Chapter 24:On friendly terms

Ares POV

"Daddy…Daddy!" Eve repeated over and over again happily.

Was I truly awake or it was just my imagination? I was speechless. Eve was bouncing around in her crib, wide awake pointing at me and naming me her dad…I was freaked out.

"Eve…" My Princess's sleepy voice addressed her daughter.

"Daddy…" I looked at Xena and she looked back at me with now wide open eyes not registering quite too well what had just happened.

"What did you say Evie?" she asked her daughter uncertain of what she had heard.

"Daddy, Daddy…"Eve insisted as if she were singing some kind of song.

I came closer to her and took her in my arms. I was still without words…

Xena looked at us incredulous and without warning she stormed out of the room. I screamed at her to come back but it was in vain and then I yelled after Gabrielle.

"Why do you yell…?" the Blond inquired, but stopped when she didn't see her friend in the room.

"Where's Xena? ...What ha..?"

"Daddy..."

The Bard couldn't believe it either.

"Take her…I must find Xena." I put Eve in her arms and kissed the child on her pretty little head and got out fast.

On my way out of the inn I bumped into Cyrene.

"Did you saw Xena? ...I need to talk to her."

"Yes…she just got out but...Ares?" Cyrene yelled after me but I didn't have the time for that...I needed to find Xena first.

I searched the barn first thinking that she might be with Argo but she wasn't there.

By Zeus himself I was still dumbstruck about what Eve had said...how could this be happening? Xena was probably feeling so bad...I knew that she must have desired with all her heart that Eve's first word would be directed to her as it should have normally been but I couldn't deny it either…I was content and more happy than ever that Eve had somehow believed that I was her father. That is what I wanted from the very beginning…and not to mention how good it felt to hear her say those words to me…to me out of all people.

As a last resort I tried the hill…and there she was, sitting on the ground, her hair flying in the warm breeze of the sea…she was as stunning as always and her big belly only made her look even more beautiful in my eyes.

I made my way to her and when she felt me she looked briefly at me and then returned her gaze to the troubled sea. I took a seat next to her.

"Xena…I'm sorry ok?"

"This is just ironic." She said while avoiding my gaze, her voice flat.

"I was always with her...I thought…I wanted…When Solan died..." , but her words failed to come out…

Her son's death would always remain a terrible shock to her and I knew that. With Eve she wanted everything to be perfect…I felt as a thief for a moment even if for once I didn't really do anything.

I saw a silent tear extend on her velvet cheek and I took her face in my palms forcing her to look at me.

"Don't cry please...just don't cry...I can't bear it." I wiped the tear with my thumb away.

"It's not your fault Xena. You are a wonderful mother…It's just the way it is." Her face changed in anger.

"Of course..."

She rose from the ground and so did I.

"For you it's all way to convenient you soulless bastard..."

"What is convenient huh? You're barely speaking to me these days...Do you think that all this is easy for me? " I shouted back at her. "Do you? I won't deny that Eve touched me ok? Because she did but I was just as surprised as you about it. How could I have known this huh?"

She looked away knowing that it was true what I said.

"Why do we keep doing this to each other? Hurting us? Why?" I asked after a moment.

"I don't want to fight with you either Ar...aaaaa…."She brought her hand to her big belly and I panicked for a moment thinking that it was way too soon for her to give birth.

"Xena? Are you ok?" She didn't answer, just took my hand that was now supporting her weight and put it on her womb.

"Do you feel him?"

"Wow...that was quite a strong push…"

She laughed. For a moment there I forgot about everything except my son…That sensation was out of this world.

"Ares?"

"Huh?" I answered, barely looking at her, my undivided attention directed towards my son …-our son, how I loved how it sounded -once more.

"I thought about us..."

My heart stopped. I was stunned.

"Our child deserves to have both of his parents by his side...I think that the least we could is to behave like two normal people...for him."

She finally gave in. I was taken aback by her words especially after that day's events but then again she had always managed to surprise me...I leaned into her and kissed her softly on the lips. She withdrew before I get the chance to deepen the kiss.

"I wasn't talking about us…as us you know…Eve wants you to be her father…I won't deny her this…if you want it too ..."

"Of course I do…" I replied as fast as I could before she got the chance to change her mind.

"Good...and of course…no war teaching…"

"No such things, I promise."

She wanted to leave but my words stopped her.

"Xena…" She looked back at me. "Thank you for giving me this chance." She just nodded and descended the hill.

I sighed in relief. ...Of course this was just a part of what I wanted but it was so much better than nothing...I just needed time…She was meant to be mine, nothing could change that..