidery, Xena watched the god of war sharpening his sword the mortal way. I suppose he needs something to do. Well then.

"Ares, we need to talk."

He frowned, not liking her tone. Gabrielle shifted nervously, hoping that this wouldn't turn into a brawl.

"I thought you said we should leave the past behind us."

The Warrior Princess scratched at a nonexistent itch at her collarbone before fiddling with the diamond pendant she refused to remove, "Sometimes you have to lay the past to rest before you can look to the future." She crossed her legs uncomfortably, then stared straight into the god's eyes, "I'm sorry about your family."

His jaw clenched, "Sorry doesn't bring them back."

"I never wanted to kill them. They were mean, selfish pricks sometimes, but they've done some nice things. They were... people."

"Didn't stop you from killing them anyway."

"You instigated the entire conflict. Had you just left us alone, I would neither have had the ability nor the reason to kill anyone. Eli knows that I don't kill without good reason."

"We were protecting ourselves!"

"You were dooming yourselves," she stopped, lowering her voice, "The way of the warrior states that if someone is trying to kill me, I must kill them or die trying."

"But the prophecy-"

"The Fates can shove the prophecy up their cunts. We make our own destiny."

He was silent for a long moment, "The way of the warrior? What happened to that when Livia was terrorizing Rome?"

Xena's lashes drifted down over slits of cerulean, "I got lost; I know. I was being a selfish bitch," she glared at him. He's no way in Tartarus getting away with this. "You sacrificed Olympus, the symbol of Greek belief, to save us-to save me. How is that different? Yet you are seen as a self sacrificing hero, and I a selfish bitch. A rather large difference, would you say?"

Ares was silent once more.

"I've stepped off of the path a few times," the tall woman admitted, "I didn't kill Livia when I should have. I didn't kill you when I should have-"

Ares winced at this.

"-and I killed Mekran for you," she swallowed hard: the next part would not be easy, "Now that I look back, each time I did abandon my path... it was because of love. Eli's god is of Love, and I don't know whether that means I was supposed to do those things or not."

The sword clattered to the ground.

"Love?" it was Gabrielle who voiced the obvious question.

Xena nodded, "I love Eve, and," she saw that Ares was staring mutely at her, hope glowing in his brown eyes, "I do love you, Ares, just not the way you want." Tearing her gaze from his crestfallen expression, she excused herself softly, and walked to the bar.

Hardly able to assimilate her friend's confession, Gabrielle glanced at Ares. He was muttering furiously, under his breath, but broke off when he noticed his audience. Ouch: that old just friends line. Kiss of death if Gabrielle'd ever seen one.

He shrugged, "It's progress, I guess."

Xena downed nearly half of the contents of her waterskin, splashing most of it over her burning face and neck. Her sword was still held loosely in her hand, but she would soon sheathe it, having finished her morning drills and exercises. The angry red and purple blaze of the sunrise was fading into mellower shades of pale pink and the morning's clear, cloud-streaked blue, no longer looking like a harsh bruise in the dome of the sky caused perhaps by some displeased titan taking his rage out on the horizon.

Her sword and scabbard were quickly leant against a nearby tree, and Xena bent over, touching the ground with her palms. If she didn't stretch after her exertion, her back and muscles would become rather sore. Her legs spread until she was sitting on the dew soaked grass on the meadow floor in a split. Twisting, she grabbed her right boot and pressed her forehead down onto her knee. She repeated the process with her left leg, and then stretched forward, her chest touching the ground. Rotating her shoulders a bit, she reached her hands up as far as they could stretch, then bent backward, supporting her weight on her hands as she rolled into a handstand from her split. She straightened her legs up, and bending her elbows for momentum, flipped to her feet.

Barely after landing, she launched a back kick, knocking the breath out of the figure behind her with a savage whoosh.

Snatching up her sword, she glared at Chyogate, sprawled back on the drying grass. The goddess was almost unrecognizable, her midnight hair unbound and streaming over her shoulders, clearly long enough to fall below her knees. The makeup was gone, and her skin was a pale golden colour, her eyes dark and large. Chyogate was watching the warrior warily, but gasping for breath.

Eyeing the deity suspiciously, Xena tossed her the waterskin. The goddess gulped down the water, then wiped her small rosebud mouth with the back of her palm, rising to her feet. She pursed her lips, "Ow."

"Your fault for sneaking up on me. What were you trying to do?"

"I was going to attack you."

Xena groaned, "Look, Chyogate, is it? I'm sure Ares appreciates the sentiment, but you can do much better than him. He's rude, irritating, manipulative..."

"But I love him!"

"You don't want to love him! Besides, you've only known each other for what? One day? How can you tell?"

"The amount of time doesn't matter. I know that you have loved him since you first saw him!"

"What?" the warrior's eyes widened.

"Please, I'm a woman too. I can tell."

"No! I am not in love with Ares! He's my sworn enemy! And besides, we were talking about you."

"Oh! Sworn enemy! Is that why you stared at him in that dreamy way when he showed up to save you?"

Xena spluttered, raising her weapon. At the goddess' giggle, she realized that she had walked right into that one. Growling under her breath, she sheathed the blade, "I'm sure there's someone else you know that would be much better for you than some stupid god of war."

An vacant expression took over the foreign deity's face, "My Hunaman is far better than your silly god, but he has left me for some foreign bitch with yellow hair and blue eyes."

The Warrior Princess was astonished and vaguely frightened to find herself entertaining serious doubts about Chyogate's first statement, but kept her tongue, "Why would he do a stupid thing like that? You're way prettier than any foreign woman." Play along. Maybe we'll get somewhere. What an airhead. She reminds me of Aphrodite.

Chyogate fumed, "Tell that to him! He liked the natural look, he said. She's blond and busty, he said. What does he know?"

"So he was having problems with the way you looked? I'm sure if you went to him the way you are now, with no makeup and your hair down, you'd beat that woman hands down in the natural looks department." Lay it on thick. Gods, she's buying it!

"Really?"

"Totally!" Xena cackled inwardly, but managed to keep a straight face. This was one of those times that hanging around with Aphrodite helped.

"Okay! I'll try! Thanks, Ugly!"

Chyogate disappeared, leaving Xena to pack up, grinding her teeth. Fine, if it would get that harpy off Ares, she'd endure being called ugly. But not for extended periods of time. Nope. By the gods, I'm jealous. I have really got to relax more.

Ares shot to her side as soon as she walked into the tavern. You'd think he was waiting behind the doors or something. "Where were you?"

"Having a little chat with Chyogate. It turns out you were her rebound after her boyfriend ditched her for a blond whore."

"You were talking to the little shit?"

"Yes," Xena snapped, tugging her wrist from Ares' grasp with a twist, "Get off my case. I don't recall giving you control over my life." The god had always been extremely possessive. Perhaps it stemmed from literally hundreds of siblings all fighting over something or other. It's a lot harder to perform psycho-analysis on a god. They've done so much shit in their very long pasts that a single event or two hundred doesn't even begin to explain their psychotic mentalities.

"Xena, I told you to stay away from Chyogate; she's very dangerous!"

"I didn't go looking for her. She tried to attack me. I was just minding my business. It's not like we fought or anything. I kicked her, and then we just talked."

With an irritated moan, Ares threw his hands up into the air, "You are such an brat-"

"I learned from the best."

Ares' pending retort was forgotten when a blaze of fire erupted in the centre of the room. Chyogate appeared, sans makeup, and roaring like a drunken minotaur (AN: I like that comparison. I believe I've used it before, somewhere...).

"UGLY!! You said he would like me better!!"

The Warrior Princess growled, "Alright, that's it. My fucking name is XENA. Got that? Not Ugly. Not Mortal. Not Girl. XE. NA."

Ares sniggered.

"You find that funny, hmm, *ARSE*?"

"HEY!!" Chyogate bellowed, "We were talking about my problem!"

"Oh, pipe down!" Xena snapped, "What's wrong now?"

"He says I'm too plain! The nerve of the bastard! First he says I'm unnatural, and when I try to change for him, he turns around and calls me plain!! Can you believe him?"

The Warrior Princess ground her teeth surreptitiously, "That's ridiculous. Maybe you need a new look. A makeover or something?"

"What? I am perfect the way I am!"

"You want the guy or not?"

The asian goddess subsided sullenly. Xena nearly breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could implement the next part of her tentative idea, the idea came running right to them.

A girlish squeal filled the tavern a moment before a pink blaze made nearly everyone squint. Aphrodite appeared mid-bounce, "Did someone just say makeover??"

The next whole lot of marks passed in a veritable hurricane of activity. Hurricane Aphrodite. Xena and Ares were assigned tasks and chores involving things Xena had used before, like combs, and... combs; things Xena had heard of, like lip-stain and eyeshadow; and things that baffled the shite out of the Warrior Princess, like cucumber slices and pore refining masks. When it was over, the warriors were left sprawled on one of Aphrodite's bright pink divans, too exhausted to do anything but mutter a bit about the colour.

Eventually, Xena sat up, "Wow."

The wargod laughed, "From one control freak to another, my dear, I completely agree!"

"How does Aphrodite do that all day? It's pure chaos!"

He was saved from a long and detailed analysis of his sister's bottomless reserve of makeover energy that never worked on any other tasks when the new and improved Chyogate was pushed out into the limelight by the love goddess.

Ares eyed the foreign goddess with an appreciative whistle. He had to admit that Aphrodite had outdone herself. Chyogate looked stunning, yet subtle. She blushed, and the wargod nudged his Warrior Princess, eyes still firmly attached to the goddess, "Whoa. Looks like you've got competition."

Xena glanced at him, deadpan expression glued on over the jealousy, "As far as I'm concerned, there never was a contest. I still say if she wants you, she can have you, and good riddance."

He glared at her, more hurt than he would ever admit, "Oh?" His hands clenched in her long raven locks, tugging her closer to him before he pressed a bruising kiss to her lips. Pulling away, he raised his chin, "Could you say goodbye to that?"

The woman sat silently, mouth slightly agape. He smirked triumphantly, and her brow furrowed angrily. He'd celebrated too soon. Her hands dove around his neck, gripping tightly and pulled his mouth onto hers, her tongue driving deep into his throat. When she broke the kiss, he was gasping for breath and completely disoriented.

Sauntering away, Xena glanced back at Ares, and challenged, "Could you?"

It was the moment of truth.

This god was truly beautiful. His imposing physique was perhaps equal to that of Ares, and his features were smooth and even, a confident hautiness in his warm brown eyes. Long black hair hung down his back, fastened with a red clasp. Those warm brown eyes were currently focused on Xena.

"My fair lady," he purred, "What's a gorgeous woman like you doing in the company of these... ragamuffins?"

His 'fair lady's' lip slowly curled, an unparalleled expression of disgust plastered across her beautiful face, "It's impolite to stare."

"Would you deny me the chance to prove my undying love?"

"You love being eviscerated, do you?"

"Point taken."

Ares inched closer to Xena, glaring at Hunaman over her shoulder. Ballooning male egos were saved from a battle to the death by the arrival of Chyogate.

Hunaman's jaw dropped to the floor, "Chyogate? You-you've changed your hairstyle..."

It worked! Now the little bitch could leave and never come back. The tall greek woman leant back into the wargod, "And I thought you were stupid."

Ares only mumbled incoherently, dazed by the warmth of her form lightly pressed to his. He screwed his eyes shut, violently hoping that she wouldn't feel the growing bulge in his pants. If she did, she didn't show it, though she did tactfully ease away...

Chyogate smiled regally, "Yes, I did."

Hunaman seemed to have recovered himself, "Chyo-chan! You look gorgeous! I can't believe it!"

"Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself."

Hunaman raised the goddess' small hand to his lips and suavely kissed it, "I'm throwing a party especially for you, my beautiful one, care to accompany me? And then afterwards..."

"Actually," Chyogate casually backed away, crossing her arms with an uncaring glaze to her dark eyes, "I'd rather not."

"Huh?" The entire room glared at the goddess. The little wretch! After all the effort they'd put into this!

"You see, I've finally come to my senses. The scales have fallen from my eyes, and I realize that I don't need a man. I can do so much better without being burdened by the inferior male species," she turned a brilliant smile to the Warrior Princess, "And I have Xena to thank for this epiphany. I hope you understand, Hunaman. We just aren't working for me."

"Uh, uh... grfkl..." Hunaman reeled for a moment, and befuddled, disappeared on the third try.

Xena raised an inky brow, and muttered under her breath, "He is stupid."

Chyogate bowed graciously to Xena, "Thank you for opening my eyes, revered Xena. And dear Ares, I apologise for my infantile behaviour. Thank you again, and goodbye."

When the asian deity vanished, three pairs of shifty eyes turned to Aphrodite. The love goddess raised her hands defensively, "Hey, I didn't do nothing! You heard her, it was Xena's fault!"

"I refuse to take responsibility for the little psycho's irrationality fluxes!"

Ares' brows rose, "So she's going to be the world's first feminist," he murmured.

"What's that?"

Shit. "Nothing, Xena."

The Warrior Princess was the last person any sane man would explain feminism to. Who knows what she'd do? The god of war didn't want to take the blame for siccing her on the male species.

Xena nearly groaned as she felt the wargod materialize in her room. What in Tartarus did he think he was doing? It was the middle of the night! She hurriedly stuck her head down under the covers, hoping he would go away and then after he went away maybe her heart wouldn't be pounding like that anymore.

No such luck. A few moments later, another god arrived, this one with a distinct girly presence.

"Aer!" Aphrodite's voice whined, "Get your stupid warlord to leave my temple alone!"

"Shh!" Ares hissed shortly, "She's sleeping."

"Fine! Great! She's sleeping; now get them to go away!"

A bit of silence, then Ares snapped, "There. Done."

"Thanks, bro! You're the best!"

"Yeah yeah, now get lost! I'm busy."

There was an amazingly ladylike snort, "Doing what? Watching her sleep? You're so pathetic."

"How'd you get from telling me I'm the best to I'm pathetic in such a short time?"

"You want I should just zap her with a love spell?"

"NO!"

"Oh, come on. It'll be my way of saying thank you for getting rid of that big mean warlord."

Xena was now tensing, ready to bolt from her bed. No, Ares would never...

"No! I don't want you to make her love me. I want her to do it herself."

Aphrodite pshawed, "Bro, I don't make people love one another! I can only make them think they love one another. You obviously have no idea what my job entails."

There was a soft moan, and some one landed in a seat with a muted thud, "All right, Aphrodite. What do you do in your job?"

"I keep that blind force that makes sure each person has a true love running, and I can tell who belongs with whom. I can't give names or anything, you know? It's just, like, when each immortal soul was created waaay back then, it was matched to another soul. The chances that the two will actually meet are pretty slim, but their souls were created to be together. I can feel those souls, or love-profiles as I like to call them. Isn't love-profile such a better term? Like, it's totally less stuffy! Anyway, you, bro, are a blazing cloud of passion, rage and tempered by caring. Your mate is a beam, pure wild, focus, and unswerving loyalty. I can't tell you who that soul belongs to unless I look into his or her eyes, and I don't go hunting for that other person unless I have very powerful incentive."

Ares' voice sounded troubled, "So you don't know who my mate is?"

"I didn't say that!" Aphrodite protested quickly, "I found that other soul without even having to look. She came to us herself."

"She..."

"Duh! Warrior babe! Who else? Xena's so totally wild and focused and she's completely loyal to you!"

"Loyal," Xena found herself cringing at the dry skepticism in his voice.

"Yes, loyal! Didn't she just kill that thief for you? She's purposefully-subconsciously, yes, but still purposefully-pushed any other man away from her, 'cause she's always been waiting for you to come to your senses!"

"And you're telling me this now, because?"

"You asked, didn't you? I didn't see the point in telling you before. You'd already fallen in love with her. What more could I want?"

"Wait. If we were created to be together, does that mean she loves me?"

"It should. But like love, the bond can be one-sided."

"Oh, thank you so much for telling me what I already know!"

"What's that?"

"She hates me!"

"Well, that's your fault."

"'Dite!"

"Shh, you'll wake her."

Xena was pressing her palm against her mouth, trying to smother her laughter. Her shoulders shook silently, but luckily the two gods were too busy glaring at each other to notice.

"So, you done bursting my bubble yet, Aphrodite?"

"Bubble? Sweetcheeks, if you ever had a bubble, it was full of self-loathing. If I help get rid of it, good for me... Aer, unfortunately, she's the only one who can burst that self-loathing bubble I was talking about. It's nice and thick right now, so she'll need all the luck she can get."

"Alright already!"

"Geez, pipe down, stud!" A soft fluttering indicated that Aphrodite had left, but the next moment, it returned.

"What are you still doing here?"

"I forgot to tell you, Aer. Apollo's gone nuts. He's gathered an army, put that cute Chosen of his, Astarus, at the head, and he's gonna fight you for Daddy's throne."

"Just great. I'll deal with it."

"You can't mess with Apollo's chosen, bro. It's the rules. You gotta use a mortal army, and fight him with your own Chosen."

"What? No! I'm not sending her-"

"Then send someone else, but I don't really think you have a choice about sending her, 'cause Astarus is attacking Amphipolis."

"WHAT?"

The goddess of love stepped hurriedly into the aether, avoiding Ares' wrath.

Under the covers, Xena seethed with rage. Again! She was stuck in the middle of some petty Olympian squabble again! Dammit! However, the Warrior Princess had a more pressing problem to worry about. In her extended stay under the sheets, the air around her had gotten very stale, and she was already having a rather hard time breathing. Argh, why wouldn't the damn god just leave? He was still sitting there, doing gods know what. Shit, she was getting dizzy from lack of oxygen, but he's still there. Okay, really dizzy now, and not caring whether he knew she had been eavesdropping or not!

Xena flung the sheets aside and sat up with a gasp, gulping down the precious, precious fresh air. Breathing hard, she glared icily at the god, who was laughing his head off.

"I knew you'd run outta air eventually!" he guffawed, slapping his leather-clad thigh.

Jumping out of bed dressed in only her thin shift, Xena quickly slammed the shutters over her window open and stuck her head out of the opening, taking in deep breaths of the cleansing medium. Biting back a chuckle, she gave him her infamous Look. Naturally, he brushed it off as if it were Gabrielle attempting it, "So you just had to have this long and involved conversation about Aphrodite's job description?"

"Oh yeah!" he held his breath, waiting for her imminent explosion.

"Apollo's doing WHAT??" Bingo.

"His Chosen is going to attack Amphipolis, and I can't interfere personally because of some stupid rules my father set millennia ago."

"So you're not going to fucking help??"

"Of course I'll help!" Ares stood, meeting her murderous gaze, "My army will keep the village safe or die trying!"

She plopped herself down onto her bed, still shooting mental daggers at him, "Do you have a good enough warlord?"

"No." At her low growl he hurried to reassure her, "You know Astarus. He's older now, but he's still smart and capable. Not one of my present warlords stand a chance. If I still had you..."

"Dammit, Ares-"

"I'll transport my armies and two best generals here immediately. We'll have to rely on sheer size to win this one. Maybe if I ask the Persian pantheon for a loan-"

"No. Dragging in armies that don't obey you is just plain dumb. I'll lead your army against Apollo's if you like."

"You're asking?"

"I'm offering."

"Thank you," Ares's face softened with a hesitant smile, "It'll be just like old times..."

"Don't get used to it. Just because I want to protect my family doesn't mean that I'm going to become your little warrior queen-"

"Gods forbid."

Xena sighed, a sudden forlorn air draping over her like a cloak, making Ares want to go and hold her tight, "I can't help but think that you somehow planned this."

"No! I would never! Xena, truthfully, part of me is crowing because you're going to be fighting for me again-no, don't turn away-but a greater part of me is dreading this. Because of some stupid power struggle on what's left of Olympus, I'm going to be putting you in danger. Not just your body, but that core of strength and caring I fell in love with and there's not a fucking think I can do about it!"

She slowly met the dark intensity of his eyes with hers, and was rocked by the fury and melancholy, and above all honesty in his gaze. She understood. Just as, long ago, Hercules had been the light she needed to banish the shadows, she was that same light to Ares.

"Xena, I would much rather if you stayed here and I just sent my other generals into this. If all else fails, I'll relinquish my claim to the throne. I'd like you to stay out of this."

She stood and strode to stand before him. Reaching up, her fingers thrust through his short, bristly hair and she pulled his mouth down onto hers. His tongue sought the comfort of her honeyed walls, and she gladly surrendered it to him. Pulling away after a long while, she whispered fiercely into his lips, "I'm leading your army. You have the throne of the King of the Gods within your grasp, all I know you've ever wanted, and you're just going to throw it away? Not bloody likely, if I have anything to do with it." She cut off his reply swiftly, "Thank you for caring, but I've got a personal claim in all this. I've never hidden behind your army before, Ares, and I'm not about to start now. Last time I checked, I was your Chosen. If I'm not going to defend your honour, what am I good for?"

"But that core of goodness I was talking about-"

"If it's my core, then it's not going anywhere. Trust me."

"I'd still rather... never mind. You should get some sleep. It's still marks 'til dawn."

Xena smiled wryly, "You think I can get to sleep now?"

"I'm sorry. I'll leave you in peace then."

"No!" her grip tightened on his arms before he could leave. When he eyed her with bemused surprise, she offered a tentative smile. "Stay?" she insisted.

He grinned back, wordlessly falling into her bottomless pools of gleaming blue, joyous as a sailor drowning in the soothing embrace of his mother the sea. A quick sweep, and she rested in his arms, cradled to his chest as if she were a doll. "You, my dear, must get some rest."

"I'm not your dear," she retorted automatically as he laid her down onto the rumpled bed and climbed in after her. He dragged her closer to him, and she stiffened, but then relaxed when he simply wrapped his muscled arms about her form, spooning her from behind. A large hand rested just below her breast and the other on her hip. His breath brushed her ear, warm and steady.

She chuckled softly, "Do you remember all those long, late night talks we had? We'd lie just like this, and talk about anything that came to mind."

"Oh, I must certainly remember, Princess," his arms squeezed her closer for a moment.

"You know, you had a feck of a lot of nerve telling Chyogate that I was your fiancée."

"I know. I must have been suicidal, huh?"

"Nah, it just goes to prove that you got balls."

This time they both laughed. Feeling a lot more secure and content than she'd been in a very long time, she burrowed deeper into his embrace, "I've been thinking about those talks we had ever since you somehow conned my mother into giving you the room next to mine."

"Ah, well, my Princess, I've recently relinquished the room, but let me tell you, it was not easy to obtain..."

"The army of Apollo is poised to destroy this village," Xena met the horrified gazes of her people, gathered around her in the square.

"Apollo?"

"What have we done to enrage Apollo?"

"Are we going to die?"

She raised her voice to carry above the panic-struck speculations, "You'll all be fine! I have the word of the God of War that his armies will protect you. The battle should not even affect your day to day lives, but I want you to pack a few necessities, and should there be any danger to you, a messenger will come and lead you to a nearby safehold. Don't worry at all," a feral smile graced her face, "I will not let anything happen to you."

"So we're supposed to just stay in the village and do nothing?" Cyrene challenged.

"Nobody leaves the village until the threat is dismantled! Go about your business now."

Dismissed, the villagers meandered off, and Xena warily approached her family. Gabrielle and Cyrene were sporting identically unamused expressions.

"And what about you?" Gabrielle ground out, "Do you stay in the village too?"

"I'll... be leading Ares' army."

"Xena!"

"You think I'd trust him enough to sit here and wait for him to save us?"

"How do you know this isn't just one of his tricks?"

"Aphrodite told Ares. She wouldn't lie."

"What if-"

"Stop it, Gabrielle. I trust him not to lie about this, at least."

The bard gave a small smile, clearly disappointed in her friend, "And what about me?"

"You're a grown woman now. You can make your own decisions."

"I'm coming with you."

"To make sure Ares hasn't corrupted me again?"

"To make sure you haven't corrupted yourself."

"What does that mean?"

Gabrielle sighed, resting a callused hand on the Warrior Princess' arm, "You're forgetting that he isn't a mortal anymore. Sometimes I think that I'm losing you... to our greatest enemy." Her gaze pointedly focused on the pulsing crimson of the diamond pendant.

Xena's hand rose reflexively to her throat, closing about the necklace, "He was never an enemy, Gabrielle. He was just someone who needed help."

"Why you?"

The raven-haired warrioress suddenly chuckled at the irony of the situation. She had asked the exact same question when he'd first given her the diamond, but the difference was that this time she knew the answer, "Because I care."

Ares had been greeted with frigid glares when he first arrived to inform Xena of the successful arrival of his massed army. Then, after a stern talking-to Xena had given her mother and friend on the subject of the saving of lives and proper gratitude, he'd provided a very generous and superb dinner of roast, as well as some of Dionysus' best, and now he seemed to be forgiven.

This was not necessarily a good thing when it came to Gabrielle.

"You want to hear a story??"

Gabrielle nodded brightly, knowing that Xena would keep her safe.

"I'm the God of War, Blondie! I don't do stories!"

"Ares," Xena nudged him, "Be nice."

"What?"

"I wanna hear a story too."

He stared at his Princess in disbelief, "You're ganging up on me?"

"Yep."

"I don't know any stories."

"Give me a break. I'll start," Xena paused for a moment, "Once upon a time there was nothing but an empty void of chaos. But then the chaos separated into beings-"

"Xena, I know this story," Gabrielle whined, "It's the story of creation."

"Shush, there's more," the Warrior Princess grinned wickedly, "So, you know how the Olympians were born and created, and all that. But in the beginning, before there was man, before there was time, the Olympians were far different from those we know today. The were the embodiment of the element they represented. Their sole purpose in existence was to be those forces. Such was War."

Ares frowned, "How do you know? I can't remember that far back."

"I know. You didn't exactly exist back then. Not your personality. Anyway, War didn't have a name yet; not then, not for a long time. It was cold, brutal. It was empty."

No one dared to speak, caught up in the alluring majesty of the dark haired woman's voice.

"It was war, incapable of any warmth not the heat of battle. It was the antithesis of Love. But no, it wasn't lonely, because it was a blind force, unable to feel.

"But then the governing force made a mistake. It created mankind. Strange, irritating, warm, feeling, loving man. And this mistake cost the Olympians pain, because the spirit of man grew, surrounded them, infused them, and they were changed. So War lost itself in that change, became a 'he'... and Ares was finally lonely."

Ares knew that it was his turn. His voice sounded, low and huskily, surprising all but Xena, "Torn by this loneliness, War searched. He searched the world for that indefinite something that would make him complete. Eons passed, War despaired of ever finding it, and his bitterness grew.

"Until one day, in the fields outside Amphipolis, he found it. He found Her. Her, with the tresses as black as a moonless night," Ares' fingers wound themselves in those black tresses, "whipping about her face. Her, with the eyes as blue as the deepest ocean. Her, with the beauty that stopped a god's heart. Stopped it to have it start anew, this time beating only for her, for Xena. And Ares was no longer lonely, for he had found love."

Xena picked off where he left off with a smirk, "But no, Ares did not want nor understand this strange concept of... love. He only knew that she was different, for the idea that just one mortal may possess such power over an Olympian was unthinkable. Despite every one of the reasons, the thousands of reasons to strike her down as she stood right there, with warrior's blood coursing through her veins and fresh blood staining her breast and blade, he chose her as his own.

"Though he was inexorably drawn to this disrespectful servant, he maintained his distance as she burned and killed in his name. Maintained his distance to search for something, someone that could incite the same reaction, that could prove that this Xena's hold was not as frightening as it seemed.

"Yet nothing came of this search, until such a day that his Xena left him, weary of waiting for this distant god, and to search for something better than his half-hearted interest and fear. Thinking that someday, he would find that something special he searched for, he let her go."

Ares shifted sheepishly as he continued the story, "Once, twice, thrice he let her go, but his heart, hoping someday to be complete, battled his fear, and he could not help but chase that elusive half-promise she could afford. Having thrown away three chances, it was nearly too late when he finally realized that that something special could not be found elsewhere, but had been standing there, waiting for him ever since he'd first seen a certain half-grown Warrior Princess. It was then that he could cease running from what he could not hide, and open his soul to a long dormant love."

He reached out and tilted Xena's chin so her eyes would meet his, "And now, I no longer wait for something to save me from you, for I have stopped fearing. All I wait for now is for you to stop fearing me, stop searching for that something that could never be better no matter how hard you try, and give me your love in return."

She stared up at him resentfully, "You turned the whole thing around!"

"If ya didn't want the whole story, y'should've stopped long ago," Ares glared back.

Immune to their immediate bickering, Cyrene sniffed a bit, "That was beautiful!"

Ares scowled, and abruptly stood, as if he had just remembered their audience, "Well Xena, now I'm officially embarrassed. I hope you're happy."

"Overjoyed."

He muttered something about "exasperating women who can see too much" before vanishing.

"Wow, Xena," Gabrielle breathed, "I didn't know you were such a good storyteller!"

"Hey, don't let the walking arsenal look fool ya," Xena stood, stretching, "Good night, mother, Gabrielle."

"'Night."

Xena left the two women there, staring off into space, for a long time.

When Gabrielle passed Xena's room later on the way to hers, she paused, hearing low voices. It doesn't count as eavesdropping when it's a friend. Gabrielle has some weird morals. Stopping, she flattened herself to the wall so she could see through the sliver of light that shone through the crack in the door. Flashes of black were Ares pacing restlessly through the small room. A blur that was Xena suddenly blocked his way.

"Why are you being so chicken-shit? I'd have thought you would welcome the conqueror back."

The two of them were neatly framed in the crack. His hand rose uncertainly, "I do. It's not the conqueror I'm worried about. I love the conqueror. You're still the conqueror."

"What are you babbling about?"

"Come on, Xena. That calm tactical genius? That sheer thrill of the conquest? You still feel it, and it's pure conqueror. No, it's the other part, that 'I'm gonna hack to pieces whoever gets in my way' mentality. It-it," Ares lowered his eyes, "It frightens me."

Xena had to duck her head to see his eyes, "I frighten you?" her voice soft and... devastated.

He sighed forcefully, "You know the bloodlust, that incredible power and darkness. It's so strong in you, maybe stronger than in me, and yes, that scares me. I'm the God of War; I'm supposed to feel those things. I was created for it. What's your excuse? ...We're so alike, Xena," his hands rose to cup her jaw, his eyes sad and earnest, "When I'm around you, I bring out that darkness in you that echoes mine so closely. And if that darkness takes over, we'll both be destroyed, and I'm terrified of losing you."

Xena's own hands rose to grip his wrists tightly, above his gauntlets. Gabrielle couldn't help but notice that Ares' skin turned white under her crushing fingers, yet those fingers could only reach less than three-quarters of the way around his wrists. "I'll fight it. If I can defeat you, I can defeat that darkness."

They faced off, the Warrior Princess and the God of War, silent. Then, slowly, Ares' hands slid down her throat and glided along her muscled arms. She let go, and in a whisper Gabrielle could barely hear, she murmured, "Trust me..."

The god's arms wrapped tightly around her slim waist, and she lightly stroked his nape, offering whatever comfort she could.

When he finally pulled back, Gabrielle noticed that his brown pools held the bright suggestion of tears. Ares chuckled mockingly, although this time it was directed at himself, "Some god of war, huh? Seeking refuge in the arms of a woman."

The corners of Xena's lips curled slightly, and she took his face into her hands, forcing him to keep eye contact, "It's all right. It's going to be all right," she brushed his lips with hers, "We're all going to be all right." They kissed again, and this time Ares sucked her lower lip gently in.

"Xena..."

"Shhh..." Their mouths met in a much deeper kiss, and Xena slid her hands to his shoulders, pressing herself to him.

Gabrielle backed away from the door, feeling very out of place. Damn, why did I have to eavesdrop? Part of her felt like bursting in there to yank Xena away from Ares, berating them both for... what? Kissing each other? Betraying her? She eased away into the pool of light shining from her room.

Back in Xena's room, Ares stared at his Princess, still slightly out of breath.

She smiled softly, and then was back to all-business, "So I leave tomorrow with the army."

Ares nodded briskly, back on safe territory. "Yes. I've briefed the commanders about the entire business, but you're going to have to go into a bit more detail," he sighed, rubbing the smooth column of her throat thoughtfully, as if blessing her. "I wish I could handle this myself..."

"No, you're not allowed to interfere with Apollo's chosen."

"Stupid rules. Who invented them anyway?"

"You're asking me?"

"No," he turned, sitting down on her bed. The gold coloured silence washed over the two warriors, temporarily transforming them into the regular people they longed to be...

Xena watched the quiet god, suddenly awed by his presence. Years ago, she had been just a tavern keeper's daughter, knowing nothing of the godly pantheon. Then, when she met Ares, it amazed her to see how very human the Olympian was. Whatever worshipping intentions she may have had were drowned in his kisses and random bursts of anger and snideness. She'd treated him first like an idol, then an equal, and after that, like dirt, and he did nothing to change her actions or perceptions. All that didn't change the fact that he was a very powerful god, though. The God of War... The god warriors across the entirety of the Greek provinces prayed to. Who was she to have this great being's trust, his love? Xena bit her lip. Now wasn't the time to grow an inferiority complex. Despite her logic, it still didn't erase her feelings of humbleness. He made her feel more special than the moon and the stars.

"Ares."

"What?" he idly traced the raised pattern on his vest. With a soft thud, a pile of brown leather dropped to his feet. His head shot up. She was standing there before him, in her white undertunic, her crystal pools a deep indigo.

Slowly, she undid the laces on her gauntlets, letting them slide to the floor to land on her leathers.

Ares drew in a sharp breath as she kicked off her boots. What in Tartarus did she think she was doing? "Xena..."

"What?"

"Don't do this. I feel like you're trying to say good-bye to me."

"Maybe I am," she lifted her hand to tease his short hair between her fingers, "It's the possibility we have to face before every battle."

"Don't think like that."

"Why?" her laughter caused his guts to twist like someone-no, she had landed a hard punch, "I'm nothing if not realistic." When he shook his head she sighed and straddled his lap, and she could feel how hard he was, "I want to do this, Ares. Don't you want me anymore?"

His throat feeling like one of the South Wind's deserts, he could only nod. Realizing that his answer could be taken two ways, he immediately shook his head.

Xena laughed again, took hold of the hem of her shift and pulled it over her head, displaying herself for him, to judge or to accept. As she discarded it, she brought her lips to his, kissing him softly. She never needed to have asked. To Ares, every part of her body was perfect, from the ripples of muscle under the bronzed skin to the paler stretch marks her tight abdomen sported.

Ares moaned deep in his chest, and turning, pushed her down onto the bed under him. His clothes vanished with a weak wish.

As his hands ran down the length of her thigh, Xena suddenly pushed him up off her. Sitting up, she regarded Ares solemnly, noting his confusion, "Ares, last time, fifteen years ago, I gave you myself. I was too young back then; I didn't understand what I wanted back. Now, I need you to know that if we do this, I take what is mine."

"What is yours," his statement was more of a question.

"Yes. If we make love now, you are mine. Do you understand? I claim you."

His head reeling with the enormity of her claim, Ares suddenly realized that it was unnecessary. He had long ago, without even thinking about it, thrown his entire heart and soul to her mercy. Whatever he had done in the past, he had always held a large part of himself back. He'd told himself that it was because he wanted to maintain control over himself and whoever it was he was fucking then, but now he understood because he had been waiting for her, for Xena, to take him. Years ago, this thought would have been branded pathetic by him, but he knew now that it wasn't true. One has to be very brave to love someone so completely. It was a frightening ordeal, love was: like throwing oneself off of a very high cliff, and trusting the loved one to spread wings and save you both.

Chuckling with sheer merriment, Ares pulled his Xena into his strong arms, pressing his mouth to hers.

"I'm yours. Got it."

Xena smirked fondly at the god as he lowered her back onto the bed, holding her close. He was always amused with whatever she did. He'd laugh at her most earnest speeches as if she were a favourite daughter thinking about joining a group of children in a mockery of the Battle of Corinth. Except for the fact that she had actually been at the Battle of Corinth... What the hell. A twitch of the mouth indicated her amusement at how easily Tartarus was being replaced with Hell after that episode with Mephistopheles and Lucifer. Hooded eyes fixed upon the wargod as he softly kissed her throat, the spot where his fingers had been rubbing. No, not like a daughter. Xena knew that despite his amusement, he had been listening. He always listened.

He let his hands cup her breasts, those tanned, very round orbs that were so supple yet firm. Perfect. They thrust and rounded to his palms, soft and full. Ares knew she'd be insulted if she knew what his frenzied mind was doing. She had always been the strong, tough Warrior Princess, independent and capable to any who dared to ask, but right now she seemed so soft, so tiny and feminine under his large frame. Unbidden images of their first, and until now only, joining filled his skull. She was just a girl-child then, young and trusting. When he'd pierced her maiden-head, she'd cried out openly in pain. A few saline tears had trickled down her cheeks, just like the warm blood that traced her inner thighs, but she just watched him, trusting him to make everything alright.

"What is it?"

Ares shook his head at Xena's question. Damn the woman for knowing him so well. Running his hand along her collarbone and down her lean arm, he pressed his palm to hers, as if he was comparing the sizes of their hands. His fingers ended a good length past hers. He pulled her hand to his mouth, kissing her fingertips and licking the smooth curve of her nail.

Xena smiled at the god, bemused. Why was the bastard being gentle? As if she were fragile, one of those innocent little princesses he screwed by the dozen. She'd expected him to be violent, domineering, anything but this. Licking her bottom lip, she grabbed his shoulders and rolled them both over. When he protested, she quieted him with a deep kiss, and whispered, "Don't. Let me pleasure you."

She pressed butterfly kisses to his eyelids, his nose, the corners of his mouth. Her tongue slowly danced along his jaw, feeling like licks of fire. When she moved to his throat, the warm pressure of her breath combined with the softness of her tongue sent a jolt of lust coursing through his body to settle eventually in his groin.

Xena smiled against Ares' adam's apple as it bobbed under her caress, and the hum of his moan vibrated through his chest and throat. When she kissed and sucked lightly against the ridge of his collarbone, his shoulders jerked, and his hands rose to rest on her back. Glaring playfully at him, she pressed his hands down by his head, "I'm not done yet." His breath was coming faster, and she covered his mouth with his, driving her tongue deep into his mouth and running it over the almost unbearable sweet walls. She ducked her head and ran her tongue over the tightened nub of his nipple, tugging on it with her teeth. He'd always seemed to like this when she did it.

He gasped, but it was partly because of her attentions to his nipple, and also because the brush of her long lashes on his skin when she blinked was tingling in an incredibly arousing manner. Remembering her earlier warning, he didn't move to touch her, but when she continued her ministrations with a throaty chuckle, he nearly lost his mind. Her fingers and lips danced tantalizingly over his well-muscled stomach and teased his hips, going dangerously close to his swollen, straining cock. The soft brush of her hair dangling over him caused Ares to suddenly thrust his hips up toward her, and she sucked in a sharp breath, but she still ignored his aching rod.

Xena kissed and nibbled on the inside of his muscled thighs, quivering with need, and she could hear him almost panting, like her. Slowly, slowly she flicked her tongue over the head of his cock, touching the liquid oozing out of him, and she almost came because he tasted so perfect. He was perfect, and he was lying there, putting himself completely at her control, at her mercy, and a dull ache filled her chest because she wanted to be able to love him as much as he loved her. If this ageless god, this near supreme being could place himself so much into her hands, why couldn't she trust him with her entire soul? Because he is evil. Xena shook her head, taking the tip of his enormous 'godhood' into her mouth, sucking lightly while her hand teased him. No, he wasn't evil. This Ares was a far cry from the conceited, untrustworthy bastard who betrayed the entire world to join Dahak. Who betrayed her so many times, just like she betrayed him. But if he could trust her so completely after her ultimate betrayal, why couldn't she swallow her grudge? "You'd be surprised by the change you can inspire in a man, or a god."

His moan pulled her out of her thoughts, and she resolved to forget them for the night. Abandonning herself completely to him, to the smell, feel and taste of him, she pushed away all straining at maintaining control, and took his entire length into her mouth, shifting a bit to adjust to the sheer size of him. Her teeth very lightly grazed the sensitive cleft between the head and shaft, and he bucked wildly. She ran her tongue over his shaft, quivering herself, and held onto his hips as he ground into her mouth. Setting her tongue against him, she began moving her head up and down, sliding him in and out of her mouth. His hands clutched at her thick hair, but she didn't care anymore. He was hers, and for tonight at least, she would be completely his.

Ares felt the change, even through his roaring blood. She wasn't holding back anymore, and she suckled, licked and stroked his cock with complete abandon, kneeling between his thighs. Grinning joyously, he tried to look at her, but his vision was too clouded, so he concentrated on stroking her raven tresses and the smoothness of her neck. Then, a hand squeezed his balls between her fingers, her thumb running over them, and Ares was writhing under her, swept away in his climax.

Still holding onto him, Xena felt the rush of his hot seed spurting into her mouth, sweet and delicious. Still sucking, she collected every drop, his fingertips digging into her scalp. Gods, he was perfect. When they last made love, she had been too young and inexperienced, which was obvious considering that she had been a virgin, and so she never got to taste how incredible he was. Licking her lips, she smiled. It was well worth the wait. Her own arousal was running down her legs, slicking her mound and thighs, as she lay down next to his shuddering form, trying not to rub herself into the sheets.

He grabbed her face and kissed her brutally, shoving his tongue down her throat, and tasting himself in her mouth. She moaned, the sound rumbling through both their forms, and he quickly hardened again. Comes of being a god: extra stamina. Lots of it. Flipping her over onto her back and taking his still stiffening cock in one hand, he rubbed the tip against her swollen lips of her sex. Her hips rose automatically, and he reacted by growing even more. He used his cock to tease her opening, and moved his hand to brush her clit, drawing gentle circles around it. Her mouth opened, and she stared, hypnotized, as he brought his hand up and sucked her taste off of his finger. She moaned again, and he touched her clit, rubbing it lightly between two fingers. Her legs moved further apart, and her wet cunt roughly brushed his cock, causing him to gasp. Tightly gripping her raised hips, he shoved himself into her silky caverns, and their hands clutched each other at the sensation.

Xena's body arched into his, her beautiful eyes wide and feverish. He stopped, holding her, staring into those eyes, mesmerized. The warmth of her tight walls enfolding his cock was pure ecstasy, and he trembled, quietly reverential as he gazed upon his goddess. This moment had been too long in waiting to stop any longer, and he slowly rolled his hips, grinding into her. A strangled moan wafted from her lips, and she threw her head back, her lashes drifting down over the ethereal blue, and for the first time in years, she let go of the walls shutting off their bond, the walls that they had both long forgotten about, and it felt like going home. He knew the moment those walls crumbled, felt the pure essence of her mingling with his after long years of being apart. He felt her pleasure as well as his, and nearly fell over the precipice. He fucked her faster, his impatience riding over to her.

Xena didn't make a sound, not anymore. But in her mind, she was moaning and gasping, and she could hear him do the same, above the disorienting roar in her ears. [Xena... Xena. Love... so much...] He was rambling in her mind, his pure joy almost drowning out his mental words.

[Ares...]

Those who feel like they have a true connection with another haven't the slightest clue what they are talking about unless they have a bond like that between the Warrior Princess and the God of War. No two people have ever truly been one unless their minds were connected and melded like such. Their breaths flowing as one, their hearts beating as one, he was soon pulling out his entire length and slamming back into her slick walls. They could never lie to each other, never hide any portion of their souls, not when their minds were unfolded and laid open for the other to read and know and become. And when they came, they came together, as one the whole way through, and their screams were silent to outside ears, but resonated the length of the universe to them.

Shaking and shuddering, Ares slumped onto his Princess, her sweat-slicked form clinging to his, his spent cock still dripping with a concoction of her juices mixed with his. [Gods, Xena. You make me feel incredible...]

[You are incredible.]

They laughed together, silently, pressed together like one. Her breasts were flattened against his chest, round and firm, and his cock rested against her muscled stomach.

When she felt able to speak again, she glanced up, the glint of laughter still present in her eyes. [Wow, God of War. Wait 'til I tell all my friends about this.]

She didn't need to see his face to know how his lips tightened, [So that's what this is about? Doing a god?]

Silence wove her painful spell through the air, the warm golden glow of the candles becoming brittle and cold. Her jaw twitched as she clenched her teeth, "Yeah? It's not like you gods haven't done enough of your own screwing with us mortals." She spoke aloud, her anger radiating through their bond.

He didn't answer, but if possible, his dark eyes hardened even more. His arm slid from under her torso, and he sat up.

Oh gods. It was just a joke. Before he could leave, Xena flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his muscled waist. Swallowing her pride, she donned her sweetest face, and pleaded, [Don't be mad, Ares. I didn't mean it that way.]

He found himself blinking back tears as he stared down at her wide, innocent eyes peeking up through her glossy black bangs. Memories of the warrior as a child floated around them like ghosts of the past. Laughing silently, Ares took her shoulders and hauled her up into a tight hug, falling back down onto the bed. I'm getting way too soft!

She blew her bangs out of her eyes, her head pillowed on his strong shoulder, [Well, that was embarrassing.]

[You never cease to surprise me, sugar.]

[What? Thought I was too stiff to do a little begging?]

[I'm sure your conscience will eat at you.]

[Damned straight.]

His lips found hers, and she wasn't too surprised to find that his kisses could still make her stomach flutter maddeningly. [I'm sorry. It was a bad joke.]

Ares let hooded eyes follow the graceful line of her throat to the swell of her breast, [I was the one who took it too seriously.]

That counted for an apology, she supposed. Stifling a yawn, she shifted, and her thigh pressed to his groin. She could feel him hardening again. But all he did was kiss the corner of her mouth, whispering, "Go to sleep, Xena."

Her eyes fluttered shut, and he felt a strange catch tug at his chest. Was it possible to be so happy that it hurt? Just when he thought that she was asleep, she suddenly murmured, silently, [I trust you'll keep watch?]

Maybe flippancy was a retreat she could rely on when she frightened, or couldn't handle some emotions and needed to convince herself that she was tough enough... But it still hurt. Maybe someday she would trust him, and then perhaps he would have a chance.

[But of course.]

She was truly asleep when he mouthed the words, "I love you, Xena." And somehow, it wasn't enough anymore.

The day had barely dawned, and they were already well into another quarrel.

[Xena, cut me some slack! How was I supposed to know? I can't control these things.]

The walls that had cut off their bond for so long slammed down venomously, "You're a god, fuck! Why can't you?"

Ares nearly reeled from the physical pain of their connection closing, "In case you haven't noticed, I'm War! I have no powers when it comes to controlling procreation!" He bit his lip, "Why can't you be happy about this?"

She refused to look at him.

"You wish we hadn't done this?"

It was gradually dawning on her that they had an audience. She shot a glance at her mother and Gabrielle, dreading their reactions. "Right now, yes."

It hurt like hell, "Because you don't love me."

Xena felt an unwelcome tingling start in the corner of her eye. Still looking down, she let a hand splay over her flat abdomen, covered only by her thin shift. Over her-their-unborn child, "I... Your bastard... I don't know."

Ares felt like crying. "Marry me, then," he whispered harshly. Her eyes flew to his. "Marry me and that won't be an issue."

Bitterly, memories of long past, childish fantasies of being his wife came to mind. And somehow, it tore her up inside because it was for all the wrong reasons. "Never," the word seethed like the raging waters of the Acheron.

This wasn't going well at all. Why couldn't he ever find the right words? Why couldn't he let her see that he would ask the same question were she barren? He blew up. "You want me to get down on my knees and beg? Fine!" There was a thud as he dropped to his knees, "Marry me!"

For perhaps the first time in her life, the Warrior Princess took the coward's way out, running from the room, and the god of war burst into tears like an injured child.

Shocked, and a bit frightened, Gabrielle followed her friend, hoping that the entire episode was a bad dream.

Cyrene handed the shaking god a kerchief, wisely waiting until he had calmed down. He did, though not before soaking the cloth with a god's tears, and it dissolved, leaving behind only shreds of threads.

The woman searched for the right words. She couldn't be nice; he'd just clam up tighter than a merchant's purse... "Well, you really screwed that up."

His brown orbs impaled her angrily, but she took a deep breath and plunged on, "That was incredibly stupid. You backed her into a corner, Ares. You never do that to a woman, least of all Xena. If she doesn't have a choice, she strikes out with all of her might, and it's fueled by fear and desperation too."

"I know."

Cyrene sighed. At least he was willing to talk now. "You can't pressure her. My daughter has always been terrified of commitment, and it never helped that everytime she threw herself into something, it would betray her. She's afraid to take the risk. You have to be patient; don't rush things, alright?"

He groaned, "But I'm so sure..."

"She isn't. Maybe somewhere inside, yes. But just beneath the surface, she's a nervous wreck. Just trust her. She won't leave you hanging for too long. Believe me. This time she has more than herself to think about," Cyrene broke out in a wide smile, "She has my grandchild."

"It's been long enough."

"Give it more time."

Ares pursed his lips, forcing himself to take deep, calming breaths while he remained seated on the floor. My child... Our child. "You would make an incredible advisor, Cyrene."

She laughed, "Just on matters of love, son."

Damn him. Damn him to Tartarus. Xena punched the offending tree again, brutalizing the frightened souls with furry tails that lived within its green-draped arms. She could care less. It's all a just chore to him. He never cared. As far as he was concerned I'm a burden to him. 'Marry me and that won't be an issue.' Yeah right. That hurt so much it wasn't even funny. I hate him! Nothing we ever had matters to him. A tiny voice from deep inside gave substance to what she'd rather not have admitted was bothering her the most. He never loved me...

Gabrielle found her by the old willow, furiously wiping away the tears as quickly as they fell.

"Xena?" Gabrielle couldn't keep the angry, hurt tone out of her query. She slept with the gods-damned bastard for fuck's sake!

Her only answer was a tear-stained glare.

Gabrielle, unsatisfied, pushed harder, "Are you going to marry him?"

How can she be so fucking insensitive? Xena pointedly ignored the blond, though she knew it was useless. Gabrielle never knew when to quit. You'd think she'd get the hint from the six odd years we've suffered together.

"Xena, I know you're hurt, but you have to think logically about-"

"Hurt?" The warrior towered over the bard, "You wouldn't have any idea what hurt is!"

Gabrielle cringed, retorting hotly, "What does that mean? You of all people know all that I've been through."

"Of course I know, because I was there with you the whole damn time! You always had me to turn to whenever you screwed up or needed help! Losing your husband? Big fucking deal! I had to lose Marcus twice! Losing your blood innocence? How many people do you think I've killed to protect you? Being impregnated by some evil god? I've been raped and tortured! I've always shielded you from nearly everything!"

"It was because of you that I had to go through those horrors! Were it not for you I would be living peacefully with Perdicus!"

"I never asked you to follow me! Had you ever told me 'Xena, I'm leaving' I would have let you go wherever you wanted!" The Warrior Princess bit her tongue furiously, taking calming breaths. If this continued, she would do something to Gabrielle that she would most probably regret later. Staring up into the cloudless morning sky, still tinged with hints of blushing dawn, she spoke, her voice tightly controlled, "I'm sorry, Gabrielle."

"I'm not saying that I didn't have it a lot easier than you, Xena, and I'm not saying that I could have survived out there without you-"

"No, I was just as lucky," Xena felt controlled enough to look at the blond, "I had Ares."

"What?"

"I've spent the better part of my life on the road, and through the whole ordeal I've always... almost always had Ares by my side to look after me, much like you had-have me."

"So you do love him."

Xena laughed shortly, "It isn't that easy. No, I don't love him. I need him, I owe him, but I can't love him. Not that way."

"Why?"

"He'd take my love and twist it until he'd destroyed me and there's nothing left in me except him. It's what he does. That's what being the god of war means, and he can't help it."

"Then leave him. We've been through too much together to let a man get between us, and you said yourself that you don't need him or any other male."

"Do you mean that or is it coming from your hatred for what he's done to you?"

"I mean it because I hate the idea that he might ever get what he wanted," Gabrielle took her friend's hand solemnly, "I'm sorry that I have to say this, but when it comes down to a choice, it's either him or me."

The warrior snatched her hand back, "Ease the pressure, why don't you?"

Gabrielle shook her blond head sadly, "I mean it."

Xena headed back into the inn, "I'll decide after Astarus' threat is neutralized."

"I hope you make the right choice."

Your opinion does not make a choice right. The black-haired woman didn't speak the words out loud, merely focusing on finding the wargod.

"Where will you be?"

Ares spun around, "I'll be watching." He knew that she meant the battle immediately.

"You watch often."

"All the time."

Xena stared up at him wordlessly.

The god carefully brushed away a lingering bit of moisture on her cheek, "Be careful."

His soft warning was greeted with a sneer, "Looks like you got what you wanted."

"Was it I who wanted?"

A wry smile, "No." Then the tall woman shook her head gently, "Marriage was not part of