Chapter 4: Inner Turmoil

Xena was scheduled to lead a hiking adventure today. For the hiking adventure, all the applicants were to meet up with her at an assigned location and time within the state park. Upon reaching the destination, Xena observed dark clouds looming above. The scent of rain lingered in the air, accompanied by a flurry of cancellation text messages. Each message cited an impending storm as the reason for withdrawal from the event. She decided since everyone had cancelled, she would take a day to herself to hike and just enjoy nature. She always preferred to be alone. It enabled her to truly clear her mind and become one with her surroundings. She sat down near a large oak and stretched her legs forward, taking in the vibrant wilderness that blossomed before her. Before she knew it, her heart drifted to Gabrielle. They had shared many days and nights in a forest similar to this one. What I wouldn't give to hear her tell me one of her lame stories over a bowl of stew, she thought to herself. Not wanting to sink into a depressive state, she decided it was time to get up and start her trail.

Before she could leave, she heard footsteps coming her way. She decided she would wait to see who it was just in case one of her applicants changed their mind. Xena saw the figure walking towards her was a petite woman but she couldn't see her face since she had her hat pulled down pretty low because the rain was starting to softly fall.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, is this the hiki..."

"Ga..Gab..Gabrielle!" Xena exclaimed running to her. Once Gabrielle realized who it was, she began to run towards her too. They embraced each other in a very long and happy hug.

"Xena, I just woke up here one day out the blue, no idea how I got here."

"So did I, so did I," Xena said smiling, so happy to finally see a familiar face.

"Do you remember anything Xena? I have most of my Greece memories, but nothing really on this place."

"Yea, I'm in the same boat."

That afternoon, Xena and Gabrielle camped together in the middle of the forest after they finished their hike, laughing and talking about their good ole days until their eyes could no longer stay open.

~XA~

A few weeks had passed since the two women reconnected with each other. They learned so much about each other. Xena learned that Gabrielle was employed as an Educator. Gabrielle, not happy with her current living arrangements, decided to move into the empty bedroom at Xena's cottage. Xena was thrilled to have companionship again, she felt almost complete, almost. One night while Gabrielle was telling Xena about one of her students, Xena's mind wondered who else was in this modern world with them. Her mind drifted to Ares. She smiled softly.

"Xena, can you believe he actually said that?" Gabrielle said while washing dishes.

"Wow, that's crazy," Xena replied, not having any clue what Gabrielle was talking about.

"Okay Xena, I'm not brand new here, what's going on?" Gabrielle asked as she laid down the dish towel.

"What do you mean?" Xena said with a straight face.

"Xena, you haven't heard a word I said for the past hour. I wasn't even talking about a male." Xena's face flushed slightly red with embarrassment.

"I've been wondering who else could be here in this modern world," Xena sighed.

"By who else, do you have anyone in particular you were thinking about?"

"I don't know maybe Joxer, Aphrodite, and Ares,'' she replied but saying Ares name under her breath.

"ARES! How could you even wonder if he was here. Xena, we finally have peace without him dropping in and nagging you every time he thought you faced the slightest inconvenience. We don't have to worry about him constantly trying to manipulate you, deceive you, convince you to go against what you know is right..."

"Alright, Alright, ALRIGHT!" Xena said, cutting Gabrielle off, not wanting to hear anything else negative about him. She got up off the couch and went to her bedroom.

Of course, Gabrielle only talked about the bad parts, she thought. She wasn't there in Tartarus with me when Ares tried to convince me that he loved me, she wasn't there outside in the rain when he told me he loved me, she wasn't there when Ares thought he killed me and the way he screamed in pain and sincerely told me he loved me.

Xena then had a flashback about their kiss at Livia's party. The way her body was on fire when he put his lips on hers. The way she wished he zapped them away from there, at that very moment, to somewhere private where they could rekindle all night. Then Xena laughed out loud, "I'm losing it," she voiced shaking her head. She crawled into the bed and drifted off to sleep, still thinking about her favorite God dressed in black.

~XA~

At the same time, Ares was facing his own inner turmoil. The gym was slow, and Ares hadn't left for the night. It was pretty late, and the full moon was high. He sat inside his office, on the love seat, lost in thought when Emma, an employee, came to sit next to him. "Earth to Mr. Ares,'' she teased.

"Hey Emma, you need me somewhere?" After Ares asked his question, he didn't hear anything Emma said. He was back lost in thought thinking about his warrior princess. "You still don't get it. I would sooner die in your arms...than live without you in mine. You know what they say? Blood is thicker than water...but blood runs hardest when love is involved. I want you back of course. My warrior princess living as my warrior queen. We were once a great match."

Emma noticed Ares distant stare into nothingness. She slowly rubbed her hand down his muscular arm. When he didn't stop her, she kept going lower, until she felt Ares powerful hand gripping hers. "Try that again and you'll be in the unemployment line."

"I'm sorry Mr. Ares, I thought you were single, as I didn't see a ring on your finger. I didn't mean to offend you," Emma slowly batted her lashes in his face, looking deep into his mesmerizing eyes, while retracking her hand out of his powerful grip. When she noticed she wasn't going to get a response from him, she got up and left. "I'll make him notice me, he looks too good to be going home alone every night," Emma thought as she went back down to the main floor.

As Ares mind raced thinking about their past encounters, he wondered did he really push her too far? "I'm more than willing to fight beside you...be a father to Eve...and to a child...of our own. Now, all I'm asking is your word we will be together...have a child...and I'll make all this go away. I swear. Dreams can come true, Xena. Give me...a child. Hey, Xena- have a change of heart? Well, my offer still stands. I'm willing to protect you and your child...at no small amount of personal risk, I might add."

"Yep, I messed this up BIG TIME," he said, while he clapped his hands thunderously. "There's no way she's going to care to hear anything I have to say at this point." He sighed and ran his fingers through his long curls.

~XA~

The sun rose bright and early, as it always did. When Xena rolled over, she smelled breakfast cooking. She unhurriedly rose out the bed and put on her robe. Before exiting her room, she looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't have bangs, like she wore in her ancient days, she wore a middle part. No longer worried about her appearance, she left her room.

"That smells amazing," she complimented Gabrielle as she walked into the kitchen.

"Xena, I'm sorry about last night.'' Xena raised her hand not wanting to discuss it further.

"It's really okay Gabrielle, I slightly overreacted. How about we visit this new gym I ran across after our food settles."

"That sounds like a great idea."

Xena and Gabrielle enjoyed their breakfast with laughter and a sense of camaraderie that had weathered the ages, savoring not just the flavors of the meal, but the timeless friendship that made each moment together feel like a cherished chapter in their shared story.