Chapter Four: The Storm

Now that Xena knew Gabrielle and her family were alright, she lessened the haste in her travel to Potadeia. She allowed herself to stop in a town she passed through to have a meal at a tavern and use the hot springs. This set her behind by a day easily, but she reasoned that after many days on the road to and from Corinth, plus the time she put into assisting there, she deserved a few luxuries. After a good meal and a much-needed soak in the springs, she started out again, anticipating to make it to Potadeia by the next night.

Back on the road again, it was nearing nightfall and it looked as if a large storm was moving in. She silently cursed herself for not getting a room in the town for the night. It seemed that she would have to find some cover out on the road now. Fortunately, she knew of a cave just a mile up the road that she could wait out the storm in or possibly pass the night in. Hoping, to avoid getting wet, she worked herself into a jog and then a run to make it there before the rain fell. As the entrance to the cave came into view, a rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance. She pushed herself to move even faster now, and just made it through the opening in the cave as the first raindrops fell.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she looked around to take in her surroundings. The cave seemed to go back pretty far, but she wasn't interested in exploring. Instead, she found some branches and sticks, likely left there by a previous passer-by and used them to start a small fire. Although the days has been hot, the winds of this storm cooled things down considerably. Noting that hunting would be near impossible, she thanked herself for having the forethought to have a large lunch in town. Once the fire was steadily blazing on its own, she removed a throw blanket from her pack, intent on settling in for the night.

Alone, with nothing to do for entertainment, her thoughts soon wandered to Ares. It had been the day before yesterday that she last saw him when he gave her the clover – which was still secured within her cleavage. Though he hadn't presented himself, she knew that he still checked-in on her from time to time and smiled when she felt his presence. She had been thinking a good deal about their recent conversations, which seemed to focus on his transition back to godhood. She had to admit that she always had a soft spot for him, but it seemed to grow when he was a mortal into stronger feelings. Sometimes she regretted never telling him that in the year plus he spent on earth as a human. Other times though, she reflected on the truth that he was needed on Olympus. Would telling him of the feelings that she felt growing had changed his mind about returning to Olympus? Or could it have impacted his actions since then? After the apple, she doubted that admitting her feelings would do much to help Ares hold on to his humanity even as a god. The events with Varia and Eve were the proof she needed at the time. These past few days though, suggested that she could be wrong. Perhaps there was more to this new God of War than she first saw or expected. However, she knew she couldn't share these thoughts so openly with him. Not until she was sure of who he was now and who he was trying to become.

During these musings, she felt his presence near her. She wondered if her thoughts had manifested him there somehow. Unlikely, she reasoned as she was often the first thing on his mind as well. When he appeared on the other side of the fire, shadows of the flames dancing across his face, she hoped that he couldn't tell what she had been thinking about. If he could, he didn't address it.

"Chilly night," he commented.

"It will warm up when the storm passes," she replied.

"I could take you somewhere warmer, dryer." Ares offered this, knowing she would likely refuse.

"It's okay. I like watching the storm," as she said this, there was a flash of lighting and the cave light up as if from fireworks for a brief moment.

Ares nodded, knowing that it would be useless to push her on this offer. Besides, he'd rather be in her company here than not at all.

"I imagine you'll be in Potadeia by tomorrow," he changed the topic.

"I should be."

"Then what?"

Xena shifted to a more comfortable position as she watched him across the fire. "I'm not sure. Rest up for a few days I imagine. Gabrielle and I will likely be back on the road in a short time. We don't have any definite plans but we've been talking about tracking down Autolycus. We weren't sure what's come of him since our… nap. So maybe we'll look into that."

"Sure… lots of people to catch up with I would imagine."

Lightning flashed again and this time Xena noted the sadness in Ares eyes. She knew why without asking. She was returning to Gabrielle tomorrow. It would impact their private visits that had been taking place over the past week. She knew that he wouldn't feel as welcomed with Gabrielle around. She had to admit, that she also knew it would change the dynamic, and she didn't know that she was ready for these visits to end yet. There was something promising about them. It almost felt as if they were building up to something.

"That doesn't mean that you need to stop catching up with me…" She wanted his visits to continue but felt uncomfortable telling him that is so many words.

Ares studied her expression in the firelight. He was almost certain he saw his own disappointment reflected back at him from her eyes. Maybe he really was getting to her. Maybe this wasn't all in vain. He had one last attempt to make his point before she was reunited with Gabrielle and the barrier was there again.

He rose from his seat by the fire and walked towards her. Ares stood over her, looking down at his Warrior Princess for several moments. Xena had expected him to sit beside her, to pull her in his arms, to kiss her on this last night that she was alone. In that moment, she was almost sure that she would let him. Instead, he reached out a hand, indicating that she should stand as well.

"I want to show you something," he said.

It was an invitation, not a command, though Xena knew her heart she couldn't resist it. She placed her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. She pushed the blanket she had been under against the cave wall to avoid it getting too close to the fire. She tried to take her hand back once she was standing beside him, but Ares held firmly. She looked at him quizzically.

"Are we going somewhere?" she asked.

As a response, Ares moved closer to her. Standing closely behind her, he continued to hold onto her hand and wrapped his free arm around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. Although it had been some time since she moved through the aether with him, she knew what to expect and closed her eyes in preparation.

When Xena opened her eyes again, they were standing at the top of the largest hill in the countryside, looking out over villages, farmlands, and forest. The storm was still raging. Rain fell heavily, causing streams of water were there weren't any before. Despite their new location, she found she wasn't exposed to the elements as she would have expected. There was an invisible barrier around them, keeping them dry. Though she could feel the coolness of the wind and the slight movement of her hair and skirt, it was nothing compared to the speed and force of the wind around them. Xena let out a small gasp of admiration. She had to admit, the storm, in all its power, was something to admire. It created an adrenalin in her similar to what she felt on the battle field.

Ares continued to stand behind her, one arm around her waist still. He had to admit, it was an impressive storm; though not nearly as impressive as her beauty. He admired her admiration more than the storm itself. He smiled just a little when he heard her gasp.

"This is… incredible," Xena whispered to him.

"Beautiful yet destructive," he commented.

Suddenly a thunder clap sounded so close to them, it felt as though they were at its center. The sound seemed to come from the dense clouds above them, the air around them, and even the ground they stood one. It was deafening and exhilarating all at once, until she saw it. The electricity flashed through the sky and descended in a zig-zagged line aimed at their hill. His movements were quick and effortless to pull her into him and disappear with her, only to reappear just a mere few yards away.

Xena looked on at the scene before her. The place where they had just been standing now smelled of smoke and had the charred markings of lighting on the ground. Realization of what almost happened dawned on her as she spun to face him. He expected to see surprise, shock, perhaps even tears on her face; not the anger in her eyes that was there.

"What in Tartarus was that all about?" she challenged him.

Ares was genuinely surprised by her anger. He stuttered a moment before asking "What do you mean?"

"You mean to tell me that you didn't know that would happen?" she motioned to the smoldering ground where they previously stood.

"You know I would never put you in any real danger, Xena," he attempted to explain.

"Really?" she challenged him again.

"Of course! I know you trust me not to let real harm come to you."

Though she couldn't deny his words, she didn't confirm them either. "What are we doing out here?" she asked instead.

"Look at the storm, Xena," he gently turned her body to lean against his as they both took in the magnitude of the sight before them again. "It's powerful… destructive… but so magnificently beautiful all the same. Sure, it can cause some havoc, but it's also a blessing to all these people," he gestured to the land below them. "Much like us…" he dared to say it and let the statement linger before he continued. "When we come together, we are powerful, we've been destructive, but we don't have to be. We can be just as beautiful, just as electrifying."

"Ares…" she started to protest but he wouldn't let her.

"No, please, just listen." Ares gently shifted around to stand in front of her, taking both her hands in his own. His deep brown eyes looked into her steely blues as he continued. "There are many beautiful things in this world that are so rare, yet they exist just the same. Sometimes you are lucky enough that they cross your path, but other times you have to work for that experience and seek them out."

The anger in her eyes started to fade as she listened to his words. Ares saw her expression soften and took this along with her silence as permission to continue.

"We could be the same, just as beautiful." As he spoke now, his enthusiasm grew. "The opportunity was presented to us, and sure we may have to put some effort – change even - in to make it work, but it could be so worth it. We can be a beautiful as the white wolf, as precious as the pearl, as lucky as the clover, and as powerful as the storm. We just have to try. And when you consider how rare each of those things are, I think that's proof that we're getting closer to that one in a billion chance."

He paused again to let her speak, but she just looked down at their boots in the mud. He moved in closer to her and kept speaking. "After all, there's a 1 in 400 million chance that any one person will be born, yet here you are. And there's close to 10 million people in all of Greece, but I still found you. You said that we had a one in a billion chance, but the odds may be more in our favor than you have given us credit for. I just want you to see that."

Xena kept her face to the ground as she contemplated his words. It was hard for her to deny the feelings that were washing over her. He'd been wearing her down the past few days. She longed to give into him and give him what he wanted, what she wanted too. Still, she needed to see the changes that he spoke of. She needed to know that these weren't empty promises. If she shot him down now though, it could leave him defeated and put a stop to his effort before any progress was made.

When she met his gaze again, there were tears in the corners of her eyes. Ares wasn't sure what to expect and feared making a move that would dissuade her next actions. She pulled one of her hands from his. He held his breath as her hand slid through his and came to rest on the back of his head. He let his head be pulled slowly towards hers. Just before her lips touched his, he let his breath out in a hot gust. Her lips brushed his softly at first, then found a firmer placement. Her hand stayed on the back of his head and his free hand came to rest on the small of her back. Their kiss moved from hesitant to tender. In the past, their kisses were fueled by passion and desire. This time, the kiss was emotional, though the longing in it couldn't be denied.

She stoked his face loving as the broke apart and said, "Maybe we are getting closer to that one in a billion. Keep working at it – I'm not going anywhere."

Ares smiled brightly at her words. He counted this as a step in the right direction. He knew she had her reasons to be hesitant, but he was more committed than ever to show her that he could be a changed man – a changed god. Her words were the motivation that he needed and he was determined not to let her down this time.

He held her in his arms, her head resting comfortably against his chest. As the storm raged on around them, their heartbeats matched the intensity of the beating rain. The Warrior Princess and the God of War admired the wonder of the world they lived in and marveled at the odds that had brought them together and kept them connected after all this time. Even if their odds were only one in a billion, that made their connection just precious enough to never let it go.