Ares was restringing Bliss' bow when he felt Xena re-enter his Amphipolis temple. Twice in one week, well that was no coincidence, something was going on. If she wanted to see him why didn't she just call?

The golden haired boy looked up at Ares with admiration. He had shed some of his toddler chubbiness and was standing nearly four-feet tall. He hadn't grown at the rate of normal gods and Ares wondered as he looked at the boy what it would be like to watch own children with Xena grow.

Ares handed the boy the golden bow, "Now, behave with this, you're dad told me what you did to Xena with his bow! I mean Draco, really?"

Bliss just giggled and ran off to play with a couple of his cousins who ran through the main hall kicking a ball between them.

"Take that outside," Demeter called to the children. "Nephew, you look a little addled, everything okay?"

He didn't dare tell her that he was thinking about his future with the Warrior Princess, "All good, just going to head down to Earth for a bit, check on a few campaigns."

"Can't stay away long can you?" She jibbed. They both knew exactly what she was talking about but he decided to play it off.

"You know, mortals, leave them unsupervised and the whole world flies apart. With Rome growing as quickly as it is, I have to keep pace. I'll be in the Halls of War if anyone needs me."

He failed to mention that he was going to make a quick pit stop in Amphipolis first.

"I'm sure we'll be able to get along without you for a bit, Ares."

"I'm sure," he answered and thought that there were a few of them who would be willing to try to get along without him for eternity. He wondered briefly if he should count Demeter in that number.

"Good day, Aunt," he nodded as he vanished into the aether.

X*X*X

Xena knew the layout of the temple well, so she quickly assigned rooms to the new inhabitants. In addition to the throne room, the temple had a small kitchen and six rooms which had served as quarters for the priests and acolytes in the temple's heydey. There was also a hidden room that had served other purposes that Xena was not going to let herself think about. Nor was she going to mention it to any of the new residents. She knew where the secret lever for the door was and doubted seriously any of kids would stumble over it. Gabrielle on the other hand might be a problem. Xena promised herself that she would deal with that tomorrow while Gabrielle was at the hospice. She imagined that Gabrielle was tired and just wanted to rest anyway. She asked Mikal to bring in just enough firewood to heat the priests' quarters as that was where they would all be staying. Xena put Daria and Kallias in a room together but thought that Iason might prefer a room of his own. He thanked Xena but asked if he could stay with Mikal. They had become friends when Iason had visited Toris the previous year.

"I would really prefer you to stay here for the time being but I don't see any reason that Mikal can't stay here for the night if he wants."

"Okay." to Xena's surprise, Iason did not press the point. Instead he tried to find a way to make himself useful, "Do you want me to bring in some water so we can all wash up

"That's a good idea. Bring in a couple of buckets if you can. There used to be a cache of them in the stable. And while you're out there can you ask Mikal if he can spare any oats for Argo?"

Xena tossed the boy an apple from the bag that Mikal had brought them, "Give her this either way."

"You got it," Iason answered and bounded out of the room. Xena couldn't help but thinking that he had grown up a lot in one week. She knew from personal experience just how quickly tragedy could force you to grow up before your time.

She left the others to get comfortable in their new quarters. She told Gabrielle that she was going to secure the building. She didn't want any predators surprising them in the night.

An old floor covering lay rolled up in a corner of the throne room. She shook it out and decided to use it as a temporary patch for the hole in the west facing wall.

She had retrieved a hammer and some pegs from the workshop that sat adjacent to the stables and was pounding in the last peg when she felt his presence.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She felt him on her, inside of her, burning, tingling, it was too many sensations at once. She ground her teeth together and clenched her jaw trying to fight off the desire that raged through her.

"Areeees," it was a benediction and a curse at the same time. She turned to see him seated in all his godly glory on his throne. A throne that she herself had had crafted by the best carver in Ionia.

He was amused by her frustration. Did she really think that she could hide her desire from him? By the gods she was a fighter though. He was constantly amazed at the battle she waged with herself. He was impressed with how strong her will power was even though that same will power was what denied him satisfaction.

"Xena, what are you doing?" He hadn't come to seduce her so he pretended not to notice how affected she was by his very presence. He had chosen to sit across the room on his throne both to annoy her with the cockiness of the gesture and also to give her the physical space that he knew she needed to keep her composure when he was around.

"Doing?" She simply cocked her eyebrow and pursed her lips in an innocent, 'I don't know what you're talking about gesture.'

"Don't play dumb with me, I know better! What are you doing with those snot-nosed brats?"

"They're my. . ."

"I know who they are, why in Tartarus do you have them here? In my temple? Are you starting an army of younglings? Hey, not a bad idea, it's worked pretty well for the Spartans."

"Cut the crap, Ares, you know it's not like that."

"A god can dream," he gave her a devilish grin.

"I'm commandeering this temple," she stated matter-of-factly.

"It's always been yours as far as I was concerned anyway. Xena: Goddess of War has always had a nice ring to it. You know I think. . ."

He was still talking but Xena had tuned him out. Something he said had triggered the memory of the ring that she had been carrying since that night in the cave. Her hand subconsciously moved to the pouch. She felt the ring through the leather. She quickly jerked her hand away, she didn't want him to know that she he taken it in a vulnerable moment.

"So, as I was saying, Xena, what gives?"

She shook her head to clear her thoughts. Why did he always have this effect on her?

"I'm turning this temple into an orphanage."

Her tone brokered no argument but he was going to give her one anyway. He was not about to stand by and watch his Warrior Princess become housemother to a passel of bedraggled orphans! In his temple no less!

"Don't be ridiculous Xena! You and Gabrielle. . ."

"Ares, it's time I settled down! This is as good a reason as any, better than most, in fact. And, at least Im home, here. . . . in Amphipolis," she added.

But he knew that she felt as much at home in this temple as she had in her mother's tavern.

He knew he should be gracious and just let her have the damn place. After all she, more than any other warrior, was responsible for its previous grandeur. Truth be told, he lost the temple when he lost her anyway. He could hardly bare coming here after she left. Her presence lingered in its most private recesses and it was too painful to be there without her. Sure, his priests had kept things going but the tributes didn't pour in the same quantity or quality as they had when Xena had ridden at the head of his army. The final blow had come during Xena and Athena's battle for Amphipolis. The priests had fled the temple that day and none had bothered returning. The town council was all too happy to let the temple fall into disuse in favor to the shrine to Artemis and in deference to the rising cult of Eli.

His thoughts returned to the present and took a moment to drink in the sight of her. She was getting older. The hardships of life on the road and the weight of the world that she carried on her shoulders had left their indelible marks on her. She was still the most breath-taking woman, mortal or otherwise, that he had ever seen. She was dressed in her usual leather and armor but was wearing a leather cord on her wrist. There was something familiar about it but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Then it hit him, she used to wear the one Lyceus gave her but she had put the ring he had given her on it and had worn it like a charm. He wondered if she had kept the band and ring all these years. If so, then maybe he did have reason to hope that she had feelings for him that ran deeper than sexual chemistry and her natural attraction to him because of his dark powers.

Yes, he thought, he should have been gracious about letting her use the temple but where was the fun in that? "Oh, I don't think so Xena, this is a temple, MY TEMPLE, and I'll be damned if I'll have you, my perfect warrior, running around her wiping assess and telling fairy tales!"

"You misunderstood, Ares, I didn't ask you if I could take this temple, I'm telling you that I am taking this temple and if you know what's good for you, you won't oppose me. Those kids have been through more in the last few days that anyone should have to endure. I won't leave them homeless. Plus, there are a couple more kids over at Artemis' temple that are going to need homes when they are fully healed."

"Then why don't they just stay there?"

"Because it's a hospice and a hospice is not a home. I am going to make this a home, Ares, a real home." A softness painted her features that he had never before seen. He decided that he liked it, liked seeing her that way. Gods how did this woman keep getting more beautiful?

He swallowed hard, his mouth was suddenly dry. He didn't like where his mind was going. He materialized a goblet of wine and took a sip. He raised his hand and offered her the remnants.

Her lip curled up in a half-smile and she shook her head.

"A home?" he asked.

She nodded.

"I could give you a home on Olympus, Xena, all you have to do is ask."

The ring weighed heavy against her hip. She subconsciously fingered the ring through the pouch again. She closed her eyes drowning in the ecstasy of the temptation of letting him whisk her off to his bed on Olympus.

"Ares," she warned him not to go down that road.

A single, almost imperceptible nod signaled his acquiescence.

"Is this what you want? What you really want?" He stood up from the throne and walked toward her but still keeping his distance.

"It's what I need," she answered him honestly. They both knew what she wanted but they also both knew that she would never let herself have those things.

"Very well. You have my blessing." he said and dematerialized before she could get out her snarky comeback.

"I didn't ask for your blessing," she retorted even though she knew he was gone.

"Whose blessing or need I ask?" Gabrielle asked as she came into the throne rome

"Doesn't matter, he's gone now," Xena released a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Oh Xena, look at these," Gabrielle ran over to the throne where a stack of new clean blankets was piled high in the spot where Ares had been lounging only moments earlier. "I think this one's for you," she said as she tossed Xena a black throw decorated with a single chakram in the center.

Xena rolled her eyes at Ares' handiwork as she grabbed the bedding from Gabrielle and headed to the quarters which she was sharing with the bard.

X*X*X

Xena couldn't get comfortable on the twin sized cot. The mattress needed to be re-feathered, it felt lumpy. Her feet hung off the edge of the bed and she tossed and turned trying to determine if it was more comfortable to have her toes pointing toward the floor or toward the ceiling. Neither satisfied her. She decided to try to scrunch up into a fetal position so that her long frame fit on the short bed.

Gabrielle, of course, had no difficulty finding a comfortable position and was already snoring quietly on her cot on the other side of the room.

Xena pulled the warm blanket even tighter around her body. She had to admit that it was very soft and cozy despite her inability to get situated. She turned her body again and tried to lay flat on her back with her knees bent, that was even less comfortable.

She felt the warmth of his presence before she heard him softly whisper, "why are you doing this? You know there is a perfectly good queen sized bed downstairs."

Her eyes popped open and she scanned the room but he hadn't made himself visible.

"No one can see me and only you can hear me. I was just checking to see if you were settled in and I noticed how ridiculously uncomfortable you are. To be honest, it was funny to watch for a minute but Xena really why are you forcing yourself to suffer?"

"Go away," she ordered.

He ignored her, "You do know that these are the cots for the acolytes don't you, who were mostly youths. You should at least move to the head priest's quarters if you won't claim your rightful bed in this temple."

"Ares, get lost."

"It's my temple, I don't have to go anywhere, Xena."

"You're a god, don't you have more important matters to be attending to."

"Oh, I could attend to some matters alright," he had moved closer and she could feel his breath on her face.

"Show yourself if you're gonna talk, you insufferable bastard."

With a spark he was there, seated on the floor beside her cot, looking at her, face to face.

"Better?"

"No, it would be better if you left altogether."

"Now, now, you don't mean that Xena. I see you found your blanket."

"Yeah, the chakram was a nice touch," she answered, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

He ran a fingertip slowly along her cheek, "you used to like my touches."

She shivered and tried to cocoon herself even more with the blanket.

"You cold? I can fix that," He rose up and tried to slide in bed with her.

She placed a hand on his marble-hard chest to stop his forward movement.

"Stop it, we are not doing this, not here, and certainly not with Gabrielle right there," Xena said flatly.

"You name the time and the place then."

"Not now, not ever, Ares," she answered but she was getting flustered. "You know what infuriates me. You think this is all a game."

"No I don't!'

"Yes, you do. You enjoy me being here, you think that it has something to do with you, with us, with the past but it doesn't. I needed a place to bring these children, it was the most suitable place in town, end of story."

"If you say so,"

"I do! And, in fact, I wouldn't even need a place for them in the first place if it wasn't for you and your filthy warlords." She bunched the blanket up to her chin and rolled over finished with the conversation.

"Need I remind you that you used to be one of those warlords."

"Why in Hades not, you do every fucking chance you get!"

"Whoa, Whoa, wait a minute. Why are you laying this at my feet? I didn't cause the plague that killed Toris, in fact I was going to apologize for your loss. I took him to the other side Xena, he's with your mother and Lyceus," Ares said as he slipped his hand under the blanket and rubbed the leather band at her wrist gently. "I didn't cause this, Xena."

She flipped over to face him, their noses brushed, "yes, you did, that warlord who attacked their village . . ."

"Was not acting on my orders or on my behalf, in fact I've been trying to stop him, my sweet."

"I'm sorry, why would you try to stop a warlord?"

"Because he opposes my new favorite. I have a new leader, Zandar, he's young but smart and he and I have a plan which will hopefully keep the Romans out of here. Sarkon the Slayer, as he is called, is only making our work harder. In order for our plan to work, I need the city-states of northern Greece and Thrace to thrive in order to oppose Roman rule."

Every fiber of Xena's being wanted to believe what he was saying. Could he really be trying to bring about peace and stability with his army? Could he embrace violence as a means to positive ends instead of as a tool of senseless bloodshed and slaughter?

"Sarkon? What does he want?"

"As far as I can tell, he's just getting kicks. He's the worst kind, Xena."

She nodded her head which caused their noses to graze each other again. She had already subconsciously allowed her arm to weave itself between his bulging bicep and his solid torso. She was disgusted at how easily her body had betrayed her. She could feel her core heating at his nearness.

"I'm going to stop him, Ares. As soon as I get things situated here, I'm going to find him and. . ."

"I'm sure you will but you aren't going to get anything done without a good night's rest and that is not going to happen in this cot. If you won't let me take you downstairs, at least go in the head priest's room." He didn't wait for her to answer, he simple zapped them through the aether from one bed to the other. He snapped his fingers and a blazing fire filled the fire place.

"Now, isn't this much better?"

Xena could actually stretch out and still have room. "Yes," she answered reluctantly.

"Do you still want me to go?" He knew what the answer would be but he still had to ask.

"As you said, I need to sleep," She couldn't tell him that she wanted him to go because in reality she wanted him to stay. She wanted him to take her downstairs and make love to her in the secluded chambers that only their eyes had seen. But those were desires that she would never allow herself to indulge in, never again.

"Very well," he answered as he pulled the blanket up over her shoulders.

"Sleep well princess," he rubbed his thumb along her bottom lip and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

"Sweet dreams, my love," he whispered and disappeared into the aether.

"Good night, Ares," she muttered and touched her lips trying to remember the feel of his warm digit on her mouth.

Within minutes, she was fast asleep and dreaming of hidden rooms and secret desires.