Author's Note: Just had someone asking if there was an update and I just found that the work I had done was literally gone because of an automatic update on my computer and I forgot to save my work! To say the least this will be the fifth time writing this chapter! Hopefully everything does happen for a reason and this is the way it's suppose to be!
Elaine had wasted no time and had found Yakut in her tent and demanded Cyane speak with her.
"I'm sorry that Joxer was hurt by Cyane, but the lessons my Amazon's have received makes it incredibly hard to change overnight. They consider men their enemies and it's been instilled in some of them since childhood. Cyane..." Yakut let out a huge sigh and winced, "Cyane is one of the few that wants to embrace being an Amazon in whatever way makes her feel less of an outsider."
Elaine just crossed her arms and stared at Yakut. "I want to talk with her."
"Xena and Gabrielle have publicly tried to discipline her..."
"Screw discipline! I know what she needs to hear to make her respect and appreciate Joxer as an Amazon woman. Bring her here." Elaine said interrupting Yakut.
Elaine knew something extreme had happened since she did not see Xena or Gabrielle anywhere walking through the village.
It was only two minutes before Cyane entered the tent and immediately gulped at the sight of Hera. The stunning blue eyes of hers had been passed down to Artemis and the sight instantly let her know that this was a goddess before her.
"Calm down child. I am not the one you should fear at this moment." Hera then turned her head and stared at Elaine.
Elaine let out a breathe and began to speak. "You're going to make it up to him. Joxer needs some help doing something and you've made it clear you're the perfect person to help him. So...one way or another you are going to be proving to him that you ARE sorry for whatever you said or did."
Hera tilted her head and smirked.
"How interesting a thought. You really think it's a good idea for her to be the one to help you in your endeavor to help Joxer?"
Elaine smirked back at Hera. "Oh I couldn't have planned this better myself."
"Very well then. This time I shall let the transgression against him...be disregarded." Hera said but then moved to be a foot from Cyane's face.
"But know this...it will be the last time that it will be done. I do not protect many mortals and those I do... I consider in the highest regard. The fact that you will serve him is the only reason I do not dispense with punishment for causing him harm in any way." Hera said the words calmly as she did most everything and stared directly into Cyane's eyes. It caused even Elaine's arms to prickle with goosebumps.
Cyane looked truly terrified in that moment.
Then Hera slowly smiled and all the color left Cyane's face.
Then in a flash Hera was gone.
"Cyane...whatever Joxer needs of you I think it best if you do as instructed by Elaine." Yakut said a few seconds later as she had understood with certainty that Hera had reacted as genteelly as possible only because of Elaine.
Cyane nodded her head and swallowed as she had stopped breathing as Hera had stared at her.
Elaine just smiled. "Good. No time like the present to start then."
Elaine looked at Yakut finally asked the question, "Where are Xena and Gabrielle?"
Yakut stared at Elaine for a second before responding.
"Artemis took Gabrielle with her and Xena left the village upset at Aphrodite."
Elaine's brow furrowed. "Why was she upset with Aphrodite?"
At this even Cyane listened to the answer since she had not been there to see what had happened.
Yakut let out a huge sigh. "Apparently both Gabrielle and Xena found out from Artemis that Aphrodite has been having intimate relations with Joxer."
"What?!" Cyane asked wide eyed in shock.
"Shit." Elaine said and squeezed her eyes tight. In no way had she been prepared to deal with Gabrielle and Xena no longer getting along with Aphrodite.
And this was probably the one thing she knew would be disastrous for future events since Aphrodite played a major role in helping Xena and Gabrielle.
Yakut seeing that Elaine was not shocked was taken aback herself. "You knew."
The statement making Elaine rub her temple with one hand. "Yeah...yeah I knew. Joxer has a reputation for being good in bed. I knew Aphrodite wouldn't call him the pet names she does if she didn't know first hand that he would merit them."
Yakut's head jerked back. "You're not jealous of the fact that he slept with the Goddess of Love?"
Elaine laughed and stopped rubbing her temple and looked at Yakut.
"Yakut. The 'goddess of love' is not IN love with him. If anything she's probably the only thing that kept Joxer's confidence up. He thinks..." Elaine stopped speaking for a second and just stared at Yakut, deciding to tell her what Joxer had said to her.
"He thinks the only thing he's good at is sex. And he thinks that's why Meg likes him. He doesn't think he's worth anything to anyone besides that one thing. Does that sound familiar at all Yakut?" Elaine asked knowing that Amazons thought that's all that men wanted from women.
Yakut's eyes immediately went to Cyane.
Cyane winced. She realized it was exactly what she had accused Xena and Gabrielle of doing.
Cyane had literally stumbled upon the thing that made Joxer feel was his only form of worth. She actually thanked the gods then that he hadn't heard her.
Unfortunately for Cyane though, Elaine followed Yakut's eyes and saw the wince and knew instantly that Cyane had said something along those lines.
"Seriously! Out of everything you could have said to him..."
"That's not what I said...to him." Cyane quickly explained as she saw the anger in Elaine's eyes and immediately knew an angry Elaine would be an angry Hera...something she in no way wanted.
Elaine's brow scrunched up. "Explain..."
Cyane looked over at Yakut and Yakut tilted her head and raised her eyebrows.
Cyane looked back at Elaine and proceeded to tell her what she had said to Joxer - which instantly caused Elaine's eyes to radiate with hatred...and then when she heard what Cyane had said to Xena and Gabrielle - Elaine's eyes looked at Cyane with scrunched up eyebrows.
"What did they say back?" Elaine asked and her eyebrows shot up when both Yakut and Cyane laughed.
"I'll be black and blue tonight with their response. They acted like jealous wives." Cyane said making Elaine's head jerk forward and stare in shock at Cyane.
"Really?! They got jealous?! Of you talking about using him for breeding? Not dismissive or laughing?! They actually got jealous?!" Elaine asked almost sounding hopeful.
Yakut found it odd.
Cyane nodded her head making Elaine mutter a 'huh'.
Yakut watched as Elaine stared off in to space.
Elaine looked as though she were sorting through her own thoughts when a few moments later Elaine looked at Yakut.
"Yakut I'm going to have Joxer cleaning up and building things for the Amazon's in the village. I'm going to be training Joxer with Cyane's help now- but I want the Amazon women to be more comfortable around Joxer and men in general. I think seeing him help improve the village will make them see men in a more positive light. I hope you agree."
Yakut looked at Cyane who looked extremely confused but then looked back at Elaine and nodded.
"I agree. And seeing Cyane help him will also steer those who agreed with Cyane to see that Joxer is more than just a man." Yakut said and caused Elaine to smile.
"Oh Joxer is definitely WAY more than a mere man." Elaine laughed and Yakut couldn't help but smile and shake her head with a little distrubed look on her face - which Elaine saw immediately.
"Look Yakut I know your loyalties are to Xena, but as you saw earlier with your own eyes...they're the cause of most of his pain. They...they were just never meant to be with him Yakut. They're meant for each other and only each other. Joxer...he's...he deserves better than to live a life waiting for them. Twenty Five years he waits for them." Elaine said the last bit staring directly into Yakut's eyes.
Yakut's eyes dulled as she allowed the words to sink in, completely believing Elaine in that moment.
" I hope the time we're here will show you he's not just a good man and person...but that I'm only doing this to save as many people...and beings...as possible. Hurting someone's feelings to save lives...it's a good compromise... isn't it?" Elaine asked Yakut.
Yakut for the first time studied Elaine. And what she found made her heart drop for her friend Xena, because she saw and felt no deception in what Elaine was saying.
"If it saves lives...yes." Yakut nodded her agreement.
And with that Elaine turned and moved passed Cyane, "Come on. I want to hear from your own mouth what you said to him before we go and see him. Where is he right now?"
"By the lake. Solan's with him." Ares responded as he had been listening in from outside of the tent.
Cyane looked startled again as she knew instantly who the man was as she stared slightly shocked that the God of War was right there in front of her.
Ares smiled his sexy smile at Cyane as he read her thoughts and her reaction to him.
"Don't worry. Elaine's got me on her leash. I won't bite unless she asks me to." And then he widened his smile.
Elaine laughed and then smiled at Ares flirtatiously. "And here I am shocked to know you put yourself in a collar and leash! You surprise me yet again honeycakes." Then Elaine began to move passed Ares when he mumbled the word she had just said.
"Honeycakes?" Ares said to himself confused just as Xena and Gabrielle appeared at the entrance of the hut looking out towards Elaine.
Elaine laughed and turned back around to find Ares looking at her with his one eyebrow raised 'really?' look.
"Because that behind looks like a sweet piece of cake to me. Good enough to bite into!" Faking a bite with her teeth! And with a wink and a laugh at Ares she continued to the lake to find Joxer, leaving behind one very pleased Ares who had a smile spread wide across his face and the swagger he felt translated to the way his body moved until his head turned and he spotted one pissed of warrior princess.
His smile immediately dropped.
Xena's teeth were bared as she slightly snarled at him and glared.
"She said it..." Ares made the excuse while pointed behind him at Elaine walking away from them.
Elaine continued walking towards the lake with Cyane behind her, not saying a word.
It wasn't until they were a good distance away from the village and from the lake that Elaine whirled around with a look on her face that made a fear run up Cyane's spine - which after Artemis kind of shocked her.
"I know for a fact that you've been with men before. I know you want to be a good Amazon but you had absolutely no right or even REASON...to hurt Joxer."
Cyane said nothing, knowing better than to say anything at the moment.
"I love Joxer. And the only reason you even dared to hurt him was because he was a man. Because you care more about impressing women that you think would be impressed with how you degrade him. The same way men have treated women...THAT is how you've acted." Elaine said with anger burning in her eyes.
Cyane felt as though she had been physically slapped.
"Joxer has been in love with Gabrielle for years. Has endured being hit, tortured, beaten, made fun of and above all else...heartbroken because he's watched the two women that he made his world...die." Elaine said as Cyane stayed quiet.
"That man stood against Xena when she wanted to kill Gabrielle. Even with a village of Amazons trying to protect her - they failed - and Joxer was the last line of defense! Ephiny! A well respected Amazon allowed Joxer to stay in their village! Despite him being a man! Ephiny herself accepted Joxer! A man defended an Amazon Queen. And somehow he's less in your eyes?! How the hell does that even make sense?!" Elaine barely kept herself from screaming into Cyane's face as the agitation she felt was clearly seen through her body movements.
Cyane's eyes were dancing around, not able to look Elaine in the eyes. Cyane had not known about Joxer...doing that.
"I was...unaware that he had done such a thing." Cyane said softly.
Elaine just glared. "There's a lot that people don't know that he's done. Things that I didn't even know! Not Xena or Gabrielle know. But I asked! So I'm going to tell you just one of the somethings and you are damn well never to tell Xena or Gabrielle."
At this Cyane's eyes immediately centered on Elaine.
"Joxer's been taking money to Perdicus' family. Gabrielle's dead husband. See...I never even thought of who had told his family that he had been murdered. Apparently...because Joxer had been his best man...he thought it was his duty to tell them."
Cyane said nothing as she took in this information.
"Since then...he's been bringing them money to try and help them. And shockingly... Herodutus, Gabrielle's father spotted him! Bringing money to Perdicus' family! And ever since he's been bringing them money too! Farming becoming harder on his body, Joxer's been making the excuse that Xena and Gabrielle sent him with money! Gestures for helping people. That's what they think! Even Xena's mother! Cyrene thinks Xena sends money to help out the tavern! Joxer says he doesn't let Cyrene see him because the first time she started questioning him and he's such a horrible liar that..." Elaine began to cry and shake her head, looking away from Cyane as she tried to control her emotions.
"I always wondered why he was gambling! Why?! Why would he need dinars if they're always camping out and hunting. What could he have needed it for?" Elaine continued to shake her head. Hating the fact that she had missed that detail when watching the show.
"Money for an inn?" Cyane asked softly, almost ashamed in saying what she did.
Elaine turned her head to look back at Cyane. " Maybe that's what I thought all those years ago. It just...it hurts to know that he suffered for them...and they didn't love him back the way he loved them."
Cyane scuffed at that. "You wouldn't say that if you saw the way they reacted when I..." Cyane stopped talking as she realized Elaine didn't know what she had done...and telling her like this was likely to backfire on her.
"When you what? What exactly did you say to Xena?" Elaine asked with a furrowed brow with Cyane's reaction to what she had said.
Cyane haltingly told her what had occurred and Elaine's eyes widened, narrowed, and then widened again at hearing Xena's reaction.
"Maybe Yakut wasn't exaggerating when she said they were jealous of Aphrodite." Elaine barely said the words outloud. Almost as if saying it to herself.
Elaine looked towards the lake and then back at Cyane. "And you're certain that Xena was jealous of the idea of you having sex with Joxer?"
Cyane crossed her arms. "She yelled out that she'd...'bash my brains in' if I went near him."
Elaine's head leaned back and her eyes went wide. "Ok...Xena NEVER cared about other women being with Joxer. Something has definitely changed from the original timeline. I've definitely changed something I didn't expect to. And that is...just...so not good." Elaine said shaking her head as her mind tried to adjust to this new information.
Again the conversation she had with Solan stayed in the forefront of her mind. Being a detached onlooker and actually physically able to interact with these real people instead of characters on a screen made Elaine double and triple think her decisions and actions.
"Why exactly do you care about how either Xena or Gabrielle will be affected by what you do?" Cyane asked as her brow furrowed inquisitively.
Elaine stared at Cyane for a second before reaching down and removing her top.
Cyane saw the shock in Cyane's eyes as she stared at Elaine's body. Horror slowly creeping into her eyes as even in the slight shadows of the nearby trees did nothing to hide the red line that seemed to split her body in two.
"They are the reason...I could endure this. They are the reason...I fought to survive what my father did to me." Elaine waited for Cyane to truly see how many scars lined her body.
Cyane's eyes quickly scanned Elaine's body and then her eyes went back to Elaine.
"No one could survive such a thing." Cyane stared almost in wonder at Elaine.
Elaine let out a breath of amusement. "I did. And they are part of the reason I was able to." With that Elaine placed her top back on and smoothed it around and down her frame and then looked back into Cyane's eyes that now shone with compassion instead of the constant look of defiance that seemed to stay in her eyes.
"I'd do anything to keep them alive. I'd do anything to make sure that Solan is raised by his mother and lives a full life! I'd do anything to keep Xena's daughter from the clutches of men who would only use her! I owe them that much Cyane. And I know for a fact that loving them...is what ends Joxer's life." Elaine's eyes didn't look away from Cyane as she let her words sink in.
Cyane nodded her head. "I believe you."
"Then help me. Help me train Joxer. Help teach him how to defend himself! He...he's had noone to even teach him to do basic things to keep himself safe. And now! Now more than ever he needs to learn. Especially since we're staying to help keep Xena and Gabrielle alive." Elaine pleaded softly, finally revealing what Cyane's help would be.
Cyane let out a huge sigh and looked as if she were debating something in her own mind.
"Just defend himself." Cyane stated and waved a hand as if that was 'enough' and all she was willing to show him.
Elaine smirked. "Eventually he has to learn how to attack Cyane...but I can teach him that down the road. Right now...it's the basics. Are you alright with that?"
Again Cyane remained quiet as if she was thinking things through.
Really Cyane knew she had no choice in the matter. But it still irked her that she was teaching a MAN how to fight.
"Look...I know this bothers you. But if you honestly don't like him in one weeks time...you have my full permission not to help him train." Elaine said with a nod and then extended her hand, which confused Cyane and it clearly showed.
Elaine rolled her eyes at herself.
Reaching over she grabbed Cyane's hand and placed it in hers and shook her hand.
"Deal?!" Elaine asked staring expectantly at Cyane.
Cyane grimaced...but muttered, "Deal."
Elaine smiled. "Good."
"Why are you still here?" Xena asked aggravated at having been brought back to the village by Artemis who had also brought Gabrielle back as well. Immediately leaving without a word to her.
Ares didn't know what to say as he stared into the angry eyes of a woman he loved but he knew didn't feel the same back.
"Waiting for Elaine...to need me." He said without shame.
Xena gave her little evil smile. "Now that's the Ares I know."
"You don't know me like she does." Ares didn't know where the words came from, but the knee jerk reaction to her words had been to immediately respond to her. And boy did it have an affect on her.
Xena's eyes showed her instant anger at those words.
"No I bet I don't." Xena's anger increasing at the thought that Elaine had been flirting with Ares. Something in her angry at him for accepting her flirting, and at the same time hating the fact that somehow Elaine had the ability to manipulate him in front of everyone.
Ares said nothing as he heard all of Xena's thoughts and something in him delighted in the fact that she seemed jealous. But the fact that she thought Elaine was manipulating him pissed him off.
"She hasn't done anything but kiss me on the cheek and hug me Xena. She's done nothing at all to gain any favors with me. She loves me for who I am and what I am and doesn't question my motives." Ares noticed that the look in Xena's eyes did not wane one bit.
"Sure she hasn't." Gabrielle said in Xena's stead, knowing full well that Ares did nothing for free. He was the one with the ulterior motive. And both women knew exactly what he wanted.
Slowly Ares began to smile again as he read both women's thoughts and couldn't help but laugh.
"Come on. You can't blame me can you? I mean...if you two are ok with her taking Joxer instead of being with me..."
"SHE'S NOT TAKING..." Gabrielle began to yell and Xena's hand immediately went to grab Gabrielle's arm as she immediately advanced towards Ares.
"She's not taking anything!" Gabrielle ground out the words as her eyes blazed with anger.
Ares just smiled and leaned down to look Gabrielle at eye level.
"Elaine's willing to give him her body. You won't even give him your love little girl."
Gabrielle flinched as if she had been slapped in the face. Even Xena felt the weight of those words.
Ares stole a glance at Xena. "When you were bathing naked in that temple I couldn't keep my eyes off of you."
Xena felt shocked, disturbed, and thrilled for some unknown reason when Ares' lip curled up in a half smirk.
"Joxer couldn't look fast enough away."
Xena felt her heart tighten as she remembered Joxer immediately turning around and apologizing for even being near her naked.
"From what Elaine told me on Olympus...it's nothing special to him because he's been with...what was her name?!" Ares feigned not knowing Xena's duplicate name.
Xena's snarl was instant and the way her stomach dropped as what Ares was saying hit true. She wanted to vomit in that moment. Joxer would be one of only five men who would know what she looked like in the nude. Close up and personal. And not because of the hundreds of times they camped together.
"Meg! That was her name!" Ares said as he continued to smirk, barely holding back a laugh.
Gabrielle's hands were trembling as they fisted tightly. Knowing fully well that hitting Ares would do absolutely nothing to him but make him angry.
"So...you trying to seduce him isn't going to work Xena." Ares then looked at Gabrielle in the eyes and a full smile filled his face.
"And I know the little Amazon Queen doesn't know how to please a man the way Elaine does. Tell me Gabrille, are you willing to get on your knees the way Elaine would?!"
Ares laughed as Gabrielle lunged as the words sunk in and Xena immediately grabbed her to stop her from truly pissing Ares off. Wanting nothing more than to stop the image of Elaine doing that with Joxer as the surge of hate and jealousy was instant to both women.
"Gabrielle calm down!" Xena tried to hold Gabrielle back, but it was as if the imagery of the words had unleashed something in Gabrielle as she suddenly managed to free herself from Xena and before Xena could stop her Gabrielle had plunged her sai into Ares chest.
"HEY!" Ares said as he looked down at the weapon buried in his frame and up at the enraged face of Gabrielle.
"Don't you...EVER...say something like that to me again!" Gabrielle was breathing heavily...and the pure rage in her eyes made Ares smirk once more.
Grabbing the sai with his hand, he fought her push on the weapon until he used his Godly powers to push it and her away from him making her stumble backwards a few steps.
"Face it Gabrielle. You've lost him to a woman that knows exactly what a man wants. What he wants. You didn't even know he was in love with you. And everyone could see it. Even Hope saw it." Ares said making the anger in Gabrielle instantly evaporate and disappear at Ares' words, she even stopped breathing at his words.
Even Xena looked up shocked at Ares bringing up Hope.
"Ares..." Xena growled out his name in warning.
Ares leaned over to look Gabrielle squarely in the eyes to show her he wasn't lying. "She toyed with him. Made him think she was you."
Gabrielle felt sick suddenly. The possibilities of what Hope could have done running rampant through her mind when Xena suddenly pushed him back and away from Gabrielle and herself.
"ARES THAT'S ENOUGH!" Xena screamed her warning at him, and Ares just laughed.
"You have no chance of keeping him." Ares said with a snicker and promptly turned and vanished from their sight.
Xena just stared at where Ares had been with an anger deep inside her.
"Xena..." Gabrielle whispered her name and Xena immediately spun and barely had time to catch Gabrielle as she collapsed into a crying heap.
Xena felt helpless as she held Gabrielle to her, knowing there were no words to console her. She felt angry at herself that she couldn't stop Ares from hurting Gabrielle even more after what they had learned Aphrodite had been doing.
Gabrielle's sobs wracked her body and Xena felt pain wash over her as Ares words hit on new insecurities she hadn't even thought of.
"We'll find a way Gabrielle. We're not going to let her win." Xena whispered as her eyes drifted up to look at Yakut who had watched everything from her tent.
Yakut said nothing and continued to just look on, not knowing what she could do to console her friend.
Xena felt pain radiate from her heart and before she knew it Hera was suddenly there in front of her, blocking her view of Yakut.
Hera leaned down and stared into Xena's eyes and with a gentle hand wiped away a tear from the corner of Xena's eye.
Xena said nothing as Hera turned and slowly took Gabrielle from Xena's hold and shushed her and began to rock Gabrielle in her arms as though she were an infant.
Xena couldn't say a word as she watched the Queen of the Gods rock Gabrielle into sleep as if she were a baby instead of a full grown woman.
"You both need to rest. The baby needs it...and so does Gabrielle." Hera said as she transported them with magic inside their cottage.
Hera caressed Gabrielle's head and with the wave of her hand made Gabrielle appear on one of the cots with a rich colored blanket that looked as though it was woven from gold and fur from an animal she had no idea of what it could be.
Xena said nothing as Hera turned and stared at her.
"Are you alright?"
Xena wanted to say yes. Wanted to nod her head and say that she was just fine.
But what Ares had said...it...it had made her realize that no...no she was not ok.
Xena shook her head. "Ares is right."
Hera tilted her head and wrinkled her brow staring at Xena.
"Joxer...he...he doesn't even look at me. He doesn't..." Xena swallowed the lump in her throat, her emotions clogging it as she realized that Ares had even noticed what had been plaguing her since she had collapsed in the tavern.
"He doesn't look at me the way he looks at Gabrielle." Xena's face showing her worry that if it had come down to it - using her feminine wiles could have worked but...Ares had made her realize that Joxer didn't look at her like he looked at Meg.
"He's not even thinking about Meg right now- and she looks identical to me! He's more attracted to Elaine! I see it every time he looks at her! And I hate how he looks at her!" Xena growled the last sentence as the tears finally started to fall.
Hera walked over and cupped Xena's face. "How can you doubt how any man looks at you? Your beauty has seduced the most powerful of men Xena. No man. None! None of them are immune to your beauty. If you had wanted him from the start he would have been yours and you know that!"
"But now..." Xena looked into Hera's eyes, feeling that Hera knew Elaine had won Joxer's heart already.
Hera sighed and released Xena's face and wiped at Xena's now tear stained face. "Now Elaine has shown him what it's like to not just be loved...but to be craved - as you would want him to crave you. And three words he wanted to hear most from Gabrielle fell from Elaine's lips instead and now...now it hurts him to think that the two people he loved most betrayed him. "
Xena blushed. Not use to even thinking about Joxer sexually - though her dream most certainly had removed the taboo of thinking of Joxer in such a way. Let alone thinking about how she wanted him to crave her.
Do I want him to crave me?
The image of him from the dream just before he...lost himself in her...
She could relive that moment a thousand times and still feel shocked and thrilled at the same time.
But they hadn't betrayed Joxer. Xena loved Gabrielle - yes! But they hadn't...they'd never touched like that! Ever!
"Perhaps your strategy should be to make him see you as less of a warrior...and more a mere woman. Speak with him. Let him learn things about you. Don't let any opportunities to form a stronger bond with him go. You have little time to grasp onto what's left of his love for the two of you. You need to remind him of why he came to love you both to begin with."
Xena stared at Hera as a slight anger came over her. "You gave him that ring..."
Hera shook her head.
"I can not change his heart Xena. If he ever wears the ring...you will know that there is no longer hope. It means...he's decided...to let you both go." Hera said softly and with a look of sympathy on her face.
Xena felt her heart tighten as she realized she never wanted to see that happen. Never even thought such a thing was possible.
"Or...there is a much simpler solution." Hera said with a small smirk forming on her lips.
Xena felt a little tidbit of hope flare in her chest. "What's that?"
Hera tilted her head and said. "Jump his bones."
Xena immediately blushed and tried to tamp down the feeling of discomfort and embarrassment she felt hearing Hera say such things to her.
Xena didn't know how to respond since Yakut had basically said the same thing.
Xena shook her head to try and shake the discomfort she felt. "He doesn't want Gabrielle for just sex..."
"Xena I'm talking about you!" Hera immediately interrupted.
"He's been having sex with Meg for...she...he's been..." Xena didn't know how to explain to Hera that Joxer had been having relations with Meg for years now. YEARS. And now that she realized that Joxer could be...immune to her advances...the idea of trying to seduce him herself to remove him from Elaine's clutches was moot.
"And you think that because he has shared a bed with a woman that looks like you...he's somehow uninterested in making love to you? Why would you think that? Surely the truth is the exact opposite. Because he thought he could never have you...he...settled...to be with her instead." Hera said softly with a look of sympathy on her face.
Xena stared back into Hera's eyes for a second, stunned that...well...it could be possible. Joxer had thought that Meg was her and had literally pinched her behind as a way to flirt...with her.
"You...you really think it's a good idea to try and seduce him? To have sex with him to try and keep him away from Elaine?" Xena asked, feeling like she was missing something the second Hera's face showed disappointment.
"Is that what I said?" Hera asked with one raised eyebrow.
Xena looked confused then.
Hera let out a huge sigh. "Maybe seduction is the last thing you should do if that is what you believe I said to do."
Xena felt jilted somehow as Hera shook her head and waved her hand to cause a perfume bottle to appear.
"What's that?" Xena immediately said.
Hera smiled. "It's simply perfume. It is a special blend that...Vili gave to me. Joxer mentioned he liked the smell while on Olympus...in a not so complimentary way but...none the less he liked it."
Xena said nothing as Hera handed her the perfume. The long bluish purple bottle twisted up and into a neck which held a peacock head crystal bottle top. No other decorations...but clearly it was made for Hera specifically.
Slowly and carefully Xena took the bottle and stared at it.
"When the time is right...and you think you would want to...entice him..." Hera let a slow smile spread across her face which caused Xena to blush profusely.
"Please stop." Xena said as she felt completely uncomfortable about discussing sex with Hera.
Hera let out a small chuckle. "I know it's odd...to think about sexuality and myself...and to think of Joxer in such a way as well...but you are attracted to the boy with just a change of his attire. You're starting to see him as Elaine has always seen him. And unfortunately for you she has a remarkable head start in attracting him to her. Push your fears and doubts away and allow yourself to feel for him. You don't have many more chances to convince him to stay."
At this Xena looked up startled. "Stay? What are you talking about."
Hera stared into Xena's eyes with a look that spoke of seriousness. "Cupid and Aphrodite have been looking for a way to send Elaine back."
Xena's immediate thrill at the words suddenly stopped as fast as they had begun when Hera continued to look in her eyes.
A knot formed in Xena's chest.
"He'd leave with her right now...wouldn't he?" Xena's body trembled as she realized that's what Hera had been trying to tell her earlier.
Hera let out another deep sigh. "They haven't found the way yet...and hopefully that gives you time."
Xena's mind flashed back to watching Joxer walk away from them and Solan on Argo to walk back towards Elaine. The horrible sensation she had felt deep inside her was suddenly back.
Xena knew immediately that if they had found a way...Joxer would want to leave with Elaine. Even if they tried to get Elaine away and shove her back to where she had come from...Joxer would go after her. He would leave them. Either way he would choose Elaine over her and Gabrielle.
"How long do we have?" Xena asked Hera with a look of determination in her eyes.
Hera smirked. "You have a good deal of time before they... discover a way. Let us say that Eve will be born before they...stumble across a way to send her back."
Xena smiled at Hera who slowly returned the smile.
"Thank you." Xena said with all sincerity.
Hera nodded her head. "I have grown very fond of Joxer, Xena. He's very hurt...and the only one that has been there to console him is Elaine. Make sure he knows that despite everything...you are still there."
Xena nodded her head several times, knowing that Hera was right.
Xena put down the bottle on the nearby side table and began to leave the cabin when she stopped and looked at Gabrielle's sleeping form.
"I'll stay and tell her where you've gone. Good luck." Hera said with a small wink making Xena again blush.
"I'm not going to jump his bones." Xena said immediately which made a very pleasant giggle leave Hera's mouth.
"In your mind you are. At least I assumed after the...bite...you received yesterday had no other affect on you then those few...moments...but left a desire to know more." Hera watched Xena turn a strawberry red color as mortification set in.
Hera allowed herself to laugh and quickly spoke. "If Joxer can cause that with just a bite, I believe your body and mind has determined that it is willing to do more than just look at the boy in a detached manner."
Xena couldn't say anything as the embarrassment of Hera knowing what had happened made her unable to say anything.
Hera laughed out louder as Xena's mind tried to find a solution to deal with her witnessing her orgasm.
"I never thought you would feel shame for such a thing." Hera commented when Xena finally could speak.
"I...don't. Just...Can you please never mention it again?! It's like hearing my mother talk about my sex life which is just..." Xena shivered and her face morphed with the disgust.
Hera's smiling face disappeared and Xena for a moment thought she had somehow offended her.
"I watched over Cyrene while she gave birth to you. She almost died that night. I did what I could to help her from a distance but there was very little I could do..."
The admission made Xena stare at Hera, stunned at a retelling of the night she was born. Stunned that Hera knew about it at all.
"She was strong, brave even. She had you alone with no midwives, Toris in his room sleeping. And when you were born...she thanked me over and over for your safe birth." Hera said as she again walked over and cupped Xena's face who was staring at her trying to understand why she was being told this.
Hera held Xena's face and looked her directly in her eyes.
"I have known you since before your body took breath. I ensured that you were a perfect creation of humanity. Never...be embarrassed of it in my presence. It is what your mother and I hoped for. It is what we will both ensure Eve to have. No matter the cost."
Xena felt something in her tug, and before she knew what she was doing she was engulfing Hera in a hug.
And not a second passed before Hera enveloped Xena in her hold, closing her eyes and quietly allowing the scent of Xena's hair and skin to fill her senses.
"Thank you." Xena murmured as her blue eyes shed tears as she held onto Hera tightly. A sudden worry that somehow she would be taken away from her. Which she didn't understand, but the urge to hold on to her for as long as possible still filled her very being.
Hera allowed herself for a few seconds more to hold tightly to Xena and then slowly let go, and was shocked to find that Xena still held her.
"It's alright dear...I'm not going anywhere." Hera said and wrapped her arms once more around Xena.
Xena nodded her head against Hera as a few tears continued to fall down her face, but still couldn't seem to let go of Hera.
Hera rubbed her back up and down in a soothing motion with one hand.
They stayed like that a few minutes. What should have been awkward feeling completely natural to Xena and not understanding how that was possible.
She had not held her mother in such a fashion since she was a child.
Finally able to move back Hera wiped her hand over Xena's face as the small remnants of tears remained on her face.
Xena sniffled as Hera 'cleaned' her face and then Hera held her chin.
"Do not allow what Ares said to determine what your heart knows."
Xena stared at Hera and nodded once more.
Hera smirked. "Now go tell your fool that he can still come to you."
Xena allowed herself to smile and then laughed at Hera's description of Joxer.
My Fool. Xena said it in her head and agreed with the words.
With a jerk of her head towards the exit to the cabin, Hera removed her fingers from Xena's chin.
Xena kept the smile on her face as she turned to leave.
Hera sucked in a huge breath and let out a huge sigh.
"I've never seen her act like that."
Hera whirled around and stared at Gabrielle who had not moved from her position in the bed, but stared up at Hera with this look of concentration on her face.
"She never really lets her guard down and it looked like with you she didn't have any just now." Gabrielle said as she looked up at the red haired goddess.
"She just needed to know that I'm here for her and will do everything I can to make things right." Hera said and then walked over and sat on the bed Gabrielle was in as Gabrielle gave her room to do so.
Hera stared down at Gabrielle who looked at her with a sort of desperation in her eyes.
"Is she right? Would...would Joxer leave with Elaine right now?"
Hera looked into Gabrielle's eyes and nodded her head.
Gabrielle swallowed down the lump in her throat and looked up at the ceiling as the tears once more formed.
"He's in love with her...isn't he?" Gabrielle whispered the question with so much pain in her voice that Hera reached out and grabbed Gabrielle's hand by her side.
"He loves her but...no...he is still not IN love with her. Not yet." Hera squeezed Gabrielle's hand and Gabrielle squeezed back unable to say anything as her heart still felt like it had been tortured.
"He...he told me he was in love with me not a week ago. And now he..." Gabrielle swallowed down another lump in her throat as it clogged with emotion.
"And now he knows what you held secret to yourself. And with it he thinks it's the whole truth. But that's not the case now is it?" Hera said softly, causing Gabrielle to look down and at her and shake her head.
Hera gave a soft smile. "You know he belongs to you. You feel it deep inside of you with a force and certainty that it hurts to even think someone can take him from you so easily. And Elaine obviously knows how to please a person...sexually. And despite your one night with your husband..." Hera watched the emotions in Gabrielle's eyes and knew her insecurities were deep.
"You don't think you could compare to the women that have been in his bed. So how could you possibly make him happy in any way? And yet...you can't stand the idea of Elaine touching him intimately...the way that Perdicus touched you. Him touching Elaine in such a way. Because despite denying to yourself his importance...you never thought another woman would...or could take your place. Because if Elaine could...did he actually love you at all? " Hera finished, knowing that it had been the question eating away at Gabrielle as she had rocked her to sleep.
Gabrielle looked at Hera with anger. "He kisses her like he's done it for years. How am I suppose to believe that he loved me if he can tell me he loves me one day and not a day later side with a complete stranger against me? Against us! He looks at her with this...this look in his eyes..." Gabrielle fought back her tears as the anger she felt at watching Joxer kiss Elaine made her want to scream up at the heavens.
Hera tightened her hold on Gabrielle's hand. "Your jealousy should tell you that whatever he felt was not one sided. It tells you that though you never thought of him as yours...he was. If the idea of him making love to Elaine causes your insides to boil...you need to ask yourself if you'd allow him to touch you the way you fear Elaine is being touched by Joxer. Have you even thought about Joxer touching you intimately?"
Gabrielle contemplated the question with a slight embarrassment she knew Xena had also felt.
"I...I've never...fantasized about...it...with him." Gabrielle answered hesitantly.
Hera smirked as she raised one eyebrow at Gabrielle who promptly blushed.
"Hearing him reach his peak made quite a few scandalous fantasies flash in that mind of your young lady. And they were quite shocking to see in that mind of yours."
"That's only recently..." Gabrielle tried to stop herself from flushing completely when Hera made her realize there was no way to hide her secret fantasizing.
"Because controlling him and torturing him has suddenly become more sexual in your mind when before doing so was less...erotic...does not mean you have not fantasized about him. I believe if you allowed yourself to really reflect on it..."
"I don't know if I can..." Gabrielle stopped Hera as her real fear surfaced once more.
Hera shook her head. "After hearing what happened with Elaine, I would think your fear of that would be the last thing you'd concern yourself about. He knows what you've been through...and he still fell in love with you...and never pressed himself on you. You were always the one with the power. He simply followed you. If he can handle what Elaine has been through...there is no reason to think he would think less of you for going through a similar experience. But the answer is if you want him to touch you because of who he is...or because you want to keep him away from Elaine. Either way...you have to decide what you are willing to do to keep a friend...or lose a potential love."
Gabrielle said nothing...wondering if Hera was right.
And if she was...could she let go of her fears...and touch Joxer the way she imagined in her mind after hearing his excitement. Could she actually be attracted to Joxer and not just feel this way because of jealousy?
Hera vanished from the bed and Gabrielle took a moment to close her eyes and picture Joxer in her mind.
And the images that filled her head were not of a debonair hero version of Joxer. They weren't even truly sexual images of him. They were images of him smiling and just looking at her. The emotions that reflected in his eyes now completely legible with a sense of clarity after seeing his eyes fill with the opposite emotion aimed at her.
It wasn't Elaine's image and jealousy that suddenly made her want to reach out and touch his face even in her mind. It was just Joxer.
Gabrielle opened her eyes.
She had her answer then.
And it was a revelation.
Author's Note: I promise the next chapter will not take so long to be posted! Let me know what you all thought! Reviews push me to keep going...the more reviews...the faster I type!