Surrender 10

When Leia opened her eyes, she found herself looking into crystal-clear blue eyes that twinkled with playfulness and understanding. Blinking a few times in an effort to clear her head from her dream, she realized she was face to face with the Goddess of Love. She didn't know why she knew, she just did and it unnerved her for some reason.

"Hey girl," Aphrodite smiled and shook her head to toss her platinum curls over a shoulder. "Glad you could join me."

"Um, and you would be Aphrodite I presume?" Leia's voice cracked with uncertainty. She was feeling slightly light headed and confused suddenly.

"You know it babe." Aphrodite gave Leia's shoulder a light, playful punch. Watching carefully, she could see the exact moment Leia's eyes clouded over with confusion.

"Okay," Leia responded with a funny look as she tried to figure out why Aphrodite was sitting in front her, trying to engage her in a conversation. She watched as Aphrodite moved to sit next to her, leaning back to share the same tree and allowing their shoulders to touch. It was a warm and inviting feeling having Aphrodite sit next to her as if a long lost friend had suddenly come home.

For a few quiet moments, they both silently contemplated their favorite subject…Gabrielle and that is when Leia remembered her dream. Turning to Aphrodite, she raised an eyebrow in silent question and got a wide grin in response.

"Wanna talk about it?" Aphrodite gave Leia's shoulder a little nudge with her own. The raised eyebrow was a familiar gesture that she had seen many times before.

"I'm not sure I know where to start." Leia looked down at her hands. They looked different than the ones she had seen in her dream. But even though they were softer and younger, they still held a strength she recognized.

"Go ahead…ask." Aphrodite reached over and took one of the hands in her own. The move caused Leia to finally look up until their eyes met. "I can see so many questions in those baby blues, but there's only one that really counts."

Leia tilted her head to regard the Goddess of love for a moment as she did her best to formulate the question she wanted to ask but she hesitated because she was afraid of the answer.

"Don't be afraid my friend." Aphrodite gave the hand in hers a gentle squeeze. "You've been gone way too long and we have a lot to talk about but not much time."

"So it's true." Leia furrowed her brow and frowned.

"That depends on whose truth it is." Aphrodite said rather cryptically.

"So my dreams aren't dreams at all, they're memories?" Leia gave Aphrodite a curious expression.

"Those memories hold a lot of good times and there are also some bad times as well. But no matter how bad things got, you always ended up together." Aphrodite looked away with a wistful expression. "I know what she means to you and I know what you are willing to give up to keep her safe."

"Why can't I remember anything?" Leia asked with a frustrated sigh. Images were still unfocused in her mind as she tried to think of something solid to hold onto, something that would remind her. But the only thing that would come to her were feelings, very strong feelings for Gabrielle.

"Well, that's part of the deal. You won't fully remember until Gabrielle give's her heart back to you and until then she will only see you as Leia. She's stubborn though." Aphrodite shook her head sadly. "I know she feels it every time she looks at you. Her heart wants to accept it but her head won't let her yet. You will continue to have dreams or memories. It will be up to you to decide which is which."

"Sometimes I feel like a stranger in this body. Now I know why." Leia said as she shifted her weight to lean closer to Aphrodite. "Can I ask what happened to the original owner?"

"She is where she is supposed to be. The Fates had long ago made that decision but she was honored to hear that you would live on in her body." Aphrodite reached over to push a strand of hair away from Leia's eyes. "The only difference is the eyes. I had to give them back to you…to both of you."

"Gabrielle knew it the moment she knocked me to the ground that first day, didn't she?" Leia tried to focus on what she was being told.

"Yes." Aphrodite's shoulders sagged as she thought back to that day.

"Why would you do this to her? Leia's voice rose with her impending anger. "I saw so much pain in her eyes that day. I don't want to be the source of that. How could you do this to us?"

"Hey, don't get all high and mighty with me Warrior Princess. You agreed to this plan and even though you can't see it now…it's the best one we've got at the moment." Aphrodite glared at Leia angrily before softening her gaze. "We still have a lot to do and I can't really tell you what or how just yet but trust me. She's already falling in love with you again. That is why the memories are coming back, albeit slowly. But it means she's coming around."

"I don't like your plan." Leia grumbled.

"You can thank yourself then. It's your plan." Aphrodite huffed with an impatience she rarely exhibited. "And while we are talking, I'll bet my brother is taking this chance to talk to Gabrielle right now."

"Your brother?" Leia looked at Aphrodite with concern etched on her face. "You mean Ares? What does he have to do with this?"

"Like I said, so much to talk about and so little time." Blonde curls fell into Aphrodite's eyes as she shook her head. "I can't give you specifics but he's looking to replace you, Warrior Princess."

"Why can't I remember? I've heard people talking since Gabrielle's return about…," Leia hesitated, unsure if she should or could say the name.

"About Xena? Or better yet, you?" Aphrodite let out a puff of air to blow the offending curls out of her face but only succeeded in causing more to fall.

"I…," Leia coughed nervously. "I don't know what to think. Am I really her?"

"Yep, you are. It's really not a surprise though, is it?" Aphrodite finally used her hand to push her hair away from her eyes so she could see Leia better and gage her reaction. When all she got was contemplative silence as an answer, she couldn't help but chuckle. "No, it isn't."

"You're right. I suppose it isn't. I knew it the moment I looked into Gabrielle's eyes that first day. My soul recognized her as my other half and I didn't even wonder why at the time." Leia let out a heavy sigh. "Tell me more about Aries. Why would he be talking to Gabrielle if he is looking for someone to replace Xena. Shouldn't he be talking to me?"

"Well, therein lies the problem my friend. It's not you he wants…," Aphrodite started to say.

"Over my dead body." Leia growled in a voice that sounded very much like Xena's.

"Yeah, well…let's not do that again. Okay? That's kinda what got us into all of this trouble in the first place." Aphrodite put her hand on Leia's shoulder in an effort to calm her. "Look, I've gotta go but find Gabrielle and talk to her. It would be best if you'd keep this little conversation here between us though. She tends to get a little testy when you mention 'our meddling ways' to her…her words not mine."

"I'll try but I won't make any promises." Leia clenched her teeth together as she pushed her anger down. "I won't lie to her either."

"You're sounding more and more like your old self my friend. Remember though, first and foremost that this is about Gabrielle." Aphrodite pushed herself up off of the ground to stand.

"Gabrielle always has and always will come first to me." Leia spoke with a conviction she hadn't known she had before. Something flickered deep within her, something foreign yet familiar all at the same time. She could feel a strength move through her washing away any doubts she may have had before that moment. Even though she still couldn't remember anything concrete or tangible about her past, she finally knew without question who she was.

Aphrodite watched as those light blue eyes darkened with introspection as Leia rose to stand next to her. She could see the internal conflict taking place as the past finally merged with the present. In a leap of faith, she propelled herself into Leia's arms and hugged her close. "Welcome back Xena." She whispered into the ear close to her lips. "It's about time you joined this party."

Gabrielle wandered around lost in thought until she came to the edge of a lake just outside the boundary of Amazon land. It had been a place she had visited many times before and a place where she knew she would find solitude. Solitude was something she hadn't had much of lately and the constant banter of those around her was almost too much for her to endure. That may have been one of the reason's that she had snapped at Eponin and Aphrodite earlier, but her patience had run the garment leaving them the unfortunate victims of her wrath.

With a heavy sigh, she dropped down to sit in the grass bordering the blue water that seemed to be balancing the sky above it. The glass like appearance of the lake made it difficult to determine where the water stopped and the sky began. Doing her best to focus on the scene before her, she pushed her bangs away from her eyes and let out a huff of frustration. Anger still radiated off of her, feeding her discontent. She frowned at the thoughts and the irritation she was feeling even though she was surrounded by such a peaceful sight. And as she continued to wallow in her foul mood, only one thing could make it worse and that one thing appeared next to her with no regard for whether she welcomed him or not.

"Mind if I join the pity party…or is it a party for one?" Ares took a seat next to Gabrielle and gave her an expectant look.

"Would it make any difference if I said I wanted to be alone?" Gabrielle ran her fingers through her hair before turning to regard the God of War.

"Aw, come on Blondie…you've spent enough time alone. But I get it…," he leaned back on his elbows as he stretched his long legs out in front of him. "Still holding on to that anger I see."

"Hmphf…" Gabrielle turned her attention back to the lake.

"You're kinda liking it, aren't you? There's something powerful about being angry. It fills up the emptiness she left behind, doesn't it?" Ares picked at a piece of grass as he spoke.

Gabrielle stared out at the water and the sky reflecting off of its surface thinking about how true Ares words were. Anger had become her best friend over the last few years. It was the one thing that made her feel alive but it was also the one thing that Xena had warned her about early on in their adventures together.

"I think she's bitten off more than she can chew this time…," Ares started to say.

"As if dying and leaving me alone isn't enough." Gabrielle's shoulders sagged in defeat.

"Well, if my sisters have their way…then you won't be alone for much longer." He said rather flippantly as if he didn't really believe it.

"What do you want?" Gabrielle turned a wary eye towards him.

"Hey, I'm just trying to comfort a friend in need." He held up his hands in mock surrender.

"I am not in need of your kind of comfort nor are we friends." She turned away from the smirk that was beginning to play across his lips.

"Alright, alright…so maybe we haven't been the best of friends over the years, but we do have a lot in common." Reaching over, he put a hand on her leg. The move elicited a groan from Gabrielle who immediately removed the hand before dropping it back into his own lap.

"Again…what do you want?" Her voice was tinged with irritation as her anger continued to grow to the boiling point. She couldn't help but wonder how many more times she would have to endure this song and dance game with him. It was exhausting and she was ready to move on.

"You know, if you keep up with this kind of attitude…I'm gonna think that you don't like me very much." Ares let out a huff as he looked down at his hand and flexed his fingers. He had been surprised at how strong Gabrielle's grip was when she took his hand to move it from her leg. A small smile tugged at his lips as he thought of the power her anger was generating without her even knowing.

"I'm not in the mood for this." She shook her head and turned away from him.

"I suppose I can cut to the chase and tell you what I want, but what would be the fun in that?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"It will save me from having to do the pinch on you." She looked at him, giving her best glare to indicate she was serious.

"You know that doesn't work on me." He said with a laugh that caused Gabrielle to stiffen.

"Maybe we should give it a try and see." Her voice dropped to a low growl.

"Hey, why are we fighting here? I just came by to check up on you and…well…," he hesitated in an effort to gain her interest but she was having none of it as she continued to look out over the water. "We're not so different ya know."

"So you've said." Her body relaxed a little.

"For what it's worth…I don't like to see you like this. I used to enjoy that sarcastic wit you brought to our relationship. Now, you just seem so empty. It's no fun anymore." He gave her a sad smile.

"I am empty…without her," Gabrielle took a deep breath as she tried to control the tears that threatened to fall. She didn't want to cry, least of all in front of Ares.

"Maybe we can help each other out. Make the best out of a bad situation." His sad smile slid into a sly grin.

"I already told you I wasn't interest in any of this." She waved her hands over him indicating what she was talking about.

"Come on, give me some credit Blondie…although you'll never know what you're missing." He laughed when she frowned at him.

"And neither will you." Her frown turned into a smirk and she couldn't help but laugh with him.

"Touché…" he gave her shoulder a playful nudge. He was quiet for minute as they both became lost in their own thoughts. Shifting to his side so he could look at Gabrielle without having to turn his head he pondered what he would say next.

"Out with it…I can smell the smoke from here." Gabrielle glanced over at him with an impatient look on her face.

"Well…as I said before, maybe we can help each other out." He looked down at his hand, studying the backs of his fingers with an unusual interest. "I mean…if you were to maybe take Xena's place beside me…I wouldn't need…,"

"I won't betray my sisters!" Gabrielle's voice shook from the anger that was coursing through her as she pushed herself up to stand over him.

"Hey, hey…I was just thinking that if you agreed to take her place, I wouldn't have to waste my time trying to convince some young kid into doing something she's going to do anyway. We both know she'll give in to her dark side. It's in her nature Gabrielle…it's going to happen…eventually. You can either accept it or fight it…although it would be easier to have you on my side but I won't lie and say I'm not looking forward to seeing that fire I know is in you."

Gabrielle dropped to the ground, her shoulders sagging under the weight of the truth. She knew that given the chance, the darkness that still resided within Xena would bloom into something vicious and fierce and she would have no control over it.

"I've got an offer for you…something to think about…okay. Will you hear me out?" He reached over and put his hand on her shoulder. This time she didn't tense. When she nodded solemnly, he continued. "We both know this idea of putting her in someone else's body is nonsense. How are you supposed to see anything but a snot-nosed kid every time you look at her? You'll have to start from the beginning. I'll have to start from the beginning. We don't have time for that. If you join me, I'll stop my advance on the Amazons. I promise they will never come under my wrath again." He watched as her body tensed but still she said nothing. "She'll leave you again…you know what I'm saying is true. Given the first chance…she'll chose the greater good over you." He made a face as if the words were bitter in his mouth. "You can beat her to the punch…choose me and I promise I'll never abandon you."

Gabrielle could feel her heart breaking all over again. She knew that Ares was right. Xena would always choose the greater good over their love for each other. It had been something they had both agreed upon early on, but things had changed. She had spent the last three years alone, wandering aimlessly with no purpose. Maybe she should join Ares. She didn't think she had much more to lose and if it would ensure the safety of her sisters, perhaps it would be the best thing for everyone.

"I'll think about it. I've got nothing left to lose." She sounded tired.

"Except her…," the wind seemed to whisper in Gabrielle's ear causing her sit up straighter.

Ares scowled as if he had heard the disembodied voice as well. He looked around as if he might find whoever or whatever had spoken in the wind before turning his attention back to Gabrielle. He was surprised to find her looking at him with a sad, resigned expression on her face.

"I won't betray my sisters and if I have to choose between her life and mine…I will not let her sacrifice herself again." Gabrielle's words held a strength she wasn't sure she felt but she knew she meant them.

"That's what I'm counting on. I'll give you a few days…," he said with the snap of his fingers as he disappeared in a puff of smoke to find whoever had just attempted to meddle in his business.

Gabrielle's eyes focused on the white cloud that began to slowly dissipate but the sight of someone approaching caused her to rub away tears she hadn't even realized were running down her cheeks. She knit her brows together as she tried to make out the figure dressed in black leathers walking towards her with an assurance and confidence she recognized immediately.

"Xena?" Gabrielle's voice was barely a whisper. She was afraid of breaking the spell she was surly under as she watched her soulmate, the love of her life, approach her in what must be a dream. The air around her stilled and she sat motionless. It wasn't until she heard her name spoken with the reverence and love she had come to associate with only one person.

"Gabrielle…," the long, slow familiar drawl of her name caused Gabrielle to launch herself into the waiting arms of someone she never thought she'd see again…Xena.