Her Man II
Xena was disappointed to wake up to find Ares gone. The blanket she'd covered him with before heading back to her own bed was folded neatly and the pillow perched on top of it. "Come to your senses?" She asked wryly as if he were still there and could hear her even though she knew he wasn't and couldn't.
"Who are you talking to?" Gabrielle/Mattie asked as she came into the room carrying two steaming coffee mugs. She handed one to Xena.
"No one," Xena responded, then took a sip of the morning joe. "Ack, what's in this?" The coffee tasted like pure syrup.
"Three sugars, just like always Pookie." Gabrielle/Mattie answered while walking around the desk to peruse her appointment book.
"I think I'll go grab some unadulterated coffee," Xena said and turned for the kitchen.
"Okay," the blonde called after her, a little put off by the fact that Xena's java preferences had changed. Gabrielle/Mattie shrugged her shoulders trying not to let it bother her so much. "Oh, and hey, it's your day to make breakfast," she yelled as Xena rounded the door facing into the kitchen.
"You want me to make breakfast?" Just what had she been up to as Harry?, Xena wondered.
After looking twice in the cupboard and three times in the fridge and freezer Xena decided on Eggos. Easy enough right? Pop them in the toaster then whammo! It should have gone off without a hitch. Except that, as she was tossing the eggos onto their plates chakram style, Gabrielle/Mattie came into the small kitchen and got hit smack in the forehead with a waffle.
"Harry! Um- I mean- Xena, what are you doing?" She glared at Xena.
"You walked right into it," Xena said innocently.
Gabrielle/Mattie toweled off her forehead and handed Xena a post-it note. "I think this is for you."
Xena took the yellow slip of paper and read silently.
Xena, if you need anything, call me.
310-273-7987
No Strings,
Ares
At the conflicted look on Xena's face, Gabrielle/Mattie said, "He was here? In our home? The psycho god who just tried to kill us?"
Xena didn't want to argue, "He was drunk, it was better if he slept it off."
"And you let him stay? Here? That's what cheap motels are for, Xena."
"Look, I'm sure you have a busy day, so can we talk about this later?" Xena handed Gabrielle the plate of waffles the one plate of Eggos that she had managed to get stacked successfully before the interruption. "Go ahead, eat up."
"All right," Gabrielle/Mattie agreed to an armistice but they were going to set some ground rules where Ares was concerned. Mattie's memories of Gabrielle had grown stronger but she could feel there were huge chunks of it missing. Still, somehow she got a feelling about Ares, or more precisely about Xena's feelings for Ares. Her instincts told her that Xena wasn't exactly even-headed where the handsome but diabolical god was concerned. But as Xena had pointed, Mattie did have a full morning schedule. So, a protracted debate about the God of War would have to wait til another time.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX
Xena straightened the lobby and put away the pillow and blanket Ares had used. She felt pathetically weak when she held the pillow to her face in hopes of catching a lingering whiff of his scent. Damn him! She would not let him do this to her. Not this time. Not in this world. This was a chance for a new start. A life away from the violence. Away from the darkness that had haunted her. The darkness he always tried to lure her back to. But Ares ha'd seemed so sincere the night before. Maybe she should call him. No strings, hmpf, that'd be the day.
A robust man with a full ginger beard came into the lobby bringing Xena out of her head. Good thing too, she was frightened of where her thoughts were headed. "You must be Henry?" Xena said looking down at the appointment book.
Henry eyed Xena up and down. He obviously liked what he saw. "Yes, and you are?" He tried to pull her hand up to kiss it.
"Xena and if you want to keep your teeth, I wouldn't do that."
"Ahh, delicious, you're new here. I like it. Dr. Mattie finally got somebody with some spunk. So, where's Harry?"
"He's no longer employed here." Xena answered and wondered if there was a job Annie should be doing somewhere. "Take a seat, won't you? The Dr. will be with you shortly."
Twenty minutes later, Xena sat with her feet kicked up on the desk twiddling her thumbs. What was she doing just sitting here? Is this what Harry did with his days? Look who's the sidekick now, she frowned. Maybe she should get a different job, something with some action. What would she do, though? Well, she did have many skills.
Mattie poked her head out into the lobby. "Xena, could you bring me some more tissue, please?"
Xena grabbed a box from the supply cabinet and brought them to Gabrielle's conference room. Xena was having a difficult time thinking of her lifelong partner as Dr. Mattie.
Henry had come unglued. He struggled to breathe through his sobbing, "I killed her, my beloved, I killed her." Mattie rubbed her hands on Henry's back in a soothing gesture. He had clearly made a breakthrough. Xena handed him the box of tissues. He looked up at her with red rimmed eyes. "Why do we hurt the ones we love?" He implored but Xena didn't have an answer to his question.
"Henry, I think that is enough for today. Let's get you an appointment for next week," Mattie suggested.
"No, you have to take me back, I have to change it. I had Anne beheaded. I became a monster. All I cared about was power. I wanted to see her suffer," his tone scared Mattie.
"Henry, even if I take you back there, there is no changing it. We can only see our past lives, we can't alter them," Mattie tried to reason with him.
"I am the King of England, no one tells me what I can and can not change," his ire was rising.
Xena could tell they were going to have a problem. "Go ahead and take him back," Xena told Gabrielle.
The doctor eyed her warily at first but then realized that Xena had a plan and did as she suggested. Xena slipped a sedative in a glass of water. Get him to drink this; otherwise, we are going to have an out of control, homicidal Tudor on our hands.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAX
That was a close one Xena thought as she handed the now calm Henry a card for his next appointment. Joan of Arc was sitting on the couch where Ares had slept the night before. Xena studied Joan for a moment. She wondered briefly if Ares had pursued Joan. Joan had done everything in the name of her god. She even claimed that her god talked to her. Had Ares been pulling Joan's strings? She didn't like the jealousy that crept in her heart when she thought about the possibility.
"Joan, how have you been?" Mattie addressed her client in an overly emotive manner.
Layin' it on thick aren't you? Xena thought as Mattie led Joan into the other room. As Joan followed Gabrielle into the therapy room, Xena couldn't help but admire the long sword the warrior woman carried.
After another twenty minutes of desk jockeying, Xena was bored to tears. A dart board, she could get a dart board. That would give her something to do besides sit and greet clients. The phone rang, "Welcome to who you used to be." Xena felt ridiculous saying it.
"Hello, yes, I'm calling because I saw your ad in the Pasadena Weekly and I'd like to make an appointment for the free consultation."
Xena looked in the appointment book, "I have an opening next Thursday."
"Thursday, no that's no good, Brinkley has ballet."
"Okay, how about Monday, the 17th?" Xena suggested an alternative date.
"No, Mondays won't work either, Chelsea has soccer."
"Fine, Friday the 21st in the morning?
"Can't do mornings because I volunteer at my son's kindergarten."
"Look lady, you can't afford to have a past life, you're too busy in this one," Xena said and hung up the phone.
Xena didn't know if she was irritated at the woman for being so impossible or if she was envious because the woman actually had a life. Either way she couldn't just sit there anymore.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAX
It felt good to be in the wilderness, away from noise, away from walls. Xena didn't know how exactly she knew this place was here but this is where she ran to, and so rather than give it much thought she decided to just enjoy it. She crossed the wash and hit the trail that she knew would lead to the waterfall. Other than the occasional cactus, the trail wasn't that different than the hundreds of roads she had traveled in Greece. Well, the cacti and the occasional pile of dog poo she skipped over as she ran. Eventually, the dirt path gave way to rock. Here, she met the creek where Eaton Canyon Natural Area gave way to Angeles National Forest. The rest of the trek would be made by crossing back and forth across the creek as it winded its way back to Eaton Saddle and the forty foot waterfall. Navigating the rocks was a much more strenuous workout, but one she needed nonetheless.
The sun was high in the sky and the occasional lizard was found sunning on a rock. She was thankful she'd had the mind to grab a bottle of water before she left the house. She figured Gabrielle would be pissed to find her gone but she'd deal with that later. For now, it was just her and nature. It was a weekday too, which meant she was practically the only person on the back end of the trail. On weekends she knew the place would be packed with urbanites shedding their suits and ties for backpacks and hiking boots. But during the week, most walkers stopped where the well-maintained dirt trail gave way to rock.
She could hear the roar of the waterfall before she made the last turn. Just as she expected, no one was about except her.. The fall wasn't large by any means but the pool was crisp, clear and inviting. Xena stripped down and waded in. The mountain runoff was ice cold but refreshing. She swam out to the fall itself and let its cleansing waters pour over her. She'd missed showers like this.
A familiar whoosh caught her attention. Just like him to spy on her at a time like this. Xena wanted to be mad but her stomach was doing somersaults. She looked back to the rock where she had left her clothes and running shoes. But it wasn't Ares. Aphrodite was stretched out on the rock looking like a Victoria's Secret model.
The disappointment must have been evident on Xena's face. "What? No hello? He's not your only fan, you know?" Aphrodite giggled.
Xena walked closer, "Aphrodite, it's good to see you. But I'm afraid to ask what brings you here. Doing Ares bidding now, are you?"
"No, but he did tell me you were back and I thought I would come for a visit. Feels good to be you again doesn't it?" Aphrodite walked into the water with Xena. Xena mused that Aphrodite could probably actually relate to what she was going through. She had lost her godhood and had it restored. When she got it back it must have felt much like this; much like being herself again. Ares too, but she wasn't going to think about that.
"Hestia, that's cold," Aphrodite said and then spread her hands out across the water. Xena felt the water gradually grow warmer. "Now that's better," Aphrodite said when the water was at a temp that she liked.
"Hestia?" Xena asked.
"Yeah, Aunt Hestia has become sort of the queen of the gods. She's like a parental figure to those of us who remain. You want me to catch you up on all the Olympian gossip?"
Xena started to say no but Aphrodite had already started.
AXAXAXAXAXAXAX
Ares should have stayed until Xena woke, but he knew that in the morning light things would be different. Sure, she may have kissed him last night but this was Xena he was talking about. As soon as she got her composure back she would file that kiss away in that folder she kept somewhere in her thick skull labeled 'why it would never work'. He wanted to remember the sweetness of last night and not sully it with a sunrise rejection. Besides, he had put the ball in her court. She had his number. If she wanted to call she could call. But still, he felt like a coward as he drove the Harley up the long driveway to the gods' Malibu estate that had become like Olympus on the West Coast.
"Your aunt would like an audience with you," Reginald, the butler, informed Ares as he entered the foyer. "She is out on the veranda having her afternoon tea."
Ares handed Reginald his helmet, gloves, leather jacket, and keys. "And how has your day been Reggie?"
"Fine, Sir. Should I have tea brought for you?"
"No, thank you, but leave the bike out front will you, I may not be staying long."
"As you wish, Sir," Reginald said and padded off to put Ares' things away.
In Ares opinion it was much too hot to be sitting outside, but his aunt looked as cool as a cucumber in her white flowing gown as she sat at the table sipping on her Earl Grey.
"Ares, so good of you to come home," her tone was biting but controlled.
"Hestia," he bowed before taking a seat opposite her. "You wanted to see me?"
"That stunt you pulled yesterday could have exposed us all. The media was there you know?"
He didn't give a shit about the media or blowing their covers for that matter. So what if the world got news that a few of the Greek gods were still lurking around. Personally, he thought that could only be a positive thing. It'd be nice to get some worshippers back. But Hestia was adamant that they keep things on the down low. She reminded them again and again of just how comfortable their lives were and how fortunate they were to be alive at all.
"Why do you have to go messing with that man? He isn't Xena anymore. And, need I remind you that those of us who survived our last encounter with her are lucky to be around anyway. Don't go opening old wounds, Ares. Things can only end badly for us all."
"Look Hestia, I am not going to argue about this again. I'm not going to tiptoe around the media."
"I am tired of cleaning up after you. Do you have any idea of the PR mess you put Cupid and me through yesterday? It's not becoming of a god to have lesser gods cleaning up after him."
"Zeus..." Ares tried to interject.
"Yes, and we see how well that worked for him," she said coolly. "Now, I took care of the media. The story is you were a promo guy sent by the studio to promote the season finale of that ridiculous show."
"Fine, whatever, but I should just tell you up front since it's only a matter of time before Sis tells you anyway, Xena's back."
"What exactly do you mean by that?" Hestia put her cup and saucer on the table, the clink of the glass on glass the only indicator that she was rattled by the news.
"I switched their souls," on her infuriated glare he continued, "look, I couldn't bear the thought of being married to Harry. So I put Xena in Annie's body, but when I did, I gave her soul a tweak. Xena's conscious self is no longer Annie but Xena."
"Ares!" she gritted, "What have you done? You can't just take it upon yourself to do things like this. And, for what? Do you really think that after all that has gone between you, she could ever willingly accept you in her heart?"
It cut. He could feel the darkness overtaking him, the despair. Who was he kidding? Hestia was right. Xena could never love him, not the way he wanted her to. There would always be some memory, some demand he had made. Saying sorry didn't fix everything. Being sorry didn't fix everything. He dematerialized from the veranda and rematerialized in the Colosseum. Hestia was right; he should just stay the fuck out of Xena's life before he fucked things up for everybody. He closed his eyes and tried to feed off of the energy of the bloodlust that still lingered in the ancient arena of death. He envisioned Nero, Caligula, Caesar, the gladiators, Livia, all the slaughter, all the fighting. Warriors calling upon his name. But recalling the dead look in her eyes when she found him all those years ago in this very spot kissing her daughter; that was his undoing. "But, I love her," he wailed, letting all the anguish pour out of his body. "I love her. I love you, Xena." Tourists turned to stare at him, but he didn't care. Let them stare, he had no shame. He had let Hestia get to him. He hadn't meant to use his powers but it was second nature to him. And, when Hestia hurt him like that, he just had to get the hell out of there. And, now he was stuck in Rome with no passport and no cash, leaving him no option but to use them again. He was going to have to work out a plan as to when he could use his powers and when not. Maybe the problem wasn't in using his powers as much as it was in abusing them. A moratorium on powers altogether just wasn't going to work. He rematerialized to his estate. Hestia was still sipping tea.
"Cool off, nephew?"
"Sorry, I really didn't mean any disrespect but I am non-negotiable where she is concerned. If she asks me to be in her life, I am going to be, gods be damned."
"And if she doesn't?" Hestia demanded.
"Then like I told her last night, I will let her go."
"For good?" Hestia pressed.
"For good," he agreed but Hestia saw the pain in his eyes and knew they were all doomed.