Xena was floating again. And again, she was surrounded by the pink nothingness. But this time, it wasn't so disorienting. Ares was there, holding her. Even though she wasn't on Earth she felt perfectly grounded. She looked into his dark eyes but instead of the black emptiness she had seen in Hell, she could now make out the amber flecks in his irises. He hardly noticed their surroundings, he was caught up in her. He caressed her soft cheek with the back of his hand. It felt so good to have him touching her again. To be able to FEEL him again. To be in his presence. She moved to take off his necklace, intending on giving it back to him but they were suddenly separated by a blast of energy.

"Not so fast," she knew it was Michael before she turned to face him.

"I'm warning you arcangel!" Xena snarled.

"You are warning ME! You don't have any dominion here in Limbo, Xena."

"Maybe not. But you've overstepped yourself, Michael."

"You may have been able to muster your powers to escape Lucifer's domain but I won't let you go back to Earth. If I can't return you two to Hell then you'll just spend eternity trapped here. Not much of a view but you'll get used to it in maybe . . . oh. . I don't . . . know. . .a couple thousand years."

Michael reached for his sword, Xena reached for hers on instinct only to realize that she and Ares were both still nude and woefully unarmed.

"Stop," Ares called.

Michael turned his attention on the defenseless god of war. "I'll get to you yet," the arcangel winked, mocking the god.

"You would cut down an unarmed woman? Not very sporting, Michael."

"Xena, unarmed? Hardly, she has the deadliest hands of any mortal I've ever encountered."

As he was speaking to Ares, Xena kicked his wrist causing him to lose his grip on his sword which flew up into the air where Xena deftly snagged it.

"Don't forget those deadly legs," Ares taunted as he moved in behind Xena.

"There's no need for all of this violence," Eli entered the realm and stood with MIchael.

"Your goons started it,"Xena kept the sword trained on Michael.

With the wave of Eli's hand the sword vanished and Xena and Ares found themselves dressed in their normal attire.

"Yes, Michael got a little overzealous. Raphael just brought me word of what exactly has been going on. Xena, it's good to see you. I am sorry he involved Eve in this mess."

"Why? Why did you want Ares dead?" Xena asked.

"I didn't," Eli assured. "I am guessing that Michael was trying to prove himself to me. But he forgot that I am not into vengeance."

Michael swallowed hard.

"Why did you go after Eve, why use her, she's worked so hard to atone?" Xena directed the question to MIchael.

"My guess is because she's so easily corrupted," Ares chimed in.

Xena elbowed him in the gut.

"Xena," Eli reprimanded. "She hasn't entirely overcome her darkness. For her, as for you, it is a daily struggle."

"How can I help her?" Xena asked.

"Just be there for her. It's her battle, she has to find her Way. Just as you have. Ares, I want to commend you by the way."

"Me?"

"Yes, Raphael tells me that you didn't fight back, you accepted her judgement on you. You couldn't kill her. You could've, I'm guessing, but you restrained yourself."

Ares looked to the ground sheepishly. It was true. When Eve started rattling off all the atrocities that he had committed against her mother, he had been ashamed of himself. In that instant, he realized that he had wholly deserved to be punished for his sins against Xena. He certainly hadn't expected the Warrior Princess to go to Hell and back to save his pathetic ass. But she had! She loved him!

"I didn't want Xena to lose another child," Ares answered. "I gave up my godhood once to save this woman. I wasn't about to kill her daughter even if it meant my life. I've put her through enough already."

Xena reached down and took his hand and squeezed it.

"Ares, I knew there was good in you. Even as you killed me, I could feel the despair inside you. You were tormented. You of all the Olympians were the only one before the Twilight that truly understood the concept of loss because you had lost her. It was why the Twilight scared you so badly. You were reacting to that fear. I forgave you before you did it. I certainly didn't need my angels going off half-cocked," Eli looked disapprovingly at Michael.

"I'm not really into heart to heart chats, Eli," Ares winced in embarrassment. "So are you going to make us fight our way out of here or are you going to give us safe passage back to Earth?"

AXAXAXAXAX

Gabrielle found Eve sitting on Athena's old throne in the main hall on Olympus. The messenger drank wine from a golden goblet while Apollo filled her ears with his plans for Olympus now that his brother was out of the way.

"You know, I could always use a queen, Eve. You'd make a magnificent Olympian royal."

"I would wouldn't I?" Eve cocked her eyebrow as she entertained the idea. There was a time in her life that such a station would have appealed to her sense of destiny. She felt the old tingle niggle at her soul.

"Imagine it. You and me. . ."

"No, Apollo," she cut him off, "I've done what I came here to do. I've lingered too long, tempted by your intoxicating presence but I am a mere messenger. A messenger of Love and Peace not of conquest and power."

"But you do conquest and power so well, my dear," Apollo ran her dark tresses through his fingers.

"And apparently murder," Gabrielle charged as she walked toward Eve.

"Gabrielle," Eve looked shocked to see the bard. She looked over the blonde's shoulder for Gabrielle's constant travel companion.

"She's not with me."

"She's still grieving his loss? Can't she see that it was part of Eli's plan. Eli had to be avenged."

"Eve, can't you see that Eli cares nothing for vengeance. Look, Eve, I could have avengeD Eli when Ares first killed him, so could your mother, but that was not what Eli was about. You of all people should know that. You've let Michael manipulate you into committing murder."

"You say murder, I say justice. I will never have pity on Ares. He used me, tried to have me killed, and he continued to torment my mother even after she got the monstrous bastard his godhood back. No, he is in his rightful place, in Hell and that's where he will stay, for eternity."

Apollo grinned wickedly at the thought of all the tortures his brother and rival must be enduring.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Gabrielle countered.

"What do you mean?"

"Your mother has allowed herself to be killed so she can get to him. I am sure she intends on bringing him back."

"Why would she do that? It's pointless, Michael will never release Ares even if she is able to free him from Hell, they'll be stuck in Limbo forever. What is she thinking?" Eve stood from the throne and began pacing the floor.

"I don't think she is thinking at all, Eve. I think she is feeling. She felt his loss before she even knew he was gone. They have a deep bond. And whether you or I like it or not, she is in love with him. She has been for a very long time. I ignored it. I was sure it would run out of her system but it's not going to."

"So what are you saying? That you condone her actions?"

"I am saying who am I to judge who someone else loves? I love her unconditionally. If she needs him, I will support her. Just like she and I will support you as you work through whatever you are going through here," Gabrielle placed a supportive hand on Eve's lower back."

"Please, Gabrielle, don't patronize me. I am not going through anything. I've done the right thing. In the name of Eli, I purged the world of the god of war. It is you who are mistaken if you think that he is going to let that monster back into the world."

"We'll see," Gabrielle said and took Athena's vacant seat.

AXAXAXAXAXAX

Aphrodite leaned against a boulder tending to her already perfectly manicured nails. She wondered how much longer she'd have to wait for the warrior babe. Maybe she should chalk it up to bad luck and head back to Olympus. Ares had been dead for a while and if they hadn't been in the icy caves, Dite surmised that their corpses would already be stinking. Still, she promised Xena that she'd wait, but she was only going to give it a couple more hours. She couldn't bodysit them forever.

The undoubtable feeling of another god entering the caves alerted her. She checked her immediate surroundings but didn't see anyone. She started to feel deeper into the caves when she noticed Ares' body emanating a soft silver glow. He was back! For the life of her, Xena never ceased to amaze her. The warrior had really and truly done the impossible, again. Aphrodite rushed over to their bodies.

Ares woke in the cold, dim cave. He sought Xena immediately. He found Aphrodite hunched over her body trying her damndest to take off the pinch. It didn't seem to be working. Had Xena let Aphrodite put the pinch on her? Wow! Xena must have been really desperate to reach him if she had trusted Dite with such an important task.

"Move, you're missing it by a hair's breadth."

"Bro!" Dite threw her arms around the big lug.

"Yeah, yeah, I missed you too but I kinda need to save Xena right now."

"Oh, yeah, here you do it."

Ares swiftly tapped the crucial pressure point and waited for Xena's blood to resume its natural rhythm through her mortal shell.

It took her a minute to respond, but finally, her eyes fluttered open.

Xena looked up into Ares' warm, caring eyes. She was back on Earth! Back in the arms of the god she loved. She turned her head to find Aphrodite on the other side of her. She reached out weakly for the goddess' hand. Dite took Xena's cold paw in her own warm one and gently squeezed it.

"Thank you," Xena smiled at the blonde.

"Xena! You did it!" Aphrodite kissed the warrior on the cheek and hugged her tightly.

"We did it!" Xena corrected and looked back at Ares. He nodded.

"Okay, I've been in this dark hole long enough, let's blow," Dite suggested.

"We'll catch up," Xena responded and looked to Ares to let him know that she needed to see him alone for a bit.

"Yeah, we'll be around in a bit, don't wait up for us, though." Ares smiled at Dite.

"You want me to tell everyone you're back?"

"No, let's just keep it between the three of us for the time being," Xena butted in. "I want to see what ole' Apollo is up to."

"Gabrielle is already working on that."

"Gabrielle?" Xena turned her full-attention to Dite. "I left her Corinth, why would she be checking on Apollo, Aphrodite?"

"She wouldn't quit calling me, it was distracting! I had Cupid take her to Olympus, she said she needed to talk to Eve."

"Aphrodite!"

"Hey, that was Plan B! I talked her out of following you to HELL!"

"What? Nevermind, thank you for that!"

"You're welcome," Aphrodite answered. It was about time someone appreciated her efforts!

"Look, Ares and I will head to Olympus later, just don't let anyone know you are there."

"I'll just go to my temple in Cyprus, away from prying eyes."

"Even better!" Xena agreed.

"Thanks, Sis, for everything," Ares took his sister in an honest embrace.

"Stop it! You're gonna make me cry. I don't wanna mess up my make-up!" She disappeared into golden light.

Ares and Xena stood in the cave, not speaking, until the awkwardness got the better of both of them and they tried to speak at the same time.

"Ares,"

"Xena,"

"Sorry, go ahead," She offered.

"No, no, you first, I insist," he replied.

She had a million things she wanted to say to him. She wanted to tell him how empty she'd felt when she woke in the middle of the night. She wanted to share with him the desperation that had clawed at her soul. She wanted to tell him that she was his, now and forever. But the words just wouldn't come. Now that they were back on Earth and she knew that he was safe, she went into protective mode and her mind started erecting the same old walls that allowed her to keep him at bay.

"I'll get to the bottom of this, I promise. And, I'll make sure that Eve stays off of Olympus, you have my word.'

"Is that all I have, your word?" He couldn't believe it! She was pulling away. The woman that had gone to Hell and back, evaded Lucifer, and defeated Michael all in an effort to have him back in her world was quickly giving way to the wary Xena, the guarded woman who tried to keep him at arm's length. "Because, if i didn't know better, I'd swear that I have your heart."

"Ares don't! We have business to take care of, we don't have time for this."

He grabbed her into his arms, "We will make time."

"Ares," Xena placed her palms flat against his chest. He was here! He was real! She could feel him. By the gods and all that was holy, He was holding her in his strong embrace, again!

"No, Xena. You are not going to shut me out! We need to talk, Eve, Gabrielle, the world, Olympus, they can all wait. Right now, it's about you and me." He didn't give her a chance to even utter a protest, he closed his warm mouth over hers.

His lips were soft and moved across hers. They were no longer stiff and dead! His loving hands splayed across her back, they burned with his desire. She deepened the kiss and allowed her hands to cup his neck and toy with the loose curls that were starting to grow at his nape.

"I was so afraid, Ares," she cried as she broke the kiss and rested her head against his shoulder.

"Afraid that I was too late, that I wouldn't be able to reach you. I didn't even know where to start looking at first. In fact, if that bastard Lucifer hadn't came to me in my dreams just to fuck with me, I might still be traipsing around the Norse Lands seeking allies from Valhalla."

"I'm sure MIchael's gonna make sure Lucifer's gonna get what's coming to him."

'No torture will ever be enough. I wish they'd give me free reign over him for about twenty-four hours."

"He ever shows up on Olympus, I've got a few tricks in store for him."

"I just bet you do! What he did to you."

"What he did to me is not half of what he wanted me to do to you. What my black soul let me do to you, Xena. I know that saying I am sorry will never be enough. Is that why you are pulling away from me, now. Because I raped you? If that's it, I understand. If you want me to leave, go away, never bother you again. I can do that."

Xena pressed two fingers to his lips to stop his ranting. "Ares, you didn't rape me! Didn't you feel me meeting your thrust?"

"Gods, yes, I gloried in it. The feel of you welcoming me inside you was what pulled my soul back from the brink."

"And the desire to physically feel you inside me was what nearly trapped me in that darkness. I let myself indulge in the feeling of your sliding inside me, I wanted it to be real, wanted to experience your flesh so desperately that I nearly fell into the illusion."

"I am glad you stayed strong. But Xena, it doesn't matter if you welcomed me inside you or not. I was going to rape you either way. I wanted to hurt your for all those things you were saying." His voice hitched and he looked to the ground.

Xena kissed him softly and raised his chin so that he would have to look at her. 'Ares, I said some very nasty things, none of which I meant. I knew which buttons to push, baby, that's all. I wanted you to attack me. I needed to have you close. I needed us to join if we were going to defeat him. It had to be us together. Together we are stronger than we are as individuals."

"Yes, you pushed all the right buttons, but Xena there should be no words that would allow me to do that to you. I've always prided myself on giving you the choice to come back to me or not. Sure, I've pursued you relentlessly but I would never force myself on you."

'I know that, Ares, it wasn't you. He had tortured and raped you. Your soul had started to give way to the rot and decay that is Hell. Your eyes were even turning black with hate, anger, and death. That's why I knew I had to hurry. If I'd waited much longer, it would have been too late. That's why I taunted you."

"Xena, I need to , I want to, I don't want the last time. . ."

"Shhhh, it's okay, I know. I know what you need. What we both need." Xena unclasped her breastplate. It clanged to the cave floor. She ran one long finger against his bearded jaw line, then reached up and kissed him. She licked his lips then plunged her tongue deep into his beautiful mouth.

"Not here," Ares said but never broke the kiss.

The next thing Xena knew they were laying on the soft silken sheets in his bed at the Halls of War. She could tell that Ares fully intended to take his sweet time. She told herself that he needed this. It would be cruel to let him spend eternity remembering their last time together as a vile act of rape. She told herself that it was just one time. This was about comfort and healing. It wasn't a promise of a future together. It was a rectification. They were fixing what had been done to them that's all. She could get up and walk out of here tomorrow, back to her life.

"Not here, either. I don't want it to be in a place of war. Not this time. This is different. This is about me loving you."

Suddenly they were laying on a soft black fur in the middle of a field of purple irises. Xena wondered if the place was real at all or just a fantasy world he had created just for them. The sweet scent of the flowers filled the air. Ares reached out and plucked one of the long stemmed buds and used it to caress her long arms. The sensation of the velvety soft bud on her exposed flesh sent shivers through her core.

"You know I am in love with you, right?"

"Ares. . ."

"No, listen to me. I'm not asking you to say it back. I know that you could never love me, after all I've done to you. Fuck, maybe you never did. Maybe you never loved me at all and I've been fooling myself, but I love you. I am in love with you and even though I don't expect you to return those feelings, I do need you to acknowledge that my feelings for you are love, not lust, not some god-supplicant obsession. Love, Xena. I love you."

Walls be damned! She knew that she was all-in. "For Zeus' sake, Ares! I love you too! I am in love with you!" There was no going back. "Now will you ravage me, already?"

Ares slowly peeled her clothes away, eagerly kissing every inch of newly exposed flesh. When he had her completely nude, he sat back on his haunches and admired her glorious body, her raven tresses, her still-firm breasts, her toned stomach, her nest of curls which hid her most private recess, and her long, strong thighs.

Xena blushed as she watched him watch her. It joyed her that he liked what he was seeing, after all these years. Ares reached down and toyed with the key pendant that she still wore. It was hers to keep, he'd tell her later, he didn't want to put in pressure on this joining. He wanted this to be about the moment and nothing else.

Xena wondered what his was thinking as his eyes danced back up to her breasts. She realized that he had entirely too many clothes on for her liking. She sat up and pushed his vest off his shoulders. She used her nails to gently scratch his chest hair. She teasingly tweaked a flat nipple before pushing at the hem of his pants. As she worked his pants off his hips, she kissed his navel and snaked her tongue down his treasure trail. When his cock surged free of the leather pants, she took it firmly in hand and licked along the back ridge line from the base to the tip. She gently took his balls in her hand and rolled them slowly as she opened wide to take his member fully in her mouth. Ares' eyes rolled in the back of his head momentarily before he reminded himself that he'd better watch. It wasn't everyday that the Warrior Princess used one of her many skills to give him sublimely perfect head. Xena tasted his salty pre-ejaculate fluid and could feel his member swelling in her throat. She knew it wasn't going to be much longer. Ares was torn between letting her finish the blowjob and rolling her over and finishing inside her. He decided that he would let her decide. If she wanted to stop, she would. Xena had no intention of stopping. It had been a long time since he had physically been inside her, she knew that when their bodies re-joined after all the years of longing that the emotions were going to be overwhelming, she also knew that even though he prided himself on his control, that he would come too quickly for her liking. A blowjob should help temper that a bit.

"Xena," Ares called, letting her know that he was about to come."

Xena started moving quickly up and down the head with her mouth and pumping his wet shaft with her fist. She looked up at him with her icy blue glare, daring him to go all the way. Ares reached down and lovingly brushed his fingers through her hair as he lost himself in her mouth.

Xena eagerly swallowed his love fluid and lapped the strands that escaped and ran down his cock.

"Gods, Xena," Ares panted.

She let him catch his breath, then she lay back on the soft fur and parted her thighs. "Your turn," she give him a Cheshire grin.

"Oh, you are in for it my dear, You're not the only one with many skills."

"Oh, I count on it!" She ran a slender finger through her folds and slicked her juices on it before bringing the finger up to his lips, inviting him to taste.

Ares licked her finger and took it into his mouth and massaged the knuckle with his tongue as if it was her hot bundle of nerves.

"MMmmmmm," Xena groaned in anticipation. She pulled him by the back of the neck down to her center.

Ares hooked one arm around her thigh and used his free hand to spread her nether lips. He kissed along the sides of her cunt teasingly before pressing his full lips against her clit. She was so wet. He didn't know that he'd ever seen her this wet, Hades, he wasn't sure he'd ever seen any woman this fucking wet. He boldly licked her center, wanting to taste her full heady flavor.

"Oh, Xena, so sweet! I could feast on you forever." He lay his tongue flat and lapped from her hole to her nub Satisfied that it was properly lubricated he began to work his tongue back and forth across the nodule. Xena fisted her hand in his hair. She wasn't going to last long with those precious lips working her pussy so wonderfully. Her juices leaked out of her burning center. Ares took two fingers and prodded at her dripping entrance.

"Yes, god, please yes," Xena cried. Ares slid the fingers all the way in as he continued to work her clit but alternating between sucking her nub and swiping it with his tongue. Xena started bucking on his fingers, so he started pumping as furiously as he could while still sucking her off.

"Gods, god, god, yes, yes, oh Ares, Ares, love you, by the goooooooodssss!" Xena cried as her. back fully arched off the bear fur.

Ares let her ride out her orgasm. He delighted in feeling her tight walls clenching and releasing his thick fingers.

When she finally quit pulsing around him, he slid his fingers out and lay down beside her pulling her into his arms.

They lay there blissfully for a few minutes. Ares felt her warm tears splatter onto his chest. He pulled back to look at her. Was she regretting this?

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, perfect. It's just that it's been so long. . .It was worth the wait."

"Yes, it was." he agreed.

"I'm sorry, I'm all emotional."

"I'm not. It just reaffirms how much you've wanted this. As much as I have!" He kissed her and let his hand play along the soft curve of her waist.

"It's been hard to stay away from you. Hardest part of the path that I've walked. And not just the sex. I genuinely missed your company."

"I missed you too. So, does this mean that. . .nevermind. . . tomorrow will take of itself."

"You're afraid that I am going to walk away after this, aren't you?"

He swallowed hard. He wasn't looking for a fight but he knew she'd read any deceit in his answer, so he answered honestly. "Yes, of course, I am. This all seems a little too good to be true."

"So what? You think that was a pity blow? And that what we are getting ready to do is nothing more than a quick "I'm so happy we're both alive" fuck."

"No, Xena. I think, I know it's more than that, but I also know you and when you have to face Blondie and Eve, can you really tell them that you are in love with the god of war? Are you going to tell them that he laid you down and made sweet love to you? Are you going to tell them that you never feel more complete than when he is deep inside of you?"

Her core clenched at the thought of him plunging her depths. He saw the ecstasy flit across her face. She licked her lips and rolled her eyes. She turned to face him fully. "I am not playing a game here. I told you I love you and I meant it dammit. Frankly, I don't give a damn what any of them think. In fact, I don't care if we ever leave this field of fucking flowers. Now, get inside me."

Ares ran his hand up her thigh pulled it up to give himself access to her center. Xena reached down between their bodies and found his cock. She guided him to her core and felt him push into her flesh. They lay there, side by side, looking deeply into each other's eyes as Ares let her adjust to his wide girth. When she nodded subtlely, he pushed in deeper and she began to rock against him.

"Love you," she whispered. Tears of joy fell down her face at the perfect feeling of union.

"You okay? Not hurting you am I?"

"Never better, baby, don't stop, don't ever stop. And, don't you ever let me leave you again. Ever!"

He didn't intend to, he thought, and a thrust harder and harder, as their passion mounted.