AUTHOR'S NOTE Hello everyone! Well, this is it... the last chapter! It has been so much fun to post this story! I have loved reading your reviews, everyone has been so kind with the reviews. Thank you! I hope that I will be posting another story in the near future. Once again, thank you for taking your time to read my story! ENJOY!!
Secrets of the Past
DDR
That night Samantha drifted to sleep happily, but she didn't wake come morning. They had a funeral and then everyone had to part ways.
Hercules, Iolaus, and Gabrielle were saying goodbye to Autolycus while Xena was getting Argo ready to go.
Ares appeared in front of her.
"Hello Xena." He said.
She turned to him.
"Hello Ares." She replied.
There was along silence between the two, both thinking about the events of the alternate world.
"You could have had everything that you ever wanted, Xena. A child, a loving family, a world of peace, Gabrielle. Why didn't you stay?" Ares asked.
Xena sighed, "I couldn't stay. Even if I wanted to. I've figured out that, everything happens precisely as it should. We shouldn't question it because, we can't change the secrets of the past."
"You could have."
"No… Ares… this is my world, this is where I belong." Xena stated.
They were silent again and Xena thought about walking away then Ares asked.
"What about you and me? It could work."
Xena placed a hand on his chest. She had noticed the sincerity in his voice, but both of them already knew the reality of the situation.
"No. It's not meant to be, at least, not in this world, Ares." Xena said softly.
Ares nodded sadly.
"I had to try." He whispered.
He took Xena's hand in his own. After a moment, she pulled her hand away and Ares vanished.
Xena grabbed Argo's reins and lead her towards Gabrielle, who took Argo away while Xena said her goodbyes to Autolycus.
Xena and Autolycus stood in front of his tree house talking.
"Autolycus, I want to thank you for keeping my secret safe all this time. Sammy seemed like she was happy here."
Autolycus smiled. "She was. You know, it was kind of fun having a kid running around. Maybe I should consider having one of my own."
Xena smiled, then she headed over to Gabrielle who was saying goodbye to Hercules and Iolaus. When Xena came over, Hercules met her half way.
"Hercules I --"
"Xena, I understand why you never told me about our daughter. You were right, I would have wanted to keep her."
Xena nodded then Hercules asked.
"Do you think things would have been different if we had kept her?"
"I'm certain that they would be. But, I've learned that everything happens the way it does for a reason, I prefer to keep things the way they way they are."
Hercules nodded in agreement. They were quiet for a minute.
"I have just one question. When you gave Sammy to Autolycus, did you know that he was the King of Thieves?"
Xena laughed.
"No. But, I thought something was off when Salmoneus told me that Autolycus was the King of Thebes." Hercules laughed too.
Then Xena pulled him to her and kissed him.
"Goodbye, Hercules." she said
Hercules smiled at her "Goodbye."
Then Xena headed over to Argo. She mounted the horse and pulled Gabrielle up behind her.
"So, are you mad at me?" Xena asked the bard.
Gabrielle smiled as she wrapped her arms around the warrior's waist and Argo started forward.
"No. I just wondered why you didn't tell me before. That's all."
Xena sighed.
"I was afraid that if you knew about Sammy, that you wouldn't like me anymore."
"Xena!" Gabrielle laughed "You are my best friend. Nothing will ever change that, nothing."
Xena smiled, it was good to be back.
"Okay."
"So, where are we off to next?" Gabrielle asked, as Argo broke into a gallop.
"Rome. I hear Caesar is up to no good again."
BATTLE ON XENA!!!!
DDR
