AN: Zeus was never killed when Eve was born. Spoilers for the episode "Is there a doctor in the house".

Chapter 2.

Zeus and the other Gods looked down at Gabrielle and got stunned by her thoughts. During the last five years they had seen her, they had never heard her think, 'I would die for you'. Artemis has had enough; she couldn't just stand here when she could do something about it.

"Zeus, we have to bring Xena back."

"No, we won't do it. The world doesn't need her anymore."

"Gabrielle needs her. She is depressed and I know she blames herself for Xena's death. I can't stand that she is so lifeless anymore. Zeus, you know that they are soul mates and if we don't send her back, she will die of sorrow. In her whole life she has done nothing but good things and this is how we repay her. We are killing her because she can't live without Xena!" Artemis said and turned to leave.

"Artemis, you're right. I have never seen Gabrielle so sad and in pain before. I saw that her eyes were glowing and I saw how happy she was when Xena was alive. Gabrielle loves her and, like she said, she would die for her. She helped Xena do good things and brought love back to her. We are going to bring her back."

And with that Zeus left to go to Tartarus, to look for Xena. Artemis smiled and looked down at Gabrielle, who was fighting for her life. It looks like they were wining but more soldiers came. Gabrielle looked exhausted and Artemis begged Zeus to hurry up.

In Tartarus.

Zeus appeared in the middle of the stony and dark landscape. He spotted Xena sitting on a rock with the face in her hands. He went forward and heard that she was crying. He got stunned; he hadn't expected to find her like that.

"Hello Xena."

"What do you want?" Xena asked and drew her sword.

"Xena, I come here in peace and I wish to speak with you. I have news for you."

Xena brought down her sword and went to sit down again.

"Go on. I'm listening, even though I don't want..."

"It's about Gabrielle." Zeus interrupted and Xena's head flew up.

"What about Gabrielle? Is she okay?" Xena asked her voice full with concern.

"Calm down, Xena. Yes, she is fine but still sad and depressed over your death. She has become just like you and she is a permanent Amazon queen. They are fighting a final battle between good and evil, Gabrielle's armies have a very good chance of winning."

Xena smiled at that. She knew Gabrielle would do anything in her power to keep innocents safe. Xena remembered when they had fought together and wished for it to happen again. No, that's not what she wanted. She wished that she hadn't decided to stay dead. She saw how much it hurt Gabrielle and it hurt Xena too. Xena missed her so much and wished that she could tell her that she is in love with her and have been that since Gabrielle almost died during the civil war between the Mitoans and Thessalians. It was then Xena realised that she didn't just care about Gabrielle but she wanted to keep her safe. All these years of saying "you are the best thing that's ever happened to me", "I love you", bathing together and sleeping beside each other, it was then Xena realised that she loved her.

"I'm sending you back to her." Zeus said and Xena looked at him with hope in her eyes, but also doubt.

"Why?"

"She is miserable without you and you are soul mates. It would be a crime to hold you two apart."

"But why now? It's been five years, why didn't you send me back sooner?"

"Because I thought that you belonged here, until now. Artemis talked some sense into me. She made me see that you and Gabrielle are soul mates, so I'm sending you back."

He waved his hand and a glass of water appeared. It was the same kind of water Gabrielle made her drink but back then she refused to drink it.

"Thank you Zeus. I will be in your depth forever."

"Just make her happy and then we're even."

Xena took the glass and drank it.