Don't Want To Close My Eyes

By: AglaiaWar

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. I do not own "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith. They belong to whoever owns them (Duh! Lol).

Summary: Xena, Ares, and Gabrielle are still on the farm. After Gabrielle's hand wanders ( 00 Yikes!), the three fall asleep. At least that's what each thinks.

Author's Notes: This is one of my first stories that I actually finished. I know it's short but after I heard the song one of those little nagging people in the back of my head said "This would work perfectly with Lk's challenge. Write the story. WRITE THE STORY. It's the least you could do. Ya know…you've become a lurker in the XOC." Well it wouldn't shut up (And it kind of scared me) so I wrote this. Be Kind!

Rating: PG, Nothing bad here (Unfortunately).

Dedications: To all Ares and Xena fan EVERYWHERE! This is inspired by Lk's Challenge in Shipper Heaven. So I'm going to dedicate it to her, too!

Feedback: Please tell me what you think. size=1 width=100% noshade>The farm house comes into view. The window can be seen, moonlight flowing into the cracked pieces of the windowpane. Xena's breathing is even and a smile enhances her features as the moonlight hits her face. Gabrielle's soft snoring is heard from the floor, where she has somehow ended up in a cocoon of covers. Ares stares at the ceiling, still not asleep. He turns to stare at Xena's sleeping form.

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing

Watch you smile while you are sleeping

While you're far away and dreaming

A small raven tress falls into Xena's face. Ares silently props himself up, careful not to disturb her sleep. He rises his hand to cautiously push the hair back into place. The second his figures touches her face a look of pain crosses it. He jerks his hand back letting it softly fall to the bed. He looks back to the ceiling only to realize that Xena's hand is now intertwined with his. He turns to see her pained look replaced with one of peace.

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender

I could stay lost in this moment forever

Well, every moment spent with you

Is a moment I treasure

Ares squeezes her hand gently picking it up to his lips. He kisses the back of it softly. Inhaling the sweet smell of her skin.

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

His face fills with pain and regret for the things he had done to her those years before. Ares moves closer to Xena's form delicately placing a kiss on her eyelids, wishing to take away all the pain he caused her. Hoping that she'd let him. He mumbles softly thanking Eli's god for saving his Love.

Lying close to you

Feeling your heart beating

And I'm wondering what you're dreaming

Wondering if it's me you're seeing

Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together

And I just wanna stay with you

In this moment forever, forever and ever

Ares mind wandered from his love to his sacrifice. Wondering if his immortality was worth it. He looks towards Xena's face knowing making her happy is far better than anything including his life.

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Brown eyes remain unmoved from Xena's face. Her skin seeming almost white in the moonlight but somehow having a lively tint to it. She seemed so delicate, fragile, almost like a porcelain doll from Chin. Her face sparkling with bliss.

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Ares recollects his feelings when she was left him to fight for the greater good. When his half-brother took her. The funny thing was he never really loved that Xena. He wanted her back because he loved what she became.

I don't wanna miss one smile

I don't wanna miss one kiss

Well, I just wanna be with you

Right here with you, just like this

When Caesar crucified her, he was grief-stricken. He couldn't help her. And when she came back what did he do…cause more havoc for her. Then his heart broke when she drank that poison. At least what he thought was poison. When she wouldn't let him help her.

I just wanna hold you close

Feel your heart so close to mine

And stay here in this moment

For all the rest of time

Wanting so bad to hold her. To kiss her and tell her he'd gladly die for her. But she'd heard it before and nothing had come from it but a Thank You. No matter how much he loved her she wouldn't love him back.

Don't wanna close my eyes

Don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

'Cause I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Ares turns, his eyes still sparkling as their lids gently fall. His hand and Xena's still hang onto one another. Xena's eyes open and she smirks as she looks down at Ares' hand and hers. A look of regret passes her face as her eyes linger on Ares' form. Wanting to tell him that she's sorry for not being able to show him how she feels.

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Her lips move as if she is going to speak but no words escape her mouth. A silent tear falls from the corner of her eye, making its way down her face. Her eyes shut as Ares turns again.

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Ares face falls as he sees a single tear rolling down Xena's face. He brushes it away and a smile crosses her face for a second. He smiles wanting to kiss her this moment more than ever. He squeezes her hand knowing he can't get any closer. Ares' eyes close when tears threaten to fall.

Don't wanna close my eyes

Don't wanna fall asleep, yeah

I don't wanna miss a thing

From the floor Gabrielle silently grimaces. How could two people so in love not know it?