AN

Thank you for all your reviews again! They mean a lot to me, I am glad that you all seem to be liking it :) Here is another longer chapter for you.

Enjoy!

...

Xena let out a sigh of relief; she had just caught her first glimpse of Amphipolis. It had been a long journey. Phelix was now obviously comfortable in Xenas' company and had talked non-stop, Xena was amazed that he had any breath left in his body, even now he was talking. She felt bad for tuning him out, he had saved her after all, but after spending five years alone in heaven she found the constant talking irritating. Phelix reminded her of Gabrielle when Xena had first met her and being with him now increased her aching sense of loss.

"Is that where we are going? Eve is in Amphipolis?" Pelix asked, jolting Xena out of her musings.

"No, Eve is outside of Amphipolis. We are here so I can get some armour and weapons, I am not seeing Ares after five years in a dress" Xena replied.

Phelix stopped in his tracks, "Ares? The God of War? The one that killed Eli? You are going to meet him? Why? How? You know him?"

Xena stifled a sigh of irritation and carried on walking, "Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. The conqueror mentioned a god and I would bet my life on it that Ares is involved. By summoning him. And yes, I knew Ares very well before I died."

Phelix reluctantly followed behind Xena, "You're not very talkative are you?"

"Nope" Xena replied.

Phelix made a slight noise of irritation but followed Xena into Amphipolis. Xena was amazed by the change in the little town since she had last been there. It was bustling and full of life once more and people were walking in and out of her mothers' inn. Xena quickly urged Argo on and walked across the little village towards her mothers' inn, once outside she tethered Argo and walked in, knowing that Phelix would follow her inside.

Xena gave her eyes a moment to adjust in the sudden gloom and the peered around the place she had called home for so many years in surprise. The whole place looked just as it had when her mother had been alive, clean, cared for and fairly new, someone had obviously taken a lot of time to restore it.

"XENA!" someone cried from behind the bar.

Xenas head snapped to the right, and there, barrelling his way towards her, was Virgil. His face was alight with happiness and when he finally reached her he flung his arms around her. "You were dead! I thought I would never see you again, and then Eve told me a couple of days ago that you were coming back to help us. I'm so glad to see you!"

Xena smiled and hugged him back, "It's good to see you too" she murmured. She untangled herself from him and held him at arm's length; she was pleased to see that he looked exactly as she remembered him, from his short brown hair to his black leather vest. Xena was still amazed that Joxer had produced such a strapping son and felt a sudden pang for her old friend. "What are you doing here Virgil? Are you running the inn?"

"Somebody has too" he grinned happily, "I grew up in an inn too you know, so I was well prepared for it. I didn't want to be a warrior anymore after dad died, and I knew this place was empty, and Eve said it was ok. You don't mind do you?"

"Of course I don't mind, my mother would be glad that the place was open again, she put her heart and soul into this place." Xena replied smiling.

"And who is this?" Virgil asked, eyeing Phelix over Xena's shoulder.

"This is Phelix. Phelix this is Virgil, an old friend." Xena watched as the two young men shook hands, "Phelix here saved me from a spot of trouble in Gabrielles camp."

At her words Virgil's face darkened and his brown eyes looked troubled, "you saw her then?" he asked glumly.

Xena nodded.

"Did she remember you?" he asked hopefully.

Xena shook her head and watched Virgils face drop, tears forming in his eyes.

"I really thought she would remember you, I thought you would just go to her camp and we would get our Gabrielle back" he said sadly, shaking his head in despair.

Xena felt a jolt of jealousy run through her; she had always been uncomfortable with Gabrielle and Virgils relationship, memories of when the portal to hell opened up in the garden ran through her mind. She pushed them back guiltily, Virgil was just upset about Gabrielle, they were just friends, he hadn't meant anything when he had said 'our Gabrielle' she assured herself. "She didn't know me at all, in fact she slapped me. That girl has a mean swing" Xena said, "but she did let slip that a god was involved so you know who that probably means! I'm here to get some armour and weapons before I face him though."

"You're going to face Ares?" Virgil asked eagerly.

"Looks like it. I do not want to see him in this damn dress though" she said gesturing to her outfit in irritation. "How could I fight in this thing?"

Virgil snorted, "Well you will be happy to know that Eve has taken care of that for you. She sent me instructions on exactly what to get you. It's in your old room. We think Gabrielle has your old weapons, we know she definitely has your chakram at least."

"Oh" Xena said surprised and a little disappointed, she had secretly been excited about picking out new weapons for herself. "Thank you Virgil, I'll just go get changed then. Phelix stay down here, grab some food and a drink. I will be down soon."

Xena walked along the familiar hallways of her mothers' inn, she hadn't thought that she would ever see the place again and she was drinking it all in. She made her way into her old room and stood gazing at its contents. The bed in the corner was the one she had slept in as a child and the wooden desk and chair were in the same corner. The air was musty with disuse so she assumed that Virgil didn't rent out this room, for which she was grateful. On the bed laid her new armour which looked exactly like her old armour, even the swirls on the golden breast plate were the same.

There was a sudden knock on her bedroom door and Xena answered it quickly. Outside the door was a young girl with big blue eyes, long blonde hair and a sweet face, she was holding a bucket of water, "Virgil told me to fetch you some water" the girl said shyly, handing Xena the bucket and walking swiftly down the hall.

"Thank you" Xena called after her and closed her bedroom door. The water in the bucket was warm and there was a cloth in it. Xena smiled and quickly washed herself, grateful for Virgils' thoughtfulness and feeling even guiltier over her earlier jealousy.

Once washed and dried Xena quickly put on her new armour which fit her perfectly and then laced up her new boots. On the bed was a new sword with a silver handle and a small matching breast knife, she quickly slotted them into place. Grabbing a brush she quickly sorted her hair and then looked in the mirror that was above her desk. She looked exactly as she had before she died, minus her trusty old chakram which she would be reclaiming. She now felt ready to face anything.