Author's Note: I tried to nail down the way Xena would talk with Joxer and rewatched part of the show to see how they would interact and...well...shockingly found there was little to no conversations they had on the show. It was kind of weird to notice this years after the show ended that as far as Xena's so called friendship with Joxer there was little to no dialogue between the two that I could use! The most I ever saw them talk was the third to last episode...and that's where most of my conversation with them comes from. So with that in mind I had to really dig deep down and create a conversation and reactions with no real input from the show. Please tell me if you agree with the way that conversation goes in this chapter! Oh and M rated stuff ahead! I know...I'm evil! 😈
"Hey Munchkin! Did you take a bath yet?" Elaine asked as she walked up behind Joxer and Solan, both quickly turning to look at her.
"Nope. Not yet." Solan said with a smirk and a glance at the Amazon walking beside Elaine.
Joxer's eyes had immediately gone to Cyane and immediately looked away as the shame once more hit him.
"So I ah...heard Cyane might have said some things to you and...well...she wanted to apologize to you." Elaine said with a few awkward hand movements, obviously feeling uncomfortable.
Cyane stared at Joxer and sucked in a breath about to 'apologize' when Joxer stood up from the rock and said 'Wait.'
Both women looked at Joxer oddly as he walked up to Cyane and extended his arm out.
Cyane looked between Joxer's arm, his face, and then at Elaine. Her confusion at what was happening clearly showing on her face.
"I wanted to...thank you for...for telling me the truth." Joxer stuttered out not truly looking Cyane in the face as he still felt ashamed that a woman that barely knew him had been the one to say the truth out loud.
Cyane looked over at Joxer again and the shock doubled on her face. "I didn't tell you the truth."
"You did. You...you told me what everyone was...thinking...and not telling me. I...I just never thought..." Joxer stopped as his stuttering was increasing as his emotions got the best of him.
"Thank you for saying what you did. For being honest." Joxer said and finally looked up into Cyane's eyes.
Cyane stared back a little unnerved at the turn of events. Extending her arm she was about to clasp his arm when Joxer pulled slightly back and grabbed her hand the way Elaine had shown him while they had been walking the first day they met.
Cyane knew from what Elaine had done a few minutes ago to shake the hand but still looked up confused at Joxer.
"I'm...I'm not a warrior. It's...not right to clasp arms..." Joxer said shrugging the shoulder on the arm that wasn't shaking Cyane's hand.
Cyane said nothing but gave a little nod. "Well...if what Elaine has planned works...we'll make you into one Joxer."
Joxer's face instantly morphed to confusion and then looked over at Elaine, who smiled at Joxer showing her white teeth.
"Cyane is going to help train you Joxer."
"How?" Solan asked immediately standing up and walking towards Elaine.
Elaine smirked and wrapped Solan in a hug and kissed his forehead. "That little man is a little bit of a secret!"
Solan's smirk from Elaine's kiss vanished and a pout instantly formed making Elaine smile widely and almost laugh.
"But I want to help!" Solan said with a classic childish whine.
Even Cyane chuckled at the obvious manipulation that Solan was trying on Elaine.
"Well...maybe when he needs strength training you can help him. Right now he needs to learn basics. Deal?!" Elaine asked Solan who immediately responded 'deal' to Elaine.
Elaine kissed him on his forehead again, and then pulled away saying "Now go take that bath young man."
The pout returned on Solan's face but he quickly jogged over to where Armand stood and began to talk with him and strip off his clothes.
"Soo...how...how are you going to train me?" Joxer asked with a furrowed brow, not understanding what Elaine was going to teach him.
"Well...first thing is first!" Elaine began and turned to look at Cyane. "You'll be assisting Joxer by getting him supplies. Making sure he follows the form I tell him to use. Most importantly...encourage him. Everything is going to be hard for him at first because no one ever trained him or even trained WITH him."
Cyane nodded her head with a serious face securely in place.
Elaine turned her head and looked at Joxer. "Aphrodite is bringing some other clothes that you'll use to exercise in. What you're wearing now is great for traveling, but you'll need more flexibility and not damage your good clothes. Because you my friend are going to get dirty with the first part of this training."
Joxer's forehead scrunched up the way it always did when he was thinking.
"Joxer...I promise you may not understand what you're doing at first...but I promise it's for your own good. Alright?" Elaine asked with a tilt of her head and a smirk on her lips.
Joxer's eyes squinted and looked suspiciously at her for a second before his face morphed into a smile of his own. "K."
Elaine couldn't help herself. She leaned up and kissed him quickly and even as she pulled away Joxer looked at her in what she could only describe as amazement.
Cyane said nothing when movement from the side of her eye made her stiffen immediately.
Xena walked out from the forest and glared at Cyane and then looked at Joxer and her scowl fell immediately as she saw the look in Joxer's eyes as he looked at Elaine.
Cyane didn't move as Elaine must have seen the movement as well and her smile fell slightly when she saw Xena standing there.
Even Solan and Armand stopped moving the second they saw her.
"Are you ok mom?" Solan asked immediately, his face full of worry as he felt she was upset from just the sight of her.
"I'm ok sweetheart. Just...need to talk to Joxer is all." Xena said gaining Joxer's attention and making Elaine instantly curious as to what she wanted to talk with Joxer about.
She had never witnessed Xena talking to Joxer on the show. Not really. The fact that she wanted to actually speak with him making Elaine curious as to what she could possibly want to discuss with Joxer.
All it took was one look into her eyes for Elaine to know that Xena had been crying.
There were certain things that Elaine didn't remember about the show...but that look...Elaine remembered that look.
Xena's eyes were on Joxer and Joxer immediately knew like Elaine that something was wrong.
Xena looked...hurt.
Even from serious wounds Xena never looked hurt.
Xena kept her eyes on Joxer as she started to walk towards him and refused to look at Elaine or Cyane, knowing if she did she would become sidetracked from what she had come to do.
"Can we talk?" Xena asked almost uncertainly.
Joxer stared at Xena for a few seconds before nodding his head, not able to say anything as he stared at her.
In that moment she looked so different to him. It almost...scared him.
Xena moved back a step and Joxer knew to follow her, and as she turned she saw the concerned look in her son's eye and gave him a small smile to let him know it was alright.
Solan's posture changed as he relaxed.
Soon Xena had reached what she deemed a safe enough distance from prying ears and finally turned and looked at Joxer who had obediently followed her.
All it took was the way he winced as their eyes locked and the way he instantly looked away and at anywhere but at her for Xena's words to escape her.
She was always horrible at talking. But this was different.
This wasn't an encouraging speech, or a 'you know how Gabrielle is' speech.
This was a 'I am and will always be here for you' speech...and he couldn't even look at her.
Joxer said nothing, waiting awkwardly, as he had been use to holding his helmet by his side and standing a certain way because of his armor, now as he waited awkwardly for Xena to instruct him on what she wanted him to do he just didn't know how to stand.
"It's not true." Xena finally managed to say causing Joxer's eyes to meet hers in confusion.
Joxer's brow instantly furrowed.
"Wh.." He didn't even get out the question before Xena barreled through, afraid to be stopped by anything now that she finally started.
"What Cyane said. What...what she made you think! It's not true. I...I never pitied you. Neither of us do." Xena said shifting weight from one leg to the other as she kept her eyes locked with Joxer.
A feeling of insecurity settling over her as she talked. Worried she might say the wrong thing, and knowing the most important thing she needed to say was going to be scrutinized by Joxer.
"You're...you're my friend Joxer! You...and Gabrielle are the people that...that..." Xena looked around the forest as she tried to find the words to explain how he fit with them. That he was a piece of their puzzle that no one could alter or change.
Xena looked back at Joxer and knew she wasn't getting out what she really needed to say.
"You were there for me when I needed you the most Joxer. And the idea that...that whatever Elaine said makes you think that I'm not here for you is a lie. It's a lie Joxer!" Xena said the last sentence vehemently as she looked at Joxer.
The way he stared at her made something in Xena's chest tighten.
Like...like the words she was saying weren't really being heard.
Joxer waited for Xena to say more...and when nothing came...he looked around the forest as she had done earlier.
"It doesn't feel like a lie Xena. It didn't feel like a lie when you were hanging up on that..." Joxer stopped talking and looked at anywhere but at Xena as the emotions of that horrible moment hit him.
Xena's eyes stared back at Joxer's profile as she knew immediately what Joxer was about to say.
No. Not this. He couldn't possibly...
"You knew what it was like..." Joxer whispered, his voice filled with deep sorrow - heard immediately as he continued to not look at her, "you knew what it was like when Gabrielle was gone and you..." Joxer's jaw tightened as his eyes watered and finally he looked at Xena.
Xena stared back into the emotional brown pool eyes of Joxer's in shock. Sudden understanding hitting her at how Joxer felt.
He felt betrayed by her.
"Both of you Xena...both of you...and...Elaine told me you knew. You...had visions and...and you didn't tell me. Do you have any idea how much I wanted to just..." Joxer shook his head as his eyes were filled with tears and hurt...and an anger she hadn't expected.
Xena's mind flashed to what Aphrodite had claimed Joxer had tried to do to make Aphrodite use her likeness. To touch Joxer intimately so he would never harm himself again. How she had made Joxer promise to never do it again.
Joxer had walked into what could only be described as his living nightmare...and she had done nothing to warn him or prepare him.
She had simply kept him away from them.
"I wanted to die in that snow when I saw you two there." Joxer's whispered as his eyes lost the battle with the tears that swam in them as they began to fall.
"Joxer..." Xena said through the lump in her throat as a sudden desperation filled her, as if she knew she was losing him with every second that passed.
"You said you'd do...ANYthing...to get Gabrielle back...remember Xena...anything! And then you...you...you didn't even tell me that you were..." Joxer stared at Xena and wondered why it took Elaine asking him questions to make him realize that he had been...forgotten by the two of them.
"Joxer it was to..." Xena found her speech them and with his next words they evaporated.
"I loved you..." Joxer said staring directly into her blue eyes, and Xena would have preferred a sword through the heart as she stared back into his...hearing that word in the past tense. The very emotion that for the life of her wouldn't leave her mouth. The hurt came on like a huge wave as she looked into his pained being.
"I would have done anything..." Joxer said shaking his head knowing that Xena hadn't thought about what he would feel.
Xena knew she couldn't say it was to protect him after those words. She had condemned herself years ago with her own mouth.
And his next words made her unable to speak for the anger that surged through her body.
"Elaine loves me." Joxer said softly and with certainty.
Xena's hands became fists.
"Enough to tell me the truth. She...she wants to be around me...and teach me...and...and you never did Xena." Joxer looked away from her then, back towards where Elaine was waiting for him.
Xena's hands were in tight fists as he spoke. She knew that trying to defend herself was useless. Elaine had managed to spin all of her actions to protect Joxer into reasons she didn't care about him.
"I...care about you... more than you think Joxer. I just...I just can't..." Xena shook her head and closed her eyes for a second as what she needed to say stayed stuck in her throat.
Closing her own eyes she remembered Hera's words and warning to her.
Opening her eyes she stared at his profile as he was looking back to where Elaine would be standing in the distance, waiting for Xena to dismiss him so he could get back to her.
Jealousy flared in the pit of Xena's stomach again. He wanted to get back to her then to listen to anything she had to say.
Xena walked the short distance towards Joxer and he stiffened almost immediately as he turned his head in shock. The fear she saw there hurting her and suddenly she knew what she needed to do, rather than say.
Quickly, so he couldn't back away further, Xena wrapped her arms around him and found her head at the perfect height to lay on his shoulder as she hugged him.
"I'm sorry." Xena said quickly. "Your my friend and I'm here for you if you need me. Always." Xena whispered the last word with a hitch in her voice as the emotions clogged her throat.
Joxer's confusion and fear were pushed just as fast away as he immediately wrapped his arms around her. As if he didn't have a choice. Like Xena had hugged him thousands of times before and this was a knee jerk reaction to her doing it again.
But it was the first. The only one that didn't involve Gabrielle and she hugging him at the same time. One that wasn't one sided as he had laid in her arms for comfort before she married Ares.
It was extremely different and Xena felt beyond awkward until Joxer held her tighter against him, and then it...it felt...
Xena's nose was near his neck and when she breathed in his scent it was not his normal one.
It was stronger than his normal skin smell. Sweet even.
He smelled...good. Really good.
The sudden feeling in the pit of her stomach hit and the sudden urge to lick what smelled good hit her like a blow to the head.
Joxer held her even more tightly to himself and the feel of his actual body pressed against her suddenly had her mind spiraling down with images of her dream and sounds of his excitement and Xena for the life of her couldn't move away as the sensation from the pit of her stomach reached her back and was traveling up her spine at an incredibly fast rate.
Joxer held Xena and tried to fight the anger and sadness he felt.
He couldn't stop loving her. He knew he couldn't because of Aphrodite. But all of this hurt him in a way he couldn't understand.
Loving Xena had been hard from the moment he met her.
And Elaine had pulled back this...this blind spot that he had made for Xena and let him see something he never had. That he never wanted to see.
Joxer had always thought that Xena cared about him enough to keep him around. It was when Elaine told him that they just hadn't thought about him and his presence before they were crucified that he knew he was...he wasn't worth a simple letter, to let him know what they were up against. He wasn't worth words on a piece of parchment as a warning to what could happen. And with the revelation the old trauma's came back to him.
Joxer blinked as his emotions got the best of him. One second of that emotion hitting him once more and then Xena felt the pain in her chest hit...and then darkness consumed her.
Hera was immediately there in flash as well as Aphrodite who looked ill and instantly reached for Xena as Joxer was suddenly the only thing holding her up.
"Xena!" Joxer panicked as he held the suddenly limp form of the warrior princess who's arms dangled from her sides as if truly lifeless.
The instant way Xena seemed to go slack in his arms causing a surge of fear and love laced with panic to hit Joxer as he realized he had caused her pain once more.
"Xena are you alright?!" Hera asked in a slight panic as she had instantly felt Xena's unconscious state.
Joxer held tightly to Xena and understood immediately why Ares had been so angry at him. She had felt dead in his arms for a few seconds.
"What happened?" Xena said groggily as her head twitched, feeling the ache in her chest once more, and feeling oddly safe at the same time. Xena managed to bring her head up for a second and when she did she found Joxer's panicked face staring back at her, but the dizziness hit once more and her head fell back again.
Aphrodite and Hera exchanged a look as what was happening was truly causing things that should never to have occurred to happen. The frequency at which they were happening scaring the mother and daughter as they were trying everything to stop the changes.
"Xena can you stand up?" Hera asked as she grabbed Xena's head and raised it up to look into the now foggy eyes.
"Help...help her please..." Joxer panicked and mumbled out afraid that he was killing Xena somehow as he stared down at her limp form in his arms.
Hera looked up to see the real fear in Joxer's eyes and knew the boy never wanted to cause Xena harm. Despite how he felt, and what Xena had done to him, he didn't want to hurt her.
"We are Joxer. We promise we are." Aphrodite said as she pressed a hand to Xena's chest to stop the ache in her heart. Already knowing what the pain was as she herself felt it in her own being, Aphrodite winced right along with Xena, hoping that the warrior princess said things before it was too late.
Slowly Xena was able to raise her head and stand on her own and she looked back at Joxer as his all encompassing hold on her vanished as she stood on her own, and the sudden feeling of cold hit her.
It made absolutely no sense to her, but as she stared into Joxer's brown eyes she knew that despite the pain she had just felt, being close to him like that had filled her with comfort and warmth - and had been worth the pain of after.
That's when Aphrodite began to look between the two and felt the energy that Xena was sending to Joxer, and how little of it was flowing back towards Xena. Aphrodite knew she needed to do something to keep this from happening again with the way Joxer was closing himself off from Xena and Gabrielle.
"What's going on?" Elaine's question causing Hera and Joxer to turn and immediately look at her.
Xena saw the way Joxer's eyes lit up when he looked at Elaine, the way they had always done when he looked at Gabrielle.
Aphrodite felt the wave of jealousy hit Xena and again placed her hand on Xena, but this time holding her arm, which instantly earned her a glare. All Aphrodite had to do was shake her head 'no' and Xena immediately stopped from lurching at Elaine with the sudden feeling of jealousy that stained her vision.
Elaine looked at how close everyone was and knew something bad had happened again with the way Hera's face showed concern.
"We...we were just...talking about what Cyane said." Joxer stuttered out and Elaine's eyes narrowed and then looked over at Xena.
Elaine saw how Xena was looking at Joxer and knew that something was happening that made Xena keep her eyes focused on Joxer.
"Ok. And why exactly does it look like something else happened? You know you can tell me anything babe." Elaine said as she looked back at Joxer and walked the short distance and placed a slow kiss to his lips. One that he reciprocated in just as slow a fashion.
Xena's insides quaked as anger surged through her very soul as she watched Elaine kiss Joxer. A few days ago she hadn't given a damn about who Joxer kissed or even bedded. Now...
Now she couldn't stomach the sight.
Elaine pulled back and look expectantly at Joxer, and Joxer folded immediately and told her what happened.
It only made Xena angrier when Elaine looked at her with a furrowed brow, staring at her as if she had done something wrong or suspicious.
"Well as long as she's ok now, I think it's best if...at least for a while...that you keep a little bit more distance from Xena and Gabrielle. We really don't want this happening in a really inopportune moment." Elaine said staring at Xena, knowing she would protest immediately.
"Huh?" Joxer's brow furrowed not understanding a word Elaine had used.
Elaine looked over at Joxer and smiled widely.
"Inopportune...it means not the right time." Elaine explained.
"Oh." Joxer said with a little nod.
"I'm not leaving you alone with him." Xena growled out as she stared at Elaine without flinching. Elaine turned her head to stare at Xena's...warning.
Joxer looked a little startled at the way Xena said the words. He knew by the tone that she was trying to intimidate Elaine.
Xena realized her mistake when Joxer stared at her with this look...this look that...dripped with defiance.
"Well... I want to be alone with Elaine." Joxer said as he suddenly stood taller and indignantly stared back at Xena.
Xena's head jerked her vision to look directly at Joxer, her face having instantly morphed to shock at his words.
And though he still felt nervous and intimidated by Xena, he wasn't about to let her do the same to Elaine.
Elaine felt incredibly proud of Joxer in that moment.
Despite everything...Joxer was sticking up for her. Elaine looked from him to Xena and saw how those words had made Xena's body jittery. As if she wanted to lash out but had no way of doing so.
"Joxer we know nothing about her..." Xena tried to reason with Joxer - her aggravation heard in her voice clearly when Joxer immediately jumped to Elaine's defense.
"She's told me everything I need to know. And I..." Joxer shifted himself as he became uncomfortable at saying words he knew he had to say, "and I know she wouldn't smack me or hit me."
Xena flinched.
"I'd never willingly hurt Joxer. Never." Elaine words made Xena turn and glare at her.
Xena wanted to rip Elaine's throat out in that moment as the two stared at each other.
"Mom...is everything ok?" Solan's voice made everyone turn and look at the young boy who was looking worriedly between all the adults.
"Everything's alright sweetheart. We're just..." Xena stopped talking as she didn't know what to say in the moment.
"They're just discussing a schedule so that Joxer can train Solan. Elaine's just making sure your mother knows she wouldn't push Joxer to hurt himself." Hera quickly lied for everyone, but Solan's eyes looked between the adults and knew he was being lied to.
Especially with the look in his mother's eyes.
He knew that look now. That look of jealousy that burned in her eyes.
Solan felt it in his bones that he had to do something and fast. He was able to help his mother and Gabrielle get back together. If he put his mind to it he could help fix this. Except he didn't have any mystical help this time to send everyone to a magical realm.
There was one thing he could do...but he didn't know if it was the right time to do it.
Letting out a little huff of determination he simply asked, "Mom...can I talk to you and Joxer... about something?"
And just like that, the immediate way both Xena and Joxer looked and moved towards Solan was as though they had done so a thousand times with the looks of worry on both their faces.
"What's wrong?" Joxer asked placing his hand on Solan's shoulder.
"Are you ok sweetheart?" Xena asked cupping her hand around his face and staring into his bright blue eyes.
Solan nodded and looked between the two adults.
"I need to ask you something and...can...can we..." Solan looked back towards the boulder that he and Joxer had been sitting at earlier and both understood that he wanted to ask something in private.
"Sure." Joxer immediately assured Solan.
Solan took his mother's hand carefully into his own causing Xena to smirk and then smile at Solan and then Joxer's hand firmly and led them both til they reached the boulder and Solan guided them next to each other on the boulder and then sat on a log across from them.
Both Joxer and Xena shared a little look with each other before Solan began to speak.
"I...I wanted to ask if..." Solan started and stopped as he looked between the adults, not sure how to ask his question, but knowing with everything happening that it was more than important.
It was necessity.
The wince on his face instantly made Xena weary as to what he was going to ask.
"It's just that...I heard people talking and...everyone in the camp thinks that...that Joxer...that he..." Solan's lips pursed in a determined look on his face that morphed to one of deep thought, looking identical to Xena in that moment. Solan looked down and let out a huge breathe as both adults tried to figure out where the conversation was going, hoping that Solan hadn't heard about what Cyane had said.
Solan looked up and looked straight into Joxer's eyes.
"Can I call you Dad?"
Both Xena and Joxer hearts froze at the request for a moment and then quickly both looked at each other. Neither of them knew what to even say to the request, let alone how to react.
"Um...Solan...I," Joxer's heart saddened that Solan wanted him to be his dad when he didn't even feel worthy enough to be Xena's friend.
"It's just that...all the Amazon's already think you are and..." Solan began but the next second Xena was kneeling next to him and cupping his face in one hand.
"Sweetheart...you know who your father is," Xena began and Solan nodded.
"I know mom and...I wish I could have gotten to know him...but...I..." Solan stared into his mother's blue eyes that were identical to his own and then moved his head away and looked at Joxer.
"I never really had a dad and...and your the closest thing that...that I'd ever have to one... so..." Solan felt a blush creep up his neck as he realized he was going to be told no to his request.
"Solan...I...I love you...you know that...but," Joxer said with a wince of his own and both Solan and Xena winced as well.
"But I can barely take care of myself. And...and you had a dad that...that everyone thinks of as a legend! And I'm just..." Joxer stared back into Solan's eyes with sorrow clearly seen in his eyes.
Xena felt her heart in her throat in that moment. Seeing Joxer think so poorly of himself that...
"You're the greatest Dad in the world to me!" Solan said such sincerity that Joxer knew in that instant looking into Solan's eyes that he'd give Solan the world if he could.
Xena felt a vice around her heart at Solan's declaration. In her heart she knew Solan wasn't trying to replace his real father, and the way he had instantly bonded with Joxer hadn't been a real shock.
Family. He had said we were family. Xena remembering what Solan had said in the barn to Gabrielle to calm her down.
Joxer looked at Solan and then his eyes traveled to Xena who was staring at him in a way he had never seen before.
Xena saw the question in his eyes, and knew that the decision was really hers. And she knew what her answer was almost immediately. Despite everything, Joxer was one of the kindest and good men she had ever met.
"If Solan wants to call you Dad...I'm alright with it." Xena said softly knowing that her words were choked out due to emotion. She was staring into Joxer's eyes wishing she could tell him how the idea that Solan felt he needed to call him 'Dad' made her realize that there would have been no other man in the world that she would have allowed Solan to call that...but the man sitting next to her.
But she couldn't. She couldn't say those words because not but a few minutes ago he had made it clear that he wanted to be with Elaine. And as much as it hurt her that he wanted Elaine...Solan needed this.
Joxer looked shocked for a few seconds but then he slowly gave a small sad smirk to Xena and then slowly turned his gaze to Solan.
It felt as if minutes had gone by instead of seconds until Joxer finally spoke.
"I guess this means I'm gonna have to grow up huh?" Joxer said staring at Solan who immediately smiled and without another word sprung up and launched himself into Joxer's arms - which made them both fall back off of the boulder laughing as they did.
Xena had never felt such a surge of happiness and love consume her body then in that moment.
Her eyes watched Solan as he looked at Joxer with this huge smile on his face with Joxer looking back at him with a look she had never seen on his face before.
Both then began to playfully wrestle as Xena watched on with so much love in her heart for the two that it didn't seem possible that she was awake.
"That little stinker." Elaine whispered as she leaned her head against the tree with a smile of her own watching the scene with a full heart.
Looking over at Hera and Aphrodite, she saw Hera caressing down Aphrodite's back as the blonde goddess was crying and smiling widely, beaming with happiness.
Elaine smirked as she looked at Aphrodite, who was most definitely happy feeling the love from what had just happened.
Elaine knew it was a rare moment that most never got to see. How the love goddess could become overwhelmed with an emotion of love.
Hera looked over at Elaine with a smirk. "He's a smart boy."
Elaine smirked back. "Yes he is. I wonder where he gets it from?!" Elaine joked and received a small glare from Hera for it.
"Yeah well...little man hasn't had a lot of happiness in his life so...score one for the love team!" Aphrodite said with her hands going on her hips in the classic Aphrodite gesture.
The huge white teeth smile on Aphrodite's face causing one of her own to spread across Elaine's face.
"The munchkin's not the only one Ro." Elaine said as she turned her head back leaning it against the tree and smiled as she looked at Joxer. She noticed how a more serious look was in Joxer's eyes as he looked at Solan.
Elaine knew that training Joxer would be difficult, but maybe this little bit of motivation would help Joxer.
Because if Solan was going to call Joxer the title of Dad, Elaine was positive that Eve would do the same.
Knowing that Eve's birth would change everything was one thing when it came to the world. Now it had become something that would change Joxer's existence.
Elaine knew there was no time to waste.
With a nod of her head she made her way over to the duo who were still rolling around laughing and playing.
Xena's smile faded as Elaine approached but somehow knew Elaine wouldn't hurt Solan's feelings or stop Solan from calling Joxer 'dad.'
"Looks like you're going to be helping out your dad train right away huh?" Elaine used the term smoothly and seemlessly and saw how Joxer looked kind of stunned when she did.
"Is he going to start today?! Because if he is then we don't have to take a bath." Solan said which made both Elaine and Xena exchange a glance and small smile.
"You still need a bath mister. Especially with what happened earlier." Elaine said and watched the happiness on his face drop. Solan looked over at Xena who curled her finger and beckoned him to her.
Solan looking sullen at his fate, disentangling himself from Joxer and walked like a man going to the electric chair as he went to his mother.
When within reach Xena caressed his newly shortened hair and then down the back of his head and quickly said something to make Solan see that she more than accepted his request - but would even encourage the fatherly son bond between him and Joxer.
"Your dad is one of the cleanliest people I have ever met. If he takes a bath...you should probably as well. And if you're going to help your father train...that's a lot of baths!" Xena said with a raising of both her eyebrows to make her point.
Solan's chest inflated up and he smirked at what his mother said and turned back to look at Joxer.
"It's true. I do bathe even when I don't have to. And you heard what Elaine said so..." Joxer said from the ground, still not bothering to stand up.
Solan nodded his head and then turned back to his mother.
"I'll take a bath with dad after we train." Solan said resolutely.
Xena smiled slightly. "Good."
"Well then," Elaine said bringing her hands together and cracking her knuckles by interlacing them, "let's get started then. Aphrodite," Elaine turned to look at Aphrodite who was wiping away her tears and looked up in question at Elaine, "Is it ok to use one of your temples? One with the largest footprint of marble floors?"
Aphrodite's eyebrows furrowed but then said, "Sure."
Elaine nodded. "Good." Turning towards Cyane she simply said. "I'll need you to get some supplies for Joxer as he works, but make sure he finishes it all!"
Cyane nodded. Intrigued as to what Aphrodite's temple had to do with anything.
"Aphrodite if you would?" Elaine asked to be transported to the place by extending her hand.
And with that Joxer, Elaine, Cyane and Solan were transported to Aphrodite's temple.
"I'll make sure no hanky panky happens Xena." Aphrodite immediately assured the warrior woman.
Xena let out a sigh and looked at Hera who had a peculiar look on her face.
"What is it?" Xena asked seeing the clear look of wanting to ask a question.
Hera simply began to smile. "Nothing really. I was just curious as to how you found yourself in Joxer's hold and being held up by only his arms."
Xena tried to fight the blush from coming to her face when even Aphrodite smiled wolfishly.
"Xena you sassy flirt!" Aphrodite immediately praised with a smile when her mouth dropped open as she heard Xena's thoughts. "Strike that! Girl you got hot and bothered by him!"
Xena suddenly started moving her whole body nervously as the blush did take over at Aphrodite's words.
"I..." Xena started but Hera spoke first.
"My dear it's useless to deny it. More than just your thoughts, your...physical arousal is apparent by the waves of emotion you gave off just before you...passed out." Hera said with a smirk and a small amount of amusement as Xena still found it embarrassing to allude to, let alone speak of such things with her.
"Can we NOT..." Xena was about to growl out her warning when Hera said something that made Xena's temper flare as she remembered what had occurred earlier.
"From what Aphrodite has told me about her experience with Joxer he has a penchant for being playful before intercourse, except when it came to being with you." Hera informed Xena which had an instant affect on the warrior woman.
Xena's eyes narrowed and she turned her eyes from Hera to Aphrodite with a glare that made Aphrodite gulp at the instant visions of her death sprang into Xena's mind.
Hera sighed deeply at Xena's visions of Aphrodite's demise by her own hands played in her mind. Really Xena's complete oblivion to what Joxer truly meant to her until recently might have been a blessing. She could only imagine what Xena would do if she knew the true extent of how truly important Joxer was for her and Gabrielle.
It was time to kick her in the rear or she would lose him for good.
"It means he doesn't consider the possibility of being with you as...entertainment. Which...is a good and bad thing." Hera said making Xena's eyes focus back on her and her mind to focus on her words.
"What Elaine is offering him is not some quick romp in the hay. She's giving...herself...wholly to him. Something that I know is beyond difficult for you. And Elaine..."
"Elaine is the reason why all of this is happening!" Xena exploded. Xena began pacing frantically "This...this isn't the way things are suppose to happen! I...I can't be...I..." Xena stopped suddenly and spun and glared at Aphrodite.
"I am NOT suppose to...FEEL...ANYTHING...for Joxer! Except..." Xena looked over at Hera ready to fight the queen of the gods when Hera made Xena's heart freeze.
Hera nodded her head. "Very well. Then we will find a way for Elaine to leave our realm and you may say your goodbyes to Joxer." Hera gracefully turned and left even her daughter Aphrodite with her mouth dropped open as she turned and watched Hera begin to walk away.
"NO WAY MOM! Joxer needs to stay here and..." Aphrodite began and Xena stopped being paralyzed and charged after Hera.
"I am not letting that...that..." Xena's anger and jealousy flared again as she thought of Joxer choosing Elaine over her...them...how he could and would choose anyone besides Gabrielle and her?
"That woman who has declared her love for him, which you can not do for some reason. That woman who has shown me that you would be persecuted by my children for your daughter's birth and it would lead you to be the one to kill my children." Hera began to tick off Elaine's merits and future knowledge and Xena's faults as she continued to walk away and Xena was right beside her as she tried to leave.
Hera stopped and spun and tilted her head as she looked at Xena. "That woman that begged to save your son. With no gain of her own for such an act. That woman who stood up to me...to my brother Hades...who has helped you receive my protection and guarantee that your daughter will be born. That woman...is the woman who will take Joxer and rest assured - he will go with her willingly- and give him what neither you or Gabrielle are willing to."
Hera stared and Xena stared back into the piercing blues of the queen of the gods and felt a tightening around her heart with the question that she knew she was going to ask.
"And what's that?" Xena asked as she tried to not think about the way Joxer looked walking away from them a day ago.
Hera slowly came closer to Xena, her face an inch away from her own. And the two words she whispered made Xena panic at the implication.
"A future."
Xena's body and mind reeled back.
Hera didn't move as she stared into Xena's eyes. "You did not see what I did in her memories. And I assure you...she has not...and did not lie about what happens to that boy because of you."
Xena stared back at Hera as her insides began to tremble.
"If you care for him, maybe it is best that you allow him to leave with her, and continue on your path with Gabrielle. Because the way I saw him die in her mind, he dies..." Hera trailed off as she saw the pain in Xena's eyes and knew she needed to know the truth. Partial as it was.
Xena needed to know.
"Saving Gabrielle." Hera said softly, "From being killed by a person you love."
Xena felt her heart stop beating as Elaine's warning was being more than just confirmed by Hera. She was telling her exactly what would cause Joxer's death.
"If you believe he is not important to your life, or that...he is inconsequential to you..." Hera focused on Xena's thoughts as Xena's mind began to try and reason things out when Hera finally understood that Xena was not fighting for reasoning.
Hera's eyes became almost accusational as she finally saw what Elaine meant when thinking to herself. Elaine had been saying things to herself in her mind - before she had shown the girl how to block out her and her children from listening in to her inner thoughts and memories.
Xena noticed the change in Hera's eyes and how her brow furrowed.
"You really have no clue do you? None whatsoever just how important he is to you...do you?" Hera's clear shock making goosebumps rise on Xena's skin.
Hera shook her head as she stared incredulously at how truly oblivious her own daughter was. How very little she understood about why she was destined for what she was.
Xena stared back, not understanding how Hera's words made her feel unsure of herself. Seeing something in the older woman's eyes change to...sorrow. That was the word. She had sorrow pouring out of her eyes looking at her.
Hera looked down closing her eyes and shaking her head. A sad truth hitting her in that moment.
Hera raised her head as a Queen would, regally and with an authority she had never spoken to Xena with and said words that caused Xena to panic.
"Then I suggest you not hinder Elaine's wooing of Joxer as you do not see him as an important part of your life. I will arrange for you to be brought to a new land where Zeus would dare not venture, and you may continue on with your life...and they with theirs." Hera nodded and turned and was about to vanish from the forest when Xena's hand immediately reached out and grabbed her.
"I can't!" Xena said desperately with a panic in her eyes. Not able to say the words she needed to. Not able to say what she was feeling. Not the fact that she was terrified of what all of this meant. Not even how she couldn't comprehend why she had this sudden attraction to Joxer, that somehow manifested itself now that Elaine was here but not a week ago he was just a friend that...a friend that she did in no way look at sexually.
"I can't." Xena said again holding onto Hera enough for her to feel Xena's body trembling.
Hera covered Xena's hand with her own and slowly turned to look at Xena. Hera studied Xena for a second as she allowed Xena to calm as she held her hand and Xena allowed it, somehow finding comfort from her even after what Hera had said.
"Xena. You have never allowed fear to dictate what your heart feels. The only one judging or condemning you...is yourself."
Xena felt the emotions bubble up inside her, one thought taking over the rest as she continued to try and understand what was happening to her emotions.
"I've already hurt Gabrielle and...and just the thought of hurting him like that..." Xena lost the battle as tears fell from her eyes and she pulled her hand away from Hera embarrassed that she couldn't stop her blubbering.
But Hera immediately grabbed Xena's chin and raised her eyes to meet hers.
"And you think that he has not suffered already? That he has not been by your side with every pain with Gabrielle and still been loyal to you? His hurt...his... pain...is directly related to you both. He feels yours and compounds it with his own. Right now he feels as if it was all one sided. Tell me Xena...now with all that you feel...does it not hurt more when it feels you are the only one feeling it?"
Xena said nothing as she continued to cry, but nodded her head just slightly.
It did hurt.
It hurt in a way she had never experienced before because...she hadn't.
There had not been a single man, or woman for that matter, that she had not wanted to be with that did not return her feelings.
For the first time Xena was unsure of herself because Joxer was the first one to choose someone else over her.
it stung in a way she couldn't explain.
"I can't let her take him." Xena said as Hera wiped the tears from the top of Xena's cheeks with her thumb. "He...he means more to me now...then ever. Especially with what Solan just said..." Xena whispered the last sentence as the feeling of happiness from a minute before surged back to life.
"Would there have been any other man? Any man in the world who you would have trusted...or even been around longer than a week for...that you think could have ever taken the position for Solan - other than Joxer?" Hera asked what Xena had instantly known.
"No. He's..." Xena paused as she swallowed the lump in her throat, "He's the only one." Xena looked down and then over to Aphrodite and stopped at the look on Aphrodite's face.
Aphrodite's arms were crossed and her brow was furrowed as she looked at her...and her mother Hera.
Hera noticing immediately turned her head and in that moment knew Aphrodite was sensing something between Xena and herself that was disturbing to her.
Hera had been careful for no one to truly see how she was treating Xena differently than Elaine or Joxer.
Hera inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. "What do you think is the best course of action daughter?"
Aphrodite was kind of shaken out of her suspicions by Hera's question.
Aphrodite looked from her mother to Xena and saw how Xena's heart was in pain as she thought about Joxer.
Aphrodite inhaled and exhaled just like her mother and slowly walked towards Xena, her eyes hard as she looked at the dark haired warrior woman.
"Elaine's feelings for him are intense. Really...intense! He's never had anyone return those kinds of feelings to him. Let alone knows how to handle how he feels about Elaine after loving Gabrielle for so long." Aphrodite stopped in front of Xena with her arms still crossed and stared right back into Xena's eyes.
Xena had the sudden feeling that Aphrodite was judging her which...was beyond ridiculous after what she knew Aphrodite had been doing behind her and Gabrielle's back.
Aphrodite didn't stop glaring as she spoke. "I didn't realize that was the first time you've ever hugged him until I heard him as he held you passed out. He...he's afraid to even touch you Xena! He's never even held you and you expect him to...you expect him to KNOW that he's more to you than..." Aphrodite's anger was obviously spiraling as she recalled what Joxer thought as he held an unconscious Xena.
Aphrodite stopped herself from telling Xena exactly what Joxer had thought. Because honestly it said a lot about how little he thought Xena cared for him.
"Honestly Xena...before Elaine showed up I never doubted for a second the way Joxer would always love you and Gabrielle. And right now...right now I don't know what to do to keep him tied to you."
Xena felt a shiver go down her back as Aphrodite looked up at her with an angry look in her eyes.
"After everything that I've done...after making him stay in love with the both of you...I don't know how to make him stay." Aphrodite face showing her anger. Aphrodite rarely got angry, but when she did...it was because love was being dismissed.
But Joxer wasn't to blame for everything that was occurring.
Not even Elaine had the majority of fault.
Aphrodite...blamed herself.
She knew how delicate Joxer's heart was, because she knew his secret.
It would be a secret that she would keep for all of time. And it was a secret that she would keep from Xena - to spare her from pain. Keep her from a truth...a reality...that she knew Xena could never face.
And yet at this moment Aphrodite couldn't help but dwell on why she had kept her mouth closed, when she now suspected that her mother knew Joxer's secret. Especially with how her mother was trying to help Xena keep Joxer.
"I don't know how to help you Xena. Trust me when I say...I never wanted this to happen." Aphrodite said staring back into Xena's eyes.
Xena felt an envelopment of fear washed over her. If Aphrodite was saying that she couldn't help that meant...
"No. No you...your part of the reason this is happening! You can do something..." Xena said with wild eyes even as Aphrodite unlaced her arms and took ahold of Xena's frame as she became more agitated.
"Xena I won't use spells or magic on Joxer with this. I've already been betraying his trust to keep him close to you and the Gabster...but..." Aphrodite began to shake her head, "but now he needs to have the choice...or he'll never truly love again."
Xena felt her heart constrict tightly.
Aphrodite eyes showed she was being completely honest with her.
And it terrified Xena.
Joxer groaned as he stretched out the way Elaine had shown him to. But he could barely reach.
Cyane noticed this and without being told to by Elaine walked over and pushed on his back slowly and the second Joxer touched his foot a huge joyful smile broke out on his face.
Turning his head towards Cyane's, his face was close to his and he said, "Thanks! I've never been able to touch my feet like this!"
Cyane was uncomfortable with his face being so close to hers but at seeing his honest joy at something so ridiculous as touching his own feet gave a small smirk.
"Don't mention it. Elaine wants me to help you and I can see why she thought you needed it. You're extremely stiff. Flexibility is key when fighting and well...you can't move the way you need to." Cyane said as she pushed a little more and Joxer actually let out a sigh as his back and legs stretched in a way they never have.
"Yeah...my back hasn't felt this good in a long time. I have to thank Hera for healing it. I haven't been able to stand up straight for a while." Joxer said as he turned his head back towards his foot and bent his neck down stretching it as well and letting out little gasps of air as the stretch was helping to relieve his muscles from the stresses of what both Hera and Apollo had placed his body through.
As healed up as he was, his body was just tense.
Cyane had been curious as to why Hera had healed Joxer earlier and found her mouth asking the question before she truly thought if she cared or not.
"What caused it?"
Joxer grimaced not from pain, but from what he knew was the truth and what he wanted to say to hide the truth.
"I tell people it's from fighting warlords and bandits...but...it's probably from the beatings i've taken from people. I always thought...better to lie to people and let them think I'm an idiot and lucky then...then tell them I've been almost beaten to death more than once." Joxer was careful to keep his voice low so Solan didn't hear him as he was with Elaine across the way as they readied the 'work out' area Elaine was putting together.
Cyane though winced and felt a wave of pity hit her as she realized Joxer was looking at Solan as he quietly told her the truth.
"How am I gonna be a father to him? I can't keep myself from getting killed. He's already died once and...and if something were to ever happen to him because of me..." Joxer tried to keep calm about being a father to Solan- but it scared him more than anything ever had in his life.
Cyane looked over at Solan and saw the little boys face fill with joy and happiness as he looked over at Joxer and gave a little wave.
Cyane felt it in Joxer's frame how he relaxed and apparently smiled back and gave a little wave himself.
Cyane knew she had no real interaction with Joxer to judge his character, but the very fact that he was telling her his fears, and the way he had thanked her for 'being honest'...
Cyane now really did know that Joxer was a good person.
Wincing at herself she pushed on his back a little more and heard a distinct crack and then another and Joxer gasped out in some sort of relief and then Cyane applied more pressure and the multiple loud cracks rebounded in the temple.
Joxer gasped as his entire body relaxed. "Wow."
Cyane had a small smile on her face. "I think you're going to be a great father to him Joxer. A lot better than mine was. Maybe if he had cared about me half as much as you do about that boy...I wouldn't have made the mistakes I made in life."
Joxer blinked and slowly pulled up into a sitting potion and turned his head and looked at Cyane.
Her face showed remorse as she looked at Joxer. "I'm sorry I judged you solely on the fact that you were a man. I haven't had a good relationship with a man...ever."
Joxer blinked again. "You mean...you've never had a friend that was a guy?"
Cyane grimaced again and looked away shaking her head. "I wouldn't even know what that looked like. Every single man I've ever known has either tried to bed me or hit me."
Joxer winced. "I never really had friends before Xena and Gabrielle. And...they usually slap me around or...hit me. I just thought...it was normal."
Cyane winced at that. She had never thought a man could understand what it was like to be abused. Sadly this was not the way she ever thought she would learn they could.
"What if..." Joxer stopped, not sure he should make the suggestion. "what if we tried being friends. Amarice said she'd be my friend...and...I...I told her I can be annoying and she still said she would be."
"Amarice? The one who punched me?" Cyane asked truly not having gotten the woman's name before being hit by her.
Joxer winced and did a lookaway at the sudden discomfort he felt. "Um...yeah. Her."
Cyane smirked with half of her mouth. "I may not like her Joxer, but I respect her."
"Oh." Joxer said kind of shocked and uncertain what else to say.
Then Cyane did smile and Joxer brightened immediately. Cyane didn't look scary when she smiled. In fact she looked beautiful.
"Alright Joxer. I'll try and be friends with you." Cyane said and couldn't help but think how much of a dope Joxer looked in that moment.
"Great! Just uhh...well...can you not hurt Amarice back? I really don't want either of you to get hurt."
Cyane stared into Joxer's dark brown eyes and saw that his statement wasn't a platitude. He genuinely didn't want either of them to hurt each other.
"I can't promise anything...but I'll try Joxer." Cyane stopped smiling and turned her head and was about to get up when Joxer said something that made her blush.
"You should smile more. You...you're extremely beautiful when you smile."
Cyane's reddened face made Joxer's smile drop as he thought he had made her angry by saying such a thing.
"Thank you Joxer. But among Amazons being beautiful isn't a virtue. Being feared is though." Cyane said as her cheeks stayed red.
Joxer's brow furrowed looking incredibly confused. "Why would you want your tribe to fear you?"
Cyane turned her head and stared at Joxer for a second before she responded.
"If you are a great warrior most people fear you. Just as people fear Xena for her abilities, Amazon's pride themselves on being warriors. To be feared is...is to know that you are a great warrior. One that could lead others into battle and...and lead the tribe to greatness."
Joxer's face scrunched up in bafflement, thinking and trying to understand Cyane, he really just couldn't believe what Cyane was saying.
Elaine had told him that asking questions wasn't annoying but...most of the time people hated it when he continued to ask questions because he didn't understand.
Knowing he was risking making Cyane annoyed at him, Joxer asked her anyway.
"But...you're all warriors. Real ones. Why would you want other Amazon's to fear you? If...if someone needs...yah know...guidance...it's...it's hard to go to someone you fear. But...but if you think someone is understanding and kind...you...you don't feel so...bad...asking them for help."
Cyane saw how uncomfortable Joxer suddenly was in how he suddenly wasn't looking at her as he spoke. As if he himself felt that way.
It took Cyane a second to realize that it probably was how Joxer felt. After all, he traveled with Xena and apparently had not been trained by her as Elaine was beginning to do that now. She could only imagine how intimidating it must be for Joxer to approach Xena of all people if he had some kind of problem.
Cyane stared at Joxer a second and couldn't believe she was actually feeling sorry for Joxer as she could see how he would be scared to ask Xena for anything. Let alone advise.
A man completely intimidated by a woman.
Normally she would have laughed if she hadn't experienced first hand just how competent Xena was.
Absently she rubbed at her chest as she still felt the hit from Xena.
And weirdly, she was actually considering and agreeing with Joxer.
"I hadn't thought of it that way Joxer. You're...you're right. It would be hard. Maybe I shouldn't want to be feared." Cyane watched as Joxer whipped his head up and stared at her with shocked eyes.
"Really?! You...you think I'm right?" Joxer sounded shocked that she agreed with him.
And Cyane could tell that he was actually shocked. As if what he thought of was being considered right was what was shocking.
Cyane slowly gave another smile to Joxer and Joxer's face began to smile back.
"K." Joxer said blushing and looking down as he felt happy at the moment.
"Sooo...friends?" Cyane asked with a raised eyebrow? Hearing the term herself she was doubtful a man could simply be friends with a woman.
But seeing the huge smile that spread across Joxer's face and the way he extended his hand and said, "Friends."
Well...it made Cyane smile again and reach out and shake Joxer's hand.
Elaine watched from a distance and felt herself smirk and fight a smile. She was beyond happy that Joxer was just being himself. Having talked with him, and really heard all of his insecurities first hand hurt her more than just seeing it on a tv show. Just talking with him and telling him it was ok just to be him and not be a warrior had lifted something off of him as he was beginning to truly be himself around everyone.
And everything seemed to be going smoothly so far.
Joxer knew that she loved him and she didn't need to impress her, because she was already impressed with him. Telling him other people would like him just as he was and what he thought...well...Cyane had just proven that even someone that could be your enemy could become your friend.
And it was as though he knew she was thinking about him with the way he turned from Cyane and their eyes met from across the room. She could see he was breaking free of the sadness that Gabrielle and Xena now consumed him with.
Elaine knew the show was about Xena. But she knew from what she had seen that Joxer was better off with her and not two women that would spend all eternity neglecting him.
Elaine mouthed 'I love you' to him and the way he looked at her and smiled made her feel like just maybe he was starting to feel something for her to.
Aphrodite suddenly appeared and Elaine caught how her usual perkiness was missing until she saw her and instantly became her bubbly self.
"Hey chica! How goes it?" Aphrodite tried not to look annoyed as she saw what Elaine had done to biggest temple.
Elaine knew something had happened that had left Aphrodite feeling upset and knew better than to anger her. "I promise it won't stay like this for long...but Joxer really needs this. And I'm pretty sure you'd be ok with anything that would make him feel better."
Aphrodite looked over at Joxer talking with Cyane and felt a little blip of happiness fill her at seeing him easily talk to Cyane.
"Aphrodite are you ok?" Elaine asked quietly as she approached Aphrodite.
Aphrodite immediately turned and flashed her incredibly white teeth. "Of course I am muffin!"
"You're a horrible liar." Elaine said immediately with a grimace. "I would have thought the goddess of love would be good at it but remembering this show...you can't lie to even save your life!"
Aphrodite's smile immediately fell as she saw Elaine had seen right through her.
Elaine let out a sigh and immediately walked the short distance and wrapped her arms around Aphrodite like she had her after finding out that they had seen her memories. Oddly and thankfully Aphrodite immediately returned the hug.
"I love you Aphrodite. I don't want to hurt you! I don't want to hurt anyone and I'm sorry this is hurting you! If I could save Joxer and spare you any pain I swear I would!" Elaine pulled back and looked at a very upset Aphrodite.
"I know that sweet pea. I honestly know that and I can't even hate you for what's going on. I just can't imagine..." Aphrodite stopped talking and finally looked up at Elaine as she had not been able to meet Elaine's eyes because of how upset she was.
"Can't imagine Joxer falling out of love with them?" Elaine asked with sadness clearly written on her face.
Aphrodite grimaced. "I know how hard it is for him. To...to feel that way and not have it given back. And I know he would have lived with it."
"But he didn't live with it Aphrodite. He paused his entire existence. He...he made a shrine to them like they were Gods! He worshiped them so much he married the one woman in the world that reminded him every day that he couldn't save them. He didn't live Aphrodite. He didn't even survive." Elaine whispered all this as she tried to keep herself from crying.
"And you Aphrodite? The idea of you being heartbroken because Xena killed..." Elaine stopped talking as Aphrodite looked up suddenly with a furrowed brow letting Elaine know that Aphrodite had not seen those particular memories of the show in her mind.
"Killed who? Did...my son..." Aphrodite's whole body became rigid and Elaine immediately shook her head.
"No she..." Elaine stopped knowing she shouldn't be saying more and looking up at Aphrodite she knew she had to tell her the truth.
"Hephaestus."
Aphrodite stared into Elaine's eyes, not responding, still rigid.
"Xena was...protecting Eve." Elaine continued, sensing that Aphrodite was way more enraged than she was letting on, "And Hephaestus and some others tried to kill Eve...and Gabrielle." And as Elaine said the words the oddity of Hephaestus doing something of the sort...made absolutely no sense.
It wasn't just what she had learned about Hephaestus and Xena being twins but...Hephaestus had made all of the god's weapons. The idea that his own hammer had killed him had always seemed odd since legends of Hephaestus enchanting weapons so that they could not hurt him or only hurt a certain someone...it...it was odd how he had died amongst the other gods.
It...made no sense!
Elaine's brow suddenly furrowed.
Aphrodite's body finally relaxed. "She was defending the people she loved."
Elaine's face relaxed as she saw Aphrodite reasoned out why Xena would ever do such a thing.
"I want to keep all of that from happening. And hopefully...this...what I'm doing...stops it all from happening. I just...I love him Aphrodite. But I also love you and your sisters! I love your brothers and your mom! I just...I know I have to save him Aphrodite. Your mom told Gabrielle that she's Xena's soulmate and maybe...maybe I'm Joxer's!"
Aphrodite looked as if she had been smacked. "Waitwha? You think...you think you're Joxer's soulmate? Elaine you're not from our dimension! You can't be his soulmate!"
It was Elaine's raised eyebrow that threw Aphrodite off. "Really? Well how do you explain me jumping into this dimension and finding the one person I wished were a real person?"
Aphrodite's face morphed to one of displeasure. "He is a real person!"
Elaine rolled her eyes, "Not in my dimension he's...look! What if I'm...becoming his soulmate? What if I was sent here to finally be with my soulmate. Or are you trying to tell me that Meg is his soulmate?" Elaine asked with a raised brow.
Aphrodite winced.
"That's what I thought! Sooo...maybe I AM his soulmate...and I just have to...take him with me to my dimension! So it doesn't hurt anyone here!"
Aphrodite stared at Elaine knowing that what Elaine was saying was truly what she believed. Aphrodite couldn't tell her otherwise because...she honestly didn't know.
This had never happened before and Aphrodite had never had to watch a eternal connection be broken before.
"I don't know Elaine. I just...I don't know if you're right. I just don't know what this is going to do to our dimension now that he's experienced what it feels like to..." Aphrodite stopped talking and winced again.
Elaine knew though. "To be loved back?"
Aphrodite closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I love him. I want what's best for him too. But he's tied to Xena and to Gabrielle." Aphrodite opened her eyes and stared at Elaine who looked way to calm in Aphrodite's opinion.
"He WAS tied to them. That connection that everyone keeps talking about behind my back is flimsy at best if all it took was for me telling Joxer about Gabrielle and Xena. He finds out in the future. And it devastates him then! People laugh at him because of it! It's not right Aphrodite! They don't deserve that kind of devotion from him and people making fun of what his heart can't help but feel! It's worse than a lie! And you lying to him ends now!" Elaine said causing Aphrodite to stand up a little straighter and look pissed at Elaine.
"ME lying..." Aphrodite didn't even get the anger out when Elaine whammed her.
"You need to tell him it was you Aphrodite! Everyone BUT him knows now. Hell...CYANE knows before him! He deserves to know that it may have been their face...but it was YOUR body!" Elaine said crossing her arms and becoming angry herself.
Aphrodite's eyes widened with each word Elaine said and about jumped out of her skin when she realized what Elaine wanted her to tell Joxer.
"NO WAY! I am not telling Joxer..."
"Tell me what?"
Aphrodite winced and lowered her head and then turned a guilty face towards Joxer...who looked beyond worried.
"Elaine I got those brushes from the priest and...what's going on?" Solan asked as he looked at his dad's face.
"Umm...Solan why don't you come with me and we can find some polishing cloths and wax!" Cyane said as she moved to quickly take Solan out of the temple, though Solan turned his head back to stare at his dad - Joxer gave a little nod and Solan knew he needed to do as Cyane was asking.
"Ok." Solan said and placed the brushes down and allowed Cyane to place her hand on his back and guide him outside.
Joxer turned his head and looked at Aphrodite who looked like she had been caught doing something she knew she shouldn't have been.
"Aphrodite...tell him." Elaine said firmly making Aphrodite wince as she looked up at Joxer with a look that...he had never seen before on Aphrodite.
"Tell me what?" Joxer was starting to sound panicked, knowing that whatever it was...it wasn't good.
And boy did he never expect her to say what she said.
Author's Note: I know it's a little evil to leave it there...but I really wanted to post this week! I'm dying to know what you all think...because there was A LOT in this chapter! Reviews make me type faster! Come on people! Give me some ideas or thoughts! With now reviews for the last chapter...I'm having doubts that people are reading and enjoying!