Chapter 22:A rightful kick

Ares POV

Her kiss that night helped me realize very well that she wanted me too. She could deny it as long as she wanted it, but there were no doubts in my mind on the subject. The following day, I thought that things were going to change, and so they did, but not quite in the right direction.

She talked to me but she was still reluctant…The problem was that she seemed even more distant than before. How could that be? According to my sister's advice, talking was supposed to bring people together not the opposite. I was sure though that it all came from that stolen kiss. Maybe I shouldn't have done that…

"Ares can you help me with this?" Cyrene questioned while walking into the kitchen with a box in her hands, interrupting my thoughts. I helped her put it on the table.

"What is it?" I asked, curious about it's content.

"Oh, it's a crib for Eve…I know she is older now but she can still use it...I can't believe that she's one and a half already! Kids are growing so fast! …"

I opened the box and looked inside.

"Well….it's big enough for her to feel comfortable in it…..I'm sure she'll love it. Thank you…"

"Don't mention it….she's my only granddaughter after all…"

She was a kind lady, Cyrene….A very determined one too...Xena was a lot like her.

"Can you take it to Xena's room, please?

I nodded and took the heavy box in my hands.

I entered Xena's room but nobody was in there so I finished my work in silence and when I was done I left. I was really hungry given the fact that I had skipped breakfast, so I just got back to the kitchen.

I stopped at the door though the second I heard her ...her laugh…. her voice…She sounded so much like Xena…. My little Evie was content and joyful. And my Princess sounded pretty happy too. She was sitting at the table, chatting with the Bard, and they were both playing with Eve.

I slowly entered the room, as if afraid that I might disturb them.

"Ares!" Gabrielle exclaimed, the minute she saw me. "We were about to eat. Would you care to join us?"

I nodded silently and we all ate in silence. In the meantime, Evie was busy playing with a rag doll Cyrene had given her a few days earlier.

Right when we were about to finish our meal, The Bard's voice broke the heavy silence. She managed to capture my attention almost immediately.

"….Did you tell Ares?"

"Tell me what?" I asked, trying not to sound too impatient.

"I didn't get the chance too, yet." Xena responded, a wide smile painted on her lips.

I gazed at her inquisitively.

"I felt him.….."

It took me a couple of seconds to realize what she was talking about, but I finally got the message.

My heart skipped a beat at the awareness that my son was but a couple of months away from being born.

"I mean I really felt him" She added, caressing her womb. "Strong, pushing at my belly..It was an actual kick..."

"That's wonderful…Did you hear that Eve? You'll be meeting your brother soon."

"Well, not yet...I still have more than 2 months time for myself...But I tell ya….he's a restless one….He's just did it again!" She suddenly exclaimed, taking the Bard's hand and placing it on her belly. "Can you feel him?"

"Yes, I can! Oh Xena! You were right, he is strong!"

What I was feeling during those moments, was a mixture of very opposite sensations: happiness, sadness, fury…and worst I didn't knew what to do.

"He is a healthy boy….I can't wait to see him!" The Bard added happily.

Only when Eve's arms extended in my direction and I took her into my arms, did they finally realize that they had excluded me automatically from the rest of the conversation and that I had missed that special event.

Their smile faded almost instantly.

"I'm sorry….." Gabrielle tried to mumble an excuse, finally realizing that she had just deprived me from an immense and unique joy.

I just smiled bitterly, trying to hide my disappointment. It was useless though, since my sadness was more than obvious.

Xena on the other hand didn't say anything. She just started cleaning the table, pretending that nothing had happened. Her reaction hurt like shit, since our relationship didn't seem to be evolving. Heck, I was closer to Gabrielle and Cyrene than to her.

Minutes later, I put Eve on a chair and stormed out the door. I couldn't take it anymore. Her indifference was killing me.

I traveled all the way up to the hills of Amphipolis, without even knowing it. When I reached to top, I sat down under an oak tree.

It was a very special place, that hill….the place in where I had seen my Princess for the first time, years ago, kicking the life out of Cortese's men…It was a favorite place of hers and her brother's when they were little; she had confessed it to me long ago, when she still trusted me…

"What are you doing here all alone Ar?"

"Are you insane? You scared the crap out of me!"

"Sorry about that…..I always forget that you are mortal now….." My Sister apologized.

"What do you want?"

"Just wanted to check on you…..Are you ok? ….You look kinda down….."

"I'm fine….What can you tell me about Athena?" I quickly answered, trying to change the subject.

"Nothing new….. she still doesn't know anything and Discord hasn't showed up yet. It's been 6 months now….I'm a bit worried…She's surely cooking something up…"

"I bet she does….I sure hope I get my powers back by the time she decides to show up."

There was a brief silence.

"Why are you sad? How are things with Xena?"

"Same old same old…."

"I kinda hoped she would forgive you…."

"Not gonna happen soon….Not after that kiss…."

I must have sounded very pessimistic but truth was I was just being realistic. She almost exploded with joy when hearing that information.

"You two kissed? What else did I miss? Oh Bro, you got to tell me all about it….! "

I smiled indulgently at her, and for a long time, I actually broke into laughter. I sure missed talking to her….