Chapter 3

Xena found herself standing in front of the same portal she'd stood before when she'd helped escort her son into the Elysian Fields. Everyone was dressed in white robes with golden sashes. Children played and acted as if they'd never seen a bad day in their lives. She felt her heart drop as she thought of pulling her daughter out of a peaceful eternity. But wasn't the purpose of being born to be able to live a full, happy life?

Xena swallowed hard, stepping through the portal, feeling her body tingling all over as she passed through. Many turned to look at her as she passed through, and she was only greeted with a smile. Nobody seemed aware that she was the only one dressed in black and wielding weapons.

"Welcome," said a young man of probably fifteen. "My name is Menos. Who are you?"

"My name is Xena," she said uncertainly.

"Xena? We're honored that such a noble warrior has decided to visit our village," he said, obviously oblivious to the fact that he was dead. But that was the point, as Solan had told her once. They relived the same day again and again without ever knowing they were dead.

"I'm here to see my daughter…and my son."

"Who might they be?"

"My son's name is Solan, and his sister's name is Eve. She's very young." Menos smiled.

"Yes! They're down by the stream playing with my younger brother." Xena felt her stomach tighten into knots. Menos motioned for her to follow him. "This way." Xena felt the urge to turn back. She felt as if she were intruding, like she didn't belong. She didn't belong there, and if she had her way, she'd take both of her children out of there and let them live the lives they deserved.

It wasn't long before they came upon a clearing. The clearest stream Xena had ever seen ran on for what seemed like miles. She could hear the laughter of boys and the giggling of a younger child. She knew that laugh. She'd beamed with pride and had called for Gabrielle to come quick the first time she'd heard it. And that voice calling to another child. She knew that voice. She'd heard it in her head every day since the moment she'd heard him speak for the first time.

"Solan! Your mother's here for you," Menos called out. Within a few moments, a young boy, tall with long, light brown hair came rushing out from behind the bushes. His eyes widened, and his smile grew wide.

"Mother!" Xena's eyes, emotion-filled and swimming with tears, blinked almost unbelievingly, as her son rushed to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I missed you!"

"I told you I'd come visit," she said with a smile. "How are you, sweetheart?"

"Good." He looked over at Menos. "Xena the Warrior Princess is my mother." The pride in his voice broke her heart.

"Everyone should be so lucky," Menos said. "Many people here speak of you and your courage."

"Uncle Marcus!" Solan called. "Uncle Marcus, Mother's here!" Xena's heart nearly stopped in her chest, as the man she'd once loved with all of her heart came stepping out from where Solan had just been. In his arms he held a plump, smiling baby. She was dressed in a white gown, and her blond hair was shimmering in the sunlight.

"Marcus," she breathed. "Eve."

"It's good to see you," Marcus said, his smile as bright as she had ever remembered. She swallowed the lump in her throat, and she blinked back tears.

"And you, my friend." She hugged him, and it felt so good to hold him. She felt Eve's hands tug at her long, black hair, and she smiled, pulling back.

"I think someone wants her mommy." Eve squealed with delight, and she reached for Xena. Xena immediately took her little girl into her arms and held her close, rocking her and patting her back.

"Oh…oh sweetheart."

"How has she been?"

"Happy. But she's missed you. And so have I."

"Marcus," Xena whispered, "I never thought I'd see you…"

"Hey," he whispered, glancing at the children, "it's alright. That's the past, Xena." She nodded. "You have more important things to think about now." He glanced at Eve.

"The past."

"Mother? Will you come with us? We're having a picnic," Solan urged. Xena looked up, seeing Hades and Ares standing nearby, seemingly unnoticed by the other people in the Elysian Fields.

"You go on sweetheart. I'll see you in a minute." Solan nodded and ran off with Menos and his brother. Marcus' gaze lingered on Xena for a moment, and as if letting go of the past, he turned and followed after the boys. Slowly, Xena turned with Eve in her arms.

"What do you want, Hades?" Xena asked.

"I'd be a little more grateful if I were you, Xena. After all, you wouldn't even be in here if it weren't for me…"

"Hades," Ares said, glancing at Xena, "just cut to the chase." Xena eyed the war god before looking back at Hades.

"What's this all about?"

"It's about a choice, Xena," Hades pointed out. Xena looked at Ares, who didn't seem too thrilled.

"A choice?" Xena asked. "What kind of choice?"

"You have two children in the Elysian Fields, Xena. Two children who would never have been here if it weren't for the choices you made in life."

"Now wait a minute," Xena spoke up, only to be interrupted.

"You are a warrior, Xena. Because you're a warrior, you met Gabrielle, you became involved with Caesar, you were driven to Britannia, where Dahak and Hope entered your lives. Because of Hope, your son is dead. Because of Caesar, you were crucified, Eli intervened, and you were given a second chance at Motherhood, and your child had a price on its head from the moment of conception." Xena looked at her baby daughter, who grinned up at her. She then looked at Ares, who seemed even more displeased.

"So you're giving me what choice, exactly?"

"I'm giving you the choice to take your daughter out of here and live your life as always, subjecting her to danger and even more harm. Or…you can take both of your children away from here."

"I don't…"

"If you take Solan and Eve, you must give up everything you've ever known in your life as a warrior. You will go back to Amphipolis and live the life you would have had you never picked up a sword." Xena shook her head.

"Give up everything? Gabrielle…"

"You have a week to decide." In a moment, Xena was floating somewhere between Earth and the Elysian Fields, and Ares was holding onto her.

"No! Ares, take me back!"

"It's time to go," he said. "Don't push it, Xena." In a moment, she was standing along a dirt path, not far from the lake she was supposed to meet Gabrielle at.

"Ares. Ares, why did you…"

"Xena," he interrupted. "Xena, look." Xena pulled away from him, turning to look in the direction he was gazing. It was then that she saw her son standing with Eve his arms. Xena gasped, her eyes widening.

"Mother…"

"Solan…" She rushed to them, kneeling down and wrapping her arms around them. Ares stood watching them, knowing that whatever she chose, there was a good chance that he was going to lose her forever this time.

"Xena," he said quietly. "Xena…" She reluctantly turned from her children to face Ares.

"What?"

"Xena, you realize you have a week to make a decision? In one week, you're going to either lose your son once again, or you're going to give up everything you've known since you were fifteen." Xena swallowed hard. "You have a decision to make, and you better make damned sure you know what you want, because once you make the choice…"

"There's no going back," Xena said softly. "I know." She looked at her son, who glanced up at her curiously. "I know."

Feedback would be most appreciated!