Godhood on the Line by Xena






Disclaimer: Once again, I own none of these characters and I did make up a few. The majority of the characters belong to Renaissance Pictures and USA Studios. Also to the creator of Xena Warrior Princess. This is the fifth installment of the Fate series. It immediately follows High Stakes Subtext: No! Violence: Yes Sex: Indications of sex Rating: PG-13





Xena rolled over in her bed to find Ares once again not there. She sighed and got out of bed. She put on her lavender dress and headed out into the hallway. Before she left her room she stopped by the door and picked Zander up out of his crib. He was eight- months old now, and sitting up on his own. "Come on baby boy." Xena said. She walked down into the kitchen with Zander tugging on her hair. "Mother!" Eve called from her room. She came hurrying downstairs and she had a brand new dress in her hand. "Eve?" Xena asked. Eve hurried over to her mother. "Who gave you that dress?" "Ares . . . Father did. Mother, can I wear this today? You know that boy down the road a bit. Argolis? He wants me to go on a picnic with him today. Please mother? I'm 13 years old, and so is he. We'll be responsible." Eve pleaded. "Okay. But I want you to be back home before half-past noon." Xena said. "Thank you mother!" Eve exclaimed. She ran upstairs to change into her beautiful dress. Xena sighed and went out to the barn and fed Argo II and Midnight.


Gabrielle was lying miserably in bed. She still had a month to go, and Joxer wouldn't let Gabrielle out of his site for a minute. "Come on Joxer. I really want to take a walk by myself. I don't need your help for that." Gabrielle said. Joxer shook his head. "I'm going to take care of you." Joxer said. He turned to leave the room and ran into the doorway. Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Great." She said under her breath.


On Olympus, a council met to go over some issues. Ares and Aphrodite had been informed that their godhoods were on the line for killing Athena and Artemis. Today was the supposed day of the choice. Aphrodite and Ares stood in the center of the main hall of Olympus. As the other gods and goddesses conversed, Aphrodite and Ares talked in hushed voices. "I'm worried about this." Aphrodite said. "I don't think I could live with being mortal." "Hey, I've tried it a long time ago when my sword was stolen. It's not pleasant." Ares said. He sighed as the council started to talk. Apollo led the council today. "Ares God of War and Aphrodite Goddess of Love. You are both hereby stripped of your godhoods for the betrayal of the Olympians and for the murder of Athena and Artemis." Apollo said. Aphrodite let out a little cry and gripped her brother's hand tightly. Before they knew it, they were in front to the little house. Xena was on the porch watching Zander try to crawl, and Eve was hurrying down the street to Argolis' house. "Ares? Aphrodite?" Xena asked. Aphrodite started whimpering at the second. "I . . .they . . . mortal . . ." was all Aphrodite could sputter out. "We're mortal." Ares said. "We were stripped of our godhoods." "I'm so sorry." Xena said. "What am I going to do? My hair is going flat already! And . . . eew! What did I just step in?" Aphrodite asked. "You can stay here, your hair looks fine, and you don't want to know." Xena said. She led Aphrodite into the house. Ares followed behind and picked his son up. He carried him to a porch swing and sat down with him. "Well son, looks like your old man isn't all he said he was huh? You're half-mortal. I'm mortal. I'm the same as I was except that I'm not a god anymore. Who knows? Maybe it's for the best." Ares said. Xena walked back outside and put a hand on Ares' shoulder. Ares looks up at her. "I know you're probably happy I'm not a god anymore." "I love you just the way you are. God or no god." Xena said. She brushed her lips over her lover's ear as she purred her declaration. Ares grinned slowly. He looks down at his son who is obviously confused. "I think it's time for Zander's nap." Ares said. "Yeah. I think so." Xena said. She picks up her son out Ares' lap. "Come on baby boy." She carried him into the house and Ares followed behind her. "Hey, you take the baby up to Eve's room and put him in her bed, and I'll meet you upstairs in a few minutes. "Okay. Hurry." Ares said. He nodded and Xena walked into the kitchen where Joxer, Gabrielle, and Aphrodite were sitting around. "Hey." Xena said walking into the kitchen. "Xena." Gabrielle said tiredly. "How are you feeling?" Xena asked. "I'm hanging in." Gabrielle said as Joxer put a hand over hers. Xena smiled and decided to meet her love upstairs.


The next day was a very busy day. Xena was out getting water from the river when she saw a group of thugs ransacking a home. She saw a woman carrying a small child fall as a thug tried to rid her of her jewelry. Xena didn't have her weapons with her so she pulled a large fallen branch off of the ground. "ALALALALALA!" she called as the thugs turned around. One ran towards her and he hit him in the knees, shattering his kneecaps. Another thug threw a knife at her and she caught it, throwing it back at him, hitting him in the chest. The third and final thug who was atop the house, jumped down on Xena's back. She did a flip in the air and threw him off of her. She landed on his chest causing him to pass out. "Who sent you?" she asked. "Draco." He said. Xena glared. Draco was out of prison. She decided to pay him a visit. "Tell me where he is." Xena said. The guy hesitated, but Xena stuck her foot in his face, about to break his nose when he gave in. "The other side of that hill." He said pointing. "Thank you." Xena said. She got off of the man, leaving him gaping for breath. Xena ran toward the hill. When she reached the top, she saw Draco waiting with three other men. Backups. Xena walked slowly down until Draco spotted her. "Xena." He said. "I thought you were dead." He motioned for his warriors to get ready for battle. They dismounted their horses. Xena smirked at Draco. "Nope. Not dead. Just trapped in an ice cave for ten years. Nothing big." Xena said softly through clenched teeth. Draco smiled and motioned for his warrior's attack. They stupidly attacked one at a time. The first warrior lunged clumsily for the warrior princess but tripped and fell before he reached her. He was obviously drunk. Xena stepped on his back as the next warrior came. She threw the large branch at him and he fell to the ground hurting his back. The last warrior came for Xena and head butted her in the stomach. He backed her against the wall until she kneed him in the privates. It was just her and Draco left. "You haven't changed. You look the same as last time I saw you." Draco said. "Thanks. Sorry to say, but you got old." Xena said. Draco choked back a dry laugh. "How's Gabrielle?" Draco asked. "She's happy and she's pregnant." Xena said. Draco looked ready to kill. "By that pipsqueak Joxer huh?" Draco asked. "What's it to you?" Xena asked. "Nothing. If I ever see Joxer again, I'll tear his heart out with a spoon." Draco said. Xena raised an eyebrow. "You touch Joxer, and I'll run you through." Xena said. Draco laughed and charged for Xena with his sword raised. He brought it down and Xena blocked it with her sword. "Come on Draco, you can do better than that." Xena said. With that, Draco was charging her again. He pulled his knife and held it to her neck. Xena elbowed him in the stomach causing him to double over in pain. Then she hit his back. He fell to the ground coughing. "Xena . . ." he coughed out. He reached for his sword again. "Ah-ah." Xena said. "I wouldn't." She left him coughing in the middle of the field. She had two of the village marshals go after him.


Meanwhile, at home, Gabrielle was sitting in the porch swing holding Zander. She sighed and looked at Eve who was now sitting on the edge of the porch talking with Argolis. Gabrielle thought 'Xena's gonna love this. Her little girl is growing up.' She laughed to herself and stood, walking into the house. Aphrodite was walking around, trying to find something she could use to make the smell better. She hated being mortal, and she wasn't about to smell terrible. "Gabrielle, isn't there any thing around her? I smell like mortal!" Aphrodite said. "You are mortal, Aphrodite." Gabrielle said. "Man, it's hot in here." She reached for a clean, blue handkerchief sitting on the table. She put her hair up in it while she held Xena's son. "I have an idea. I have to be a goddess again. I'm going to have a talk with my son." Aphrodite said. She walked out of the house and Gabrielle sighed and went around the house doing her busy work as Joxer eyed her, watching her every move, making sure that she was careful. "Dammit Joxer! I know you love me, and I love you too sweetie, but if you don't stop watching me all the time, I'm going to slug you. If you don't believe me, try me. These hormones are working overtime." Gabrielle warned. Joxer gulped and stood slowly giving Gabrielle a smile. He walked outside to get some fresh air.


Ares saw Joxer walking and decided to walk with him. "Hey Joxer." Ares said. Joxer was startled. He'd never really talked with Ares like this before. "Ares." Joxer said nervously. "So, are you getting nervous about the baby?" Ares asked. Joxer swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah. Gabrielle is a little pissed at me right now. I won't leave her alone. She told me she'd hit me if I didn't stop watching her." Joxer explained. "Gabrielle does love you Joxer." Said Ares. Ever since he fell in love with Xena, his emotions and his personality changed drastically. But he was back to his old self when it came to war. When he was with friends or family, he was the nice, caring person he was. The men talked for a while and walked, enjoying the freedom of silence. Ares spotted his sister walking by her own temple. "Hey Joxer, I'll catch up with you later." Ares said. Joxer nodded and continued walking. Ares ran up to Aphrodite's temple. "'Dite." He said. Aphrodite turned around and smiled at her brother. "What is it?" she asked. "What are you doing?" Ares asked. Aphrodite grinned at him and made the little squeal she made when she was happy. "I talked to Cupid and he said he was going to talk to the other gods and try to get our godhoods back!" Aphrodite exclaimed. The look on Ares' faces when from confusion to a big smile. He hugged his sister. This is great! Finally! I can go back to my wars!" "Yeah, and I can go back to my perfumes and love potions!" Aphrodite squealed. They laughed together and went home to tell everybody the news.


The End . . . or is it?