Author's Note: NAUTINESS AHEAD! Warning! WARNING! M rated for sure. GET READY FOR THE UNEXPECTED!
Xena gasped as he entered her again, her head tilting back as he moved slowly within her. Her hands caressed down his shoulders and back as he continued to lick her neck as he tried to fit himself perfectly within her. She couldn't help but writhed beneath him, her body overwhelmed with the want - the absolute need to be closer.
One of his arms was wrapped around her waist and back, holding her tight to him by a hand at her waist as his other hand played magic where they were joined.
His head moved down and Xena gasped and then let out a loud moan as his lips surrounded one nipple playing with it with his lips and then the tip of his tongue. Then moving back he licked the nipple allowing the surrounding air to perk it up with the cold contrast.
He repeatedly licked at it as she gasped and writhed from the incessant torture to her breast. But the loving way he held her close, his hand along her hip that held her close caressing her hip, bottom, and thigh letting her know this was more than just sex.
He kept moving, always moving trying to find the perfect position as his fingers never left from her clit as he made maddeningly gentle circles around and around the sensitive nub.
She was spiraling close to a completion. She knew he was nowhere near finished with her, and her body was already reaching for the stars.
She gasped out as finally his mouth opened and surrounded her nipple and part of her breast and began to suck.
Her hips jutted up roughly as it sent a bolt straight down to where they were connected. He gasped as it sparked his own arousal and he thrust immediately back into her, not being able to stop his reaction to her arousal.
Xena's hands moved down his slick back till the globes of his ass were in both of her hands as she wrapped herself around him, feeling the need to become as close to him as possible. Feeling the way the globes flexed when pushing into her only driving up her own arousal. How they trembled as he still held himself back, how he controlled each move into her.
The steady rhythm of entering and pulling away leaving Xena light headed as his one hand played with her and left her gasping.
His mouth pulled away from her breast and paid the other equal treatment. Xena threw her head back at the renewed arousal that shot down her body once more. Her eyes squeezed tight as suddenly she was seconds away from an explosion.
That's when he rotated his hips and hit THAT spot and Xena's body had reached the eruption point, triggering the quakes to begin, and suddenly she was moaning out as the orgasm wracked her body. It was powerful enough to make her go completely rigid, but he held her tightly to him and kept moving, not slowing down even for a second.
Fighting against her body as it tried to make him join her, his exertion ten times harder as he trembled trying to keep his fingers moving against her as well as his manhood.
Xena trembled almost violently as the continued stimulus made her body arch even as her legs completely wrapped themselves around him trapping his arm as he continued to touch them where they were still intimately joined, and then another powerful orgasm stacking itself on the other and made her squeal and throw back her head again. Guttural moans leaving her throat as her body fought the onslaught of pleasure and still he pushed her body and continued to move steadily.
Finally she heard his little gasps as he tried to keep going, tried to push her to another completion. Xena knew without a shadow of doubt that she was going to come again before he was even close. Her body even sensitive to his touch knew that if he continued moving in her and kept his hand at work at her loins that she would climax again.
His mouth left her breast and traveled back to her neck kissing, licking, sucking in her flesh just barely. Enough to make a vicious thrill go through her. The almost predatory way he was marking her body so that everyone would see he had been there. He was taking her and claiming what neither had known was his to take.
Xena's body was wrapped around him tightly, his tongue lashing her throat as he continued to move, now with both of them unable to keep quiet as Xena's inner muscles tried to desperately to pull him into her. Tried to keep him where she wanted him most.
The extremely feminine need to have him climax in her causing another chill to run down her spine at just the thought of him doing so! As he thrust in once more and let out a loud grunt her muscles clamped down around him.
And everything in her knew in those seconds, everything in her told her that the want was because she loved him.
She loved him and wanted more than anything to give him every bit of herself.
She wanted every bit of him. All of him, heart to soul.
He gave of himself more than she ever could to him.
If she could give him this...
If she could give him more than her body in an expression of love that all could see...
The thought sent another thrill through her and the result made him gasp out more.
He stopped kissing her neck and was now trying to fight to keep himself calm. It was the opposite of what she wanted.
Never before had she had this urge. Never before would she have thought herself ever wanting to do such a thing again.
Yet here she was urging him with her body to give her what would forever bind them.
Xena's gasps became just as labored as his and the moment was almost there.
His hands finally moved to brace himself above her as his head fell to the crevice of her neck. Her arms moved to wrap around his lower back, trying with every ounce of strength she could to keep herself from going over the edge from just the sound of his excitement against her neck.
Xena's head tilted back all the way and she couldn't help the whimpering moans leaving her body at each motion of his hips.
Then he began to gasp against her neck in extreme excitement, causing her own to skyrocket and the orgasm she had been fighting hit and had her eyes roll to the back of her head. She felt his body begin to tense in reaction to her last orgasm and her body's response was to suddenly entice with whispered words for him to finish in her. For him to give her every drop of himself.
Xena felt his hips finally start to falter, his hand trembling completely on her clit and... she needed to see him. She wanted to watch him, see him lose himself in her.
Leaving one hand on his back her other moved to grab the back of his head and before she could look at him his tongue was stroking hers and plundering the small amount of breath both had as his hips slowed and she knew that his orgasm was finally there...FINALLY...
Xena pulled his head back by his hair and away from her lips, and when the brown eyes met hers the shock of who's they were was overridden by the absolute thrill of the forbidden as she saw the moment his orgasm hit, reflecting in his eyes as he seized completely and her hips automatically bucked up - her arousal spiking up again staring into his eyes as another orgasm came over her with him calling out her name.
"Xena!"
Xena jerked up in bed as the orgasm from a second before traveled through her body and the absolute horror of what she had obviously just dreamed thrown to the side as her body tried to recover from the peak it had just fallen from.
Xena continued to gasp as she laid back down and stared at the ceiling of the house. Her skin was completely soaked with sweat, and she could feel an abnormal amount of moisture between her thighs.
Joxer. It had been Joxer.
She realized that the words brother and Joxer were now ridiculous far removed from each other. Permanently!
Panic finally began to set in as she realized that in no way was it possible that she had just had that dream. Because she in NO WAY had ever...EVER thought of him in that way! Not once. At least not before two days ago.
Her mind completely blocking the actual emotions she had experienced that had caused the drastic reactions. That and what she thought she realized at Aphrodite's temple because...it was impossible.
It was just a dream.
A shiver went through her body as the last remnants of her dreams...result...went through her body.
She looked over at the sleeping form of Gabrielle who slept in her own cot next to another cot with Amarice. It was when her eyes went to the cot that should contain Elaine that was empty did she find herself suddenly jerking back up in bed.
Xena's eyes scanned around the room, and when she realized that she had slept through Elaine leaving she became incredibly angered. She should have heard Elaine get up. It should have been the reason she had woken up.
Instead it looked as though Elaine had been out of the house way before Xena...woke up.
Quickly moving without making a lot of noise, Xena went outside where the still winter air chilled her sweat covered body.
Her eyes scanned the area and instantly her mind went to the previous morning, and what things Elaine could be doing at the moment.
Suddenly Xena grew angry. If Elaine was doing what she thought she was...
Xena quickly moved to the house where Joxer, Armand, and Solan were being housed. Xena was beyond angry that her own son had to stay in a separate house then her...but Amazons were Amazons. When they told Xena she couldn't sleep in the house with the men her eyes reflected her anger and was shocked when Yakut explained that it was to ensure no other Amazon women took the...excuse...to go into the house without one of them as escorts.
Xena had been slightly shocked that Yakut had glanced over at a young Amazon woman who she had noticed earlier was staring intently at Joxer, who was oblivious to everyone as he played some sort of hand game with Solan while everyone else finished their meals. Xena saw the way the woman eyed him and suddenly she realized that Elaine wasn't the only one that seemed to be interested in Joxer. So she let the matter go, knowing Solan would be safe, but the ache to be near her son after all this time was still fresh.
Xena slowly eased the door open, and as the moon lit up the room her heart was suddenly filled as she saw Solan sleeping in the same cot as Joxer, like the previous night Solan slept half on and off Joxer.
Xena let out the breath she had been holding and slowly entered the house. Walking over to the cot she looked down at the two of them.
Joxer's head and Solan's were turned in the same direction with Solan's head laying over Joxer's heart. Xena had to swallow down the lump that formed in her throat as she realized that like yesterday Joxer held Solan to him.
Xena shivered and saw that both were barely covered with the blanket as Solan had somehow managed to have most of the covers wrapped around himself and barely anything on Joxer.
Xena turned and spotted the cot that Solan should have been in, and noted that Armand was sound asleep in the cot across from Solan's. Slowly as to not make any noise Xena took Solan's blanket and moved back to the two sleeping and placed the blanket mostly on Joxer and some on Solan. Her hands moving automatically to tuck the blanket around her son.
Xena smiled as she gazed down at her little boy with his new haircut and slowly leaned down and placed a kiss on the side of his face.
When she lifted up she looked at the side of Joxer's face and the dream came back in full vivid color and she had to immediately tamp down the urge to suddenly kiss his face as well...as well as drag him to the most secluded of places and jump his damn bones.
Xena closed her eyes tightly and fought the images and sensations her body told her she did and could have with him.
Shaking her head she concluded one thing.
She was going insane for sure.
Straightening up she allowed herself to pass a hand over Solan's back and then slowly moved to leave.
At the door she turned back and looked at the two and couldn't help but smile. Then she remembered the look in Joxer's eyes earlier when he had come back with Elaine, and her smile disappeared.
The only time she saw him smile in the past two days had been at Solan or Elaine. Elaine's words of how the light in his eyes were gone finally registering for the first time that day as he stared into her eyes.
The look in his eyes...she hated it. She hated how she knew that two days ago he had looked at her with something glowing in his eyes.
They held so much pain now, every time he looked at her.
Gabrielle had realized that since yesterday he hadn't looked into her eyes but one time. He still hadn't even spoken to her. She was devastated. Gabrielle's anger had all but increased at dinner as they had both watched Joxer kissing and smiling at Elaine. Gabrielle had watched them most of the day and into the night, not able to tear her eyes away as Elaine had touched him intimately right in front of them without a care of either of them. Joxer had jerked slightly and laughed and Elaine had stuck her tongue out at him which had led him to actually lean down and kiss her on the nose.
It was far more intimate than a kiss on the mouth. The way Gabrielle and she had watched the emotions in Joxer's eyes as he looked at Elaine...
Gabrielle had left then. The inability to do anything but watch making her insides tremble in a way that she had told Xena she couldn't stand another second.
Xena had known exactly what Gabrielle meant. But Xena was not about to leave Elaine alone with Joxer no matter how much it hurt to watch.
What had happened earlier with Joxer biting her and her seizing into ecstasy might have caused a green eyed monster to take up house in Xena's belly. But her mind kept insisting it was because she loved him as a friend and didn't want him to get hurt by Elaine. And what happened had nothing to do with how she felt for Joxer and everything to do with the fact that she was pregnant! And that's what she continued to say to herself as she kept eyes on them.
Xena watched as she ate her meal with Solan, her eyes constantly looking over with a glowering look on her face even as she drank.
At a certain point when Joxer was distracted by his own food Elaine had turned and looked directly at Xena. Xena's face didn't change as she stared right back at Elaine.
Elaine's brow just furrowed in confusion as she stared back at Xena, as if she couldn't understand why Xena was angry with her.
Xena tried to reason with herself that Elaine damn well knew why she was angry. But Xena herself didn't even understand WHY she was angry.
Then Elaine had just turned back to Joxer and not given her an extra look. As if somehow she was sure that she would do nothing.
It made Xena want to punch her in her damn face just for that.
But the way that Joxer was staring at Elaine...Xena knew that possibility was non existent. Xena knew that Elaine would use the excuse to pull Joxer in for good. Give her the perfect excuse to rip him away from them.
And Xena couldn't explain why it terrified her that it was possible for Elaine to do it so easily...but it did.
The way she knew things and how she easily manipulated all those around her.
Even the Gods bent to her will.
She was dangerous in a way that Xena had never encountered before.
Staring at Joxer a second more in the doorway of the house Xena let out a sigh and closed the door softly behind her.
As she turned and stared back out into the night, she could see the guards of the village try not to look at her but they indeed saw her.
One of the women stared directly at Xena, and Xena stared back understanding the woman wanted to say something to her.
The woman looked over towards where the lake was and then back at Xena.
Xena looked in the direction and noted that there was some small form of light in the distance.
Xena turned back and gave a small nod to the Amazon woman, and the Amazon woman gave a nod back and turned her head back to keep watch once more.
Xena made her way down to where the Amazon's would normally bathe and near the two waterfalls she could see a figure standing facing the opposite direction of the lake.
Then Xena's eyes bulged out of her head as she realized that Elaine wasn't standing...but was upside down, holding her legs above her head straight up.
Unsure of what exactly she was doing Xena was about to move and go towards her when Elaine bent back towards the lake and Xena watched transfixed as Elaine twisted in mid air 3 times before landing into the water below with only a small splash. It was the only thing indicating that she had disturbed the body of water at all.
Realization dawned on Xena that Elaine hadn't been lying about her capabilities. What she had just witnessed took an enormous amount of skill and practice.
Elaine was skilled in how she moved her body. Graceful and precise in her execution as she had dove down.
Xena grit her teeth at the new information.
Xena watched as Elaine exited the lake and was slightly shocked to see that the girl was naked, especially with how cold the water should have been. It was only when Elaine passed by one of the torches she had lit did Xena's scowl drop as she saw what she could only describe as huge red scars covering Elaine's front and back.
Xena was shocked when she noted that a long scar ran from just under Elaine's breasts to her belly button, as if someone had split her in two.
Elaine traveled back up to the top of the waterfall and once more braced herself at the edge on her hands with her legs extended up.
Xena watched with only a slight wonder that Elaine seemed to be completely focused, when she tilted back once more this time Elaine somersaulted 4 times before landing in the water with a small splash head first which shocked Xena that she was able to move so quickly.
This time as Elaine came up she noticed Xena and began to swim towards her.
Xena slowly began to make her way towards Elaine.
"Is something wrong?" Elaine immediately asked, unbothered by her nudity in front of Xena.
Xena for her part actually had to try hard not to stare at the litany of scars on Elaine's body. From a distance it had looked like three or four. Up close...there were dozens.
"Just woke up and wondered where you had wandered off to." Xena said as she stared into Elaine's eyes.
"I don't sleep much. So I figured now was a good time to exercise before I disturbed anyone." Elaine said as she made her way over to the small fire she had made and slicked back her hair and wrung it out to remove the excess water.
Xena noted how much longer it was when taken out of the knot Elaine normally had it placed in. Though scar ridden her body was...Xena saw how her clothes had hid just how muscular and curvy Elaine was.
It was as though Elaine was a cross between herself and Gabrielle. Her muscles were toned and from what the fire shown on her skin it was a porcelain white. As if she never allowed her skin to see sunlight. As uncaring as Elaine acted showing her nudity, Xena remembered why she was so uncaring and a wave of sympathy went through her.
As much as she hated Elaine, she couldn't imagine a child going through what she had. And from the looks of it, she had more horror stories that she could tell.
"Is there something you wanted?" Elaine asked as she turned and looked at Xena, slightly confused as to why Xena was still there.
"As I matter of fact I do...but I don't think you'll do it." Xena said with a deceptive smile.
Elaine took a second but then smiled widely at Xena. "To leave? Please Xena. You know the way you try and make it out like it's my fault that you two don't give a damn about him is kind of insulting. Face it Xena...you know everything I said was true. You just hate the fact that I had to point it out to you." With that Elaine turned and began walking back up to the waterfall, and one pissed off Xena immediately right behind her.
"My ass! Everything you said is a con game! Just because the God's are on your side..." Xena was almost shocked with the way Elaine whirled around and glared at her.
"Are you really that stupid?! SERIOUSLY?! You went to HEAVEN XENA! HEAVEN! By now YOU KNOW that they are NOT GODS! And for you even to say it shows how truly DENSE you are!" Elaine didn't care that it was the middle of the night. What Xena had said had made her extremely angry, but for a reason Xena wasn't prepared for.
"You think because I'm their friend I WORSHIP them?! I just treat them like NORMAL PEOPLE Xena! And the fact that they like me has nothing to do with them BEING on my 'SIDE' and everything to do...WITH! YOU!" Elaine was not going to stand there and listen to Xena's crap. She knew better than anyone that Xena would be the killer of the Olympian 'Gods' and knew that Xena had no remorse in ending them. Not even a hesitation on if she was being manipulated or not...she had only cared about saving her daughter and Gabrielle.
"BULLSHIT!" Xena screamed angrily in Elaine's face, which made Elaine burst out laughing and Xena's anger immediately dissipated at the way Elaine was suddenly laughing at her.
"STOP IT!" Xena screamed, not understanding why her cursing made Elaine laugh.
"Sorry...just..." Elaine continued laughing, "you cursing is funny."
Xena tried to drum up her anger again since the sudden switch in Elaine's demeanor confused her.
"You being friendly with them after saying they're...false gods...makes no difference!" Xena tried again as her anger returned when she thought about the miserable face of Gabrielle from earlier.
"You're taking him away from us based on nothing more than.."
"FACTS! FACTS XENA! I KNOW what happens to YOU and ALL of the Olympians! I know who lives...I know who dies! If I didn't...do you really think that they'd be even talking to me?! Do you think HERA...HERA! 'Queen of the Gods' would be protecting me and Joxer?! Doesn't that tell you that I'm RIGHT?! They know me being here changes...EVERYTHING!"
"THEN WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE! MAYBE THAT'S THE WAY THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE!" Xena screamed glaring angrily at Elaine.
Elaine stared at Xena with a look Xena had never seen on Elaine's face.
"Then Joxer dying because of you is ok. You're ok with that?! You're ok with rewriting destiny for yourself and for Gabrielle...but ME trying to keep JOXER alive...that's ABSURD right?! It's ABSURD that I would do everything in my power to keep him alive since the two of you are sooooo love struck with each other you completely dismiss his existence!" Elaine said with such disdain in her voice and hate in her eyes Xena knew that Elaine wasn't going to back down even slightly.
And Elaine saw that her words had not affected Xena even a little, as Xena just continued to glare angrily at her.
Elaine leaned back from Xena and just shook her head staring incredulously at Xena.
"Fuck me you really just don't see anyone but Gabrielle do you?! Gabrielle's your soulmate and everyone else can go fuck themselves. God Xena," Elaine laughed again, "you really are one of the most selfish people I have ever met! And I totally never thought that about you! I thought you wanted to atone for your past but...I guess when it comes to him...you really don't give a fuck if he lives or dies."
Xena's anger spiked in a way that she knew she was about to beat the living crap out of Elaine.
"He's my family, and I'll be damned if I let some two bit slut who's more than willing to open her legs immediately for a man to take him away from people that DO love him and DO care about him. I don't scare easily girly...and you're not going to take him from us. I don't care how long it takes till you make a mistake! Cause when you do...I'll be there. Waiting to smash your face in and show him just how much of a liar you are." Xena's blazing blue eyes stared into Elaine's hazel.
Elaine just stared right back...and made a decision.
She wouldn't tell Xena that it was Eve that kills Joxer. Oh no.
She wouldn't even tell her that Eve would grow up without her if it wasn't for her.
She just stared back into Xena's eyes and said something that she knew would get her a punch to the face. But she didn't care at the moment. She didn't care what Xena or Gabrielle thought of her. It didn't matter that she knew almost everything about them.
It didn't matter that she cared for them. Knew they belonged together, and the world thought Joxer was a distraction to them. That he was just a nuisance.
Forget the fact he lived half a life because of them and his love for them. Dedicating a tavern in Rome to them as he searched for their bodies for years.
Xena didn't deserve to know any of it.
She didn't deserve Joxer's love and Elaine knew in that moment...she would rather take a beating everyday for the rest of her life from Xena then try and help her keep what little connection she had left with Joxer. Her heart and mind battling for what she had promised herself and to a little boy that had a new shot at life the day before.
Elaine didn't care that Xena thought she was a slut. Hell...her own father had called and made her worse.
But if she was going down as a slut...she was going down all the way. And from the way Xena had threatened her about touching Joxer the previous morning...Elaine knew just the words that would show Xena how far she was willing to go.
Xena watched as an evil smile spread across Elaine's lips, and with the words she spoke Xena completely snapped.
"Well before you smash it I'm more than sure Joxer's willing to fuck it. What do you think Xena? You think he'll like it teasingly slow or fast and rough?!"
It only took a second for Xena to let the words sink in before her fist connected with Elaine's face and Elaine went flying back. But Xena was immediately there and pummeling Elaine in the face. Xena should have known when Elaine didn't even put up a fight that she had severely messed up.
If it wasn't for Amarice and Armand coming out of nowhere and pulling Xena off of a naked Elaine...Xena wouldn't have stopped.
Xena had just seen red. She had no other thoughts than to kill Elaine. The thought of her touching Joxer like that setting off an anger she had only thought reserved for when someone hurt Gabrielle.
Obviously that didn't seem to be the case.
Elaine remained on the ground as Yakut was suddenly there staring down at the damage that Xena had caused to Elaine's face, and with one look at Xena - the warrior woman stopped fighting against the two people trying to hold her back.
"Thank you Xena..." Elaine said with a roughness to her voice at the pain she instantly felt.
Xena watched as Elaine slowly leaned up and stared back at her with a bloody nose, bleeding cheeks and gums.
"Thank you." Elaine said again as she slowly got up from the ground with Yakut there making sure she was alright to stand by herself.
Elaine just stared at Xena as Armand tried not to look at her and Amarice just stared at Elaine's scar riddled body.
Elaine looked at Amarice and then Yakut. Both women had a look on their face of compassion, but Elaine turned and stared straight into Xena's eyes.
Xena's mind finally kicked back on as the sight of Elaine naked and bleeding made her realize that she had made a horrible mistake.
Then without a shred of fear Elaine approached Xena who was still held by Armand and Amarice and glared into Xena's eyes.
"I can only imagine what you were like when you wore the rhinegold ring. I can't imagine what Grinhilda went through when she had her baby in that cave you locked her in for all eternity. Being as you didn't even know she was pregnant, I can only imagine how you'd feel if it had been you and Solan...locked in that damn cave for all eternity because one woman thought herself more important then all humanity."
Xena's anger vanished completely as devastation took hold of her. Everything in her suddenly praying that Elaine was lying, but Xena saw no deception in her angry eyes.
All she saw was...
Xena suddenly felt like vomiting.
"You're still evil Xena...you just have different excuses for your decisions now." Elaine's whispered words more for herself than for Xena or anyone else...but everyone there heard her say them.
"What did Odin say about Grinhilda? How he 'used to love her.' I'm gonna make sure that's what Joxer says about you and Gabrielle even if I die trying." Elaine made the oath not caring that Armand had turned and looked at her finally at the statement.
Xena felt like she had been kicked in the heart at Elaine's words.
Elaine shook her head in disgust as she looked at Xena.
Without another word Elaine left everyone behind disregarding her nakedness, and walked the short distance to where the houses were, where Hera stood staring.
Xena felt guilt hit her suddenly.
Hera's eyes looked at Xena with such disappointment in them. Even from the distance between them. Xena felt herself swallow down any insult that she had wanted to hurl at Elaine as Hera's eyes stared back into hers.
Xena had completely forgotten about Hera's protection on Elaine...but knew Hera wouldn't raise a finger to her. But the disappointment and hurt in Hera's eyes made something very old in Xena feel unworthy of that knowledge.
Armand let go of Xena first as he watched Hera turn and follow Elaine. " Maybe Elaine's right Xena."
Both Amarice and Xena turned to look at Armand with shock on their faces.
Amarice let go of Xena fearing she would take it out on her for what Armand said.
Armand just looked at Xena with a look that spoke of an understanding well beyond his years.
"Maybe Joxer is better off with her. She loves him enough to stand up to you AND the Gods Xena! As far as I can see... she knows way more about him and you than you do about her. She knows you better than you know yourself it seems." Armand looked down at Xena's hand that was covered in Elaine's blood.
Xena followed Armand's eyes and looked down, and she understood what Armand meant at the sight.
Elaine had known that talking about Joxer like that would trigger her. She had done it on purpose. She had known exactly how to manipulate her.
Xena grit her teeth and snarled as she thought about the smile on Elaine's face as she talked about Joxer using her...
Xena felt a tightness in her chest just remembering what Elaine said.
One word had formed in her mind an instant before she had landed the first punch on Elaine's face.
Mine.
It had popped into her head the second she understood what Elaine was saying she would do with Joxer. It was maddening to even think about! Especially since the thought had been what had entered her mind on what could ease Joxer's pain the day before.
It had just been a thought that formed and it was what had pushed her to go after the two of them.
The thought being beyond inappropriate did nothing but make her certain that Elaine would try something similar.
And hearing her...hearing her touch him...
Xena swallowed down the lump in her throat as she realized Elaine had gotten what she needed to take Joxer from them...and it was her fault.
It was her fault because she couldn't keep calm as Elaine talked about Joxer like that.
Joxer had never even done anything even remotely sexual towards either she or Gabrielle. He had always been beyond respectful in that regard. Gabrielle and she had never seen or heard...anything. They had never even really seen him kiss anyone besides well...them!
The idea of having to even deal with someone else had never even crossed Xena's mind.
And now it was a reality. And if she didn't think of something with in the next few minutes it would be the last time she had to think of it because Joxer would leave...with Elaine.
Xena closed her eyes and tried to breathe.
"Xena...if Joxer finds out..." Amarice's voice broke through Xena's brief stint of quiet.
"I know..." Xena whispered as she tried to think of what she could do...what deal she could make...
Xena didn't waste another second and sprinted towards Elaine, hoping she could stop her from going to Joxer.
Hera sensing Xena placed her hand on Elaine's shoulder, causing Elaine to turn and look at Hera who simply turned and both watched Xena approach swiftly and when caught doing so slowed down immediately trying to compose herself and failing miserably.
Elaine just glared at Xena not saying a word.
Xena felt Hera's eyes on her and couldn't look her back in the eyes. Though still naked Hera waited until Xena was right in front of Elaine before twirling a hand and drying and clothing Elaine in her own clothes.
Elaine shivered slightly as the cold was replaced with a sudden warmth she had never experienced before.
"Thank you." Elaine whispered as she found the blood that had spattered on her face still remained...as if showing Xena that the evidence of her indiscretion would remain, that she would not cover for her.
Xena did notice this and still, her eyes couldn't meet Hera's.
"Of course dear." Hera said softly as her eyes remained on Xena.
Then all three stood there...for almost a minute without any one even breathing too loudly.
Xena knew she needed to be the one to speak. She couldn't let Elaine have an advantage to pry Joxer from Gabrielle and herself.
Xena cleared her throat and finally met Elaine's eyes.
Elaine waited...not willing to even make a sound.
"I'm sorry." Xena whispered the words, wincing afterwards since she was very much not use to apologizing. Especially to someone that wasn't Gabrielle.
"I. Don't. Care." Elaine enunciating each word slowly.
Xena felt her temper jump back up but a quick glance at Hera and those piercing blue eyes reminded her that Elaine had a distinct advantage over her...and it came in the form of the Queen of the Gods.
Xena closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes she looked Elaine in the eyes.
"I don't like you very much...but I do owe you. The thing is I'm not willing to let Joxer be the price for what you've done." Xena once again stated what she had once said to Hera.
Elaine rolled her eyes. "You don't owe me anything Xena. I keep trying to tell you that I'm trying to change things for the better! Solan being alive is probably one of the greatest things I could imagine happening...because that boy has had no life whatsoever Xena! If you had killed me back there...I would have regretted nothing!"
Xena couldn't stop the wave of compassion and thankfulness she felt towards Elaine in that moment. Even regret filled her. And honestly the way her moods were swinging all over the place she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Xena you're with child. Of course your emotions are going to be out of control. But what you did to Elaine is... inexcusable. You acted like the beast that covered her body with those marks. And her response was to let you beat her...just like the many times her father had." Hera said making Elaine look away from Xena as Xena's eyes filled with disgust.
To be compared to whoever had done that...even at her worst...she never could have done that to a person. Least of all a little girl. And to know that Elaine hadn't reacted out of spite...it made Xena's soul pang with grief.
"Is that how you want her to look at you? Like she looked at him?" Hera's tilted head and piercing eyes showing she actually wanted to know.
"No. I...I never would want that." Xena said haltingly as she looked at Hera...and then turning her eyes to look at Elaine. Hoping Elaine knew she meant it, and would never look at her that way. Despite what she had said only moments before.
"I love Joxer." Elaine said softly as she turned and once more looked at Xena.
"The way you love Gabrielle...that's how much I love him! But unlike you Xena I would gladly give him up forever...even though it would break me...if I knew you cared for him even a fraction of the way you care for Gabrielle." Elaine then shook her head. "But you don't Xena. You don't love him. You care for him...like...like it's your responsibility instead of a joy. How many people besides me and his mother do you think have said 'I love you' to him Xena? He barely knows me and all it took was for me to say those words and he...he returned it in full force. He craved it soo much...he's willing to take a strangers words...because he never got yours!"
Xena said nothing as she just listened to Elaine. Listened to the sincerity of how she spoke. And facing the reality that...
That Elaine was right.
As much as it hurt to admit...Elaine was telling the truth.
Xena had seen it a long time ago. The way Joxer had fallen in love with Gabrielle was a testament to it.
"Just...say it to me Xena! Tell me you love him! Tell me and I'll walk away right now! I'll leave and never come back! If you just say 'I love Joxer.' If you can do that...you'll never hear from me again!" Elaine getting angry as she spoke...hoping to be proven wrong and knowing that she wouldn't be.
It was a double edged sword. Her knowing what would happen in the future.
Xena felt hope bloom in her chest and opened her mouth to say the words. Words she had said not two days ago to Gabrielle about how she felt about Joxer! But when she looked at Hera...and saw a sadness in her face that made no sense...she opened her mouth and the words... they wouldn't leave her mouth.
Xena's heart seized as she tried to get the words out, "I..."
Amarice, Armand and even Yakut couldn't believe Xena couldn't say the words. All three staring from behind the warrior woman, knowing that Xena obviously felt that way...even in the smallest sense...and being gobsmacked when she couldn't say the words.
Xena tried. She tried a dozen times. Her mind was screaming it...but it just wouldn't come out. It wouldn't leave her lungs.
Elaine shook her head and stared at Xena with tears forming in her eyes. "I couldn't have made it simpler than this Xena...and you couldn't even say those three words."
Xena felt her own tears forming. She wanted to say the words! She desperately wanted to say the words...but they just wouldn't come out of her mouth.
Elaine took a deep breath and looked down at the ground and let herself cry for Joxer. Wishing she could keep him from this kind of pain...and knowing she wouldn't be able to.
"Who is Grinhilda?" Hera suddenly asked, causing both women to turn and look at her.
"Um...she...was a Valkyrie. But Xena...Xena pulled a Xena and it caused Grinhilda to transform into a beast and then Xena locked her up." Elaine explained simply.
"A Valkyrie?!" Hera turned stunned eyes on Xena. "You fought against Odin?!"
The slightly startled question answered immediately by Elaine.
"No! Xena became one of Odin's Valkyrie's. Grinhilda was their leader...until Xena..." Elaine left the rest unsaid.
Hera closed her eyes and let out a very huge breath and shook her head.
"Was she really pregnant?" Xena whispered the question, not having the guts to raise her voice at the question.
Elaine spared Xena a glance and nodded her head. "Yeah. She was pregnant."
Xena closed her eyes and half shook her head at the horribleness that she had caused.
"Technically a man name Beowulf seeks you out in the future because the lock actually becomes busted...but that's because her son broke the lock. Being born a monster...the only love he could forsake was hers...so because she loved him...she gave him the ring." Elaine explained what the show runners never had. That it wasn't Grinhilda that had broken the lock...but her child.
"Do you wish to right this wrong Xena?" Hera asked.
Xena looked at Hera with shining blue eyes, "More than anything right now." The guilt she felt in the moment more than she could bare. A child...a child was being held captive because of her. A child that had literally been born a monster because of what she had done.
Whatever she needed to do to right this...she swore then and there she would do it.
Hera let out another huge sigh, "Very well. I shall take you to see Odin. YOU are not to say a word until I tell you to. You may think you know Odin, but he will trust what I say without doubt."
It was then that Elaine straightened a little with a furrowed brow and shared a quick side look with Xena at this tidbit of instructions let them know something that neither of them had known before.
Elaine turned and placed herself right beside Xena, both looking at Hera with a furrowed brow - both sets of eyes staring curiously and almost with accusation in their eyes.
"You know Odin?" Xena asked, for some reason not at all comfortable with the idea at all. And for reasons she honestly couldn't even explain it made her nervous and a bit nauseous at the idea.
"Yes. For a very long time." Hera said simply.
This caused both Elaine AND Xena to fidget in their stance as both suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable in that knowledge and incredibly curious HOW exactly Hera knew Odin.
"Ummm...exactly HOW does a 'Greek Goddess' come to know a 'Norse God' and...why does it sound like you are VERY familiar with Odin?" Elaine wanted to know how this connection existed and wasn't willing to mince words if need be.
Especially since the TV show NEVER talked about the Norse Gods and Greek Gods intermixing on Xena. The idea that somehow, SOMEWAY, Hera not only KNEW Odin...but that he would listen to her was...well...interesting to say the least.
"I have known Odin since before he claimed his throne in his lands," Hera tilted her head slightly, "We have a...shared past."
"What kind of shared past?" Xena asked immediately, not liking it a least bit that Hera was almost suggesting that she and Odin...
Hera laughed suddenly as she read Xena's thoughts and quickly sobered with how she saw that the idea did truly disturb Xena - which intrigued Hera. "Dear child. Though you may think he and I have been intimate...I assure you he has never laid a finger on me...ever!"
For some reason Xena felt better in the knowledge that Hera hadn't been...intimate with Odin. She had absolutely no idea WHY but...the idea did not sit well with Xena...at all!
Elaine though...she was going through all of the mythology she knew and it hit her that if Hera said she knew Odin BEFORE that meant...
"Wait! Does that mean you know Vili and Vé?" Elaine suddenly about to geek out once more like the day she met Hera.
Hera's eyes showed she was stunned and unfortunate for her it was extremely telling.
Elaine's eyes went huge as Xena's eyes stared accusingly at Hera.
"No way! You know them?" Elaine squeaked the question.
"How do you know of them?" Xena asked with a furrowed brow with slanted eyes at Elaine, never having heard the names before.
Hera would have asked the same thing as she had never heard a mortal that was born in the world they now lived in that knew of Odin's brothers. Only mortals of the old world knew of them.
Elaine turned and glared at Xena as she pointed at herself, "Imagine Gabrielle when you first met her with all of the stories she knew and multiply that by two, then five, then ten! That's how much she influenced my life! I'm beyond pathetic when it comes to knowing all of this...stuff!" Elaine knew better than to throw the word mythology out in front of Hera.
"Yes I know them." Hera said softly.
Both Xena and Elaine turned their heads back to Hera and stared in wonder at the look in Hera's eyes.
Pain.
Both of them saw pain and both wondered what would cause that look in the Queen of the Greek Gods eyes.
"Do you know one much...better...than the other?" Xena asked slowly, not knowing why she wanted to know...but wanting to know none the less.
Hera raised one eyebrow at Xena...and something about the expression had Elaine doing a double take. Something about that expression on Hera's face was incredibly familiar to Elaine. Though she didn't know why...but something about it...it made the hair on the back of Elaine's neck stand up. Like she had just solved an equation or a puzzle.
Odd.
"Yes. Does this...shock you?" Hera's eyes were only on Xena's as she asked the question as both women seemed to only be interested in the others reaction.
Xena didn't know why she felt...weird...at knowing that Hera apparently had some kind of...relationship with a Norse God. It just felt like finding a parent in bed with someone. Xena shivered in disgust at the image it produced in her head.
"Of course not." Xena covered for her discomfort with that pan face that she used when facing off enemies.
Unfortunately for her Hera AND Elaine saw right through it.
"I think it does. Most do not like to think of one...as I...to have relations of any sort."
With those words both Xena and Elaine grimaced as if they had eaten something horrible, causing Hera to chuckle to herself and stare between the two.
"Ummm...I know this is going to sound childish...but can we please not talk about you getting it on with someone! As weird as my life has been...I don't think I can stomach thinking about it! Hell I don't even want to think about you and Zeus and I had him pegged for mister 'bringing the thunder' - all three seconds of it."
At these words both Xena and Hera burst out laughing and covered their mouths to stifle the sound to keep from waking the entire tribe.
"I'm right aren't I? Ewww..." Elaine grimaced and shook her head in distaste closing her eyes and let out a soundlessly laugh as she thought about it.
"Bringing the thunder?" Hera's body shook with laughter as she said the words, Xena tried not to laugh and failed miserably.
Elaine just smiled widely. "Yeah you know...cause he's quick like lightning!"
All three women then burst out laughing loudly and the nearby Amazon's that were keeping watch heard what Elaine had said and tried to keep from laughing but it was useless.
Soon all of the women were doubled over laughing as Hera began to laugh louder, pretty much confirming what Elaine was 'claiming'.
"Oh Hera..." Elaine chuckled out. "Oh I'm soo sorry! You must be the most unsatisfied woman in the entire world!"
Hera actually wiped tears from her eyes and said "Three seconds are generous..."
Of course it caused everyone's laughter to redouble and even Xena couldn't stop laughing, squeezing her eyes as she also had tears leaking out her eyes.
"She...she must be like..." Elaine laughing as she spoke as she was doubled over, "Wha...what just happened?"
Xena's laughing increased along with everyone else's at Elaine's words. At this point almost everyone had tears in their eyes as they laughed hysterically.
"Oh...oh I can't remember the last time I laughed like that." Hera managed to gasp out as she held her own stomach.
Elaine finally calmed enough to walk over and wrap her arms around Hera. "I'm glad I can bring a little bit of happiness to you."
Hera smiled at the affection Elaine so easily gave and wrapped her arms around the girl, hugging her back and placing at small kiss in Elaine's hair.
Xena's laughter all but ceased at the sight. A bolt of jealousy coursed through her out of left field at the sight. There was no reason whatsoever for it to, but there it was.
Elaine turned slightly and saw the look on Xena's face. Making a decision that she knew had worked for Joxer, Elaine grabbed Xena and yanked her into the hug. "Group hug!"
Xena felt peace wash over her the second Hera wrapped her arms around her. Elaine's arms went around her as well. Xena closed her eyes and felt the same as when Hera was healing her and checking on Eve.
It was as close a feeling as when she was little and visited her grandparents farm. It...it felt like she was loved.
"Ok," Elaine said after a few seconds and pulled back about ready to suggest something when she looked up at the two women with their two faces so close together and her mind seemed to stop as she saw something within the two faces that made her mind feel as though she had been smacked in the face.
In that moment Elaine prayed to God that what she thought she was seeing was not possible.
Her heart hammered in her chest like never before.
No.
No there was no way.
It was impossible.
Elaine saw that both women saw the panic in her eyes as both of their smiles dropped and the sight...the sight had Elaine reeling.
"Ahh...are...are we gonna leave now? We can be done by morning and don't have to wake up anyone else." Elaine managed to get the words out.
Xena's face seemed to relax, perhaps thinking whatever had caused her to stop talking before was due to thinking about Grinhilda or Odin.
But Hera...Hera looked at her as if she could read her mind, though Elaine knew Hera had made sure that was no longer possible.
"I can take us there now if you'd like." Hera said to Elaine and then turned and received a nod from Xena.
Elaine tried to hide her sudden fear. Because her fear wasn't about herself. It was about what Xena would do. If what she thought was true, Xena would never know a truth that would have changed everything. Her entire existence...in every lifetime.
If Elaine was right. And if she was right...
God help them all.
Elaine stared at Hera and felt her heart go out to her suddenly.
She knew in that moment, she loved Hera. She was the closest thing she had ever had to a real mother. And as pathetic as that was...Elaine was willing to do anything to make sure Hera wouldn't die with her there.
Elaine was determined more than ever to change to the future of this dimension.
For the first time in her life, Elaine wished she was wrong, and knew she wasn't.
Author's Note: PLEASE FOR ALL THAT IS HOLY PLEASE REVIEW! Pretty please?! Pretty Please with a cherry on top?!