Unfinished Business

"Why do you speak of such things?" she asked disheartened as he caressed her arm.

They lay on the cool ground, tangled in each other. Her breath sent a shiver up his spine as she clung to him. He stroked her hair and chuckled softly.

"You say the words as if I speak of nonsense. When I gain my freedom, I will work and gain yours as well. We will marry in the way of my people or yours; it holds no great concern to me as long as I may call you wife in the eyes of the Gods. I will make a fine living for us, and we will have land, a home."

"Will there be children?" she asked in a more whimsical tone. Placing her chin on his broad chest to look up at him.

He smiled wide, "Many as you can tend to. I would like five or six but at least five."

Her eyes widened "Five? By the Gods, you'll have to help with the tending to all of the children as well." she said, making circles on his chest with her index finger.

"If you wish it so." he said caressing her cheek. He would never get tired of her wishes...Ever. He wanted nothing but to spoil her.

"Crixus?" she spoke but her voice wasn't her own. It was a deep and slightly raspy male's voice.

Crixus opened his eyes, his dream ruined by the dirty Assyrian in front of him. It was one of his fondest dreams of her. "Have we arrived?" he asked looking at his sour, slightly annoyed.

"Yes, the gates are just beyond." The Assyrian said waving down the road.

He had met the Assyrian whom name he didn't care to remember a few suns ago on his journey. Spartacus and Doctore understood his refusal to join their fight. did he want to join in the fighting? Absolutely. To have his name forged into history and not forgotten from the infamous slave rebellion was what he strived for all theses years in the arena as a gladiator.

He no longer cared for the taste of glory. He only cared for Naevia.

He paid the Assyrian for the ride and went on his way without a word exchanged. He was going by the name Patorlus as there was still a hefty bounty for any slave that escaped from Capua after the massacre.

The massacre. Just thinking of it made his lips tug into a smile. Blood was shed with purpose and for justified reason. There was no honor amongst that house. Poisoned by that whore Lucretia. It felt good running a knife through her belly. Their bastard would not be corrupted by its mother's venom. Better with Hades than Lucretia. Her jealousy and his foolishness were the reasons his beloved was ripped from his arms.

To think about the last time he felt Naevia's arms around him. She was so frightened. The disgrace that she must be enduring at this very moment. It instantly shamed him. He would serve at her feet until he could not feel the sting of such shame.

He came to a small group that formed around the gates of Rome.

The Roman guard didn't deny Crixus presence. "What is your purpose, Gaul?" the guard spat at him, ignoring all the others who were begging for entry into the city.

"I am a butcher by trade. I have come in need for work." Crixus lie with a conviction that the guard seemed to believe.

"CLEAR A PATH!" he yelled at the guard as he and his fellow guard shoved them by force.

Crixus moved quickly through the crowd, passing through the gates. His focus...was the unfinished business of retrieving his paradise.