Chapter 10: Considering staying

Xena POV

"Xena what are you doing?" Gabrielle asked-completely blown away by what she was witnessing- once again coming towards us. "Are you ok?" she continued, on a considerably more concerned tone.

"Yeah I'm fine...could you leave us for a moment?" I said, shifting my gaze towards Ares.

He didn't reply but one moment later he vanished.

"Xena….."

"Do you know about…?"

There was a brief moment of silence.

"About the child..? Yes….Aphrodite explained everything before you woke up. She dropped by for a little bit, thinking that Ares needed help."

"She knew about this too?"

"Yes."

"How? Did Ares tell her?"

"No…she said she found about it a couple of weeks ago…Maybe it's a God thing… she is Love after all….maybe she sensed it or something…."

I involuntarily turned my gaze towards Eve's crib where she was peacefully sleeping and than back to Gabrielle.

"Ohh Xena!" Gabrielle's hopeless voice filled the air giving me the chills. "What are we gonna do? How could he do this to you? That Bastard! He had no right!"

"It's ok…Don't worry about it...This child is mine too and it doesn't matter who the father is…. I will keep it."

"Still, that doesn't make it ok Xena….That's like ….some strange form of rape…..!" the word left her lips uttered on the most disgusted tone ever.

"Trust me, rape was the last thing that happened there…" I muttered trying to avoid her persistent stare.

Without realizing it, my hand descended towards my belly...it felt normal now but despite the so called normality, I knew…..I was really pregnant. A new life was growing inside me and despite the anger and the hate I found myself smiling with all my heart.

" So how will Ares fit into all this? Did you give it any thought? "

"Not so fast Blondie… conspiring behind my back is out of the question."

"No one is conspiring Ares! We were just talking…." I bit back , annoyed about his uncalled for intervention. "Plus, whatever we talk about is none of your business by the way!"

"It is my business actually given the fact that you didn't conceive that child alone, so don't even think about putting a distance between my son and …"

"Son? It's a boy?" I asked, my mask shattering instantly when hearing the news…For a minute there, a clear picture of Solan appeared before my eyes.

"Yes..it is…."

"Where are my clothes and armor?" I finally asked, trying not to let myself carried away.

"What, you are leaving?"

"Of course I'm leaving. You didn't think I would stay here, did you?"

"Why not? You're safe here…."

"I'm a Warrior, Ares, I can take care of myself!"

"You know what I mean….Xena…it would only take a wrong move or…or a moment of inadvertence to…"

"So what? Am I supposed to stay locked up in a fortress till I give birth? Have you gone mad?"

"I'm just trying to help ok?"

"Stop trying!"

"Am I missing something here? You've just fainted because of the pain! What if something like that happens during a fight huh? What then ?"

He obviously had a point, but that certainly didn't keep me from doing things my way.

"Well you'd better keep an eye on me, I guess!" I strongly suggested, throwing him a murderous glare.

"Don't think I won't!"

"I won't let anything happen to her Ares, I promise" Gabrielle solemnly uttered, flashing a reassuring smile.

"You? You could barely kill a fly!" the God's acid reply made the my friend wanna choke him to death.

She just took a deep breath aware that type of conversation wasn't meant to have a happy ending.

"How long will the pain last? "She asked in return, actually doing me a favor since I was silently wondering the same thing.

"I uh….I don't know….A couple of months maybe….I'm sorry Xena….I had no clue that this would have such an impact on you….."

"Fancy that!" I spitted sarcastically.

" Your body just needs to relax and accomodate with our child ."

At the sound of that carefully stressed "our" it took all of my strength not to throw something to the Bastard and teach him a lesson.

"Like it or not Xena, it is our child." he added, noticing my savage expression.

"Listen good you worthless Son of a Bachae…If you have even the slightest idea about involving my son in your dirty schemes and plots, I'll…. "

"I wouldn't ok? It's my child ..I want the best for it….But if he wants an army, I won't deny it to him, ok?"

"I'll give you an army!" I hissed, my fists instantly clenching at his insinuation, ready to jump at his throat.

"Take it easy ok? It was a joke. Where's your sense of humor?" he quickly tried to save the situation.

I just sneered in contempt aware that he was quite serious about it actually. No joke there.

"Xena…." Gabrielle whispered placing a firm hand on my shoulder . "He might be right about the staying part…..Eve is still in danger after all….She would be safe here….No one would suspect she is under Ares' protection…."

"What?!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Gabrielle was siding with Ares!

"At least for a couple of days….Just until you feel better, you know? You could use some rest….And I would use a bath…." she hesitantly added, unsure if what she was suggesting was a good idea after all.

Needles to say, the Olympian was stunned.

"What's gotten into you? I don't want us to stay!"

"I know, I know. But just think about it, Xena….it's not such a bad idea….And it's not like forever….a few days won't kill you….."

"Xe….she's right you know….I mean, yeah, given the fact that no one can enter this place without my permission it's the perfect hideout. No one would find Evie here…."

My head was spinning…..

"I'll behave, I promise. I'll even call the irritating Blonde by her name….." He insisted , winking at Gabrielle.

"Now that would be something! Fine….but only for a few days…." I finally concluded, rolling my eyes. I couldn't believe they had actually talked me into it.