Author's Note: Nothing naughty in this chapter but a lot of plotline that I think will help show where exactly I'm going with this story! As you can tell it's a long one! But I'm trying to type it out as fast as I can and still update other stories! To say the least...it's a lot to do! ENJOY!
As they appeared in the great hall of Valhalla, beyond the guards to the great dining hall, they were directly in front of Odin who choked on his wine at the sight that appeared before him. One could say that it was hysterical the way the Valkyrie were suddenly jumping up.
And it was sad how fast with the wave of Hera's hand how all of them were on their asses on the ground and couldn't move.
It was also very telling how a pleased little smirk filled Hera's face as the women glared up at her. It didn't help that Xena also had a small smirk forming her lips at the way the Valkyrie were glaring at her but couldn't move.
If Elaine had any doubts before that moment, they were gone in that instant.
She most definitely was right!
Closing her eyes she sent up another silent prayer for God to give her strength because she knew the next conversation she would have with Hera would be beyond important.
"Hera...a...pleasure... to see you after so long." Odin began as his eyes continually twitched between the Greek Goddess and Xena. Barely a glance was given to Elaine as she just looked around and noted the scenery.
"I wish not to disturb your house Odin. I merely came to help save a mother and her child." Hera said without indicating Xena or Elaine.
At those words Odin glared openly at Xena.
Elaine knew Odin wouldn't be stupid enough to attack Hera. But if he attacked Xena she knew Hera wouldn't hesitate to protect Xena.
"I see news has finally reached the ears of those who would feel most guilty." Odin said as he continued to glare at Xena.
"Being that as it may I have come to help...expedite... what need be done." Hera's regal nature even with the way she spoke to Odin kept the norseman characteristics at bay, not allowing him to show his anger outright.
Odin's eyes went back to Hera and squinted as he stared at Hera and slowly a small smile graced his lips.
"You have not changed one bit Hera. Still as entrancing and straightforward as ever. If not a bit more theatrical since the last we spoke." Odin's smirk stayed in place as Hera slowly allowed a genuine smile to grace her face.
"It has been a long time."
Odin gave a small little nod and then his eyes were once more on Xena...and finally went to Elaine.
And oddly...that's where they stayed for the longest time. Elaine's brow furrowed.
Odin glanced at Hera who merely let out a huge sigh and then his eyes returned once more to Elaine.
"Do I have a sign on my forehead?" Elaine asked Hera.
"It's your soul child. It is marked in a stupendous fashion. It should not exist for thousands of years...and yet...here it is before my eyes." Odin said still looking at Elaine.
Xena's face didn't show her curiosity at what Odin was saying...but inside she wanted to know what in Tartarus he was talking about.
Elaine smirked, "So that's a yes." The words said in English making Odin squirm suddenly.
"I forgot that you can see souls. I'm sorry my presence is making you uncomfortable!" Elaine said as Odin again looked at Hera.
"How is this possible?" Odin asked and before Elaine could speak, Hera addressed it.
"What matters is that she is here...and under my protection." Hera's eyes darkened as she said the words.
Odin's smirk returned and before his eyes could go to Xena the Greek Goddess amended with an arm extended to cover Xena's abdoman and held Xena's wrist on the arm furthest from her.
"As is Xena."
Xena felt a swell of emotion towards Hera in that moment but wisely kept her face passive, even as she felt the hold on her to be soothing.
"So all I need to know is if Grinhilda is pregnant with your child...or if it someone else's child?" Elaine asked without waiting for Odin to rebuttal what Hera had proclaimed.
Odin looked at Elaine as if he had been insulted.
"You dare think that if the child was mine..."
"Nothing against you Odin but you've allowed her to stay in that form this long without trying to help her. And you could have helped her! You decided not to! As if you were punishing her in someway for YOUR mistake! And it was YOUR mistake. Right now I don't care how it makes you...feel! Quite frankly I don't care! But I do care about that child that is being made to suffer because you didn't turn over every possibility to help her!" Elaine's eyes blazed as she looked at Odin.
It was then that the Valkyrie looked at Odin as they had not considered the fact that Odin COULD have been searching for a way to cure or help Grinhilda.
"You dare speak to me..." Odin's threat left unsaid as Hera immediately spoke.
"She does not lie Odin. That child has done nothing to merit such imprisonment. It's a true innocent that you've allowed to suffer for no other reason than...let's say...vindictiveness." Hera's eyes not looking away from Odin as she tilted her head and then spoke again. "I have been making that same mistake for quite some time. And if it were not for the girl next to me...I would not know that it leads not only to my downfall...but possibly to that of my family. Something that I know you would not want to see or have happen to your own."
Odin stayed quiet as he stared back into Hera's stunning eyes, but then began to nod.
"I hold no ill will towards you Hera. Or your children. But you as well as I know that..."
"That Grinhilda doesn't deserve this Odin! And you know it!" Xena finally couldn't hold back her tongue.
"Xena was dead inside Odin...and you didn't even see it!" Elaine immediately spoke trying to keep Odin's anger from sparking by focusing on his mistakes.
" You thought she had a thirst for life...but all she wanted was to find someone worthy enough to give her death! She may have used you, but you used her first. It's your guilt of what you allowed to happen that makes you hate Xena! But it's your anger at Grinhilda for not loving you anymore that you're willing to punish an innocent child for!" Elaine said quickly making everyone stare at her in shock.
Xena was the most shocked since...that had been exactly how she had felt for soo long. A way to escape what she was and what she had become. The fact that Elaine knew that...
"He's just a boy Odin! A boy you're denying life to! And you're denying whoever his father is to know his own son! Could you imagine being denied the right to see your sons Odin? What would you do? What wouldn't you do? " Elaine asked pointedly, making points that the show seemed to forget. The very fact that Xena had killed Grinhilda's child and forgave her so easily. It had never sat well with Elaine.
After everything that Xena had gone through with Gabrielle over Hope and Solan...she couldn't believe that Xena could have convinced anyone to forgive after something so recent. No matter how good the person was.
Hera placed a hand on Elaine's arm, as she had unknowingly moved forward as she spoke passionately.
Odin of course hadn't moved, not the least bit threatened by the girl, but Hera knew the action still irked Odin.
Elaine turned her head and looked back at Hera who just gave her a look that clearly said 'calm down.'
Elaine felt the little bit of pent up fight in her release, her face still bloodied from earlier feeling tight as the bruising started to become worse.
Hera said nothing but suddenly Hera stiffened and her eyes widened and lit up in a way Elaine had never seen before.
"She is right brother." A distinctive voice said from behind Elaine.
Xena's eyes finally moved from Odin to the owner of the voice as Elaine also turned to see who the voice belonged to.
"Whaaa?" Elaine's mouth dropped and her eyes bulged out of her head as the sight of the 'diety' shocked her. The voice had sounded familiar...but the face along with the voice had Elaine completely flipping out.
"OHMYGOD! OHMY...YOU'RE..." Elaine was squeal yelling and suddenly running in place and moving her arms like a complete fan girl.
Everyone was now staring at Elaine as she looked like a fish out of water!
"NOWAY! NO WAY! OH MY..." Elaine suddenly stopped and turned to Hera with wide eyes and a look of excited hope, "Don't tell me he's Vili. IsheVili?! OHMYGOD!" Elaine squealed again as Hera flushed slightly in embarrassment at Elaine's antics...especially since she continued to speak in English since her excitement at the man she was seeing was overriding any sense of calm the girl seemed to have.
"OH! Oh sir! You have absolutely no idea what kind of honor it is to meet you!" Elaine forgot decorum and rushed forward reaching out a hand and grabbed the startled man's gloved hand and arm and shook it vigorously.
" I mean...you're...your're..." Elaine couldn't stop shaking his hand staring up at a face she never in a million years thought she would see up close and personal.
" My brother." Odin said looking slightly jealous that his brother Vili was receiving such praise.
"Oh it's incredible to meet you sir! Incredible! May I just say that you are probably the only older man that I've EVER fanatized about! I mean if you were to tell me to have sex with you right here and right now I'd have absoLUTEly no qualms toOOWWWW!" Elaine suddenly yelled as Hera sent a bolt of flames from her free hand at Elaine's butt causing Elaine to jump almost on top of Vili.
Xena couldn't help but smirk as a little thrill went through her that Hera had scorched Elaine slightly.
Elaine rubbed her behind and stared back at one pissed off Hera who was glaring at her openly.
"Sorry!Sorrysorry! I..." Elaine's eyes bulged and she blushed as she found herself being held by Vili who was smiling at the young girl who had just admitted to fantasizing about him.
"Sorry..." Elaine blushed and smiled as she pulled away from...Vili.
Elaine then started laughing like a school girl and twirled back towards Hera. When Hera's eyes met hers Elaine's mouth opened comedically wide in a show of joyed shock. Walking back the few steps to Hera's side Elaine said through closed teeth to Hera, "You GO girl!"
Hera again blushed slightly as Xena's smirk dropped and she stared at the obvious handsome older man who apparently was the one Hera was more...familiar with.
Though Elaine was acting very much more enthusiastic about his looks...Xena could say that he really was a very good looking older man. He had a look to him that spoke of confidence and manliness without exuding brute strength. But Xena saw with just his stance that he was a warrior. His dark grey hair fading to white that grew long past his shoulders tied back in sections. His eyebrows bushy and dark though his mustache and beard were white.
"Hera...it is good to see you again." Came the accented voice once more, his eyes on Hera and then flicked towards the arm she still held Xena by, and then his eyes flicked back and remained only on Hera.
Elaine looked between Vili and Hera as she tried to suppress a HUGE smile and giddiness.
The idea! The very idea of Vili being this actor would have blown everyone out of the water! EVERY woman would have watched the show if they had known this man was going to play a 'Norse God'.
Sean Connery...unFREAKIN-believable! Elaine thought to herself giddily as she continued to look between Hera and Vili.
Then Elaine's smile faltered as she looked towards Hera and her eyes happened to go past Hera and fall on Xena.
Elaine stopped breathing as she turned and looked at Vili...and then back at Xena. Then back to Vili...and then back to Xena.
Lord have mercy.
Elaine felt her heart beat double as everything from the damn show that had never been explained started to become way more than obvious.
It made so much sense that she wondered why the showrunners had NOT done it!
Of course it would be incestuous on one hand because of well...everything involving the Greek Gods...but honestly it made perfect sense.
Elaine shook her head. She'd talk with Hera later about it. Right now...she wanted to hear and watch everything she could.
And that's when she noticed that Hera hadn't responded to Vili. She just continued to stare at him and he did the same to her.
Elaine shared a look with Xena as they both saw the silent sparks flying as the two stared at each other. The look the two women shared saying 'are you seeing this!'
"It is good to see you as well." Hera final said. But the emotion in which she said it made a pang of pain enter both Elaine and Xena's heart. The longing they heard in her voice unquestionable.
Xena's eyes kept switching between the two and could see that his eyes held this look...like he didn't want to look away for a second. For the first time ever in her life Xena reflected on everything she had ever known or heard about Hera...and suddenly she realized she had never once heard of Hera having an affair. If anything she knew about the many affairs that Zeus had...but none of Hera. Never had she heard of how Hera loved Zeus...and now she knew why.
Because even Xena could see by how the two looked at each other, just how in love they obviously were. It didn't matter how much time had passed since they saw each other. It was written all over their faces.
And for just one second...Joxer's eyes flashed in front of her eyes. The way they had looked not three days ago. His brown eyes soft and holding no anger or fear in them. The way they lit up when he found something funny. The way they looked at Gabrielle with love clearly written in them. And the way... the way he had looked at her. There had never been even a shred of doubt when he looked at her about how he felt. He had said the words once...to both of them...and since then there had been no doubt.
Now her heart heaved and her stomach dropped as the image of his eyes in the last two days held none of those emotions that she had always seen there.
She never thought that could change.
It also didn't strike her odd that she was comparing the way Vili looked at Hera to the way Joxer use to look at her.
"Umm...would one of you be willing to help keep Grinhilda calm as we try to help her transform back into herself without trying to kill everyone?" Elaine asked as she realized that the two would have gladly spent all day there just looking at each other.
Xena shook herself out of her own musings and stared at Odin once more.
Odin looked over the three women in front of him and flexing his hands slightly against the table he then gave a nod.
"My brother will accompany us since Grinhilda does wear the rhinegold ring. Her powers will be more enhanced." Odin said as he finally stood from his chair.
Hera turned her head and gave a nod to Odin.
"If...you would be as soo kind..." Odin gestured with his hand out towards the Valkyrie around the room.
Hera again smirked and lowered her eyes and waved her hand once more releasing the women who immediately all stood looking angrily at the Greek Goddess.
It only caused Vili to smirk as he watched Hera's face.
Elaine pursed her lips trying to fight her own smile as she couldn't get over the fact of who Vili was and just how in love he was with Hera by just the way he stared at her.
It lightened something in Elaine's heart.
And with very little effort the deities and Xena and Elaine were transported to Grinhilda and her child...where both were transformed once more to human form.
Of course not without an initial fight where both Xena and Vili restrained the child and making Grinhilda face Xena. Xena asked Grinhilda for forgiveness and Hera helped transform the child to an actual boy. A boy with red hair and brown eyes like his mother - a clear norther child if there ever was one.
Elaine watched it all as Xena and Grinhilda hugged. Clearing her throat Elaine gave a pointed look to Odin who didn't just reinstate her as Valkyrie, but apologized for not doing more for her and swore that he would from that moment on.
Within a few short hours Xena, Hera, and Elaine were about to leave and both Xena and Elaine noticed that not one more word had been said by Vili after he and Xena had fought Grinhilda.
Elaine noted that Vili had been silently watching not just Hera...but Xena. Elaine watched him as he watched Xena. His dark eyes staring at her when she was looking elsewhere and barely kept from being caught, but being a higher being seemed to sense when she was about to jerk her head towards him wanting to catch him in the act.
Elaine felt a sense of foreboding. She had already concluded that her talk with Hera later would be interesting. Now the added knowledge of Vili was going to make it all the more ackward.
Joy!
Elaine rolled her eyes at herself.
As she saw the sun begin to rise, she knew they needed to get back to Joxer and Solan...and yes...Gabrielle too. Not to mention Armand and Amarice were probably losing their minds wondering what was happening.
Elaine frowned.
Now came the hard part. The part where she revealed a part of Xena's past that she would feel most ashamed of. The hardest part was finding out where...but with Hera and maybe even Odin's help...they might be able to find the two people she needed to find.
Not to mention now was the perfect time to keep Xena away from Joxer out of her feelings of guilt for her past.
But Elaine knew she had to do it. She had to do it for Solan...and for Eve.
The hard part would be dealing with a woman that would want to kill Xena upon sight. Especially after everything they had probably been through.
Then there was the fact that knowing how vengence would be sweet to a woman like Natassa...it was likely that she would try and seduce Joxer to hurt Xena.
Elaine knew if she could talk with her about the situation, Natassa would not just help her...but keep Xena's jealousy in check.
How could Xena act jealous of Natassa towards Joxer when Xena had stolen Borias from Natassa?
Elaine doubted it would last long. But maybe it would buy her some time!
Belach would be a man by now...but he had a right and the chance to know his brother...and change the course of history in this dimension when it came to the Centaurs. For that alone Elaine knew she had to find Belach and Natassa.
Hopefully Natassa would be willing to listen to her long enough to convince her that her son deserved to know his brother. Even with Eve in the picture...Belach would have the ability to alter everything, but Elaine knew enough about his destiny that she could easily navigate convincing the now man to be a brother to Solan. Even to just free them from the servitude they were sold into would be enough of an atonement that Belach could move forward in life.
She just didn't want Joxer to have to deal with all of the Xena and Gabrielle togetherness that was breaking his heart.
Elaine closed her eyes and pictured him the way he was yesterday when he needed comfort from her. He had desperately needed her there just to hold him. The pain in his eyes was nothing compared to the pain she knew he felt deep in his soul.
She hated this.
She hated knowing this was always going to hurt him. No matter what she did...Joxer always got hurt in the end.
Letting him know about Xena and Gabrielle was not something she would have normally rushed to do, but Aphrodite had immediately only thought about removing her from this dimension.
Elaine knew she couldn't have lived with herself letting him continue on this stupid path of following Xena and Gabrielle and always wind up the hurt one. The lonely one. The one cast aside.
It wouldn't happen with her there!
She was damn well going to make sure of it. And if somehow Aphrodite managed to send her back...she'd find a way to get back here.
Because he was worth it.
Gabrielle stared into his eyes, the way they shone as he tilted her face up to look at him. The joy they held in them...the emotions there...she...she didn't know if she could name them all.
All she knew is that her heart felt full when she saw them.
She didn't question the shift in time and place, it was still him and her. Over and over again it was just him looking at her. Staring at her in a way that she hadn't realized before...but it showed how he felt about her.
The stupid smirks on his face and the way he would smile making her face mimic the way he was looking at her.
But then his eyes looked as if he had been hurt.
Pain.
And in the next second she saw them become angry.
So angry.
A look she soo rarely saw reflect in his eyes. Why had she never realized just how rare it was to have his anger directed at her?
Then Gabrielle watched as she walked up to him from out of thin air.
The instant anger she felt at the way she placed her hands on his face and brought his lips down to kiss only grew as her hands traveled down his chest and slowly traveled lower.
Moans traveled to her ears and the anger grew to rage as she watched her hands dive into his pants.
Gabrielle felt herself tense and want to lash out immediately.
She pulled back from the kiss to look up into his eyes. Eyes that held a look that had been once aimed at her. Now he looked at her in that way.
The pain sliced through her heart at the knowledge.
"I love you..." She whispered as she looked at him. As if she knew what the words meant. As if she knew what she would need to sacrifice to be with him. What she would need to give of herself.
As if she knew that her love was enough!
It would never be enough!
He deserved better! He deserved someone that knew how pure he was. How pure he viewed the world! How he didn't know true hatred anymore than he knew real rage. Because it wasn't in him like it was in her or Xena.
Then his head turned and looked at her...and Gabrielle felt her heart break apart.
She saw hate there.
Hate.
When...when had he ever looked at her with hate in his eyes. No.
Gabrielle couldn't stand that look.
Pain flaired as she watched the way it morphed into disgust.
Why? Why would he look at her like that?!
Her hand reached up and turned his head back towards her. And Gabrielle felt the anger inside build once more...
Because his eyes lit up when he looked back at her. Then Gabrielle saw that look. That look that he had been looking at her with after coming back from the dead.
Gabrielle's heart seized.
No!
And then Gabrielle watched her turn and stare right into her eyes. That evil little smirk made her anger grow as Gabrielle watched them begin to walk away. She was pulling him with one hand and with the other beginning to remove her clothes.
Jealousy flared inside Gabrielle as the noises he had made rebounded around the two of them as she continued to drag him away.
Gabrielle felt herself try and reach out to grab him, to try and yank him back...but it was like she knew and sped up dragging him away.
And then they were almost gone from view, and a voice inside her head that was not hers said one word.
MINE!
No!
NO!
This...this was wrong. It was WRONG!
She wanted to scream. To yell for him to stop! Just STOP!
But no words would come out. No sound would leave her lips.
A bard...unable to say a single word.
He was not hers! He didn't belong to her! Gabrielle felt it in her soul that he was a part of her family! A part of THEM!
And then the words came, words that felt like a bolt of lightning had hit her chest.
And she was looking at her again.
You don't deserve him.
And the smirk fell from her face, replaced with sadness that made no sense to Gabrielle.
And then it hit her why.
In one second after hearing the words Gabrielle knew...she was too late.
Gabrielle had missed her chance.
And then...they were gone.
And Gabrielle began to cry.
Her heart knowing... that he didn't love her anymore.
Gabrielle opened her eyes with tears cascading down the sides of her face as she stared up at the ceiling of the hut.
Her heart felt like it was in a vice. She had an instinct to vomit but just continued to lay down and cry.
Elaine had pulled him away from her in the dream. She had pulled Joxer away from her. Something she use to think would be a blessing! Something she would joke about! Like she wouldn't care if he never showed himself again!
Like he meant nothing.
The reality made everything in her ache in a way that was just as devastating as she had felt with Xena when Hope was born.
But she had done...NOTHING... to deserve this. She hadn't betrayed Joxer! She hadn't!
Didn't he understand that they were supposed to be dead right now!
They weren't even supposed to be here among the living.
The tears didn't stop falling for a while.
Looking at the light hitting the beams in the ceiling did she know it was still early as it meant the sun was barely rising, but she couldn't bring herself to move even to wipe the tears from her face.
The emptiness in the dream didn't leave her. Really it had been with her since Joxer had thrown her across the road to defend Elaine.
Gabrielle's fists balled up tight with the want to beat her to death at the moment. Her heart clenched thinking about the way Joxer was looking at Elaine just last night.
It was like she had put some kind of spell on him, but she knew that Aphrodite would have told her if he had one placed on him. She would have told Xena and her.
He hadn't done one stupid thing last night. Not ONE!
She was soo use to him doing something or SAYING something stupid that she had waited all night for him to say something that would make Elaine just...stop...TOUCHing him!
Gabrielle tried to reason with herself that it was the fact that Elaine had touched Joxer soo intimately and without care of consequences.
Closing her eyes she once more heard the sounds he made that night in her head and her body reacted to it once more, responding to him without even being touched.
Gabrielle opened her eyes and tried to stop herself from going crazy.
Because this was all madness.
All of it!
Joxer wasn't some adonis or hero that women worshipped!
He was...JOXER!
"Gabrielle are you awake?" Amarice asked as she moved towards Gabrielle.
Gabrielle sat up and looked at Amarice who immediately stopped as she saw the evidence of Gabrielle's tears.
"Are you alright?" Amarice asked immediately, her brow furrowed with concern.
"I'm just..." Gabrielle let out a huge sigh, "I'm just exhausted."
Amarice said nothing, never having seen such sadness in Gabrielle's face and knowing that the reason she felt this way was because of Elaine and...Joxer.
Gabrielle didn't notice the grimace on Amarice's face. She was too busy trying to forget the way Joxer had looked at Elaine in her nightmare.
Because that's what it felt like.
A nightmare.
A fear of hers that she didn't want to acknowledge...but something in her knew...losing Joxer wasn't an option.
It just wasn't.
"Um...Gabrielle...something happened in the middle of the night while you were sleeping." Amarice said playing with her fingers and looking at and away from Gabrielle.
Gabrielle furrowed her brow and turned her head to look at Amarice and then because of where Amarice was looking - she looked to Xena's cot...which was empty. Why in Tartarus hadn't she noticed Xena was missing as soon as she sat up?!
Gabrielle suddenly felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
Turning wide eyes back on Amarice, Gabrielle knew that whatever it was that happened...it was soo very not good!
As they entered the Amazon Village once more with Hera all three women knew that what had occured before they left still had not been resolved.
Elaine knew that she would have to let Xena think that she had forgave her for this indiscretion. Where she would be asked to be taken next would more than likely show Xena that in reality she had not been.
Natassa would be a bigger ally than a liability. If anything Elaine needed to free her and her son from whatever servitude they were currently in.
"Hera...can you please heal my face?" Elaine asked softly.
Hera turned slightly stunned blue eyes at her, but immediately waved her hand and the bloodied and bruised vision of her face changed back to the way she looked pre-beatdown with Xena.
Xena felt a twinge of guilt watching Hera heal Elaine.
"Xena? Do you mind if I have Ares and Hera take me somewhere? I think I've pretty much proven to you that I do know the future...and the past enough to help you. And...there's something pretty big I need to take care of." Elaine said as she looked between Xena and Hera.
Hera's eyes squinted slightly as she looked at Elaine, uncertain what Elaine could possibly need her son for.
Xena knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. It would mean a few hours of Elaine being gone and Joxer not to be influenced by her. She could finally have time to talk with him.
And he would listen to her.
He needed to listen to her.
If she had any chance at all to try and make him see the Elaine was not the person he belonged with it was now.
It was now.
"Alright. Just don't cause any wars!" Xena warned Elaine with a dead serious look.
Elaine nodded her head. If anything she was going to prevent them.
Including the whole Cleopatra thing...which with how historically inaccurate Xena's portrayal of events was...maybe guiding them to what really happened in history would be better!
"No wars. Maybe some peace treaties instead." Elaine said with a shrug.
Xena huffed out a laugh. "With Ares involved. Highly doubtful. He's nothing but evil and only wants to see destruction."
"My son wants more than just destruction." Hera startled Xena as she had forgotten for that Hera indeed was Ares's mother. The light blue piercing eyes showing she did not appreciate hearing her son described as evil.
"The amount of times Zeus has instructed him to wage war could be counted as the leaves on trees Xena. All...gods..." Hera halted as Elaine just raised an eyebrow with an incredulity look, "must obey Zeus. Or face consequences I am sure no mortal has heard of. And even those they have. Ares has suffered from Zeus' punishments before. He is highly unlikely to against him any time soon."
Xena felt a fissure of anger run up her spine at the idea of Zeus...punishing Ares...for not doing as told.
It was a thought that had never even entered her mind until hearing Hera admitting to it.
Xena felt slightly...embarrassed in that moment. The fact that she had thought something of the sort left her looking...ignorant.
Xena straightened her spine as Hera kept her eyes staring into her own and suddenly looked away and at anything but her as she realized not only did it make her look ignorant. But she had just insulted her son after she had sworn to protect her and her baby.
She had no right to say anything of the sort. And in that moment she realized she needed to keep her tongue in check.
Even for the sake of respecting Hera and what she had done for her so far, which included bringing her own son back to life.
Finally Xena's eyes returned to Hera's. She saw that Hera was actually hurt by what she had said from the look in her eyes. "I'm sorry." Xena chocked out the words as emotions overcame her.
Because she was.
Over the last few hours she knew the last thing she wanted to do was to upset the woman in front of her. From what Xena had seen...she thought she knew secrets that no mortal could or would ever know about her.
She needed to put aside her assumptions. About...just about everything.
"I know child. But the words are always good to hear." Hera nodded and then turned to Elaine.
"Are you sure you will need Ares?" Hera asked.
"Pretty sure. Plus...I need to talk to him about some...personal stuff." Elaine didn't voice her real reasoning. She needed to see him up close and personal to know if her other suspicions were true.
If they were...well...that would change a bunch of things that she thought needed to stay the same. Ares was a big key to most of the future events. But with Hera's revelations...well...everything about Xena was now different in Elaine's eyes.
"What kind of personal stuff?" Xena's furrowed brow and slight snarl to her mouth showing she didn't like this new tidbit at all.
Elaine looked pointedly at Xena. "Personal...stuff!"
Xena knew she needed the time with Joxer alone, and even though she knew Ares wasn't to be trusted, Xena also knew that Elaine wouldn't do anything to compromise her relationship with Joxer. Doing anything with Ares would.
So...
"Fine." Xena shrugged her shoulders with a pan face that let Elaine know she was fighting to keep from saying something else to her.
"Good. Um...make sure the boys take a bath again today. It's kind of important to wash daily. I know none of you are use to that but...keeping clean is kind of a big thing to keep you healthy!" Elaine explained before she reached out and took Hera's hand.
Hera couldn't help but smirk softly as she wrapped her hand around Elaine's, touched that the girl would even want to hold her hand.
Xena felt that furl of jealousy pop up again with no real explanation at the sight, but tamped it down. Priority right now was Joxer.
She wasn't about to screw up and give Elaine another excuse to stay after what happened that morning.
"Will do." Xena said.
Hera knowing what Xena was thinking for the first time spoke in Xena's mind.
You only have a few hours at best. Take my words to heart.
Though startled Xena kept her composure and felt a surge of hope that Hera was on her side when it came to...
When it came to Xena's family.
Xena gave a nod at Hera.
Hera returned the nod...and then both she and Elaine were gone.
Xena allowed a smile to bloom across her face.
For the first time in three days...there was a chance to fix what had been damaged.
"Xena!"
Xena turned and saw Gabrielle and Amarice walking towards her with Gabrielle looking extremely upset...and angry.
"How could you have let her get to you!" Gabrielle immediately accused Xena, and the sight of Gabrielle's tear stained face felt like a knife had been shoved into her heart.
"Gabrielle," Xena was ready to tell Gabrielle that an understanding had been achieved, but Gabrielle was pissed.
"DAMN IT XENA! YOU KNEW! YOU KNEW THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED!" Gabrielle yelled immediately knowing by the look on Xena's face and the way her name had been said that what Amarice had told her wasn't an exaggeration or a lie.
"Gabrielle listen to me!" Xena spoke fast and immediately tried to calm Gabrielle down, but Gabrielle looked ready to fight an army with the way her body moved. "Elaine is really trying to change things! Last night I lost my temper and I KNOW...I know I shouldn't have but...she provoked me. She knew just what to say that would make me snap...and I'm not proud of it! And even when...even after I did that...she helped me right a wrong that I thought I would never be able to fix. But she helped me fix it! As much as we...dislike her..."
"HATE her...HATE her Xena!" Gabrielle's voice strong as she stared into Xena's eyes. The firm and no doubt way Gabrielle said and looked at Xena left Xena feeling a little scared inside.
Gabrielle wasn't the type to hate. Even with everything that had happened she always expected Gabrielle to be the better person and try to be compassionate and understanding.
Apparently with Elaine there was none to be had.
"Gabrielle she helped me! She helped me with something that had nothing to do with Joxer and everything to do with MY past! I need you to push aside why you don't like her...because as of last night...I do have a higher respect for her. And I need you to try...TRY and remember that she helped bring Solan BACK to us!"
Gabrielle felt the anger and fear in her dissipate at Xena's words. Yet the anger she felt at Xena for almost causing Elaine to be 'justified' in taking Joxer away from them remained. Xena had literally given Elaine what they both knew Elaine wanted to have happen.
To have a reason to show how they didn't care about Joxer...or who he cared about.
Gabrielle's mind conjured images of the dream she had just had and swallowed the bile that rose in her throat at the way Joxer had looked at Elaine in the dream.
"Gabrielle right now we have only a few short hours before Elaine is back with Hera! So right now we need to be trying to convince Joxer that Elaine is NOT telling the truth about...us! And that he's a part of us! Because he is! And we need to let him know that!"
Gabrielle felt like a weight had been lifted as she realized that Xena had a plan. But...but it was talking to Joxer. Joxer wasn't even talking to her and Xena...Xena wasn't good with words when it came to emotions. Which meant...
"Here he comes." Amarice said alerting both women that Joxer was near them.
Both Gabrielle and Xena jerked there heads to Amarice and then in the direction Amarice was looking.
Xena and Gabrielle again found themselves struck by how Joxer looked and seemed to be frozen as Joxer came closer.
The new clothes accentuated his form in a way they were just not use to. Amarice looked over at some of the Amazon women who were nearby and noted that Xena and Gabrielle were not the only ones who's eyes were solely on Joxer.
Feeling trouble was seconds away noone expected Joxer to simply just pass Xena and Gabrielle as if they weren't there...and walk over to Amarice.
Amarice was slightly shocked when Joxer passed Xena and Gabrielle and went up to her.
"Um...Amarice...could...could you help me put that stuff that Aphrodite gave me on my neck?" Joxer held out a small jar with his eyes twitching between Amarice and the Amazon women who were obviously staring at him and making him extremely uncomfortable.
"Ah...sure. Um...here...let's just go..." Amarice looked over to a log nearby and motioned to Joxer to go sit.
Amarice waited for Joxer to sit down as he removed his coat and slowly sit down as he held it and looked down and waited for Amarice to apply the sun screen that Elaine had requested from Aphrodite onto his neck and shoulders.
Amarice took a small amount at first, not sure how much she would need and began applying the sun screen.
Unfortunately Amarice didn't consider the fact that both Xena and Gabrielle's jealousy would be sparked by Amarice placing her hands on Joxer.
Both women were watching Amarice's every move as she placed her hands on Joxer's neck and down and over his shoulders that could be hit with sun since the neck of the shirt was a bit wide.
Gabrielle's hands formed into fists as she heard Joxer let out sigh after sigh as Amarice touched him. Her stomach knotting itself at look of relaxation on his face as Amarice touched him.
Xena tried to keep herself from snapping at Amarice 'THAT'S ENOUGH!' as she way too thoroughly - in Xena's humble opinion - applied the white substance onto Joxer.
Amarice finished and covered Joxer up and was smiling when she looked up and the sight of two very pissed off women greeted her.
Ok! They're just ridiculous! I was just applying lotion on him! It's not like I was...
And the thought suddenly hit Amarice that...they were BOTH jealous...of her touching Joxer!
What would have seemed absurd not three days ago was staring back at her ready to knock her head off.
And the weird thing about it was that...she knew Elaine was right. After last night, and hearing how Xena couldn't say 'I love you' to a person that she was so jealous of that a person couldn't put lotion on them without receiving a death glare, she knew what Elaine had said in Aphrodite's temple was more open and truthful then the two women that she was willing to follow into battle. If Aphrodite and Apollo hadn't known about Joxer being penniless and his armor being made of his mother's things, she had a sneaking suspicion she now knew more about Joxer than Xena and Gabrielle combined. And that saddened Amarice in a way she didn't think it could.
If Elaine felt...even a quarter of the way she felt when Armand looked at her then...
Amarice brought the smile back to her face as Joxer was standing up as her hands had been off his neck for a few seconds since Xena and Gabrielle had distracted her.
"Um...thanks...Amarice." Joxer said still with a sadness in his eyes that had stayed with him since Elaine had arrived. The only joy in his eyes coming out when he looked at Elaine...or Solan.
In that moment she would have done anything to see him smile. Even for a few seconds. The pain in his eyes was a lot even for her.
"Anytime." Amarice said with a little shrug. Then with a smirk on her face she let him know the only way she could that she meant it. "What are friends for."
At those words Joxer looked up immediately in shock at Amarice.
Amarice just continued to smirk as Joxer looked at her.
Feeling that the other Amazons who were not use to having a man around were hyperfocused on Joxer she knew Joxer was oblivious to it all when he ducked his head and nodded with his lips pursing in a shy way and then looked back up at Amarice.
"Yah...yah know if you ever need anything...I mean...not...not like um...that but um...if you need something..." Joxer stuttered out in realization that it would sound bad if he didn't elaborate.
"I mean..." Joxer stopped talking and was thankful that Amarice hadn't told him to shut up yet.
Joxer looked up and remembered what Elaine said to him last night, and let out a huge breath and just said what he wanted to say.
"Thanks for being my friend."
Amarice's face slowly morphed into a huge smile. Gave a nod and simply said. "Likewise Joxer."
Joxer gave her a true genuine smile and Amarice felt a little better about what she had said yesterday. She may not have thought herself anywhere near being a friend with Joxer...but now...now she knew she was.
Gabrielle felt a tightness in her chest at the words Joxer said to Amarice.
It felt like...
It felt like he was dismissing her.
And Xena.
Xena swallowed down the lump in her throat as she felt snubbed by Joxer in a way that his false bravado and boasting had never hit before.
She needed to fix this.
Now!
"Joxer we need to talk." Xena said softly causing both Amarice and Joxer to turn and look at her.
"What's going on?" Joxer asked as his eyes began to scan for Elaine as Armand had told him that Xena had left with Elaine in the middle of the night and would be back by morning.
When he didn't see her almost immediately his eyes looked at Xena in accusation. "Where's Elaine?"
Xena pushed aside her feelings of hurt that he instantly thought she had done something. Which...she had...but...
But he didn't know that and just the look as he stared at her had emotions yelling in her body that Elaine had already poisoned him against her enough that he immediately thought the worst.
"She left with Hera to go see Ares. Joxer...we need to talk. Joxer you barely know Elaine! She doesn't know you Joxer! You've known us for years and you've believed her instead of us! Joxer you can't trust her soo easily!"
"She knew about the baby Xena!" Joxer immediately said with a scowl on his face. "She knew about Solan! She knows things about me.."
"JOXER SHE DOESN'T KNOW YOU! WE KNOW YOU! YOU BARELY KNOW HER AND YOU BELIEVED HER OVER US!" Gabrielle exploded with anger making both Amarice and Xena wince as they knew it was the wrong thing to do.
Joxer didn't look at Gabrielle, his focus on Xena completely even though he straightened his spine and his mouth clamped shut.
Gabrielle couldn't take this treatment. It was one thing for Joxer to be a jerk and another thing for him to act like a bigot!
Xena closed her eyes as Gabrielle moved into Joxer's line of sight and Xena braced herself as she knew Gabrielle had lost the bit of control she had of her emotions.
"DAMN IT JOXER! LOOK AT ME!" Gabrielle screamed and moved towards him causing him to back up and then turn, ready to walk away from the two of them.
"JOXER!" Xena called out in a last ditch effort to talk to him.
And then Gabrielle screamed the absolute worst thing she could have said making Xena and Amarice brace for an impact they knew would be disastrous!
"DAMN IT JOXER! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HER! SHE'S MANIPULATING YOU AND YOU'RE FALLING FOR IT! SHE DOESN'T LOVE YOU BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW YOU!"
Xena whole face grimaced as did Amarice's. Both watching how Joxer's whole body froze at Gabrielle's words.
But it took Gabrielle a second to realize how what she had said sounded.
It took a second for Joxer to turn around and stare at her with eyes that were cold like a winter's night and stare daggers...at her.
Hate.
The same hate she had seen in the dream.
The hate she thought she would never see!
Her heart froze as she realized exactly what she had said and had never wished more for the words to go back into her mouth and never ever come out.
"Then I'll do whatever I have to to earn her love."
Gabrielle felt like she had been slapped across the face.
Joxer said the words with such a serious look on his face that Gabrielle swore she was looking at Jett's face.
Xena wanted to scream at the top of her lungs at how everything was going the opposite of how it should have been. How she should have been the one losing her temper and Gabrielle should be the rational one.
But the role reversal wasn't enough of a problem in that moment.
"Stay away from her Gabrielle. If you hurt her again..." Joxer's 'threat' one of leaving did not sound that way to someone close by to them.
And then things became worse.
Soo much worse.
A voice rang out "Don't speak to an Amazon Queen in such a manner you filth! Just because she and Xena take pity on you by keeping you safe does not mean..."
Amarice slammed her fist into Cyane's face knocking her unconscious in the short distance Cyane had been standing. The rage on her face as she had known the second a specific word had been said that Joxer would be devastated. Anger that anyone would think it, let alone say it to Joxer, pushed aside as she looked up to see Joxer looking down at Cyane with this look of being dumbfounded on his face.
Amarice's heart was pounding soo fast when her own heart suddenly squeezed tightly as Joxer looked up at her with this...
This look of pleading.
A look that said 'please tell me that's not what you think!'
And Amarice feared when his eyes looked away from her and to the other Amazon's that they had the decency to look away...
"Is that...Is that what ev...what everyone thinks? They...they pity me?" Joxer's words barely making it out of his mouth as the urge to suddenly cry hit him hard as shame and embarrassment took hold.
And some of the Amazon's did. And some didn't. They stared back at Joxer as if to verify that it was indeed what they thought.
"NO! No Joxer! Don't listen to her!" Xena all but screamed when she heard Joxer's question. Xena would have punched out Cyane a thousand times in that moment. Her heart tearing apart hearing the fear and hurt in Joxer's voice.
But when he turned and looked at Gabrielle in the eyes Xena knew that whatever chance they had of EVER convincing Joxer of anything had just vanished.
Gabrielle couldn't speak. Why couldn't she deny it! Why wouldn't the word NO come out of her lips as he looked at her. Her head started to shake 'no' but not a sound left her mouth.
Joxer's Adams apple bobbed up and down as he stared at Gabrielle waiting for her to say something.
ANYthing. Tell him he was stupid for even thinking it! Tell him he was a moron. An idiot!
Anything!
But as seconds went past...Joxer suddenly felt the shame and embarrassment overwhelm him.
Xena saw the moment Joxer thought it was true. Saw the tears form in his eyes and Xena wanted nothing more than to beat all of the Amazon women who were standing there looking smug and vindictive behind Joxer as if his feelings meant nothing.
Xena wanted to run after Joxer the moment he turned and began to put his jacket on as he walked hurriedly away. But she knew in that second that Gabrielle needed her because she could physically SEE Gabrielle shaking.
But it wasn't from sadness.
Oh no.
Cyane had finally come to and was getting up with a look of anger aimed at Amarice.
She never saw Gabrielle coming.
Author's Note: Thank you for any reviews you leave! They inspire me and make me write faster! So if you want more story faster...type away a review for me! Anything helps! 😉