Title: The Newcomer

Rating: PG-13ish
Pairing: Xena/Ares
Summary: After turning 17, Ava, Xena's cousin (distant of course), is confused about what to do with her life and goes to the Goddess of Warfare and Wisdom for advice. Little does she know that she has caught the attention of a specific god, Athena's son.
Status of fic: WIP
Author's Notes/Disclaimer:Xena, Ares, Gabrielle, and anyone else who sounds familiar to the Xena or Hercules series are property of MCA, Universal, and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. Takes place towards the end of the second season and beginning of the third, somewhere in between, after The Dirty Half Dozen, let's just pretend the episodes after TDHD, never happened, yes that would mean the rest of the seasons never occurred!( No offense to anyone who enjoyed them!)

Chapter 2:

Xena and Gabrielle were tried. The latest warlord, Lucius, had chased them for what seemed like an eternity. It wasn't that they couldn't outtake him and his minions, it was just that they had just finished one of their many travels/adventure which involved Ares and one of his warlords and at the moment, another on their tail was not exactly what they had in mind. They decided that for the night, one of them would keep guard while the other rested and then they would switch. Xena didn't really worry because she had seen that Gabrielle had gotten better with her staff and if something happened, she could easily wake her up. Xena would keep watch first so that Gabrielle could get some sleep and then they would switch.

They set their campsite in the forest somewhere where it wouldn't seem too obvious. Xena warned Gabrielle not to wander off to far, if needed, because it wasn't safe. She started on their dinner while Gabrielle went to do her business. Xena then started to feel a tingle down her spine, the tingle that meant that he—Ares—was there. She ignored it because she didn't want to deal with him at the moment; she was too wiped out to even consider trying to figure out what he was playing at now. Xena then realized he was near her—too close.

Just when she was about to actually say something to him, Gabrielle showed up.

"So Xena, what's there to eat?" Gabrielle asked tiredly and yet with a hint of cheerfulness in her tone.

Xena was snapped out of her thoughts of hurting Ares if he came to her later on that night. "Well, we have trout and trout."

Gabrielle smiled. Apparently Xena was trying to lighten the mood up. "Okay, trout sounds good." They eat their meal in silence because both were too tired to talk about anything at the moment. After they were done eating Xena finally spoke up.

"Ok, you get some rest first and then we'll trade off."

Gabrielle felt bad about getting to rest first; she had noticed that Xena was a bit out of it during their dinner and also uneasy. "Are you sure? I mean if you want to rest first you can and I'll keep guard."

Xena let out a small smile. "You should rest first and I'll keep guard and while I'm at it, I'll have a look around to see if we can use anything to our advantage."

Gabrielle nodded and laid out her cot and soon enough, she was sound asleep. Argo was also resting and so Xena was the only one who was awake. After making sure they were resting comfortably, she went to inspect the territory they were in. She found a few hideouts just in case they ran into any trouble.

Xena was about to go back to the campsite when something caught her eye; it was a small body of water. She was wiped out and felt dirty so she decided to take a bath. Might as well take advantage of the time I have to myself.

She was taking off her armor and almost in her shift when she felt the same tingle she had felt while making her dinner. Great, just great. Exactly what I needed at the moment. It was then she felt his breath on the nape of her neck. "Perverted freak." She muttered and made a move for her sword.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Is that how you greet an old friend my dear?" Ares appeared behind her and grabbed the hand that was reaching for the sword.

Xena could feel him smirking and she had the urge to wipe off his smirk of his cocky face. "Who says you were ever a friend." She stated more than asked and turned to face him. Xena had to resist herself from punching him in the face so that he would stop with the smirking.

"Ouch. That really hurt. How long has it been since we last talked? A few days?" He commented while still holding the smirk in place.

Apparently, she wasn't going to take a bath. Xena started to reach for the clothing she had previously removed when Ares once more grabbed her hands and started to kiss her knuckles. She quickly pulled her hands away from him.

"Can't you go and annoy someone else for a change!" she stated angrily. "Ares you are—"

Before she could continue, he interrupted her. "—charming, handsome, hard to resist, all of the above?"

Xena looked at him for a brief moment and tried to finish what she had started. "No, actually I was thinking more along the lines of arrogant, sadistic, manipulating perverted freak."

Ares looked at her and chuckled. She was apparently still upset about Agathon. "My dearest Xena, let bygones be bygones." He paused for a moment, remembering that she was in a sticky situation with Lucius at the current moment. "I'm willing to help you with your current situation."

"I can deal with it on my own." She responded and reached once more for her clothing, this time actually being able to get it.

""I have no doubt in that, but you won't always be there to protect the bard." He responded as he watched her change back into her outfit.

Xena stopped what she was doing and punched him in the face. "You listen to me you pathetic excuse of a god, any harm done to my friend and I'll go after you."

Bewildered and furious by her words, he pulled Xena aggressively towards him. "God or no god, I'm still a powerful being." With that said he gave her a quick but forceful peck on the lips and disappeared into a faint blue light.

A stunned, half dressed Xena was left wondering why she had let him kiss her. Perhaps it's because I'm tired and my mind is preoccupied with other things. She then remembered Ares' warning or more like threat and rushed back to her campsite. Guess I won't be bathing tonight.

After looking through all of her luggage for what seemed like ever, she had found something that might be worth giving to Athena. At the very moment she was examining the gift that would soon be on Athena's alter, it was a small chest embedded with precious stones and a sun and moon engraved on it, her family crest. It had been in her family for generations, or so she had been told.

She observed it carefully and was having an internal conflict. This artifact was the only thing she had left of what might ever remind her of her family. If I give it away, I will have nothing to remember my family by. Nevertheless, it is the only chance I've got to being able to become a priestess. Ava sat by her campsite, looking longingly at the box. After a while of doing this, she fell asleep.

The next morning she woke up and had breakfast still pondering about the thoughts she had fallen asleep the night before. She had hardly touched her food when she decided that if she wanted to get over her doubts she would have to set off for Athena's temple to give her offering. Ava packed the few things she possessed and got on her horse ready to face what ever was to come.

Okay, i tried to make it as much as i could in their character. It's my first Xena fic so it might sound awkard.

ErisRocks- Thanksand i'll try to put more info about Athena and her son in the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.