Chapter 8: Unveiling Emotions

"Ares, Ares are you okay?" Emma inquired, rubbing on Ares arm. "You've been staring at the fire for at least 10 minutes now, why don't I help you loosen up." Emma stood and straddled Ares' lap. Ares, recovering from his previous vision, looked at Emma and wondered if he should go through with it.

"Emma..."

"Shhhh, don't say a word and just enjoy the ride." Emma placed her finger on his lips. She was ready to get to know him better and show him a good time.

"EMMA!" Ares thunderously exclaimed, throwing Emma onto the floor. She looked up at him in disbelief. She didn't understand what was happening. She thought their date was going perfectly. And now, Ares seemed furious with her. She wondered if she came on too strong? She was having a hard time reading him right now. Was he really upset with her or was it all a game? If he didn't want her, then why did he even bring her here in the first place? Ares swiftly leaned down next to her. He lifted her up by her neck and pinned her against the nearest wall.

"Pay attention, because what I'm about to say isn't a warning; it's a death sentence. If you ever step between me and Xena again, you'll be kissing life goodbye." Ares dropped her on the floor with a thump. "And you better not tell anyone about this if you know what's good for you. Let's go!"

Emma scrambled to her feet in complete fear, rushing towards the door. This is the first time she's seen Ares upset, ever. The negative energy that flowed from his body terrified her. It felt as if he could have murdered her without even having a second thought. How could she face him at work the next day, and the day after, and the day after that? Ares threatened her not to mention this to anybody. But he wasn't clear on which part. She figured he was referencing the part where he violently put his hands on her. Should she apologize? She wanted to, just to ensure she was still on his good side. But Ares walked so fast back to the car, she had the hardest time trying to keep up with him. Ares got in his car first and waited until Emma got in and buckled up. He grabbed the gear to put the car in drive and Emma placed her hand on top of his, stopping him. Ares immediately stared at her, and the moonlight danced across her face.

"Ares, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me earlier." Emma felt Ares snatch his hand from under hers. She could tell he was furious. She continued to speak in her apologetic voice;

"Please don't fire me." Ares looked at her, face still showing his disapproval of her actions. He sighed. She was his best employee. He wasn't going to let her go now since he decided to keep her alive. Honestly, she was the only one he trusted to run his gym when he wasn't there. He didn't look her way but decided to give her an answer.

"Emma, even though you have highly disappointed me, I prefer to keep you around at work. Consider this mercy from the Gods." Ares reached for the gear again when Emma stopped him with her question.

"Ares, who is Xena to you?" Ares put his head down, grinding his teeth. She was REALLY starting to push his buttons again.

"That question is not worthy of an answer." And with that, he put the gear in Drive and sped off.

~XA~

Xena and Gabrielle rode to the restaurant in silence. Gabrielle occasionally glanced at Xena, as she drove, wondering what could have her friend so lost in thought. "Xena.." Gabrielle touched Xena's hand softly, giving her a warm smile. Xena gave her hand a light squeeze. "We're almost there Gabrielle. You're going to love this place, trust me."

"Xena, I'm not a baby, I can fully wait until we arrive before griping if we're there yet." Xena annoyed her badly when she tried to act so oblivious sometimes. "Back at the gym, the lady at the front desk seemed very disturbed when she came to get me. What happened inside the swimming pool room?"

"I'm going to order the whole menu. I feel like I can eat a cow." Xena smiled. Great, so she's going to ignore my question, Gabrielle thought as she turned her head from Xena shaking her head.

Xena's heart skipped a beat as the images of Ares flooded her mind. She bit her lower lip thinking about the passionate kiss they shared. His words filled her soul. "Xena, I love you, from the very pits of my immortal soul, I am in love with you." Did he really love her this time? Her whole life, he's lied, deceived, manipulated her. What made him so different this go around? Was he back being the same ole Ares? But this time was not like any other time. He put thought and time into his words. He really captured her attention with his efforts. He was even gentle with her. Was this the gentler God of War that he thought he could once be?

"Xena stop! The light is red!" Gabrielle exclaimed, grabbing Xena's arm. Xena immediately slammed on the breaks.

"What the heck is wrong with you!? You could have killed us both, geez Xena, get it together." Gabrielle was becoming fed up. She knew something had happened in the pool room and it must have been a big deal since Xena was this unfocused at the mere mention of it. They continued the rest of the ride in silence. After parking, Gabrielle sighed, getting out of the car, shaking her head. She knew Xena would open up when she was ready.

Dinner was filled with loving laughter amongst the two women. Xena put the thought of Ares far off in the back of her mind, pretending that nothing happened between them. She didn't want nor need Gabrielle prying into her personal life when she wasn't even sure what was happening.

~XA~

Gabrielle brewed two cups of tea. She took her cup and sat on the couch, wrapped in her favorite throw, and grabbed a book she was reading. Xena came from the bathroom in her thigh length robe, fresh out the shower, still rubbing the towel through her wet hair.

"Thanks for the tea," Xena smiled warmly at Gabrielle.

"You're welcome to join me on the couch."

"Na, not tonight. I'm going to turn in early. Maybe tomorrow?" Xena turned away to leave.

"Xena.." Xena stopped in her tracks, "you know I'm your best friend in the whole world and you can talk to me about anything."

"I know." Xena walked to Gabrielle and placed her hand on her shoulder, rubbing it lightly. "See you in the morning." Gabrielle smiled back understanding she wanted to be alone, so she slipped on her headphones, indulging in her book.

~XA~

After Ares finally returned home from dropping Emma off, he wanted to relax. Fully relax. He sprawled across his couch and stared at the stars outside. His mind drifted to him and Xena in the pool room. The way she casually smiled at him while they were playing Uno. The worried look on her face when she couldn't find him in the water. The way their tongues danced a waltz of desire after finally sharing a kiss after so long. Only if he could have heard her reply. Would this have been the moment that she said she loved him too? Ares was hopeful that she felt something during their interaction today.

"Oh yea, she's going to be calling me any moment now to confess her love," he snickered knowing that part wasn't true. But the anticipation of knowing how she felt about him ate at his immortal heart. He had to know how she felt about him. He was feeling proud of how he poured his heart out, in full honesty. His mind almost drifted back to Emma's betrayal, but he had to quickly shoo that out his mind before he reacted to it.

~XA~

Xena crawled in her bed, but she knew sleep wasn't going to come anytime soon. "O my Luve is like a red, red rose; That's newly sprung in June." She picked up the rose from her nightstand, smelling it again. Her heart fluttered lightly.

"Ares, what are you trying to do to me?" she said while twirling the rose between her fingers.

"Love you." Ares said, materializing, sitting next to her on her bed. Xena immediately stood up and went to lock her door. Ares inhaled her intoxicating scent as she walked by.

"Always the one to show up uninvited," Xena turned back towards him, shaking her head. She sat down on the recliner in the corner of the room and pulled her robe tighter around her body. Ares ran his eyes up her lean legs and stopped at her thighs. Gods, she was everything he wanted. He longed to reach out and caress them. Clearing his throat he nervously replied..

"Xena, what I said earlier today, I meant it. Every word." Ares didn't want to look at her now, the silence eating him alive.

"Ares, how do I know this isn't your little scheme to pull me back to the dark side?"

"As much as I loved that Xena, you don't. I love you for who you are now, not who you were." Xena sighed and started to pace the room. She looked at Ares for a brief moment and then continued to pace. She then took a seat next to him, leaving an ample amount of space.

"Ares, as much as I want to believe you, I feel like I still can't trust you. All the thoughts of our past come rushing back like a flood. You trying to convince me to kill my mother, you trying to hit on Gabrielle, you trying to ..."

"Okay, okay, I get it already."

"No!" Xena pointed her finger towards Ares, "You do not get to cut me off because you don't want to hear your transgressions. When I actually needed your help the most out of my life, you could only bargain for me to give you a child. How is that love huh? Huh?" she said, pushing him in the chest. Irritated, she got up from next to him.

"Xena, you can't tell me that you didn't feel anything today."

"I felt nothing," she replied with disgust.

"HERE WE GO WITH THE B.S. AGAIN!" Ares exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. Xena put her hand over his mouth signaling him he was too loud.

"Ares, you've been a soulless bastard and always will be," she said with her back towards him. Ares was silent. He already knew he had messed up back then.

"Ah okay, so we're going to act like I didn't give up my Godhood by saving Eve and Gabrielle, okay gotcha." Ares was starting to become irritated with her actions. He took a deep breath trying to remember how Aphrodite told him to handle the situation. The longer he thought about how Xena was accusing him of so many bad deeds, he became infuriated. Xena vigorously turned his way, staring him in his eyes.

"When you were the sorry pathetic mortal, I helped you without bargain. I even found somewhere for your sorry ass to stay without expecting anything in return. Oh, and let's not forget what I went through to get the golden apple to return you to your mantle, again without asking anything from you in RETURN! So don't you dare stand here and make it seem like your one good deed outweighs all the other crap I've had to put up with. Like I said, you're still a soulless bastard and I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you. GET OUT." Xena pushed past him and crawled in her bed with her back towards him. Ares was just about to leave but instead he tried a different approach. He bent down next to where she was laying in the bed and kissed her cheek. Xena closed her eyes at the touch. Seeing that she didn't object to his touch, he nibbled on her ear and whispered "I'm sorry," disappearing without another word. A single tear ran down Xena's cheek as she drifted off to sleep.