Chapter 6: Behind your back

As seconds passed, then minutes and finally hours, Ares become extremely agitated. He knew that the decision may seem a bit extreme and rash but then again he also knew Xena, he couldn't have kept her in a room, locked as a prisoner not even if she was so high on Olympus. She would have find a way to escape, so he did what he always wanted, what he dreamt about…for her to become a goddess, like she was destined in his opinion. No one was more ingenious and skillful like she is. She deserved this right. Though even if it seemed the right choice to make he knew better. Xena will never forgive him for this betrayal. He wrecked his mind to find a way to explain it to her but nothing came.

Now as she slept so blissfully and so beautifully he had started to feel like something just broke in their trust…more, if that could. He knew that the trust and understanding that they worked to build all this years back it will crumble the moment she would wake up but he wasn't ready. He very well acted on impulse, anger and pain.

So as a last resort middle the God of War quickly materialized in Aphrodite's quarters. The goddess was preparing herself a bubbly bath. Feeling his aura his sister didn't wait to admonished him for the last time they talked.

"I can assume you came to apologize for letting me hanging like that the last time we spoke…that by the way…" Aphrodite turned her back to him as to let him know she was still upset by his ridiculous manners.

"I messed up Dite", he interfered quick, "really bad".

"Huh?...what do you mean?" She turned quick paying attention to him.

He started to tell her what happened…about Gabrielle calling him and founding Xena like he did, that she almost died in his arms, the anguish that he felt and that he has gone mad knowing that she wants to go back to Jappa to complete that crazy task…So he recurred at the last resort that he felt that he had.

Dite's face lit up hearing that they had a new god in their company but then again she realized what those words and facts really meant. He broke every bit of trust that Xena had in him…puff, just like that. She understood of course where he does come from but she wasn't sure if that could justify his actions in Xena's eyes.

"So you gave her the golden apple, are you crazy?"

"What choice did I have?" Ares tried defending himself. "She always gives me none so I need to wrap my head around and think what she would want. This time I did how I felt. I know that it is wrong but didn't come here to be admonished by you dear Sister!" He was starting to become annoyed and angry at her.

"Ok, ok…" The Goddess took a deep breath. "You are right….Let's see!" She closed her eyes trying to think about a solution. But how do you find one when you have a new goddess on your hand that first of all doesn't want that?

For some good minutes she kept staring at him, taking him in…he was torn between doing what he wanted and the fact that Xena will probably hate him for it when she will wake up and found out about it.

Aphrodite started pacing from left to right in front of him, trying to help him with advice. Ohh, it always came to that with these two.

"Where is the warrior babe now?"

"In my bed, sleeping still." Ares answered calmly now.

"In your bed…" she winked.

"Dite…" He stressed her name.

"Ok…that's that…"

After a hard time thinking she gave up: "Oh Ares I don't know how or what you can say to her. You know Xena, she's worse than those bloodhound dogs. She will smell that something is wrong. You messed up big time bro. She will wake up and she will know and feel something is different and when she finds out she is everything she hates she will, she will like…literally kill you Ar."

"Don't I know it? But I don't really regret it. It's what I always wanted but the consequences…that's the problem." He resonated frustrated. Why for once in his long existence can't he be happy and relaxed about something that all this years he pursued and now he had it? The feeling of guilt and betrayal was eating him from inside out.

Aphrodite kept silent again, thinking what his best next move can be and then a bell ringed.

"I have it…Ohh, I have it Ares" She squalled. Ares's eyes widened in surprise. His sister was something…now only hear what she had to say.

"Look…you will pretend that everything it's the same…she doesn't need to know Ar…You see…Just act like nothing happened, you just saved her from her suicidal act of humanism and that's it." Dite said the obvious. Before Ares could answer she continued.

"She will feel of course a bit different but as long as nothing outrages happens the reason why she is feeling that can be because of her near death experience right?!" Aphrodite looked at her brother expectantly knowing that she can be so smart sometimes.

Ares started to think about it wondering why this couldn't have come from him…Yes, it was simple as that. As long as he can hide this from her, there wouldn't be problems. It would be like before. Xena will not find out she is a goddess, well eventually she will, but then maybe she will start to think otherwise about it, an eternity can give a little bit of another prospect on life. Maybe he would convince her that it was the best choice that he could make for her on that moment. Yes…The more he would think about it the better the idea seemed to be. At least it was something better that telling her the truth.

He gave his sister a quick peck on the cheeks and left saying a big thank you in her ear.

With a good decision made, feeling sure of himself and what he needed to do, he started planning this thing up.

First: see if Gabrielle made it back to Greece. There were now 5 days since he saved Xena. He needed to know and hope that the blonde made it back so he won't need to bring Xena back to Jappa. Knowing Xena like he did nothing could have stopped her to complete her mission even if she was a goddess now. A portal showed Gabrielle on a big boat. She looked content but also worried. She was almost in Greece.

Secondly wake Xena up. He needed to play this like a lire, like the best play ever. He was after all an manipulative bastard, Xena's words. Even if he hated to bring his princess back to Gabrielle he knew that another choice just didn't exist. He materialized back in the room where Xena was still sleeping peacefully from his godly powers. She was just so, but so beautiful that it almost hurt. Oh how he wished to kiss her and make her forget everything that happened bad between them.

"Xena…ohh what did you do to me?" He approached the bed and looked good at her. Sitting on the margin of the bed he took a deep breath and let the sleeping spell vanish. Slowly she fluttered her eyelids and soon enough her baby blues were looking straight at him.

"Ares" she said with a mix of both pleasure but also sadness.

"I…" Ares started.

"I know what you want…" He continued, taking the lead of the last conversation that they had on.

"I really need to go back, please understand." She tried again.

"Yeah…" he slicked, getting up from the bed.

"I understand Xe, I really do. It's not what I would choose or want for the matter..."

Xena wanted to intervene but he shushed her up.

"Sooo…" he made a portal appear before them. The image showed a tired Gabrielle at the shore of Greece. She made her way to the nearest inn.

Xena's hand reached for her friend and the portal disappeared.

"Gabrielle is back in Greece. I guess it's nothing that I could do or say to make you stay here." She looked at his face not muttering wat he already knew. "I will take you to her. I assume you need to speak with her and she to you." He said, all so understanding.

Xena's face warmed up. Is she hearing him good? He was so upset with her moments ago, and now he's willing to bring her to Gabrielle. Something was a bit off but maybe she felt that because she almost died and everything seemed a bit rusty.

"What happened that changed your mind?" She asked not knowing if she was really ready to hear the answer but she asked anyway.

"You"

"Me?"

"Yeah…I know I can't keep you here, not really, so…I prefer to help you."

"Just that. It just…It's not like you Ares". She got up from the bed feeling so refreshed, as of new.

"Well" He took a few steps towards her, bringing his hand on her cheek. "You are not the only one that needs to make amends for past sins. And I also had a good teacher." Ares winked at her. "Xena, you do know that you changed me don't you?" He let the question hang in the air. He took his hand away.

"If you say so…Now, can I see my friend?"

Ares nodded and extended his hand for her to take. Xena looked in his deep amber eyes and accepted his hand. He was so warm. After a second they were near border of Greece, outside the inn where they just saw Gabrielle get in a few minutes ago. Xena turned to him and nodded her head as a thank you and then just left. The first feeling that he had was a big emptiness in his heart. It's like whenever she leaves she takes the warmth with her and he always remains in the cold. Though he breathed with relief. The fact that she is a goddess now remained occult. He materialized back on Olympus and opened his portal starting to watch the reunion of the two best friends.

xxx

Xena got into the inn asking for a petite blonde that looked for a place to sleep.

"Yes…a blonde girl just got up the stairs some minutes ago. She was so so sad." The waitress responded.

"Ok, thank you" Xena just said taking the stairs up and looking for chamber number five, like the waitress said. She knocked a few times before the door opened.

The sadness on Gabrielle's face when she finally opened the door took Xena aback. When Gabrielle's green eyes met Xena's baby blues her face bright up and started to tear up.

"Oh Gabrielle, shh…I'm here now!" Xena reassured, taking her friend in a warm embrace.

"Xena, I thought I may have lost you. I didn't know if Ares got there in time."

Xena frowned and looked seriously at Gabrielle.

"You called him?" Xena couldn't believe.

"Of course I did. I just knew…I knew. Why did you want to do that? And without telling me Xena? Calling him was the only way." Gabrielle's heartfelt was a punch in Xena's gut.

"I'm sorry, but it was the only way…It still is, we need to go back." Xena added.

"No." Was the reply of the bard.

"Don't say anything Xena. I…I need to tell you everything that happened in your absence."

Gabrielle made a sign for Xena to sit down on the bed. Xena accepted.

"I got to know Akemi Xena" Xena's eyes bore into her. "She finally found peace. I solved this, just like you thought me Xena. I released those souls with the help of your old friend's ghost and the ghost killer. I killed Youdoshi." Gabrielle told her friend with excitement but also sadness.

Xena's heart started to beat faster and looked at her friend with proud.

"I found a way without killing myself." Gabrielle said condemning her friend for doing this. Xena knew Gabrielle was still hurt. She felt it in the way she talked.

"I mean, I understand what you tried to do…but for my sake and yours just don't ever let me in the dark like that again." Xena felt the forgiveness in Gabrielle's words and smiled.

"I promise…so tell me everything."

With enthusiasm Gabrielle explained to Xena everything. How she succeeded to kill Youdoshi with the sacred samurai sword and about the fountain with powerful water. She also let Xena see the big tattoo on her back that protected her when needed from Youdoshi's wrath.

"And…look what I've found." Gabrielle let Xena see her sword, her armor and her chakram.

"You found them." Xena took them in her hands and smiled.

"Of course."

"Thank you!" The warrior added. "For this…" looking at her armor " but also for saving the souls of those poor people."

"Next time, give me more credit."

"I will remember." Xena finally said, giving one big hug to her friend.