My Immortal X

When Xena awoke the next morning, she crawled out of bed gingerly in an effort to not wake the sleeping god. She took a brief second to admire his face in slumber, soft, relaxed, and free from all the cares that worried his waking heart. The sleek purple gown hanging on the wardrobe door caught her attention. Sliding it over her body, she luxuriated in the feel of the rich fabric against her skin. She rummaged around in a drawer looking for some undergarments but didn't find any of the female variety, a fact that managed to aggravate and please her at the same time. She had a clean pair in her saddlebag and decided that she'd retrieve it from the stables after she had a some breakfast. A trip to the market was in order, she thought, if she was indeed putting down roots with the god of war then there was no reason she couldn't replenish her wardrobe. It felt weird having a place to call home again. Weird but wonderful.

When Xena reached the kitchen, she found that Bilka had already sat her out a tray of bread, cheese, and fruit. There were also a few delicacies left over the previous evening that had kept overnight. A porcelain cup decorated with chakram motifs and a bag of herbal tea sat sat next to a water kettle. Xena smiled at Bilka's thoughtfulness but decided she would skip the morning tea. If the herbs were the same concoction that Xena had taught Bilka to prepare in her years as Ares' military commander. Xena knew that they would ward off pregnancy. But then again, Xena thought, she and Ares hadn't discussed having children. Certainly, he had been begging her for years to have a baby with him but that was only because he was trying to trap her into a relationship. Now that he had her, did he even want to have children with her? Maybe she should drink the tea. The chances that they had conceived the previous evening or in Vega where slim. They could always try again, later.

Xena picked up the herb bag and dropped it into the tiny cup. Picking up the kettle, she placed on the hook and moved it into the burning hearth so the water would boil. While the water brewed she went through a brief series of morning stretches before sitting down to nosh on her morning fare.

She was surprised when Ares joined her in the mortal kitchen. "Don't you have war duties you should be looking into?"

He wrapped his arm around her waist from behind and kissed her on the soft spot below her ear. "I do, I was actually just heading to Sparta, would you like to join me?"

"Aressss," Xena's groan reminded him that she was here as his woman, not his warrior.

"I know, I know," he put his hands up in surrender. "I may be gone a while. The last time I checked in, there was talk about a Helot uprising."

"Well, if you build your entire society on the backs of slaves, it serves you right if they overthrow you." Xena popped a grape in her mouth to emphasize her point.

"Xena, keeping the helots enslaved allows the Spartans to focus solely on military endeavors."

"I didn't say that it wasn't efficient. I am just telling you that eventually it will crumble."

"You may be right but for now, I have to see what can be done to appease the bastards and keep them from rioting."

"You want my advice?"

"Always, I invited you didn't I."

"You're right, you're right. See this is the problem with us trying to do this." She huffed and walked over to grab the whistling kettle.

Ares watched in dismay as she poured the water over the herbs. He wasn't a fool, he knew the purplish flowers in the heb mixture were pennyroyals. He'd seen Xena drink the tea many times when they were together before. If she was drinking it now, it could only mean that the thought of a child with him still sickened her. She wasn't as truly committed as he'd hoped she was.

"We need to set some parameters . . ." Xena started saying but stopped abruptly as Ares disappeared into thin air.

"Ares! Ares!," Xena called out but to no avail. She hated it when he did that! This wasn't going to work if he disappeared every time they had an issue pop up. It wasn't even that big of a deal. She hadn't gotten angry or blown up. She was just going to tell him that he would need to keep work at work, otherwise she was going to be tempted to put in her two cents. And then, boom, he was gone.

The minty fragrance of the tea wafted into the air. Xena stirred the flowers around a little watching them swirl about in the darkening water. She had meant to ask him how he felt about having a baby but he had run off. Well fuck him, it didn't matter how he felt, it was her damn body after all and if she wanted a baby, that was all that mattered. And she did! She realized. Xena tossed the contents of the cup into the trash bucket that sat next to the back door.

He was going to get an earful when he got back! And whether he like it or not they were going to set some ground rules. But for now, Xena had two things on the day's agenda. She was going to the market to buy some comfortable clothes to have around the house. But first, she needed to talk to Aphrodite.

Xena walked to the war room and found some parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink in the secretary desk. She scribble something down on the sheet and then rolled it and sealed it with gold ribbon.

"Hermes," Xena called out.

He didn't respond.

"Hermes," she tried again.

Still nothing.

"Oh for Zeus' sake, Hermes!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

Suddenly, the messenger god appeared hovering in the air in the war room.

"Xena, you are not a goddess, you have no authority to summon me at will. And besides, Ares is banished. This stop is no longer on my route."

"Do you really want to piss me off? Ares is still a god and whether you like it or not his messages fall under your purview. You will continue to deliver his messages."

"Well, like a said, you are not a goddess and I don't have to do your bidding."

"Fair enough," Xena conceded, "but since this one is going to Aphrodite I'd hoped that you wouldn't mind taking it for me."

"Why didn't you just call her yourself? Aren't you two chummy?"

"I was trying to use some decorum." Xena answered.

"Oh, I see, you want to play goddess even though you won't officially become one."

"Whatever, just do your job."

"This is a freebie, Xena. But don't call me here again."

Hermes ripped the scroll from Xena's hand and disappeared.

Xena didn't want to admit it to Hermes but he had hit a nerve. Was she just playing? Was that all this was? Some elaborate game? Was she toying with Ares? With his heart? She was a mortal, not his goddess. Did she have intentions to become a goddess? Was that something she really wanted? Could she marry him? Would it be right to marry him if she wanted to remain mortal? Would it be right to bring a child into the marriage? Damn, maybe she shouldn't have sent that scroll. Maybe she should have just drank the damn tea. Why did love have to be so complicated?

AXAXAXAXAXAXAX

Xena had just finished paying for the two dresses she'd picked out when Aphrodite appeared in the dress shop.

"You wanted to see me warrior babe?" She asked before getting distracted by a pink frock. "Oooo, you should get this one."

"Not really my color, or style for that matter," Xena noticed the very short hemline and plunging neckline.

"You should try it, might drive Ar crazy."

"I can do that without a dress."

"I just bet you can, so what's up? You said you wanted to talk in private."

"Yeah, wanna go to the tavern? I can buy you a mug of ale."

"Ewww, yuck! Hello! Goddess here!"

"Well, what do you have in mind?"

Dite grabbed Xena by the hand and transported them to one of her luxurious apartments overlooking the Aegean.

Suddenly, they were seated on velvet-soft chaise lounges and surrounded by scantily clad male servants One young man poured the goddess a glass of nectar and offered to fill the goblet next to Xena's seat. Aphrodite indicated the wine bottle, saving Xena the embarrassment of having to turn down the drink. A gorgeous, blonde with a roman nose and chiseled jawline, removed Xena's sandals, poured a dollop of lavender scented oil in his palm, and began massaging Xena's feet. So this was how Aphrodite spent her days. Surrounded by muscled youths just waiting to do her bidding.

"You wanted to chat?" Aphrodite relaxed into her chair while a young Persian looking boy of about sixteen started rubbing her heavenly hoofs.

"I was hoping we'd have a little more privacy."

"What? These guys? Your secrets are safe with them."

"It's not a secret. It's kind of a favor."

"Oh, oooh, oh, the Warrior Princess is asking for my help? Well, I do kinda owe you, huh."

"It's not like that, I'm not calling in that kind of favor."

"Hmm," Aphrodite could tell that the situation was serious so she dismissed her entourage of bodacious bodies.

When they were truly alone, Dite took a sip of her nectar and turned to Xena. "Okay, you have my undivided attention. What's up?"

"Well, I've been considering where things are going with Ares."

"Um-huh."

"Well, I think I would like to have a child. I'm not sure though about the consequences."

"Which consequences?" Dite was squeeing inside but she was doing her best not to let it show. Ares was going to flip! And, in the best way.

"Well, I am a mortal, he is a god, the child would be a demi-god."

"Well, we could make you a goddess and that'd fix that."

"I am not sure I am prepared for that, Dite."

"You were born to be a goddess, Xena. If any mortal ever was fit, it is you. I mean look at you! And, your talents are endless.'

"Aside from all of that, I'm not even sure Ares wants a child," Xena voiced her concern.

"Oh, he does, I am sure of it. Look, I know you love him. You want to marry him? Right?"

"I don't know, maybe."

"Yes, you do."

"Okay, yes, I do but he hasn't asked." Xena frowned.

"Look, you two just got back from Hell! He probably just wants to make sure this is all for real, before he makes any moves. He's probably afraid you'll balk if he starts talking about the future."

"You're right," Xena shook her head. Why did things have to be so damn difficult.

"So what's the favor?"

"Well, like I said, I think I want a child. I was wondering if you would bless my womb? I am not getting any younger and I know how difficult it can be for an older woman to conceive."

"Xena, I would be honored to bless your womb but if you really want to ensure a pregnancy, you should see Demeter. She took over the mantle of female fertility when Hera died."

"Well, given the fact that they just booted Ares from Olympus because of me, I am not sure she would be too willing to do that."

"She might surprise you. What do you say we pay her a visit?"

"Olympus? But. ."

"Uh-uh, they banned him, not you."

"Gods and their loopholes!"

Aphrodite took Xena's hand and the disappeared from the spa setting in the same fashion they entered.

AXAXAXAXAXAX

Ares finished up in Sparta and headed back to the Halls of War. He'd been giving Xena's comments about the Helots some thought and set a meeting with the Spartan Elders for Monday morning to discuss options to appease the enslaved population.

He knew she was going to be pissed for him disappearing the way he did but when he'd seen those herbs, he couldn't help it. He and Xena had made so much progress in the last couple of days that seeing the herbs had felt like a setback. He reminded himself that he needed to give her time and space. If she wasn't ready to start a family that was fine. Tartarus, if she never wanted kids, he would be satisfied with just having her. But in his heart of hearts, he longed to see her blue eyes shine from the face of his child.

Ares didn't find Xena in the bedroom, war room, or throne room, so he tried the kitchen. No sign of her there either. He did, however, notice the porcelain cup was empty. She had drank the tea. His heart ached but he shrugged. At least the fact that she was taking the contraceptive let him know that it was too early to ask her to marry him or take their relationship to the next step. He promised himself that he would proceed with caution. This time, he would go at her pace. No pressure, do demands.

He wondered where she had gotten off to. She'd said something about new clothes so he figured she had gone into town. He hoped she hadn't decided to leave altogether.. He thought about searching the aether for her but decided against it. He needed to trust that she was coming back. He supposed he should check in on the campaign in Macedonia. With one last offended look at the porcelain cup, he disappeared.