"Xena! What are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that?" Gabrielle asked, afraid she already knew the answer. If she wasn't sure before, she was sure now. Xena really was jealous!

"I'm enjoying the art, too." Xena replied as she sat up and slowly stretched. "But I thought I'd rest my feet. And as for the dress, well, I like looking nice once in a while, too. And it's more comfortable than a metal breast plate."

"Are you sure that's why you're here, Xena?" Gabrielle prompted. She had traveled with Xena for a few years now and never had the Warrior Princess been interested in art! And as for the breastplate, she slept in it, didn't see? Why, the leather outfit was worn so long it was molded to her body! If that wasn't comfortable, what was? No, Xena definitely was out to steal Ares from her! "Are you sure you're not in here just because we are?"

"Of course not!" Xena said, smiling. "You're a big girl, Gabrielle. You can take care of yourself. If you want to date Ares, that's your choice. I'm sorry if I acted crazy before, but it was a great shock. I never expected you'd go for that type. But whatever makes you happy."

Gabrielle stared at Xena. Her friend had switched tactics, that was clear. Now she was trying the friendly, sincere approach. And being seductive to boot! She needed to get Ares away from Xena before it was too late. If she didn't, he might start to fall under her spell again. If there was one thing she hated, it was how her friend treated Ares. Worse, he took all her abuse and kept crawling back for more. Marching up to Xena, she gripped the warrior's arm and pulled her to her feet. "Xena, we need to talk. Now."

"Whatever you say, Gabrielle." Xena smiled at the two, but her intense gaze was on Ares. Her blue eyes even seemed to sparkle. Then her eyes shifted back to her friend. "I'd like that very much. In fact, I have something to tell you."

"Fine." Gabrielle glanced around the room with the benches and spotted a sign for public bathrooms. After telling Ares to wait for her, she dragged Xena into the room reserved for woman. Once they were inside and the door closed, Gabrielle turned to face Xena. Her hands were on her hips and it was clear she was angry. "Xena, what do you think you're doing? And don't say you're here to look at art. You never go to museums or plays or anything like that! You're trying to steal Ares from me!"

The Warrior Princess laughed. Leaning against the white wall, her figure in the blood red dress was even more evident. "I can't "steal" Ares from you. He'll go where he wants to go. And if that's by me, well, that's his choice. Besides, he only asked you out because Hera told him to."

"What?" Gabrielle said, shocked. Her eyes widened for a moment, than narrowed. "You're making that up! You couldn't persuade me not to date Ares, so now you're trying this new approach. And look how you're dressed!"

Xena looked down at herself. "I don't see anything wrong with how I look. And Ares certainly appreciated it. Or didn't you notice how he was looking at me? Just face the facts, Gabrielle. Ares doesn't want a little girl like you. You wouldn't know how to keep him happy. In fact, I promise you right now that you really don't know Ares at all. You think eating lunch with him and walking around a museum tells you stuff about him? Ha! If you really want to know him, the REAL Ares, go and live with him for a few weeks. See him loose his temper a few times and blast stuff to pieces. Or how he'll come home from a war covered in blood and gore. Listen to what he says when he thinks you're not around. How he'll be plotting wars and thinking up new ways to kill Hercules. That IS his favorite hobby, after all. And as for Hera ordering him to date you, it's the truth. Ask him."

"And how do you know Hera told him?" Gabrielle asked, her arms crossed over her chest now.

"Discord told me." Xena smiled.

"And you believed her? Why, Xena, that's just stupid!" Gabrielle shook her head. "You know Discord would lie about anything if it suited her in some way! And that dress..."

"Look at yourself. I got more covered right now than you do!" Xena pointed out. "At least I don't walk around with a bare stomach."

"Just stay away from Ares!" Gabrielle moved to the door. "And there's nothing wrong with my stomach showing! I am the Queen of the Amazons. Or have you forgotten? You're the one embarrassing herself."

Gabrielle slipped out of the bathroom and walked over to Ares. A moment later the two left the room without seeing Xena again. But no matter how hard she tried, Gabrielle couldn't forget what Xena had said. Could it be true? Was Ares only dating her because Hera had told him to? Or did he really love her? It made her angry how quickly Xena had cast doubt on their relationship before it barely got off the ground. She would have to find time to ask him, but after she had calmed down a bit. And Xena was right in one thing: she didn't know Ares very well yet. But no matter what her friend said, she was not going to move in with him. She did have certain standards to keep. And she needed to speak to Ares, too. They needed to have a serious conversation. Ares' voice interrupted her thoughts and she turned to look at him. "What?"

"I said I was going to stop in the gift shop." Ares told her as he disappeared inside. A few moments later he came out with a big package. Opening it, he revealed a blank canvas and some paints. "I thought maybe I could paint your picture. That is, if it's OK with you."

"That would be fine, but we need to have a talk first. A serious talk." Taking his hand, she led him out of the museum into the fresh air.

"Let me guess. It's about Xena." Ares said as he followed her down the steps, the package tucked under one arm.

"Yes, it's about Xena." Gabrielle replied as she stepped onto the wooden boardwalk. The stiff breeze was blowing off the sea now and her long hair was pushed away from her face. She watched the sailboats fly across the turquoise sea and for a second wished she could be out there with them, even if she did get sea sick! At least she knew she could have a few moments with Ares without Xena popping up, distracting him. Xena knew how to get a man's attention all too well. She just hoped Ares was too smart to fall for it.

They walked for a few silent moments down the boardwalk, putting some distance between them and the museum. Deciding a sandy stretch of beach would do, Gabrielle sat down. It was a beautiful spot, perhaps even more beautiful than by the cafe. The sea seemed more richer in color and deep green patches of dune grass swayed in the wind. She watched Ares drop his sack of art supplies next to a thick clump of grass, then he lowered himself to the sand across from her.

For a moment it occurred to her how very odd it was, to be sitting in the sand with the God of War. Then she remembered what Hercules had told her earlier in the day. "Do you do this sort of thing often? Come and sit on the beach, I mean?"

"Not really." Ares admitted. "But I do enjoy coming down to the mortal world. I have been known to spend a day at the beach from time to time, when I feel like it. But I thought you wanted to talk about Xena."

"I do." She said quietly. "I hope you realize what Xena is trying to do. Don't you?"

"Of course I do." Ares replied as he leaned back in the white sand. "She's trying to be seductive."

"And you know how she feels about you, Ares." Gabrielle said as she moved to sit next to him. "It's not good for you to be in an abusive relationship. I know you had feelings for her, but she didn't share those feelings. In fact, she enjoyed saying cruel things to you and you let her get away with it. Now she's trying to tempt you to go back to that. It's just an act she's putting on, to break us up. You didn't enjoy it when she said those things, did you?"

"No. She made me feel bad." Ares admitted as he thought about it, a far away look in his eyes. "She would do these incredible things, things I had never seen any other warrior do. She impressed me with her skills. And she kept it up, each new feat more amazing then the last one. Before long, I couldn't stop thinking about her. But every time I approached her, she made me feel so small and unimportant. We had gotten along OK in the past, during her warlord days, but now I think maybe that was all an act, too. She could have been using me to reach her goal."

"Do you love her?" Gabrielle asked, holding her breath. She hated asking the question because she feared the answer. But she knew she had to ask him. And she sensed he was being honest with her.

"I thought I did for a long time." He told her, pain clearly visible in his eyes. "But now I realize it was only admiration. I admired her for her warrior skills. I never was in love before, so I didn't know the difference. And I thought it only natural for the God of War to love the best warrior around. But I realize now I have too much war in my life. Someone pointed that out to me recently and I know that it's true. There's more to life than just fighting, like what we did today. And then I started to think about how she treats her horse. I gave her Argo, you know."

"You did?" Gabrielle blurted, surprised. "I didn't even know you could ride!"

"Of course I can." Ares told her. "I have my own stables, you know. Most of the time she just lets Argo run free. Anything could happen to that horse and she just doesn't care. Yet she expects Argo to be right there whenever she whistles. It's just not right, Gabrielle. A horse needs proper care. You need to take them to the farrier, see they get the proper feed, brush them, care for the main and tail. I supposed it never occurred to her Argo could go lame if a stone caught in the soft part of the hoof while she was off somewhere. Or break a leg by stepping in a rodent burrow while galloping."

"I know." Gabrielle thought of her equine friend. The things Ares had pointed out to her made her sad. If Xena didn't even care for her horse, how did she really feel about her then? Did she just keep her around to cook and clean? But there was one more thing she had to ask him. "Xena told me something today and I want to know if it's true."

"What did she tell you?" Ares asked, all sorts of possible things running through his head. Xena, after all, had no limits.

"She said that Hera told you to date me. Is that true?" She asked, looking at him.

He hung his head and was quite for a moment. When he lifted his head again, his voice was steady. "Yes, it's true."