Chapter 17: Honeymoon's over

Xena POV

Sadly, feeling that incredibly good didn't last long..I must have known but I guess I wanted so much to believe him that for a short period of time I had actually forgot who I was dealing with…

We parted ways right after we came inside his fortress..We established that I would take a bath and than come to the throne room to finish that breakfast that had magically turned into lunch..He just had to joke about it of course, saying that now I could as well eat all of the food from the table, having so hurriedly skipped breakfast.

About two hours later, completely relaxed but incredibly famished, I made my way to the throne room when suddenly I heard voices coming from Ares's room. At first I thought that it was some priestess doing the cleaning or something, but no…Dite's giggle was unmistakable.

"Dite..you need to leave now..Xena is on her way..And you know that she can't found out..I want her here some more days…She won't stay knowing that everything's alright with Athena… "

"Would you stop worrying so much? When a hot bath is involved any regular gal would take at least three hours to enjoy it ….Plus, you had a wonderful idea! I don't know why I didn't think about it first; you do deserve a medal for it, you know! Recurring to her past memories to make her believe you? I mean wow! Now that's what I call a stroke of genius!"

Needles to say that her words left me all that he told me last night were lies?..And today too?..Just to make me stay saying that there are no news about Athena..?He set the trap and he waited for me to drown in it..It was never about Athena or not all of it.

"Yeah yeah yeah, ok! Thank you. Now go!"

"Fine fine ! I'll just go tell Gabby that Xe will be staying here awhile longer…I'm so excited! This is like an …unofficial honeymoon!"

"Could you stop it already? Go..I'll deliver the news to Xena when she comes. Keep close ok?"

His voice…..He was so sure of himself and that I will buy every word that he would say..

With a firm tug I pushed the doors aside.

"You're not going anywhere Dite..!"I announced angrily.

"I wanted to trust you Ares….I wanted to do that so much, you heartless Bastard! But you just had to go and mess everything up, didn't you? Just like you always do! "

My voice was trembling with rage.

I was so disappointed in him that I could hardly bare to look him in the eyes. And even more so I was furious with myself for having allowed my heart to foolishly fall in his trap again.

For a split second there, that morning dream flashed before my stabbed me straight in the heart.

"You're going to take me right back to Gabrielle and my daughter.." I ordered her.

"But Xena….." Dite vainly protested trying as always fix things up…. It was useless though…..

"No buts. I've heard you ok? The trick with Athena won't work anymore..Now take me to them right now and I don't want to say that one more time!... The honeymoon's over Ares! " I added, giving him the glare.

"Would you just let me explain?" Ares requested. He looked kinda desperate. At the moment, I didn't care.

The following second I was in my mother's tavern. Gabby and Evie were there too. Dite just dissapeared without uttering one more word.

"Evie..!"

I took my daughter from my mother's arms..

"I've missed you so much, baby! Did you miss me?"

"She sure did." Gabrielle answered, a large smile on her face.

I just returned the smile, enjoying the sight of my daughter's beautiful eyes.

" So..is everything alright with Athena?" The question soon popped out of her mouth.

My expression must have told her that things didn't go quite well.

"I suppose.."

After that, I just took Evie and went to my room. We played a bit and soon we both fell asleep. I don't know why I was so tired….but I was. I didn't even hear Gabrielle entering the room and pulling a warm blanket over us.

"Did you sleep ok? " She questioned the minute I walked on that door.

"Yeah, sure.." My line was short but convincing.

"Well….are you hungry? I was planning to eat something."

"As long as I don't have to do the cooking" I answered, detachedly.

She chuckled, rolling her eyes at my horror about spending some time in front of the stove.

"Actually Cyrene has already prepared some soup for us…I bet it's good…"

"Perfect…let's eat."

As soon as we took a seat and started to eat, Mom entered the room. Judging by her expression her presence there was a bad news….

"So Xena.."

There was something fishy in that "So"…..I just knew it….

"You came home…."

I kept looking at her without saying a thing.

"….that's great….."

I simply nodded, I mean what was there to say?

"How are things between you and Ares? Gabrielle told me everything so don't you dare lie to me young lady!"

For a minute there I froze.

"Well I don't know about the young part. What do you mean by everything?"

I just had to cast a 'I'm gonna kill you' look to Gabrielle.

"Well….that he is the father of your child….? And that he 's mortal now …."Cyrene rushed to answer.

"And that they have a thing." Gabrielle added, smiling widely.

"We don't have a thing!" I protested.

"Honey….he did save your life…."

"And what? Just because he saved my life we should get married and spend the rest of my days with him?"

"You know that's not what I meant…." Mom replied on a hurt tone. "It's just that ….I don't know….maybe he deserves a chance?"

That was the last drop. I exploded almost instantly.

"I think I can make my own decisions thank you!"

With that, I headed for the door without looking back.

"Xena ! Xena!"

I could hear them both yelling, but I didn't turn back. I had to clear my head first.