To say that she was frustrated , was not even close to describe her feelings at that very precise moment. She had defeated her share of dangerous opponents in combat, the God of War himself was testing her limits every single day- including her patience , she had been in quite a number of life threatening situations and had found last minute solutions to save herself, she had even managed to move on after Lyceus' passing without losing her mind , and yet, here she was, almost falling apart over a freaking boot.

For the first time in years, she actually regretted not having paid attention to Cyrene during those countless occasions in which the poor woman had tried -and by tried I definitely mean desperately struggled- to teach her rebellious daughter at least a few basic things that any good, decent wife was supposed to know – how to sew, how to knit, how to cook and how to properly raise a handful of farm animals….It was hopeless of course . No matter how much time and effort she put into it, young Xena simply didn't give a damn …She could still remember bits and pieces of their endless debates on the subject though :

'' Are you really that narrow minded Xena ? Do I really need to repeat myself over and over again, for you to get it through your thick skull ? No one will marry you, daughter if you don't know the first thing about maintaining a household! If you ever want to find yourself a decent husband, you listen to me, girl, you need to start thinking like a wife!''

''Well I have news for you momma, I'm not planning on getting married. Ever! Marriage is not for me and the mere idea of having a man bossing me around makes me sick to my stomach!''

''What if you fall in love , Xena? What then ? It's rare but it can happen! You might want to settle down one day and you wouldn't even be able to tell apart a carrot from a freaking celery root!''

''Oh come on ! Don't be ridiculous now! ''

''I was just trying to make a point ! Hitting all day that accursed tree with that wooden sword wouldn't help you any, Xena! Unless you want to stir the potage with it!''

''Just leave me alone, will you?! Don't you have more important things to do ?!''

This is pretty much how each and every one of their conversations ended. Quite a predictable word exchange just like the emotional pattern these dialogues usually had . And every single time, Cyrene was left almost in tears, aware that there was in fact quite a strong possibility her daughter was really not wife material and that she would most likely never experience the joy of being a mother. Needles to say, after such heated arguments, Xena always felt like a terrible person. It wasn't that she couldn't make an effort to at least pretend she cared about all those stupid things that were demanded of her, but she always had more important things to do , and her mother's house chores were never on her list ….

And now, there she was, with a torn leather boot in one hand and a needle and a thick thread in the other, staring blankly at the torn collar and at the unraveled stitching of her otherwise perfect boots, looking just as pensive as Zeus did while he was contemplating the right way to punish Prometheus for his legendary audacity…-the only difference being that at some point, the King of the Gods did come up with an idea, which couldn't really be said about our brave but completely clueless Warrior Princess.

''Hi there, beautiful!''

The War God's voice nearly gave her a heart attack. She was not expecting him around and focused as she was on the task at hand, her body refused to acknowledge his presence despite those ever so pleasant tingles she would always feel up and down her spine whenever he was near.

''Hi…..''

''Watcha doin' there ?'' he asked, taking a sit on the ground, by her side and eyeing her curiously.

''Nothing'' she swiftly interrupted, a short and breathy response that coincided with the unconscious gesture of letting everything fall to the ground as if it burnt.

''Ok…..and you're barefoot because …..?'' he cautiously inquired, while gently taking her feet in his lap and slowly beginning to massage them .

''Just trying to relax …..''she nervously replied, clearing her throat.

"What about you ? What are you doing here ?!" she immediately changed the subject, hoping he would just let it slide.

''You mean, aside from wanting to check on my absolutely fabulous protegee? ''he responded, wetting his lips as he finally noticed her dry ones, silently wondering whether after their previous kiss, it was wise or not to keep going down that treacherous road. Mixing business and pleasure was never a good idea and he knew it better than anyone …

She just chuckled softly at his answer. By the Gods, he was such a playboy! He literally had all the qualities her mother had warned her about in a man – tall, dark, handsome, dangerously seductive, dressed in leather and smelling like trouble and excitement combined….-a potentially lethal mix that she had become addicted to, despite the fact that she knew better than to fall for that ….

Still….he was simply irresistible. From his most insignificant gestures to each and every word that left his lips- effortlessly calculated for sure- he was like a magnet. There was absolutely nothing she didn't like about him, even his bloody arrogance appeared to be just right for his personality type and that piercing gaze of his…..that gaze alone could have easily neutralized any flaw he might have had …..

''Yeah…''

''Well….to kindly remind you my dear about the annual ball we are expected to attend on Olympus, and, given that you are now my Chosen, it is unconceivable for me to show up alone , especially given that everyone is just dying to meet you …''

She just had to roll her eyes at his words . The mere idea that all gods and goddesses would be watching her every move the entire night was making her sick to her stomach. She didn't like the idea, in fact she hated it with a passion.

''….and before you say anything….This is not negotiable Xena .It's protocol . It is the event during which Zeus will officially introduce you as my Chosen to the rest of the Pantheon and that is not only extremely useful but also vital for your survival …''

''Oh yeah ? And why's that ?'' she provoked although she could figure that much all by herself, withdrawing her feet from his lap and trying to get up but his firm hold prevented her from going anywhere.

'' Just bare with me here …..The instant you pledged yourself to me in front of the Fates, you became untouchable for any mortal and immortal being out there. No one can harm a hair on your head without suffering dreadful consequences….''

''Interesting. Just how dreadful ?''she demanded to know, somewhat flattered by her newly gained position.

''It usually depends on the severity of their actions. But ultimately …death ….''

''Is that so …?''

Her arched eyebrow and that brief but intense sparkle in her eyes was a clear indication that she was impressed by the news.

''Yes. And that goes for any Chosen of any major Gods out there, regardless of the pantheon they belong to.''

''Why is that ?''

'' To make a long story short, the ancient texts say that when a God makes a mortal their Chosen and when a mortal chooses to serve a God, they become one . This means that you're pretty much….mine .And nobody touches what is mine!'' he grimly announced, looking dead serious about it.

''I am not your property! '' she barked, scrunching her eyes at him, outraged by the concept.

''I never said you were.'' he smoothly contradicted, although thrilled to feel that sudden surge of anger he had detected through their bond.

''You might have phrased it differently but the meaning is still the same.''

''Your words, not mine, my dear ….'' he defended himself but his eyes were twinkling with mischief while a sweet, enigmatic smile was playing on his lips.''Anyway ….Have you thought about a dress ? ''

''A dress ?'' she inquired, letting out an exasperated sigh. ''I hate dresses!''

''Why ? Are you scared that you might just steal the spotlight from any female presence in the room ? It would be quite a spectacle to witness...''

''Right! '' she articulated, rolling her eyes again- this time more as a self defense mechanism against that chocking anxiety that was already threatening to get the better of her.

''Well, that's exactly what is going to happen if you ask me. But you have nothing to worry about. They will be jealous of you anyway, no matter what you wear. Wanna know why ?''

''No, but I'm sure you're gonna tell me ….''she mumbled, already expecting a standard ''because you have me ..''answer. She was pleasantly surprised when for once, she was wrong.

''Because you are absolutely breathtaking, Sweetheart . Even a blindman could see that. '' he smoothly whispered, taking her hand to his lips and pressing a loving kiss on the back of it. ''Anyway…..don't stress too much over the dress. You can simply leave it to my imagination. I'm sure I can come up with something elaborate enough to match your exquisite taste…'' he said, caressing her fingers.

''No need to be patronizing Ares. ''

''I wasn't. You do have excellent taste in men so I just assumed that also extends to ball gowns…'' he explained and the broad smile on his face soon reflected on the Warrior Princess' lips. It was contagious .

''You're so full of yourself!'' she exclaimed with a laugh.

''Well, I do have the most beautiful, smart and skilled Chosen on the planet, so , excuse me if my self confidence level has recently skyrocketed'' he retorted, finally crushing her lips with his own. He just couldn't take it anymore; in his book , she was the ultimate temptation and her every move, breath and gaze teased him beyond words…

''That was ….amazing …'' he whispered just inches away from her mouth when their kiss ended, her face still cradled between his palms.

She just looked at him entranced, not really knowing what to say…He had been right. What they shared was something else entirely .It was as if everything under her skin was ablaze whenever she was in his presence, but when he touched her…oh, the flames…..they would scorch everything in their path- from the soft spot between her legs to the brain and back, with a short but devastating assault on her heart…..

''Moving on to more practical things now…''he cheerfully announced, forcing her back to reality when he grabbed a hold of the leather boot that was still laying just inches from them. Let's see what you were really up to…..'' he added, slightly amused by her very mortal attitude -she was literally holding her breath, frozen in terror at the thought that he might just make fun of her- which he had no intention to, by the way. He had actually been watching her through a portal for about ten minutes before he decided to pop up and save the day, seeing that she really did need help.

With great care, he analyzed the situation and rapidly identified the problem .

''So uh…you were trying to fix this, I assume ….?''

''And I would have done it of you hadn't interrupted me ….''she retorted, visibly displeased with his intrusiveness.

One single glance and he knew it- he had been right ,she had no clue what so ever on what exactly she was supposed to do there ….And yet she was willing to try – now that was something he truly appreciated about her . That and the fact that she had obstinately refused to ask him for a new pair -despite that he had insisted countless times for her to tell him whenever she need something, anything, at any given hour- day or night .

''I'm sure you would have, darling but still….cotton threads are the worst choice when it comes to sewing leather, for it will erode sooner than you would like it to . This type here, is on the other hand ideal- he said, materializing a nylon thread out of thin air, and handing it to her to examine it. ''You can usually find it in the fishing villages along the coast. The fishermen there buy it from the merchants coming from Chin. It's very resistant and easy to use . And see how it shines? The water glides on its surface instead of being absorbed by it ''

''Interesting . I have never seen anything similar .''she remarked, lifting it up a bit into the sunlight, amazed by just how transparent it was. One could hardly notice it. ''Underwater it must be close to invisible…''she added, blown away by the realization.

'' Stick around. You might just learn a thing or two …'' he said, his lips twitching with amusement, and before she managed to reply, he was already tying a double knot and started to expertly sew the torn part of her upper boot.

''Come here.'' he invited, signaling her to take a sit by his side. '' See how it goes up and down through the first layer of leather before you spin it around and secure it just over...here ?''

''Is this part of your job description ….? ''she asked, trying hard not to burst into laughter but at the same time fascinated with him and with his willingness to teach her new things . ''…sewing …?.'' She added, thinking for a moment that her question might have sounded offensive when he didn't reply right away .

''A warrior's knowledge shouldn't be limited to wielding a sword, Xena….There are many things that might prove useful to you on a battlefield that have nothing to do with war and warfare- from sewing a boot to stitching a heavily bleeding wound there's just one step, you know ….''

For a moment she was speechless….He was indeed, right …..

''Here you go, darling ….''he said, once he had finished his part of the chore. ''I'm sure you'll do wonders with the rest of it.''

''Thank you ….'' She murmured, taking the boot from his hand and swiftly avoiding his gaze, slightly ashamed by her lack of skills when it came to the traditionally feminine department.

''As a bonus , I'll even offer you a tip ….'' he continued, noticing her discomfort. ''Try applying beeswax on their surface – that will make them waterproof. I guarantee you'll thank me during the first heavy rain ….''

''Is there anything you don't know ?!''

''Well, I'm a god and I've been around for quite some time ….Need I say more ?''

''No. I got the point. Can you cook, though ?''

''No. But I'm sure you can – Cyrene must be a goddess in the kitchen judging by the delicious smell at the tavern ….And I bet you were just about to invite me to dinner tonight ….''

The panic on the Warrior Princess' face was priceless….

''I thought gods didn't eat …..''

''Only on special occasions …..''

''Go figure …''

''Is 7 ok with you ?''

''Perfect ….'' she muttered, forcing a smile on her lips .

''Great .I'll see you then…''he added, winking at her and vanishing the very next second .

''Can this day get any better ?!'' she spat, taking a good, deep breath. For the second time that morning she wished she could turn back time and just listen to her mother for once….