A/N - Thank you everyone for your continued support with this story!

Sorry it's been so long since I last updated! But life got in the way again! Unfortunately I will have very little opportunity to update over the next 7 months because I am going travelling! I will do my best though :) Enjoy this update! I will be back and finish it I promise.

Thank you!

...

Xena stood guiltily in the middle of Ares temple. She believed him when he said he had nothing to do with Gabrielle and now she was confused. She was so sure it was Ares that she hadn't considered what she would do if it wasn't him. She stared at the dilapidated temple sadly, she knew that Ares had loved her but she hadn't realised her death would affect him so deeply. She felt foolish, a feeling she was uncomfortable with.

"XENA!" someone suddenly shouted from outside.

Xena whipped around at the shout and ran towards the door. Outside the temple stood Phelix and Virgil surrounded by a small contingent of Gabrielles' men.

"Thought I told you to stay in the inn?" Xena said irritably.

"Well that would have been the sensible option, but I was worried you were having all the fun" Phelix replied happily. Xena was amazed at how comfortable he looked surrounded by ten fighters.

At Xena's words the men had paused in their advancement towards the men and considered Xena, she saw the leader nod at two men and immediately dismiss her as he turned back towards Vigil and Phelix. The two men stepped out of rank and headed towards Xena.

Xena laughed, she loved it when someone underestimated her. She drew her sword and prepared to fight, glad that she was going to get an opportunity to unleash her frustrations.

The first of the men swung his sword widely at her, Xena easily sidestepped it and felt her smile widen. Not only had the leader underestimated her, he had sent his worst fighters to deal with her. The second fighter ran at her, and swung his sword down towards Xena. She again dodged the sword and stuck out her leg, the fighter stumbled over it and bumped into the first fighter. Xena laughed and held her sword at them, waiting for one to advance at her again. This time they decided to try together, the first fighter jabbed forward with his sword and the second swung from above. Xena dodged the jab and stopped the second sword with her own and punched the second fighter in the nose; she felt a satisfying crunch and the man fell to the floor limp. Xena then spun on the spot and brought her right leg up and kicked the first fighter in the head, he too dropped to the floor.

Satisfied that the two men were now out of the fighting she turned towards the group of men fighting Phelix and Virgil, she felt a jolt of surprise go through her. Phelix was holding his own and one of the fighters was lying on the ground unconscious. Virgil was struggling and seemed to be defending more than attacking. Xena cried out her warriors cry and somersaulted towards the group. She landed directly in front of one of the fighters and caught him by surprise with a right hook to the chin, he too fell to the ground.

Xena was amazed that her five years in heaven had done nothing to dull her reflexes or fighting skill, she quickly dealt with the rest of the fighters and couldn't help the happy bubble of laughter that escaped her. It was the most fun she had had in years.

"I think you enjoyed that too much Xena" Phelix said watching the men retreat, "they had no idea what they were getting themselves into."

"I haven't had a good fight in years, it was about time I punched someone" Xena replied flashing him a grin, "besides it looked like you were enjoying yourself too."

Phelix blushed a furious red and looked at the ground, pleased with Xenas' approving tone.

"There is something wrong with the two of you, this is why I decided to run the inn, nobody has tried to stab me there yet!" Virgil said indignantly.

"I told you to wait in the inn, it's like being with Gabrielle again, she rarely listened to me either." Xena said sadly.

"Well that idiot followed you the second you left the inn. I only came to stop him from getting into trouble and then we ran into the scouts. They recognised him and didn't seem too pleased to see him to tell the truth." Virgil was angry.

Phelix tutted, "what would have happened if Xena had run into those thugs on her own?"

Virgil laughed heartily, "one thing you don't need to worry about is Xena's fighting skill."

"And if there were a hundred men?" Phelix retorted angrily.

"Then all three of use would be dead and no one could stop Gabrielle!" Virgil said forcefully, taking an angry step towards Phelix with his fists clenched at his side.

Xena cleared her throat, bored of the bickering. "If any of you are interested, Ares said he had nothing to do with Gabrielle and I believe him. That means we are back to square one."

"So now what are we going to do?" Virgil asked glaring at Phelix.

Xena looked thoughtful, "you are going back to my mothers inn and keeping an eye on things. Phelix and I are going to grab Argo and go to Eve. We need a new plan."