So guys I just want to thank you all for reading this so far...It means a lot...

Maybe it is some quiet time now but the storm will come I assure you so keep tuned and enjoy...

Chapter 25:A picnic with you

Xena POV

As I was coming down that hill I could still feel him...his gaze burning a whole in my back and my heart beating faster and faster even if I was going in the opposite direction and not towards him.

His kiss even if it was just lips brushing lips, I couldn't deny it, not even if I wanted it to. I could have stopped him… I knew what his intentions were, but I didn't want to…I wanted him, I desperately wanted him, but I guess I was too afraid to let things go any further and that's why I didn't encourage him…

I preferred to keep things clear regarding our alleged relationship. It was safer this way. Easier too, if you will.

For once in a long time though I was feeling good, happy even, that I had managed to let him be a part of our lives, not only near us…and of course there was Eve. If she wanted him to be her Daddy, who was I to stand in their way? I couldn't let my anger ruin that for her.

I wanted peace and calmness this time around and I intended to allow myself that little joy for at least a couple of months till I gave birth because knowing him like I did I was dead sure that the "serenity" between us couldn't last forever...

.. My baby was almost with us, just weeks away. I caught myself willing so much to have him in my arms that I couldn't wait for that event to finally occur.

Eve was growing very fast too, so beautiful…those eyes and that hair, the way she was…she was breathtaking. If she had managed to make the God of War himself kneel at her feet…that said something about her, right?

It was so funny to see him with her. She had him wrapped around her little finger, doing everything she wanted to. Seeing him with her one could really forget who he really was and even more, what his job was.

…..In her eyes, he was special…. he was her father….

If someone would have said all those things to me 8 months before I wouldn't have believed them for the world. It was ludicrous.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Eve burst into my room. I was sitting on the bed contemplating what happened during the last month and how quickly time had passed.

"Yes Sweetie." I turned towards her and took her in my arms.

"Daddy wants to know if you are awake."

She spoke so correctly and walked so casually that I sometimes forgot that she was only two years old, well almost.

"He does?"

She just nodded.

"Come now!" I put her back down, took her hand in mine and we walked out of the room.

"Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"When will my baby brother come? "

"Soon darling."

"But why is he a boy? I want a little girl, just like me…"

"Well…that's the way it is baby."

We were now in the kitchen.

"Eve!"My mom called her.

"Where were you..?Gabrielle is looking all over for you to play that fun game you know."

"Yeay…I love it."

"There she is."

"Gabby!"

Eve exclaimed, thrilled to see her aunty. .Gabrielle took her in her arms.

"There you are...Don't you wanna play?"

"Of course I do! "

We all laughed at how serious she had sounded.

"Xena...how are you feeling?"

"Good Gab...good."I answered caressing my belly. Sometimes it felt like it was about to pop.

"Do you want something to eat?" My mother asked but Ares interrupted her.

"Daddy...Mommy is up."

"I see...Hungry?" he asked me.

"Yes...Mom could you...?"

"No Cyrene. I will do it. Come! " He took my hand and we got out the door. We could still hear Eve's giggles as we headed outside.

We only stopped once we were out of the tavern.

"Are…"

"Shhh...will ya?"

He gently wrapped a piece of silk around my eyes.

"Hey!"

"Just go with it for awhile...I'll guide you." he mildly encouraged, grabbing my hand.

We began to walk and for the love of the Fates, I couldn't believe that we were actually behaving that childishly.

"We are not far…just a little more...Hang on!"

Whatever it was he was excited about it, so I restrained my protests, trying to enjoy my surprise. I was still shocked…He was acting so unlike him…

"Are we there yet?" I started to complain, getting more and more impatient.

"Do I hear eagerness in your voice?" he whispered in my ear, his proximity making me shiver slightly.

"Maybe." I turned my head in his direction and felt his warm breath lingering on my lips….

"Come on Ares….where are you taking me?"

"Just a little bit more."

After some more minutes we finally stopped and he took that thing off my eyes.

"So...? What do you think?" he briefly inquired pointing towards the hill.

I was speechless….He had prepared a picnic for us.

"Come!" he took my hand and led me there.

"Is this for….us?"

"No, it's for Gabrielle! Of course it's for us."

I laughed slightly at the idea.

"So make yourself comfortable...You did say you were hungry, right?

"Yeah...I am."

He helped me seat down and then he took a seat on the blanket next to me with all the food between us...and it was quite a lot of food- enough to saturate a whole village.

"Did you prepare all this? "

"Well I'm not an expert cook yet, but hey, I'm the proud father of two kids, I figured I should start from somewhere, right?"

"I see I'm not the only one that is really hungry!" I said smiling watching him enjoying his food.

"Why?..aaa…sorry...I've been cooking all morning, waiting for you to wake up and I didn't actually get the chance to eat anything so far."

Looking at him, I suddenly realized that it was way too quiet around him. There wasn't one single moment of anger between us ever since we had made peace, and as stupid as it might sound, I actually missed the old Ares sometimes.

"Like it?" he finally asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Thanks Ares, it's really good." I said while taking another bite of that sandwich I was holding.

Half an hour later, we were done eating. We just laid down on the blanket, watching the clouds….It was a stunning sight to see…Cotton white cloud, floating in the sky in the form of swans, hearts or stars…

I almost fell asleep when I suddenly heard him again.

"Xena?"

"Huh?" I mumbled without opening my eyes.

"Can I?"

I looked his way and I knew what he wanted. I nodded. I didn't know when he had magically made all the food disappear, leaving nothing between us and making me unsure of myself.

"I don't know if you can feel him now…he is probably resting." I said while he placed a tender hand on my womb.

I swallowed hard and tried to relax but under his touch it was almost impossible.

"I hope he will look like you...beautiful…" he said kissing my belly. "Do you think he can hear us?"

"I guess…."

"Hey baby...Daddy's here …"

My heart almost stopped beating.

"You don't know me yet...but soon son...soon. Me and your mom..."

He looked towards me and stopped when he saw my face. There were tears in my eyes.

"What's wrong, Xe?"