Broken Engagements

Ares materialized in his sister's house for his date with Gabrielle. The decorations were still up.

"Hey sis, how was the party?"

"It was bitching," she said from her reclining position on her sofa. She scowled at him and said, "I wish you'd learn to knock."

He shrugged and smiled, "I didn't feel Hep or anyone else so I figured you were alone," he crossed his hands over his chest and leaned against the wall behind him, "Is Rie still getting ready?"

For a second she looked confused then her brow cleared, "She's with Xena. Come to think of it, she's been gone a long time."

"You let her go off with Xena?"

"I couldn't exactly stop her,"

He raised his left eyebrow.

"She's a free woman,"

He sighed in irritation. "Use your pool to show me where she is."

"Or you could just feel her with your love,"

He refused to look at her as he growled, "Just do it!"

"Fine, fine," she stood up then grabbed her chest as she stumbled.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he appeared at her side.

"Yeah," she said and she inhaled deeply, "I just felt someone's heart break."

"It doesn't usually affect you like this," he said in a worried tone. She didn't look good. Her flawless skin was as white as the marble that was used to make their statues.

"I know. This must be someone close to me. Someone I care about," she took another deep breath and managed to stand without his help.

"Do you have to go?"

"No. They haven't called for me," she inhaled deeply one more time before turning to her pool. Unsurprisingly it was in a pink receptacle. She waved her hand over it and commanded, "Show me Gabrielle."

The pool had been instructed who Gabrielle was. It shimmered before revealing an image of a crying Gabrielle.

"Damn her!" Ares cursed. He felt around with his senses and orbed out in a flash of blue.

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"Rie?" he asked in a whisper. There was no answer so he gathered her into his arms. He released a sigh as he felt her warm body in his arms where she belonged.

"Rie?" he asked again. There was still no answer just more crying. He was worried.

What could Xena have said to her?

"What's the matter honey?"

She still didn't answer. He held her closer. He'd never seen her like this. When the storm had passed he gently lifted her chin so he could look at her. She was one of those who looked good when she cried. Her green eyes sparkled with unshed tears and her face was flushed and her lips were calling to him.

He couldn't resist their lure. He leaned forward and lightly touched his lips to hers. She tasted of ambrosia, but a lot better. His body hardened. He maneuvered them so she was lying on her back in the grass with him half lying over her. His last rational thought was 'Screw the rules!'

Minutes later or maybe it was only seconds, he was violently shoved away.

"How could you?" she said with a scowl.

"What? Kiss you?"

"No! Yes!" she scrambled out from under him and stood.

He couldn't help a chuckle. She looked so cute standing there with her hair on end and her face flushed with tears glaring at him. Suddenly he had a clear image of what their daughter would look like. He coughed to cover his gasp.

"Why are you marrying me?"

"You know why,"

"Your parents," she sounded defeated.

He couldn't tell her that he was starting to like her so he settled for, "Yes."

"You didn't ask me. That means I can call it off whenever I want to,"

His heart stopped for a second before starting again at double its usual pace. .

Damn Xena! "What brought this on?"

"I found out that you're only marrying me because I jumped you," she used air quotes when she said 'jumped you', "before you could ask me for some names of more suitable girls."

Ares swallowed. That sounded suspiciously like what he'd said to Hercules.

"I'll kill him,"

"Kill who,"

"Hercules!" he snarled, "your secrets are safe with me. My ass!"

"It wasn't Herc., it was Xena,"

"I don't care! He should never have opened his big fat righteous mouth!"

"He didn't! Joxer overheard you and told Xena,"

"By Zeus," he inhaled deeply to calm himself down. He wanted to wring the bumbling fool's neck. He took a step towards her, "I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

He took another step, but stopped when she took a step back.

"That didn't hit me too hard because when I thought back to it I realized it was true,"

He breathed a sigh of relief and inched closer to her. He froze when she turned pain filled eyes to his.

"I know why you're marrying me, but now I know that it's not me you're not marrying but her,"

"Her?"

"The love of your life!" she yelled again wiping the tears away.

"The love of my life?"

"Did I stutter?" she yelled then added, "Your dead fiancée."

"But, she's ..."

"I'm calling the wedding off because now I know you're not marrying me, but someone else. It isn't me, Gabrielle, that you see when you look at me, but your dead fiancée. It isn't me you've been kissing, but HER!"

She turned away.

"Do I get a chance to defend myself?" he reached out and grabbed her.

"Don't bother denying it!" she snapped and tore herself out of his grasp, "That's the only reason you can stomach being around me suddenly."

"I..."

She pulled off the ring she wore on the third finger of her left hand and threw it at him.

"I never want to see you again!" she snarled before turning and running away.

I don't need this! Not today of all days!

A millennia ago he had lost his love and it seemed the same thing was happening all over again.

Ares felt something in him splinter as he watched her lithe figure disappear. It hurt that she'd believed everything Xena had said but hadn't bothered to ask him if any of it was true.

Fine! If that's the way she wants to play it. She can rot in Tartarus for all I care!

He orbed out.

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Thanks for the reviews peeps. It does my writer's heart good.

Princess Pat and Cheetah Princess - those are great compliments. I think I'm going to cry. :-)