Swords. ..Swearing… Steel….Shouting…

That was what Xena had expected when she found herself between these two men. Not this tension-laden, unnerving silence. Ares was staring at her belly like he had never seen a pregnant woman before. Hercules was at her side, ready to defend her at any minute and his gaze never left Ares. Morrigan kept looking between the two of them like she didn't know what was going on.

Everything raced through Xena's head in those hour-long seconds. Aphrodite telling her she was pregnant, her decision to leave Greece so Ares couldn't get to her or her child, the last night with Hercules…now it had all come to a head in the worst way possible and she had to explain.

Just then, Ares seemed to find his way out of his shocked fog and his face returned to its natural angry set. Seeing her was upsetting enough but finding her with him, like that…brought out every negative emotion he was capable of. He looked past the human oaf and right into her disloyal eyes. They didn't know his powers were limited here.

"Give me one reason," he said menacingly, "That I shouldn't kill you right here, right now."

With every word, he took a step. By "now" he was right in front of Hercules and almost directly in Xena's face. She was terrified but tried not to let in show in her face. She was consecrated to Ares so she did not fear death for herself, but for her child.

Hercules piped up, "That's low, even for you. Threatening a pregnant woman."

"This pregnant woman disobeyed my orders and left my service without my release. She knows how strongly I value loyalty. She knew what she was risking."

"You don't own her, Ares. It's her life to live as she pleases. You can't kill her just because she cut you out of it."

Hercules' words stung. Deep down, Ares knew that was exactly what Xena had done. She had cut him out of her life and moved on like all their years together had counted for nothing. He would never admit to anyone how much that hurt. But a perk of being the God of War was that no one ever got away with displeasing him.

"Actually," Ares said with a sardonic grin, "I can."

With that, he grabbed Xena's arm and used the last of his power to transport them back to Greece. It happened too fast for Hercules to stop it.

"Damn!" Hercules said angrily. He began to pace the muddy ground. After a time, he made his way to the edge of the cliff and prepared to climb back down. Morrigan asked him what he was doing.

As he lowered himself over the edge he said, "Going to stop Ares from killing his own child."

She was falling, falling faster, falling deeper. Falling to where no one could catch her. She could see the ground. It was always there, always coming closer. She was always just about to hit it. She could feel the wind rushing past her. The utter helplessness of falling coupled with the panic of being just about to hit the ground and die was too much to handle. She was so afraid.

Why?

Through the haze of her fear, she heard a voice.

Just tell me why you did it.

Can you save me, she replied.

Of course I can save you. Tell me why. And I'll catch you.

You…you won't let me fall?

Never.

She was too terrified to speak so she opened up her mind to the Voice. She let him see the life she had led, full of blood and battle, at Ares' side. Gods help her, she had loved it but then there came something that superseded all of that. Involving herself with Ares was one thing but she knew that his world was no place for a child. Point blank. She had to go somewhere his Olympian eye could not see. She left Greece. She had to make sure he never…she caught herself before she revealed too much. She let the Voice see glimpses of her and Hercules together in case it wondered who her child's father was. Then she stopped sharing. That was enough to answer its question.

Please. Help me now. You said you would. Don't let me fall.

The Voice did not reply, but Xena did stop falling. As she breathed a grateful sigh, her sensation changed to that of floating. She was on her back floating in a pond, while the overhanging trees shaded her from the brutal midday sun. Calla lilies grew around the edges of the pond, bouncing up and down in the breeze. She was back on the pond outside the temple of her childhood. She remembered how peaceful and protected she always felt here. She smiled and closed her eyes.

He had to kill her. He should kill her. She deserved it for running away from him. Even more, for running to him. She had broken his trust and there was no coming back from that. He knew that. All the same, he couldn't help thinking of the old days; she at the head of his army, spreading his glorious name with every battle. They had had a good thing, before Hercules captured her. It could all be traced back to him, her drifting away from him, her getting pregnant. Now she was carrying his child and she would always be connected to him…unless…No, she would never forgive him. If he got rid of the child, that wouldn't solve anything. He absolutely could not interfere with the child.

sorry it's so short

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