Author's Note A little warning,this is probably the most boring chapter of the whole story, It's just Xena revealing her secret. The rest of the story is kind of sad, also. Sorry.

Secrets of the Past

DDR

Xena entered into the living room where Hercules, Iolaus, and Gabrielle were still chatting. They looked so happy, well, it was time to shatter the evening...

Xena sat down beside of Gabrielle who immediately noticed that Xena was anxious.

"Is something wrong?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena took a deep breath.

"I have to tell you guys something. If I don't tell you then Ares will."

Hercules looked very concerned

"Ares? Wh--"

"Just listen to me. You three are my closest friends,"

She looked straight at Hercules

"And I hope that you will forgive me for not telling you sooner, and for doing what I'm about to tell you that I did."

Gabrielle and Iolaus looked at each other trying to see if either knew what was going on, they didn't. Xena looked at Hercules and Iolaus.

"I met you two nearly around four years ago. You changed who I was. Hercules, I fell in love with you." she smiled, even though this secret was painful, she remembered her days with Hercules rather fondly.

"And we slept together."

Hercules blushed, that was personal information.

"Soon after, I left on the road to redemption, but I didn't leave alone, I was with child."

Xena looked around at the mixed expressions on everyone's faces.

"As I was nearing the season to give birth, I ran into Salmoneus, who was doing business with Autolycus. Concerned for me, they convinced me to stay with them until the baby was born. They helped me deliver a baby girl. Knowing that there was no way that I could keep her and keep fighting, I gave her to Autolycus. I was afraid that if I raised her that she would become wicked, like I was. Today, Ares offered me a chance to go back to the past and change what happened and I took it, not wanting to hurt you, Hercules or you Gabrielle by sharing these facts that I had kept from you. I found out that changing the past caused more problems than it was worth, so I decided to tell you three this awful secret that I've hidden for all these years now."

They were all thunderstruck. It took a very long silence for anyone to come up with what to say first.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Hercules asked

Xena sighed. She knew that he was going to ask that.

"Because I knew that family meant a lot to you and I knew that I couldn't keep the baby and that it would have hurt you to know that I wasn't keeping her."

Xena could tell that Hercules understood, she could also tell that this probably brought up thoughts of his other family. (Deianeira, Acen, Clones, and Ilea.)

Gabrielle had a distant look in her eyes. She must have felt somewhat betrayed, thinking that she knew Xena so well, and then having this come up.

"I am ready to face my past." Xena said. "I'm a different person than I was four years ago. Tomorrow I am going to go to Corinth to see if I can reclaim my kid."

"I'll go with you." said Hercules

"Hercules, this doesn't need to be your responsibility." Xena stated

"Xena, she is my daughter too."

Xena nodded "Alright."

Gabrielle stood up. "Well, you know that Iolaus and I are coming as well. You can't just leave us behind."

"Yeah. We'll be there for support." chimed Iolaus.

"I agree that we can't leave you behind." said Xena

"Whatever would we do without you?" asked Hercules, his voice ringing with sarcasm.

DDR