Disclaimer: I don't own Xena or any of its characters!!

Summary: Based on the Seeds of Faith episode, it's what I think would have happened if Gabrielle accepted Ares offer.

A/N: This is my first time writing a Xena: The Warrior Princess Fanfic.  Some of the scenes of Seeds of Faith are in the first Paragraph of two.  Tell me how I can improve my story (Don't be too harsh with your words)

The Offer, The Agreement Their Lives

Ares: "When I first met you, you barely had the skill to skip a rock. I guess Xena's been a positive influence on you after all ... you're getting pretty good with these."
Gabrielle: "Not good enough."

Gabrielle: "You did it! You did it!"
Ares: "I did what I had to do."
Gabrielle: "I didn't."

Ares: "Don't be so hard on yourself, Gabrielle. It was selfish of Eli to put you in that position. You can't fool me, Gabrielle. I can see that you know the truth."

Gabrielle: "What truth is that?"
Ares: "That might is right ... even when it's wrong."
Gabrielle: "You don't know what I believe."

Ares: "I can see into your heart, Gabrielle. I know you were trying to do the right thing. You would have no regrets if you listened to your head instead of Eli. Imagine how it could be ... if you had the power to save him. Let me show you what it feels like ... that is how I feel every moment of every day. It is the power of the gods, and with it ... you can change the world. Isn't that what you always wanted?"

*Later on-

Callisto: "Eli lived and died by his message, and as long as you keep it in your heart, his spirit will live on."
Xena: "I'm not much for flowery sentiment. I'm not going to start now."
Callisto: "What can I do to ease you pain?"
Xena: "Nothing. You wanted him dead."
Callisto: "Eli's death was not arbitrary, Xena."
Xena: "I know that! You set it in motion."
Callisto: "This isn't an ending. It's a beginning. Eli will continue the cycle of life as his soul is reincarnated into a new body."
Xena: "I liked him just fine in the old one!"

Xena: "What about Gabrielle? She's suffering because she's caught up in the middle of your game."

Callisto: "I'm afraid Ares will cause her the real harm."
Xena: "That's why I'm going after him."

Callisto: "I realize you may never believe this, but I care about Gabrielle ... and about you."
Xena: "Well, if that's true, then you can take me to the Dagger of Helios. They say that no person on earth knows where it is ... that's why I'm betting you do."
Callisto: "I don't know if I can do that."
Xena: "Well, why not? Doesn't your god believe in free will?"

Gabrielle: "This is your big accomplishment, Eli? If I hadn't listened to you, I wouldn't be talking to your ashes. You probably think that I am betraying you by standing with Ares, but I'm just trying to use his knowledge for a Greater Good. I keep telling myself that. You believed in me, Eli. You always knew that we were on a separate path. Have faith in me now."

Gabby walks to Ares temple after she talks to Eli's ashes.  She looks up at the tall, wide, foreboding, and stone temple.  She opens the tall stone door with a worried look on her face.  –What am I doing?  Have I gone Insane(Accepting Ares offer, leaving Xena?) ??  Xena is going to be crazed or worse when she hears I want to stand with Ares.  How is Xena going to react?  Am I making a mistake?  Is this decision going to ruin my life and Xena's?  Am I going to be a good goddess??  Why does Ares want me and not Xena?  What is he up to?  Is he using me to make Xena mad and jealous??  What does he want from me?  Does he like me or what?!?!? Whats he going to do when I accept his offer?  I can find out what gods do all day(well Ares anyway).  I want to know about Ares life.  How he lives.?.   If he has a dog?!?  And I can meet the other gods and goddesses.  I might as well go in and get this over with.-  She walks in the temple.  It is dark inside with several candles lit, you can see Ares throne that he sits in, there are all types of weapons and armor on the wall all over it.  There is a stone table next to Ares throne on the left side, with war strategy scrolls and a long stone chair behind it, for someone to sit down, in front of the table.  Gabby calls Ares name out.  The temple smells like scented candles and Ares sweet smelling cologne.

"ARES, I need to talk to you about the offer you gave me."

She sits in Ares throne with her legs straight, feet on the floor and knees together(sitting like a proper lady.)

"ARES, GET DOWN HERE, NOW!!!  I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!!  NOW!!

Ares comes down and he unknowingly appears on Gabby's lap, sitting sideways with his legs over the other throne arm.

"I'm here.  Where are you Gabrielle?"  Ares yells,

"I'm right here."

Ares jumps up out of Gabby's lap and comes to stand in front of her.

"Whoa!!  You scared the hell out of me!!  Don't sit in my chair ever again."

Ares makes a stone throne for Gabrielle. Shorter then his own throne. He makes a cushion on the throne, also.  Gabrielle gets out of Ares throne and sits in her own throne.

"So…why do you want to talk to me?"

"To talk to you about your offer!!"

Ares interest is suddenly peeked, "What about my offer?"

"Are you serious??  You really want me?"

"Yes!! Like I said earlier(A/N: Succession)

: Flashback

Ares: "You've also got a slanted opinion of me ... okay, only somewhat slanted. But, I'm serious, you're not quite there yet, but maybe I've been dismissing you too easily over the years. Maybe, they heir to Xena's throne has been right in front of me all along."
Gabrielle: "Are you out of your mind?"

Ares: "Here's the deal -- I've learned a few things from Xena ... and, perhaps my quest for Peace through Power isn't quite what I thought it was."
Gabrielle: "You are so full of ..."
Ares: "No. That is Xena's problem these days, she's so set in her ways. She won't even make an effort to see change. You should know that more than anyone. It's okay, you don't have to answer. It's obvious. It's painfully obvious. So don't do to me what Xena does to you. Just -- just hear me out honestly, okay?"
Gabrielle: "Okay"

Ares: "What I need, what I think I've always needed, is someone strong enough to lead people. I think the key is to find someone who's learned to fight, but has the discretion not to. Now, that's something Xena never had."

Ares: "I want you to look beyond out past. I know how you feel about me, you've got good reason. But, maybe ... uh ... gods can change, too."
Gabrielle: "What happens to Xena?"
Ares: "Xena? Xena goes home, lives with her mother, and spends the rest of her years safe in the knowledge that someone she trusts is in control."

End Flashback :

"But…why do you want me by your side and not Xena?!?!?!?"

"Because Xena despies me and hates me.  And your not quick to judge people.  She can't see change."

"You really want me by your side?"

"Yes I do, Gabrielle!  You would be a better leader than Xena, Probably!!"

"I don't know about the latter."

"It's true, maybe."

"Ares, my answer to your offer is……..yes!!  I'll stand by your side."

"I understand you want to stay with Xena.  You think…….wait.  You said yes??"

"I did"

Ares looks shocked for a few moments, then he grabs her up in his arms and disappears.  They reappear in the town that Eli's followers are in.  Xena arrives eight minutes later.  Ares and Xena fight awhile, Xena gets the upper hand,

Ares: "Even if you kill me, you've already lost. Eli is dead."
Xena: "Then it's only fair that you pay for his life with yours."

"Xena, Don't!!"

"What?!?!?  Your siding with Ares??"

Gabby says quietly, "Yes!!"

Xena yells, "Gabrielleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!"