Author's Note: HAPPY NEW YEAR! I know I left a bit of a cliffhanger in the last chapter...and I promise I will resume where it left off...but I think you needed to know what Elaine was doing first to make sense of anything. Plus I'm dropping one hell of a bomb! Hopefully you like where I'm going with this! Hope you enjoy!
When they appeared in Ares' Temple a thought popped into Elaine's head that she couldn't squash and it immediately left her mouth, even as Ares turned and stared at the two.
"Do you sleep? I mean...I never thought about it before but I know you all have beds for entertainment reasons and I've seen you get knocked out but...do you actually fall asleep?" Elaine asked with a furrowed brow and a tilted head staring at Ares.
Ares brows went up, "Why would we need sleep?"
Elaine gave a 'hmm' and looked at Hera. "Sleep is one of the greatest things I think humans have. Sleep allows the body to recover and the mind to decompress and sort through the information received. The idea of never sleeping kind of makes me sad."
Ares just looked at her with a furrowed brow. "Is that why you came here? To ask if we sleep?"
"No." Elaine shook her head and pursed her lips looking around the temple and oddly recognizing it. Odd.
"I came because I need your help locating two people who were sold into servitude...aka into slavery. The thing is I know I'm going to need you and your mom to find them and or make sure they're safe and taken out of slavery." Elaine continued as she looked between Ares and Hera.
Hera's brow furrowed. "Exactly how much have you already altered our dimension that you think we would willingly help do this?"
Elaine frowned. "I'll alter it as much as I want if it means saving all of you. There's no reason that things can't be altered so no one dies!"
And then Hera turned and reached out and turned Elaine towards her. "Why do you care so much? Why do you care for my children as if you knew them personally? I know for a fact you know very little about them except for Ares and Aphrodite. Why do you care for my family?"
Elaine just stared into the piercing blue eyes and simply said. "Because you can have what I never could. You can be a loving family towards each other! You do love each other! All of you just forgot."
Hera caressed Elaine's hair as she stared at Elaine with sympathy in her eyes.
Her mind playing back the things she had seen in the girls mind and feeling a sorrow she had never really felt for someone besides her own children.
"I'm sorry for all the horrors you have seen. No child should ever know what you do."
Elaine smiled softly up at Hera. "I found peace. And I found love. And you know with who and how."
Hera huffed out a breath in slight amusement and smiled softly at Elaine. Knowing Elaine was speaking of her faith and not in the least bit offended by it. Knowing the truth helped in that regard.
Ares watched fascinated that even his mother was showing that she cared for Elaine.
It seemed that most of his family seemed to care for her, even as she said things showing she did not worship the Greek Gods.
"How truly phenomenal." Hera's hand caressed down Elaine's face and held her cheek, struck by just how much faith she held and shocked that Elaine allowed the intimacy with how her mother had touched her.
"How are you not afraid of us?" Ares asked as he stared at Elaine with a furrowed brow, a genuine look of curiosity on his face.
Elaine just turned her head as Hera moved her hand away and began to smile at Ares.
"I know where I'm going when I die Ares. Why would I ever fear anything that will get me there?"
Ares just tilted his head and stared at Elaine, truly in wonder that he felt no fear when in her presence. She truly didn't fear pain, or death.
Having survived what she had, and believing what she believed, it seemed as though her faith truly was at the core of what she thought and how she lived.
"I know you think fear is the way to make people worship you Ares. And maybe...fear has a part in why people believe what they believe. But I know that your family...it doesn't NEED to be feared. The fact of the matter is...people need God. People need to know that...they are loved by the creator of all things. That they were formed in his image and soo loved that..." Elaine laughed as she saw the furrowed brow of not just Ares but Hera.
"That he would bring a believer from across dimensions and time...to tell you...all of you...that he loves you all. And doesn't want destruction. He doesn't want to build things on the foundations of old. He wants to make all things new. That the father of all things loves you enough to try and change your hearts...because he loves you and wants to keep you."
Hera tilted her head as she looked at Elaine and slowly smiled as she looked at her. Intrigued and pleased that she believed that's why she was here.
Ares felt something in him shift at Elaine's words. He had...always wanted to feel that. What it felt like to be loved by his father. But it wasn't to be for him.
But the way Elaine turned and looked at him, the way her eyes stared INTO him...it made him feel...
"I love you both very much. And I want nothing more than to make sure that you don't perish because of your own beliefs of who you THINK you are. The fact that none of you have been negating my belief is enough proof that...that you know what I'm saying is true. And I want you all to BE HERE and not have to worry about a future where some of you might not be here. As much as you don't want to believe me Ares...being with out your family will hurt you more than anything you know. I saw it with my eyes how much. And maybe other's didn't but...I saw how alone you felt. I saw you. And I want to try and make sure you never have to feel that way again."
Ares shared a look with his mother and then looked back at Elaine.
"You love me?" Ares almost choked on the words they held so much emotion.
Elaine just stared at him with a mouth hanging open showing how she was shocked he was asking.
"Duh! Of course I do! Why else do you think I care about how you feel? Why do you think I would say I want to be your friend. You knew me all of five seconds before you tried to protect me from Xena. You instinctually knew I wasn't interested in power and warfare. You even thought I was hurting Aphrodite and you still...you still protected me. And I knew immediately what that meant." Elaine just stared into Ares' eyes as tears formed in hers and she could see moisture in his own.
Elaine couldn't wait one more second before she walked over to Ares and wrapped her arms around him.
"I love you, you idiot!" Ares closed his eyes at hearing those words suppressing a chuckle and wrapped his arms around Elaine and squeezed her to him as he buried his head between her shoulder and neck.
"You were a friend to me before you even knew who I was. And you didn't even know how much I respected you and thought of you! You don't ever have to doubt how much I care about you!" Elaine said as she squeezed Ares back with the love she felt for him radiating not just from her embrace...but from every word she spoke.
Hera tilted her head and smiled softly at the display of affection both were showing the other.
Elaine pulled back and placed a kiss on Ares cheek and pulled back and stared into his dark eyes that held moisture in them with a huge smile.
"Now go give your mother a kiss and a hug. I know it's been a long while since you've done it." Elaine made a gesture with her head to go to his mother.
Hera straightened her head and stared in interest as she saw the emotions in her sons eyes.
Slowly Ares approached and Hera could see that he was almost...afraid of allowing his affection towards her to be seen.
Then she saw something in his eyes shift and without another hesitation he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly to him as he buried his head into her the same way he had Elaine.
Hera wrapped her arms around her boy without any hesitation as emotions surged in her and she immediately started to cry as she turned her head and kissed the top of her son's head.
Ares let out a huge sigh, use to the rejection from others for soo long he had forgotten what it felt like to know his mother loved him.
Hera kissed his head once more and whispered to him, "You have no idea just how much I have and would do for you Ares. I love you...and I wish you never doubted it for a second."
Hera squeezed him back tightly and Ares responded in kind, a surge of emotions running through him again at hearing his mother say those words. How long had it been since he heard her say those words?
Elaine looked on with a pleased little smirk on her face as she watched the two embrace.
It would have been great to have seen this on the tv show. More than just the whole 'gods fighting Xena' bit that barely made any sense to begin with.
But now that Elaine had discovered a hidden truth behind a huge chunk of Xena's existence...it did make a lot more sense of why and how Xena was soo strong and capable of going up against the Greek Gods.
Ares pulled back slowly from his mother who again kissed Ares forehead as Ares sniffled and tamped down his emotions.
"I love you too." Ares whispered to Hera who slowly gave a radiant smile to her son.
Ares couldn't help but smirk and then give a smile in return.
Hera gave him another kiss this time on the lips and wiped away the little evidence of a tear from his face.
Elaine couldn't help but feel her heart expand. The want for a relationship like that for herself incredibly strong.
To know that kind of intimacy without any kind of sexuality to it was a completely foreign thing for her, and she so desperately wanted something like it was overwhelming.
The need for some kind of normalcy...
Elaine shook her head and turned and looked away from the two and spoke again.
"I hope you can help me find her Ares. Believe it or not I think you're going to find her very familiar."
This caused Ares to turn around and watch as Elaine moved towards the altar of his temple and move things around on the table.
"And who exactly is that?" Ares asked curiously.
"Her name's Natassa. She was Borias' first wife. She had a son with him named Belach. He should be around fifteen or sixteen right now. Both of them were sold into slavery when Borias left them. I want Solan to know his brother...and even Natassa. To at least have an insight into his father and his culture...along with the only chance either boy would have of knowing each other."
Ares then scowled as he turned fully to stare at Elaine. "Interesting. Sounds more like a person who would have more of a reason to hate Xena then just about anyone I know that's currently living! And you want to bring that person to...what? LIVE with her? Make some sort of...dysfunctional family?"
Elaine turned and shared a smile with Ares. "It would torture her and I'd have an ally that would not just WANT to help me...but want to see me be victorious in my efforts to take Joxer away. I know! I'm an evil genius."
Ares' head tilted back as he laughed out loud at Elaine's plan.
Elaine just continued to smile as Ares clapped his hands in applause at Elaine. "Now that is evil! And I love it!" Ares stopped clapping and pointed at Elaine. "Though you do realize that she'll have no reason to trust you!"
"Well that's where you finding her and getting her out of slavery along with Belach comes in. I'll tell her everything and she can decide if she wants Belach to know his brother...or if she wants to just start over and make a life for her and her son. Either way I don't want to leave them in the situation they're in. They deserve better. Even if she chooses not to help me." Elaine said as she looked from Ares to Hera.
Hera nodded her head. Liking how Elaine was not making the freedom of this woman Natassa a stipulation of saving her.
Ares stared at Elaine for a few seconds before shrugging his shoulder. "Fine by me. Getting a chance to rifle Xena's feathers always makes me happy."
At those words Elaine stared at Hera and then looked back at Ares.
"Messing with Xena seems to be one of your favorite pass times. I never really understood why you thought you could make her go back to her conqueror days. It seemed...cheap to me."
"CHEAP?!" Ares suddenly grew angry at the word.
Elaine shared another look with Hera. "You do know Ares has been trying to get Xena to returning to her idea of world domination right? Conquering nations and burning down cities."
"Well...YEAH! That's what I do! WAR BABY!" Ares through his arms out wide and said with a wicked smile and a gleam in his eyes.
Of course Ares made the mistake of turning to look at his mother who rolled her eyes and simply said one thing. "You do realize the only reason she was able to lead a huge army was because she used her prowess of seduction, do you not?"
The smile dropped from Ares' face which made Elaine burst out in laughter and cover her mouth as Hera merely shrugged her shoulders at her son.
"And...that's why I thought it was cheap." Elaine whispered and winked at Hera who gave a little wink back to Elaine.
Ares looked between both women and rolled his eyes. "Where exactly should I start looking for this...Natassa?"
Elaine shrugged her shoulders. "I honestly don't have an exact location. That's why I thought if you couldn't find her...maybe your mother could."
The challenge that Ares heard in Elaine's words was heard by even Hera.
"My son can find them. I'm quite sure of that." Hera said with a raised brow as she looked at her son.
Ares smirked, and with that flashed away and out of the temple.
"We need to talk." Elaine immediately said as she looked seriously at Hera. Not a second had passed since Ares had left, but Hera knew Elaine well enough by now to know whatever was going to be said...she did not want to be in her son's temple as it was said.
With a wave of Hera's hand Elaine found herself in a completely different temple, one that was obviously dedicated to Hera as peacock feathers decorated the more elaborate walls.
"What would you like to discuss?" Hera asked as she made her way over to the alter where an ever present goblet stood. Filled with Hera's preferred wine it was red like blood and always at the ready for her.
Elaine let out a sigh and then softly said. "Hera I just told you I love you." Then with a weight in her voice said even softer. " Hera...I know."
Hera stopped the wine from reaching her lips and slowly turned her head to look at Elaine.
"Know what?" Hera tried to seem unfazed by Elaine's words, but the look on Elaine's face let the goddess know that Elaine was truly too smart for her own good.
"She looks like him Hera. Xena looks like her father...and last night...I realized she damn well looks like you as well." Elaine stared at Hera unflinchingly as the red haired goddess slowly brought the goblet down and simply stared at Elaine.
Elaine shook her head. "When I watched you help Hercules obtain Cronus' rip to 'scare' Zeus I originally thought it was strange but...I didn't know you at all. I had watched Hercules- the show anyway and...saw how you were constantly trying to hurt him and kill him. I thought it was about all the infidelity. But then! Then you said something to Hercules that I thought was profound but...it didn't make sense."
Hera just continued to look at Elaine as the girl moved closer to her.
"You said, 'Parents should never outlive their children.' And I thought...what an odd reason to give Hercules of all people on why you wanted to help him. It just made no sense..." Elaine stopped moving towards Hera and just stared into those piercing blue eyes, "Until last night when I saw Xena and Vili together.
Hera remained silent as she closed her eyes and looked away from Elaine in pain.
"All this time...everyone wondered who Xena's father could be and...no one ever thought that it wasn't a father that helped conceive her. I mean...who would ever think that the Queen of the Gods would be her father?! Let alone that Xena wasn't Cyrene's at all. I never would have thought it...until I saw the two of you make the same facial expression last night. And...then Vili...God Hera...she's the spitting image of him and I've seen their faces thousands of times in my world...and never put two and two together."
Hera looked down at the cup her hand was still around and said nothing, simply not willing to say anything.
Elaine waited in silence. Knowing that Hera was all but confirming everything by not even refuting what she was saying.
But one thought was plaguing Elaine.
"I don't understand how Cyrene is involved though. I mean...for Xena to be yours means..."
"I love her." Hera suddenly said making Elaine stop talking immediately as Hera looked up at Elaine with a pointed look. "I am to Cyrene...as Xena is to Gabrielle."
Elaine's mouth dropped open only for a few seconds before she closed it and furrowed her brow.
"But...Vili..."
Hera smiled and finally let go of the goblet and smoothed the cloth around the base.
"He is my fool. My fool...my love."
Elaine just stared as she saw the love in Hera's eyes at just the thought of Vili.
"Soo...you love them both...equally."
Hera let out a sigh. "It is very complicated."
Elaine shrugged a shoulder as she moved towards Hera. "I don't think it is. Especially since Xena's not the only one that looks like Vili. Ares does too. And Artemis...and Apollo...and Discord..."
Hera turned and looked at Elaine with her piercing eyes staring directly into Elaine's soul and slowly took Elaine's hand into her own.
"They can never know."
Elaine shook her head. "Why not?! I mean...he's...a...'god'. Why would it be soo..."
Hera reached out and grabbed Elaine firmly by her upper arms. "Elaine it's not something I can discuss... just...if you care for any of my children...you will let this go."
Elaine felt no fear or threat as Hera looked at her with a pleading in her voice and eyes Elaine had that held an emotion she had never seen before.
"Hera...this isn't something I would ever say to anyone. It's not my place to. And I would never want to come between you and your children. Not when I know you're willing to die to save Xena...and keep Zeus from knowing that Xena is yours."
Hera let go of Elaine and looked away shaking her head. "She's as stubborn as her father. Since the day her and her brother were born..."
"Woah! What?! What brother?!" Elaine immediately stopped Hera at THAT bit of information and grabbed her arm to get her to turn and look at her.
Hera took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Xena was born to me a very long time ago. She was...an unexpected twin to my son..." Hera looked up at Elaine and waited to see if Elaine was as smart as she claimed to be.
Elaine stared at Hera, her mind going over everything she knew of the show...and everything that she had seen and experienced.
Then...it clicked.
And Hera saw it in Elaine's eyes the moment she had figured it out.
"Hephaestus."
Hera gave one long nod.
"Wait...hold on. That...that means that Xena is...THOUSANDS of years old and a full goddess!" Furrowing her brow Elaine shook her head trying to work out all of the details and still coming up short with the facts she had.
"The reason my son is disfigured...there was a prophecy..."
"What?! This is a prophecy I haven't heard of..." Elaine began but Hera stopped her.
"It is The Twilight. It is the name that was going through your mind as I helped you shield your thoughts from the rest of us." Hera explained causing Elaine to furrow her brow even more.
"My sisters told me it...the day I learned I was with child."
"Your sisters?" Elaine asked still confused until she realized exactly who Hera meant.
"The Fates! The Fates are your sisters! Waiwoah...you mean to tell me there's more to the prophecy then..."
"Yes! Now...Hephaestus looks as he does because I drained all of the god's blood Xena held and tried to place it into Hephaestus so that he would protect them both. Xena was...she was...too strong. Zeus would have..." Hera's starting and stopping showed how desperate she had been at the time.
Elaine nodded her head.
"She's a huge threat as a human. I can only imagine what would have happened if born with powers. Zeus would have taken after your father and tried to kill her." Elaine shivered at the idea of an evil Xena with the powers of a goddess. Forget the Rhinesgold's ring...she would have been truly ruthless.
Hera nodded as the real reason she feared Zeus knowing about Xena had nothing to do with what Elaine thought and was thankful that Elaine had not been able to figure that particular detail out.
Elaine motioned for Hera to sit on the bench close to the alter as she herself sat.
"He knows, doesn't he? Hephaestus. He made the chakrum for her didn't he. I know he was connected with people in Asia Minor...and it would explain why the temple of the chakrum exists. He made a weapon to kill Gods and he made it for the only person who he knew would have to fight a 'God'. It's why he keeps looking at her as if he's expecting something from her." The question moot as Elaine realized that Xena knowing about The Twilight was not a coincidence. Somehow...Hephaestus had made sure that Xena would be equipt if the time ever came that she needed to defend herself against Zeus.
Hera let out a humorless huff of laughter. "He has watched over her in every lifetime. This is the first where her powers became more than human. And I...I have kept my distance. I knew that if I involved myself in her life that...I wouldn't be able to walk away from her again."
Elaine moved her hand slowly and took Hera's hand into both of hers, trying to reassure her just by touch that she was sympathetic to what she had been going through.
"No parent should outlive their children." Elaine said in complete understanding in that moment as she stared into the tear filled eyes that now reminded Elaine of Xena. Hera's explanation to Hercules as she helped him retrieve Cronus' rib making a hell of a lot more sense now. Hera couldn't sit back and let Xena be killed...or her granddaughter.
"I've always been prepared to pay the price if Zeus ever found out about her." Hera admitted as she held Elaine's hand and looked into Elaine's hazel eyes, her eyes barely holding back tears as she looked at Elaine.
Elaine let out a small sigh, still confused but wanting to understand. "Does Zeus know about...the others?"
Hera nodded. "I was with Vili before Zeus was even born. When he fought my father we all saw it as a time to overthrow the ancient ones. To be...free. But...Odin... made a pact with Zeus..." Hera didn't need to say more to make Elaine understand that the pact included her.
"Sooo...you were a bargaining chip. This...whole time you've...you've been trapped." Elaine's hazel eyes filling with a form of shock as she understood the implication.
Hera smirked almost sheepishly.
"The prison I made for myself was so that my children could live. But Zeus' infidelity was not why I grew to despise the women that laid with him. It was the children he made with them. The children he openly cared for and held above mine that made me..." Hera felt her anger spark as the feelings of watching Zeus care for his own children while enslaving hers. To not be able to nurture her own children because of the power Zeus wielded over her. To be deemed 'the cow' and 'cold' by the world and long for the only man she had only ever wanted to be with. To watch the only woman she had ever loved raise her child and play the mother she had always wanted to be...
Elaine said nothing as she watched the emotions fill Hera's face.
Hera finally allowed tears to fall from her eyes. "Cyrene was there for me when I couldn't go to Vili. She...she grew to love him as I did and...before long she was with child. She told me she would consider it a blessing to be the surrogate to our child...to raise Xena as hers. She would still be with her brothers...and I could watch her from a far."
Elaine's eyes widened. "So...Cyrene was with...Vili. You...three...you all..."
Hera saw the shocked look on Elaine's face as couldn't help but smirk. "Children are always soo distrubed when thinking of their parents sexuality. I would think you above others would understand the complexities of the heart and body."
Elaine laughed and looked down and then up at Hera. "I think... Aphrodite has nothing on you Hera!"
Hera let a small laugh escape her. "Raising her as my daughter was difficult. Keeping these secrets from her proved more difficult the more she reminded me of my grandmother."
Elaine smirked and barely held back a huge smile. "Gaea being described as an actual person is kind of strange. But I can only imagine how she looked if Aphrodite reminds you of her."
"I never wanted her to know the pain of knowing the truth. It was easier to let her just assume..." Hera's pain was easily heard to Elaine's ears and seen on her face clearly.
Elaine's lips pursed. "All children deserve to know where they come from Hera. No matter the truth. They deserve to know."
Hera slanted her eyes and looked into Elaine's eyes, knowing Elaine was right and knowing that she would never be able to say a word to Xena or her other children. Hephaestus had kept her secret because he risked his own existence...and it had been incredibly hard for her son to do so.
She couldn't risk it.
"None of them were ever supposed to know." Hera said as she turned her head away from Elaine and stared at the Alter covered with offerings.
" Xena especially was never supposed to learn the truth. It can only hurt her...and all those she loves. I've done everything within my power to make sure her existence was kept from Zeus...which is why I made the deals I made."
And with those words, Elaine was even more confused than when they started speaking. What deals was Hera talking about?
Hera turned her body and stunning eyes back to Elaine. "I know you love Xena and Gabrielle. And I know what you feel for Joxer is true...but I can not hurt my daughter. And he is a part of her that means more...more than even she knows."
Elaine felt her heart twist at the not so subtle request for her to stop her advances on Joxer. But she had already made Solan a promise...and no matter the cost to her own heart - she loved Joxer enough to do whatever she had to that would change the way Joxer not just died...but how he lived.
"Hera...all I want to do is make sure that Joxer doesn't suffer the fate that I saw. Xena and Gabrielle chose their paths. Joxer to them...is an afterthought. But to me he's the main act. Even if he doesn't choose me...I...I have to try! I...I love him." Elaine just stared earnestly into Hera's eyes, not hiding anything and knowing that for Hera to even attempt to plead for Xena's case...Hera knew that she didn't just stand a chance - she was winning Joxer over.
And Hera had still given Joxer the ring. Which means she cared for Joxer, despite how Xena and Gabrielle were intwined with him.
Hera cared enough for Joxer to give him an out.
Elaine couldn't ask more of Hera than that. To allow Joxer to choose...now that he knew the truth...to let him choose his fate.
Hera sighed as she looked into Elaine's eyes. She could do nothing more to convince the mortal woman.
And Elaine saw something in Hera's eyes. Something that made Elaine frown.
"You're still not telling me everything."
Hera just stared at Elaine a few seconds before shaking her head. "I am not."
Elaine swallowed down her irritation, knowing full well that Hera could have told her nothing at all.
Instead Hera had divulged a huge amount of personal secrets. Secrets that could destroy many lives, immortal and mortal alike.
"Ok." Elaine nodded as she continued to stare into Hera's eyes. "I won't betray your trust - I know what it meant for you to be honest with me."
Hera slowly allowed a small smile to spread across her lips. "Besides Cyrene...you are the only mortal I have ever confided in. It's quite strange to feel this way towards someone that is not my child."
Elaine gave a small slow smirk which reminded Hera of Aphrodite when she was little. "I would take being your daughter a million times over if I had the choice."
Hera reached over and cupped Elaine's face. "The things you have suffered are unspeakable. Knowing such things exist in other dimensions makes me fearful of what will happen here. And yet...the amount of strength you show...it makes me extremely proud of you."
Elaine felt her eyes water seeing the pride reflect in Hera's eyes. "Thank you."
Hera only hesitated a second more before pulling Elaine into her arms and the flood of tears that erupted out of Elaine was instant. Hera instantly began to shush Elaine and rock her back and forth like a child as Elaine cried huge breath taking sobs and exhausted herself to sleep.
It was how Ares found them several hours later. His mother rocking a sleeping Elaine against her as she caressed Elaine's brown hair. Elaine's head cradled Hera's chin and tucked into her neck as her body curled against Hera as though she were an infant.
Ares said nothing as without needing to be told knew that Elaine had been reliving her past.
When Hera's eyes saw the compassion in Ares' eyes as he looked at Elaine as she held her, Hera knew that her son felt love towards the girl. Anyone would have been able to see it in that moment. But Hera knew he truly loved Elaine in that moment.
She could see pain in his eyes as he gazed as the obvious tear streaked face of Elaine.
He felt empathy for her.
"Did you find them?" Hera whispered the question as she continued to rock Elaine.
Ares gave a nod and slowly moved towards his mother and spoke quietly.
"I've already moved them to the closest temple to where they were." Ares reached down and moved a strand of Elaine's hair from her face and slowly allowed the backs of his fingers to caress her face.
"She was right. Natassa does seem familiar to me." Ares looked up into his mother's eyes and Hera felt a twinge of a smile as she understood the look in her son's eyes.
"Am I to assume you found her to be...attractive?" Hera whispered the question and felt a pull at her lips as she imagined that Elaine had not only known that her son would find the woman attractive - but had purposely asked Ares to insure that HE had been the one to seek out the woman and her child.
"If I had any doubt that a woman in this world would never understand me...Elaine removed all doubt." Ares said as he caressed Elaine's face for one second more and then stepped away from the two as his mother suppressed a chuckle.
"She sees through...all of it." Hera whispered as she herself caressed the young girl's face continuing to rock her.
"If her father were in this dimension..." Ares growled the words softly.
Hera stopped rocking and stared at the back of her son's head. "He would be too dangerous to even allow him to be near her. If there is one thing she fears..." Hera knew her son had seen what she had when Elaine had been thinking about the past, before she had made sure she could block any of the deities from reading her thoughts and seeing her memories.
Ares said nothing but squeezed his fists as the flashes he had seen of what Elaine's father did flashed through his mind.
Hera glanced at her son and knew he loved Elaine deeply. But she knew he wasn't in love with Elaine. Her son Apollo on the other hand seemed to come alive around Elaine in a way she had never seen before. He was agitated by her mere presence.
Yes indeed. Apollo seemed to have found his match in Elaine.
"It seems as though you and your brother Apollo have taken the same amount of interest in Elaine." Hera said as she once more began to rock Elaine.
At this Ares turned and stared at his mother. "Your kidding..."
Hera meerly glanced up and smirked at her son.
Ares let out a sigh of exasperation. It had never happened before. Both he and Apollo had completely opposite tastes when it came to women.
Well...until recently that is.
Then again...Elaine had said she loved him...and he had known in that moment that whatever way she meant it - he would take. And give back. He would give it back because she wasn't some patron praying to him for something.
Elaine gave her love to him within moments of meeting him.
She was special that way.
Plus...he had to see how Apollo acted in front of Elaine to see if his mother was really telling the truth.
"If I were you I would give in to her request." Hera said as she pushed hair out of Elaine's face as she slept.
Ares turned stunned eyes towards his mother. "What? What request? You can't possibly mean..."
"I think it wise to appease her. Besides...you might find yourself in good company."
Ares instantly felt offended but openly glared at his mother. "You can't possibly mean to become friends with that fool!"
Hera rolled her eyes and sighed.
"What you don't know my son is that we are all fools in love. And we stay fools to protect our love. And sometimes...sometimes we leave a fool to protect the ones we love." Hera finished the words in a whisper.
Ares said nothing as he stared into his mother's eyes and wondered if she was right.
"If you love her, become friends with the boy. He is kind hearted...and from what Hades has told me...he made an impression on you already."
Ares gave a slight nod of his head and a small smirk. "Honestly mother...the boy shocked me."
Hera's brow furrowed with worry. "Did the man live?"
"Uncle made sure he did, no quick death for him, apparently it was extremely close. Right after he went to the centaur village and informed them of what he and his...filth brigade... had been doing." Ares responded with a vindictive smile that showed that Hera was indeed his mother.
Hera let out a slight laugh.
" Joxer bloodied them almost to death and you don't think you could befriend him? Now that is shocking." Hera said and waved her arm and both she and Elaine along with Ares were in the hut at the Amazon village.
Ares moved to take Elaine from his mother's arms and Elaine burrowed into his hold without waking up, apparently feeling safe even in his hold.
"I'll try. For her I'll try." Ares said as he brought her to the cot and slowly laid her down and then brushed away her hair from her face as it had fallen as he laid her down. Slowly he pulled the blankets over her frame and slowly stood and shared a small smile with his mother.
"Oh umm..." Amarice said as she walked through the entry and found herself in front of none other than Ares and of course Hera.
Ares placed a finger to his lips and then glanced at Elaine.
Amarice felt relief at seeing Elaine and nodded her head and stopped holding her breath as Hera motioned for them to go outside. Hera having been the one to wake her and Armand up when she knew Xena would lose her temper, Amarice knew the goddess held no ill will towards her or her group of friends.
Hera sensed something was wrong immediately when she saw Amarice and braced herself as she walked the short distance outside.
When Amarice turned and bit her lip and twisted her fingers, Hera knew something had most definitely happened and didn't need to read the girl's mind to know it.
Letting out a deep sigh Hera immediately asked. "What did Xena do?"
"Ummm...it ah...wasn't Xena at first. It was Gabrielle." Amarice winced as she stated what was a way simplified version of a complicated event.
Hera let out a huge sigh and closed her eyes for a brief moment to gain strength and then opened her eyes and simply asked, "Would you care to tell us?"
Cyane never saw Gabrielle's fist as it slammed into her face and it knocked her on her ass once more.
"YOU BITCH!" Gabrielle yelled as she dove for Cyane but was halted in mid jump as Xena grabbed Gabrielle and bear hugged her to stop her from killing Cyane.
Amazon women were immediately surrounding Cyane as Gabrielle fought Xena's hold as she tried to reach the woman that had single handedly hurt Joxer and made him doubt that she...that THEY ever cared about him.
Cyane quickly recovered and wiped the small bit of blood she felt coming from her mouth and glared back at Gabrielle as she stood and swiped hands away that were automatically trying to keep her from attacking Gabrielle.
Standing up finally she looked at Amarice who was snarling at Cyane. "What in Tartarus is the matter with you?"
"Amazons don't cater to men's FEELINGS! BESIDES! It's the truth! No one had been honest enough to tell him!" Cyane said as she glared at Amarice.
"YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING!" Gabrielle screamed as she almost slipped out of Xena's grasp with how wildly she was moving, completely disregarding and forgetting that Xena was pregnant.
Just as she was about to Xena whirled them around so their backs were to Cyane, hoping that Gabrielle not looking at Cyane would help calm her down, even as Cyane's words made even her anger flare.
And then Cyane lit the fuse on an explosive she had not known she could light.
"Oh PLEASE Gabrielle! If not for pity then obviously its for the way he moves inside a pelt! Xena's current state and that boy should attest to that! She's more of an Amazon then you are knowing what a man's purpose is!"
"XENA LET GO!" Gabrielle screamed and whirled around in Xena's arms.
It was the second Xena heard the word 'pelt' that she stopped fighting Gabrielle and stood as still as a statue. Hearing what Cyane said made Xena's chest feel as if someone had placed a Greek temple on her chest.
Gabrielle finally free from Xena's grasp was just going to glance at Xena to show her how angry SHE was when she saw the rage in Xena's eyes. It made her stop in her tracks, since she knew the sight well.
Some of the Amazon's understood that as a cue and immediately began to back away from Cyane. Knowing a showdown of epic proportions was about to occur.
"Oh God's damn..." Amarice squeezed her eyes shut and winced and kept them closed as she knew things had just become WAY worse with how Gabrielle had just stopped in her tracks.
And then Cyane spoke again and made Amarice's eyes almost pop out of her skull.
" You're not our Queen... Gabrielle! And both men are on Amazon land and will be used the way Amazon's see fit."
"What did you just say?" Xena's question asked with a complete false voice of calmness as kept her back to the Amazon women, her entire frame shaking so minutely with rage that if Gabrielle had not been so close she would have never seen...or believed it.
Yakut had been watching from a distance unsure of what to do when Cyane had talked about Joxer as an object and made Xena freeze.
Yakut had known immediately that Xena was about to lose all semblance of control. After all, though Xena had not been able to say the words the night before, Yakut knew that Xena loved Joxer.
And not a single woman would ever want to hear the person they loved be referred to in such a way.
Amarice would have tried to attack Cyane again for talking about Armand like that when a chill went down her spine as she heard Xena's voice. She knew that Xena was about to put
"Some Amazon's wish to be with child here as you are Xena. He can be used..."
Cyane found herself slammed against the hut wall that had been a good thirty feet from where she had been standing. The wind knocked out of her as she tried to suck in any air as the sand and dirt beneath her caused her to slip as she tried to gather herself back up.
"XENA NO!" Yakut yelled as she ran to place herself between Cyane and one pissed off Warrior Princess.
"Get out of my way." Xena's eyes on Cyane as she neared Yakut.
"Xena she's just repeating what the Amazon's have taught her..."
"GET OUT OF MY WAY YAKUT!" Xena yelled turning her wild predatory eyes on Yakut.
"NO XENA! YOUR PREGNANT!" Yakut yelled back as she extended her arms and backed up with each step Xena took forward.
"What's the matter Xena...don't want to share?" Cyane said with a glare and a snarl forming on her face as she stood.
And Yakut saw it in Xena's eyes. She was going to kill Cyane.
Three sets of arms surrounded Xena as she moved to get around Yakut, Amazons who knew that protecting Xena's baby was more important than Cyane, and Cyane was yanked away by three other Amazons as Xena fought off those who were trying to keep her from killing her.
"YOU GO NEAR HIM AND I'LL BASH YOUR BRAINS OUT!" Xena yelled out as she tried to follow Cyane with her eyes as additional sets of arms began to grab hold of her, but Xena's efforts to pull away to get to Cyane doubled after hearing the words she said.
Gabrielle was being held back by Amarice and Rhea as soon as Cyane had mentioned sharing Joxer.
Cyane was smirking as she stared at Xena struggling to get to her when a flash of light and a set of glinting armor she had seen before appeared beside her.
Xena stopped struggling and stared at Artemis...who was glaring at Cyane and it spoke of imminent death!
"You dare talk of him in such a way after I, YOUR GODDESS decreed him a FRIEND of the Amazons!"
Everyone held their breaths as the look on the goddess' face spoke of an anger that she rarely held or even kept in check.
"N..Nnnoo my Goddesss I..I..." Cyane stumbled out her words as Artemis had moved closer and closer to her as she had yelled out. Backtracking on everything she said and knowing that Artemis knew the truth.
Artemis' eyes glinted as they mirrored her mother's piercing blue eyes. "If I ever hear you speak of him again...I will not hesitate in sending you to Tartarus!"
"BBut my goddess he is a man! We use men to enlarge our Amazon numbers all the time!" Cyane quickly tried to explain away her prejudice.
Artemis' eyes began to dull slightly at Cyane's words.
"If he is favored by you why NOT allow us to increase our numbers by..."
"ENOUGH!" Artemis screamed and her anger returned by ten fold.
Silence held the entire village as all eyes were on Artemis.
"Joxer IS NOT a breeding mule! No Amazon woman will ever touch him unless he desires it! And even then...no Amazon will lay with him to create a child without his consent." Artemis backed Cyane up against the hut as she spoke, making her threat by staring down the stupid woman.
Cyane swallowed in reflex of her fear as the Goddess' eyes glared into hers.
"Yes my Goddess." Cyane whispered, her body beginning to tremble the more time passed with Artemis not looking away from her.
Artemis slowly turned her head and looked at Xena who was still staring daggers at Cyane.
Slowly Artemis approached Xena. The Amazons holding Xena began to let her go and the second Xena was nearly free from all of the hands Artemis grabbed Xena by the arm before she could launch herself at Cyane.
Xena turned her gaze from Cyane and glared at Artemis.
"He's crying by the lake." Artemis whispered the words and they instantly made all of the fight in Xena leave and her eyes to fill with unshed tears herself.
Of course some of the Amazon women heard, and even those who had thought ill of Joxer lowered their heads in shame.
"Did...did you talk to him?" Amarice asked as she heard what Artemis had said and felt anger in the pit of her stomach that her friend was in pain and there was little she could do to stop it.
Artemis looked over at Amarice and stared into her eyes for a second before shaking her head no.
"I don't think he'd let me comfort him." Artemis explained her reasoning.
"Can...can you go to him?" Xena turned to Amarice and asked as emotions immediately clogged her throat. Knowing Joxer wouldn't want to talk to her or Gabrielle.
Amarice looked at Xena in slight shock and then to Gabrielle who looked like she had been slapped across the face. Turning her eyes back to Xena she gave a little nod and began to make her way to the lake.
Xena swallowed down the clog in her throat again.
Joxer didn't deserve to feel like he was less. Let alone thinking the reason they traveled with him was out of pity.
It wasn't.
It had never been.
Xena had known from the moment Joxer had been given the chance to kill Gabrielle in Callisto's tent that he was a good person. And Xena knew just how rare of a thing that was in the world.
From that moment on...she had wanted to protect him...like she had Gabrielle. And keeping him close to her ensured she could at least keep him from truly getting hurt.
She wanted to keep him as innocent as he was. Even after everything he still held an innocence with the way he viewed the world.
It was one of the things she loved about him.
She didn't let him join them because of pity.
It had never been pity.
It had been respect.
She respected him in all his dorkiness and goofy antics.
And right now the man that constantly had been jovial and goofy was crying. Because she couldn't protect him.
Artemis looked to Yakut who let out a sigh in relief and made a motion with her head, causing the few Amazon women that had kept close to Xena to move. Then looking over at Cyane she motioned with her head for her to go as well.
Cyane didn't hesitate. She was no fool to mess with a goddess.
Artemis physically relaxed the second she felt Cyane leaving the area.
"As much as I agree with you on wanting to cut her head off...this is because of me. Elaine was right. The way they view men is...it's...it's wrong." Artemis whispered her confession to Xena as Gabrielle was released as well and moved towards Xena. Artemis couldn't look either woman in the face. The way she had been watching Joxer from Mount Olympus the only reason she had known anything was wrong.
After her talk with Elaine she had questioned herself and why she felt the way she did. Even with every experience she had ever had...Joxer was different.
When she had seen him crying...the want to go to him had been incredibly strong. But the thoughts running through Joxer's mind of being weak kept her from going to him.
"When you say crying..." Gabrielle's voice hoarse as her own throat clogged at the idea that she had hurt him by not saying anything soo bad that he was crying all by himself and away from them...it...it made her chest feel tight.
Artemis looked up into Gabrielle's green eyes and didn't need to say Joxer was quietly balling his eyes out. A lifetime of being told to stop crying leaving him with the habit of making little to no noise as tear after tear came cascading down his face and his controlled breaths keeping him from gasping.
Gabrielle could see from the anger in Artemis' eyes as she stared at her...that the goddess was placing partial blame on her. And with her words both women knew she wanted to cause pain to them the way Joxer was hurting.
"The same way he cried when he saw you two crucified."
Gabrielle and Xena looked down at the ground and helplessly shifted at the guilt that hit them both.
"He has had very little in his life that he has loved. And I can't understand how you two have gained such a feat as to capture his love...since it seems neither of you seem to deserve it. I would kill for someone to love me wholeheartedly the way he cares for the two of you." Artemis knew the words rang of jealousy, but with the way both looked up at her in shock as the words.
"He still loves us?" Gabrielle whispered the question as her heart beat doubled at the news.
Xena's own heart doing a dance in her chest at the confirmation that they still hadn't messed up enough to cause Joxer to be taken from them. Whatever the 'connection' that Aphrodite continued to speak about...it was still intact.
Artemis sighed and turned her eyes to Xena, it caused Gabrielle's heart to clench suddenly as Artemis nodded to Xena...but not her.
Gabrielle's mind began to go crazy with the implication. The idea that Joxer barely loved...
That he had stopped...
Tears instantly sprang to her eyes. She swallowed down the whine that wanted to come out of her mouth.
The ache in her heart that had started a few days ago were now like a constant vice around her heart.
"If I were you both...I wouldn't be so worried about how much he loves you..." Artemis said as she looked from Xena to Gabrielle. "And more concerned with how his love for Elaine increases."
Suddenly both Xena and Gabrielle were shocked by Artemis' words.
The implication that Joxer was starting to...
"No. I'm...I'm not going to let that happen." Gabrielle's sadness morphing into angry conviction.
Xena though...she felt her heart break even more.
She knew what Artemis was really saying that Aphrodite had not said...maybe because she feared they'd do something drastic but... Xena knew Artemis was telling them that Joxer already loved Elaine.
He already loved her...after just three days of knowing her.
Xena felt the pain in her chest increase at the thought.
How long had it been before he felt that way about them?
He had fallen in love with Gabrielle but...it had taken something drastic to cause it.
How long had it been that he loved them just as friends? A week? A month?
Three days with Elaine.
"Mom? Armand wanted me to ask Amarice a question about where he can go to get supplies in the village?" Solan's voice and question causing the three women to turn and look at the boy.
Worried that Solan had seen or heard what had happened earlier Xena immediately went over to her son and cupped his cheek as the curious look on his face let Xena know he heard or saw something.
"Amarice is a little busy right now sweetie. I'll bring him whatever he needs as soon as I'm done here." Xena said then caressed Solan's worried face.
"Where's Elaine?" Solan asked causing Xena a pang as she understood that even her son had just yesterday said he loved Elaine in front of everyone.
"She left with Hera. She'll be back as soon as she's done." Xena said calmly though a twinge of jealousy was still felt.
"Where's..." Solan began to ask when Rhea who had been behind Gabrielle answered the question she knew was coming.
"Your dad's by the lake but umm...I think he needs to be alone right now." Rhea looked at the slightly shocked faces of Xena and Gabrielle.
Apparently Cyane had not been the only one to think that Solan was Joxer's son.
Solan looked from Rhea to his mother, "Why does he need to be alone? Did you two fight?"
Xena pursed her lips and then moved her hand to caress her son's newly cut short hair.
"We weren't fighting. We were just...talking...and one of the Amazons said something that really upset him." Xena was not about to repeat anything that Cyane said.
Solan's brow furrowed as he suddenly looked sad. "Is he ok?"
Xena thought for a second on how to respond when Artemis spoke for her.
"He's really sad Solan. Maybe a hug from you would make him feel better." Artemis said with a sweet smile on her face.
She really liked the boy. He was sweet, and kind, and there was something about him that endeared him to her.
Xena exchanged a look with Artemis, worried about what Joxer would think when Gabrielle spoke.
"Joxer likes to be hugged."
The whispered words causing Solan to look at Gabrielle and see that she seemed to be sad too. Without thought he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
Gabrielle couldn't help but feel a surge of gratefulness and joy as she held on to this precious little boy that somehow knew she needed to be held in that moment.
"Are you ok mom?" Solan whispered against Gabrielle's chest.
Gabrielle couldn't speak as the want to cry herself overwhelmed her.
Xena finally noticed just how close to tears Gabrielle was when she watched Gabrielle wrap her arms more tightly around Solan and bury her face in his short hair.
Solan felt the tears against his head and he took in a huge breath and squeezed her back just as tightly.
Xena wiped a tear from her eyes away as she watched her baby boy comfort Gabrielle.
They held each other for a full minute before Gabrielle pulled herself together and loosened her hold on Solan and Solan did the same.
Gabrielle pulled back and looked into Solan's eyes and smirked, then placed a kiss on his forehead and caressed his face.
"Thank you." Gabrielle said causing Solan to smile sadly, and it oddly reminded her of Joxer.
"I know Joxer will feel better after a hug like that." Gabrielle said and caressed his cheek once more time before giving him another kiss as he smiled.
"Go on." Gabrielle motioned with her head and Solan turned and waved at Artemis.
"Bye Missy." Solan said and then went by Xena who caressed his head once more and shared a smile with him. Then he began to job his way to the lake.
"Xena ... we need to talk." Yakut's voice causing the three women to turn and look at the head of the village.
Xena looked ashamed for a moment but nodded her head. The two glanced at Gabrielle and Artemis. Yakut gave a head bow to Artemis who gave a nod. Then Xena and Yakut walked to Yakut's hut.
Rhea followed as well but stayed outside of the hut.
Artemis and Gabrielle watched them leave, and with her eyes still remaining on the hut, Artemis asked Gabrielle a question.
"If you knew Elaine loved Joxer more than you ever could...would you let him leave with her?" Artemis turned her blue eyes to the now shocked green of Gabrielle's.
"What?" Gabrielle barely got the question out as it shocked her to her core.
Artemis just stared at Gabrielle, feeling as though not born an Amazon that Gabrielle tried to encompass what an Amazon was, and wanting to know how she had managed to make Joxer fall in love with her even with being an Amazon Queen.
"If you thought your path was with Xena, and were considering a physical relationship with her...why are you so opposed to Joxer leaving with Elaine? I would think Joxer falling out of love with you would be a relief." Artemis said the last words and instantly saw the pain return ten fold in her eyes.
"It's not." Gabrielle barely could say the words with her shattered heart trying to keep itself together at actually hearing her fear aloud.
Artemis tilted her head and stared as the emotions in Gabrielle's mind whirled around as she tried to keep from crying again.
Artemis hated seeing any woman cry. It made her think of things she would rather pretend never happened.
Better to have her angry than sad.
"Elaine said if she thought I could give myself to fully to Joxer and commit to only him, that she would step aside." Artemis allowed a little smirk to form her lips.
Gabrielle's anger jumped in her being immediately and felt her entire body go rigid.
MINE! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM!
Artemis jerked back her head as she heard the words that Gabrielle's mind screamed out and stared shocked at Gabrielle.
Gabrielle stared at Artemis in anger and then at seeing the shock turn into amusement knew that Artemis had heard what her mind screamed when hearing what Artemis was retelling her.
It confused Gabrielle to see Artemis smirking at her. Especially after Artemis had was basically admitting feelings for Joxer!
"You are more of an Amazon than I gave you credit for. And if you are willing to fight for him with such...vigor...I will step aside and let you fight for him. But...only if you swear to never let him be used by anyone. Including yourself. He is no object, and doesn't view women as such. He is...special." Artemis couldn't help but feel a twinge of something she couldn't name when she thought of Joxer.
But no...it wasn't love...or maybe it was.
Artemis had never felt any such feeling for a mortal man.
Gabrielle's brow furrowed. It didn't sound to her that Artemis was saying she would not try and pursue Joxer if she didn't try to keep him for herself.
Artemis laughed at Gabrielle's thoughts. "Really child? Selfishness, thy name is Gabrielle. If you don't want him my dear...I see no reason why I shouldn't be allowed the chance to attain him."
Anger and jealousy filled Gabrielle's belly at the thought of Artemis trying to...attain Joxer.
Artemis tried to hide the amusement she felt as Gabrielle unknowingly allowed the emotions she felt for Joxer to be displayed by how she thought Joxer would react to a seduction by her.
Artemis understood in that moment why Aphrodite was so distressed. Gabrielle had been suppressing her feelings in general for soo long that even just making her angry caused all of it to surge in her mind.
It was as though her mind had considered it once and pushed the notion away, but now that others were trying to taste the forbidden fruit she had labeled herself, now the jealousy caused those feelings to surge in the background.
It was very interesting to Artemis.
"I thought you said he's not to be treated like an object? Sounds like you think of him as one." Gabrielle glared openly at Artemis, barely able to keep her hands from reaching for her sais and placing it at Artemis' throat at the images her mind had produced.
Artemis did smile then. "Well I suppose then I'd be letting him attain me. To not treat him as an object." Artemis was intentionally making Gabrielle's anger increase.
Gabrielle's eyes flared with anger. The thought of Artemis touching Joxer to entice him made her spine straighten and her chest tighten.
"You said you'd step aside...don't make me throw you..." Gabrielle practically growled the words.
Artemis was finding it fascinating how someone as Gabrielle who had pushed aside the very notion of Joxer was now standing toe to toe with her and all but threatening her if she were to touch the mortal man.
"And if I loved him? If I...Artemis...a goddess who could make his every wish come true. Give him immortality. If I could love him and solely him for all eternity...you would rather him be alone for all eternity then by my side?" Artemis wanted to see if it was indeed selfishness that was causing Gabrielle to keep Joxer rather than allow him a happy life with someone else.
Gabrielle felt her whole body tremble. The idea of Artemis falling in love with Joxer would have seemed beyond ridiculous not four days ago. Yet here she was absolutely terrified that the goddess of the Amazons was admitting she had feelings for one of the only men in the world who meant more to her than any other.
She would rather it be Elaine. She would rather Joxer live a lifetime with Elaine than an eternity with Artemis.
She had never even imagined a future where Joxer would not be there to annoy them...and here she was trying not to cry at the thought of watching Joxer fall in love with Artemis...let alone Elaine.
She just wanted to stop this craziness! Gabrielle just wanted things to go back to the way they were!
Artemis tilted her head as she examined Gabrielle. "Why do you care so much who he loves Gabrielle? Why does it hurt to know his love for you is almost gone?"
Gabrielle felt like she had been struck by the goddess. The only words she could use to describe anything coming from her soul...and they sounded horrible...but true.
"Because he's mine." Gabrielle whispered as tears formed in her eyes once more. Her heart physically hurting so much she could barely speak.
Artemis just stared at Gabrielle not saying a word.
Gabrielle couldn't stand being judged by the Goddess any longer and left the goddess standing there as she went to go find Xena.
Artemis watched her leave and whispered three words of her own. "He was Gabrielle."
Author's Note: I know there was a lot in this chapter! A bunch of emotions and a big twist! Now tell me how you feel about it...and I'll start on the next chapter! Reviews make me type faster! Toodles!