Chapter 56: Fooling ME?

Xena POV

We were on our way to Hercules's town, to his mother where we were supposed to be safe, at least according to him, but still, I was extremely worried that with us there, his town would become the second Amphipolis if Athena would search for Eve there.

Days have passed and than a week and I didn't have a clue about what Ares was doing so I was kinda inclined to think that it was really over this time...I tried so hard to persuade myself that I had done the right thing by lying to him about me and Hercules…After all, he deserved it, not to mention that me and my children, we also deserved to have a normal life, without him in it.

For these sorts of thoughts I grew impatient and angry with myself. Why did I care so much...? I had wanted it to be over...I still wanted it to be over. Thanks the Heavens, I didn't need to lie to Eve again because she didn't ask more about him...She was happy playing with Joxer and Hercules and then Gabrielle read her bedtime stories but every time I would lay my eyes upon her brother, I was reminded again and again that it was all wrong…Eve and Adam did have a father, the only one they had known and I let them without one.

Moreover, the more I thought about him, the clearer it became...This was not his usual behavior...He would have never allowed us to live in peace, not the God of War that I knew. The thought that I would never see him for months or years, or maybe until the day I die was terrifying and I hated myself for even thinking about it, but it was a feeling I just couldn't repress...

"Xena...I will take Eve to the stream to wash ourselves ok?"

"Ok...I will pack here..."

"Come Eve..." Eve took Gabrielle's hand and went with her…

The twilight was upon us. I started packing all our things to have them ready for when we would leave in the morning.

"We are almost there..." Hercules said with a smile on his face, referring to his town. He put the water skins on Argo.

"Yes we are..."

"Guys..." Joxer got up... "I will go gather some more wood for later to keep us warm through the night."

"Ok..." I said automatically and continued with what I was doing until I suddenly stopped the moment I felt the tingle on my spine, my hair rising up. I felt my feet going mellow and I leaned into Argo...By the Gods what effect he had on me...!

"Xena...I will put..." Hercules came towards me and than a bright light blinded us and there he stood.

"That's how I wanted to found you two...all cozy huh?"

His voice hid behind a grin but I could easily detect the pain in it. He was standing next to Adam's basket where our son slept peacefully...

"What are you doing here?" Hercules asked. "I thought I was clear enough!"

"I didn't come to speak with you...but with her..." he raged at him and looked accusingly my way. I was prepared to ask him what did he want this time but he started talking to himself.

"Shut up...shut up...shut up!" I didn't even have the time to say something.

He looked at the basket and his eyes went soft but when he looked at me again, because he seemed to have forgotten everything about Hercules being there, he only had hate in them.

"Yooooouuuuuuu..." he came towards me, but not close enough... "You destroyed me...took everything from me, even my little Adam..."

"Ares... this is not true..."

"Yes you...you didn't care, never have...now I will make you all pay for it..." I found my cheeks moist, but hopefully the dark that was setting in would cover the falling tears.

"You're going to him...HIM?...It wasn't enough to cheat on me one time with him, you decided to do it a second time too?" He yelled and I hoped that Adam wouldn't wake or worse for Eve to come and see him like that.

"You know that your way wasn't my way anymore back then…" I tried to make him understand.

"You stabbed me in the back…You are like a snake..."

"No..." but he just continued …It pained me so much to see him like that.

"Yes...yes...but you won't have time to enjoy it...no...no..." he laughed hysterically at us…and his glance moved to Adam and the following second he was in his arms. He was really starting to worry me…

"Ares put him down..." I glanced toward my sword and chakram but they were too far away for me to get.

"You thought that you had fooled me? Me? THE GOD OF WAR?...He is his son, isn't it?" he screamed pointing towards Hercules..

I was stunned. What was he saying and where did he get that idea from?

"But you want to know something? He won't be...not more..."

"Ares...Adam is yours..."

"No...no...don't tell me any more lies...You said it…He is his…his...my Adam is his...I just wanted to love you but I'm not enough..."

Tears were staining his face and one moment later he was as cold as seconds before. It was obviously not a normal behavior…something had happened…

"But you decided…you always do...you defied me...turn your back from me for the thousandth time …as your patron god…as a man too...I hate you…I hate you!"

I gulped unconsciously…Now I know how he must have felt every time I would say those words to him and it pained me to no end.

"Just put Adam back...please…he is just a baby..."

"Ohh no no...You will pay...I swear!" And then he just disappeared, taking Adam with him.

"Noooo..."

"Xena..."

"Stay here..." I turned to face Hercules… "Tell Gabrielle that I will come back as soon as possible..." I climbed Argo…

"But where are you going?"

"To his temple...the nearest one...I need to take my son back..." I urged Argo forward.