Ares and Xena went into the bedroom locked in a hot and heavy kiss. He broke their kiss. He left her to take a bottle from her drawer. He pulled the cork out and dumped the pungent-smelling sap that was in it out onto the floor. "You won't be needing this now."

Xena looked slightly taken back.

"You don't think I know that you take the sap from giant fennels whenever you get pregnant?" Ares asked as he went back over to her. "You're hardly the only Greek woman to do so and I make it my business to know everything about you."

"You astonish me, Ares. I would have thought the idea that I was killing our little bastards would have bothered you."

"It's true I've wanted a child from you for awhile because I know how unstoppable a child of ours could be, but I knew you weren't ready for a child yet. I have more patience than you give me credit for," he said as he literally ripped her robe off of her.

She smirked as she eyed the discarded robe, "Yeah, they should have added the god of patience to your title."

He smiled as he leaned in to kiss her. He loved when she bated him. He would hold onto her by whatever means was necessary whether she loved him or not. He knew of no better way to do that than through a child. He also knew the key to keeping her satisfied with their life together as it was came through her lust to conquer by bloodshed. He knew their next battlefield lay on Mount Olympus. It would be challenging enough to keep her entertained and it also take care of his problem with Athena and the other Olympians, who were getting tired of him being the most worshiped by mortals.

"Speaking of children," Ares said, although he was finding it somewhat hard to speak coherently with Xena running her hands over all over his chest, "how would you feel about overthrowing the Olympians and creating a new race of gods?"

Xena stopped as she considered it, but it was clear from the sparkle in her eye that the idea intrigued her.

Ares pulled her tightly and possessively against him, "You could rule the empire from Mount Olympus and then you truly would be unstoppable. Think how much fun it would be planning the battles for the greatest conquest a mortal has ever made. It would be just like old times. What do you say?" He swept her hair back, so he could devour her neck while she thought about it.

Xena was flushed with excitement at the thought and at Ares' current actions. "I say death to the gods."

sss

Ares was even more satisfied than usual. She had been more aggressive than ever if that were possible. She was obviously still feeling tension from the situation with Solan and was releasing it in the bedroom. He was also enjoying the fact that her hands were still running across him even though they were finished. She was obviously still keyed up on the Olympian idea.

"Do you even fool around with other women anymore?" Xena asked sharply, spoiling the moment.

Ares knew that other women would have wanted the answer to be no, but Xena counted it as a weakness. He supposed he counted it as a weakness too but like any weakness he couldn't help it. Other women just didn't excite him anymore. "What business is it of yours?"

"Just because I have no interest in taking other lovers, which doesn't stem from affection for you I assure you, doesn't mean you can't. It might cure you of that silly notion you have that you love me."

"It might," he snarled.

"And we might be able to plan a brilliant campaign if you weren't trying to screw me every time you saw me," she said as she stood up and tossed him his pants.

He felt sure steam was rising off him at this point. Oh, he hated her, but he loved her too. It was amazing to him how you could dislike someone so strongly at moments but still feel love for them.

sss

Xena laid a hand across her middle as she examined her figure a few days later. She could almost feel the child within her even though there were no outward signs of it yet. She had to give Ares credit. There was no one she knew of that was more capable in the bedroom. She hadn't expected to be pregnant this soon.

She knew exactly who she wanted to be the first to know. She went down to Solan's holding cell. He was being held there until she decided what she wanted to do with him. She brought a torch with her. She wanted to be able to see his face when she told him the news. Solan looked thinner and weaker brought about by his small rations of muddy water and moldy bread no doubt. He wasn't even able to get up from the floor. He wasn't as tan as he used to be either with no sunlight.

"What do you want? Am I finally going to be hung on a cross? I know how much you love that method of execution."

"I came to share the good news. I carry Ares' seed in my womb. Your next empress or emperor rests within me."

"The gods help us all," Solan said in horror and it was a horror. He couldn't imagine two crueler, more evil parents. The child would grow up to be an absolute monster.

"I wouldn't worry about the gods. They won't be with us much longer."

"What does that mean?" Solan asked.

Xena ignored his question. "You could have been my heir you know if you had played your cards right."

"You're lying. Why would you have wanted to make me your heir?"

"Because you're my son."