Author's Note:Ok I noticed some errors in the last chapter because I was literally typing so fast that I missed things - I corrected some but if anyone sees anything let me know! This next chapter is going to be a bit shorter since I don't want to do the same thing again! Warning: I might change the rating on this story since it seems to be going into a more graphic area now...but I wanted to let you know because it might not come up in the regular Xena page.

Elaine felt like she couldn't look at any of the 'gods' now that she knew the could actually see her memories! It was one thing for people to hear your thoughts...and another to see what you have.

She felt Ares appear behind her as she looked at the spot that Joxer had buried his armor.

Ares said nothing, but came to stand right next to her.

Elaine kept staring at the one spot, wishing she could do what Joxer had.

Take everything and throw it away. Bury it outside of herself and move on.

But that could never happen.

It was as much a part of who she was as the blood she had in her body - but wished she didn't.

"What he did to you...I would kill my own men for even thinking of doing." Ares said softly as he stared at the spot she was looking at and reading her thoughts and weirdly agreeing with her.

Elaine closed her eyes and lowered her head. Her mind battling her - trying to conjure up images that she had kept buried inside her for decades. She didn't want Ares to see them. The amount of times people had blamed her for what happened could fill the Grand Canyon. Always someone bringing up if she was soo intelligent how could she not stop it. How could she let it happen.

But the answer was simple really.

No one believed her.

Who would?

Her father seemed more than just presentable - district attorney, highly educated, well mannered in public, and more things that she couldn't even say because it made her sick to hear the way people talked about him.

Like somehow he wasn't a sick pervert because of how he looked, or how he spoke.

And her mother...well...he had been keeping her drugged up and drunk Elaine's entire life.

Barely could function on her own. Desperate for the next fix, and willing to do anything to get it.

And more than often had used her to get it.

Literally.

Things she sure as hell didn't want anyone to see let alone know about.

"He's crazy. A sociopath. And no matter what I do...he's my dad. I worry all the time that...if...if I ever have a child..." Elaine whispered the confession to Ares who immediately grabbed her hand with a gentleness she had seen him use on Aphrodite but now feeling just how gentle knew that he felt pity for her.

Pity from the God of War. You know you had to be truly pathetic for that to happen.

"Hey. Don't think that! I barely know you and know you could never do something like that! Nothing I saw was your fault! You were just...a kid. What in Tartarus could you have done at 4 years old?" Ares asked the question with a bit of anger in his voice.

"Doesn't matter." Elaine said as she felt more naked in that moment then any time she actually had been in the past.

"Look...I...don't know how to do this. It's...not in me. But for some unknown reason..." Ares stopped and looked over at her and saw how different she looked in that moment since he had met her a short few hours ago. "I like you." He turned his eyes away and that's when she looked at him with a furrowed brow.

"I don't like very many mortals. So if you need..." Ares stopped himself from offering what he knew she needed and felt his eyes drift back to her.

When he saw the tears in her eyes he felt something inside him he rarely felt for anyone and he couldn't not act on it.

Ares pulled her into his arms and without a second passing he heard her crying as she buried her head against his chest and he surrounded her with his arms and held her like she was a child.

Hearing her little gasping and fighting for breath as she tried to not sob out broke his heart. He knew that she had never been allowed to make noise crying because of her father and he intensified his embrace at the anger it sparked in him.

Aphrodite appeared behind him and at first was slightly shocked at the sight and then her heart went out to Elaine as she felt all of the emotions she constantly kept in check. The faded scars on her skin were nothing compared to the bruised and shattered heart that Aphrodite saw when in her presence.

It was why she had 'given permission' for her to be with Joxer.

Out of all of the mortals in the world, Joxer had a compassion that even mystified her sometimes. He could feel with such an intensity and love so unconditionally that even knowing that it was dangerous to keep them together - she couldn't bring herself to deny Elaine that kind of connection.

Walking slowly around Ares' frame Aphrodite placed a hand on Elaine's back and rubbed up and down as she looked with sadness up at Ares' eyes which she saw anger in and knew immediately why.

When Ares cared for someone he felt their pain as intensely as if it were his own.

Elaine's memories were incredibly intense and...Aphrodite couldn't believe that Elaine had managed to overcome soo much by herself.

Elaine sniffled and moved her head to look at the blonde goddess who looked extremely sad as she gazed at her.

"I know sweetie..." Aphrodite said and wiped away one of Elaine's tears from her face and Elaine felt like she actually was a little girl again with the way Aphrodite wiped at her face to clear the evidence of tears.

"Better?" Aphrodite asked quietly and Elaine gave a little nod against Ares's chest.

"Good." Ares said softly and didn't let go of her until Elaine slowly pulled back.

"Sorry." Elaine said with her head down not looking at either of the two.

"Hey. You don't have anything to apologize for." Aphrodite said as she then engulfed Elaine in a hug which caused Elaine to give a small smile.

"I know you didn't want us to see that and I'm sorry that we did. Maybe we can find a way to...stop us from seeing it." Aphrodite said then pulled back from the embrace and looked into Elaine's eyes.

"I'd really appreciate that." Elaine said looking into Aphrodite's blue eyes and trying her best to stop thinking about the past. Obviously failing as Aphrodite flinched as a memory of when she was three popped into her mind.

"Mom should be able to help." Ares said as he felt his blood boil at the image he saw.

Bloodshed was one thing. Depravity was another.

Discord suddenly appeared and stared between her siblings and Elaine, she was about to speak when Elaine smirked and said.

"Hey it's who you are. I know that...I'm sorry I freaked out."

Discord just stared at Elaine for a second before giving a slight nod. "Didn't mean to. This time at least." A shrug of one shoulder.

Both Elaine and Aphrodite smiled while Ares smirked at Discord.

"Let me guess...Hera was worried?" Elaine asked and winced as she thought of facing the mother of the gods with the knowledge that she had seen what her own mother had done to her.

Discord gave a nod.

Elaine grimaced. "I know you all can't help but see what's in my head but...I don't even like being in my own head."

"No wonder you like brainless in there." Discord rolled her eyes.

"Hey! Joxer's one of the most misunderstood people of all time! He's not stupid...he just acts that way to keep Xena and Gabrielle from killing each other most of the time. If it wasn't for them getting annoyed at him they get annoyed at each other...and quite often too! I swear most of the time he does things on purpose to stop them from fighting!"

All three gods looked at Elaine oddly.

"Think about it! He annoys them to the point where they forget about fighting each other and instead gang up on him! He feels like that's what his place in their group is. None of you even consider him an equal to them. None of you ever pick on him...well...except for Aphrodite but that's because she knows just how good a heart he has and doesn't hold it against her! He's...he's NOT a wannabe hero...he's the unseen hero. The one that gets no credit and runs around with no one believing in him...and he still does it. He gets Cupid - a god to come because Xena called. He throws himself at attackers because he'd rather die than let anyone hurt Gabrielle or Xena. He risks his life without regard for himself...because he thought they were his family."

The three deities looked stunned for a moment as they had to admit...it sounded just like the 'idiot' they knew.

"I...I just see him and...you don't." Elaine said softly as she looked back at the tavern.

Elaine knew that Joxer needed her. He needed someone that would just hold his hand and let him know it was ok to be him. God knows how she herself needed that. And Joxer, he just needed someone to guide him a little. Just...someone there to acknowledge what he did...and that it mattered.

Elaine looked at Apres. "I'm sorry it hurts you...but I love him. He didn't even judge me when he heard..."

Elaine didn't need to complete the sentence because Ares knew exactly what she meant. And as odd as it was to admit, though he may be a bumbling idiot still in his opinion, Joxer hadn't judged her. As odd as it sounded, Joxer's thoughts were not simple. If anything there was a lot constantly going on in his mind. He could never focus because of it. But when Elaine had talked about the difference with Mom's and mother's...the only thing Joxer had thought had been what he said.

That he just wanted to help her with the pain.

Ares hated to admit that he had gained a respect for Joxer that moment - but he wasn't going to say it out loud! No way!

"Joxer's one in a billion." Aphrodite said without even a hint of sarcasm. If anything - she said it with such seriousness that Discord and Ares exchanged a look of bewilderment that Aphrodite was being serious at all. She was usually so bubbly that neither of them could handle just how cheerful she always tended to be.

It was...weird...to hear her talk like that...about Joxer of all people.

Elaine smiled and looked at Aphrodite. "He really is...isn't he?"

Aphrodite smirked then. "He's a good one. He's one of mine for sure!"

Elaine laughed.

"Sooo...about this makeover..." Elaine said slowly as she turned to look at Discord with an evil little smile.

Discord's eyes narrowed. "I'm starting to think blondie is right. You are evil!"

Elaine rolled her eyes knowing that Discord meant Gabrielle and dismissed being considered evil.

"First...let's go ask mom to help with the show going on in your head." Ares said using a finger to poke the side of Elaine's head.

Elaine nodded.

Then she'd help Joxer figure out his new status of Uncle.

Because one day...she planned on making him into a father.

What better way to prepare?

Author's End Note: Ok...only one review...but I'm going to keep going! Come on guys! Reviews keep me inspired and give me ideas some times! REVIEW...and more story will follow! Promise!