Chapter 39: Fuzzy

Ares stirred from his sleep, his mind feeling muddy and unclear. He tried to shift his body but felt a heaviness on his chest. His hand drifted to the object to feel what it was. It was another body. As he blinked away the heaviness of sleep, he glanced down at Xena, his thoughts slowly sharpening as he looked at her beside him. With a gentle touch, he brushed a strand of hair from her face before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Good morning, my love," he muttered, his voice carrying warmth despite the lingering haze in his mind. As he helped her with their usual morning routine and escorted her downstairs, he ensured she was settled before telling her goodbye and heading off to work. Xena and Ashley sat down to enjoy their breakfast together.

~XA~

During his training sessions, Ares was approached by some members inquiring about Xena and the baby. Pausing for a moment, his mind momentarily blanked out before he collected his thoughts,

"Uh... she's... uh... Xena and the baby are doing well, thank you for asking. We appreciate your concern." The members nodded with understanding, but their expressions showed a hint of confusion as they observed Ares' response. Their puzzled looks lingered, silently questioning why Ares seemed to hesitate before reassuring them about Xena and the baby's well-being. Throughout the day, he found himself struggling to focus as members inquired about his family. Each question left him grasping for answers while his mind continued to draw blanks.

~XA~

Ares stood behind the gym's front desk, his thoughts still cloudy by the confusion that had been hanging over him all day. Despite his efforts to focus on training Amber, his thoughts kept drifting back to the unsettling blank moments he had experienced when asked about Xena and the baby.

As he supervised Amber's training, the gym was unusually quiet, providing a rare opportunity for conversation. Amber turned towards him with a warm smile, breaking the silence.

"Mr. Ares," she began, her voice friendly, "I met your wife, Xena, wasn't it?" Ares blinked, momentarily taken back by her question.

"Yes, her name is Xena," he confirmed, though his response felt uncertain, as if the name was unfamiliar to him. Amber noticed his hesitation but pressed on, eager to engage in conversation.

"Is this your first baby?" Ares nodded, a proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Yes, it's our first." His voice filled with excitement. Amber's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Do you know what you're having?" Ares' smile widened as he nodded.

"We're counting down the days until we get to meet our little warrior." Amber could sense Ares' genuine affection for his family, his love, and anticipation.

"You seem really excited."

"I am," he admitted.

"My family means everything to me." As the conversation continued, Ares found himself opening up to Amber, sharing stories about his life outside of the gym. Despite the lingering sense of confusion that still nagged at him, he felt a brief moment of clarity and connection, grateful for the distraction that Amber's presence provided.

~XA~

As he scrolled through his phone, a message from Xena flashed on the screen. He frowned at the message.

Hey love, just checking in. How's your day going?

Ares stared at the message for a moment, his mind struggling to think of a response. Why did he feel so disconnected, so distant from simply replying to his wife's text? With a shake of his head, he put his phone back in his pocket.

Minutes went by, and Xena's message stayed in Ares' mind like a lingering thought. Unable to ignore the uneasy feeling any longer, he picked up his phone again and read her message.

Hey Xe, sorry for the delay. My day's been...busy. How about you?

As he hit send, Ares couldn't help but feel guilty at his initial hesitation to reply. What was happening to him? With a heavy sigh, he pushed aside his concerns, hoping that the simple act of responding to Xena's message would offer a connection in the midst of his broken thoughts.

~XA~

The birds sung their sweet tunes, that matched the easy laughter and chatter of the women gathered there. Xena sat on a plush cushion, her hand resting lightly on her belly as she listened to Gabrielle recounting one of her latest work adventures. Her ring sparkled in the sunlight. Aphrodite reclined gracefully nearby on a pink fur bench, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she exchanged playful banter with Ashley.

As the afternoon unfolded, Xena felt contentment settle over her. Having her closest friends and her new caregiver together in one place felt like a small blessing amidst the chaos of her pregnancy. Ashley's friendly attitude and real interest in their talks quickly won over Gabrielle and Aphrodite, and any doubts they had about her disappeared as they got to know her.

But in the middle of all the laughter and casual conversation, Aphrodite noticed something that made her stop. Beneath Ashley's pleasant demeanor, there lurked a shadow. There was something off behind Ashley's friendly smile—a slight change in how her eyes moved around the garden, almost like she was looking for something hidden. Aphrodite felt a bit uneasy, like a quiet warning was trying to get her attention.

Sensing an opportunity to speak privately, Aphrodite gently pulled Xena away from the group with a serious expression as she turned to face her friend.

"Xena, darling, there's something I need to tell you," she began, her voice low with concern.

"I couldn't help but notice...there's something off about Ashley." Xena frowned in confusion, her hand instinctively drifting to rest against the curve of her belly.

"What do you mean?" she asked as her heart rate picked up. Aphrodite hesitated.

"It's difficult to explain," she admitted.

"But there's a...discrepancy, if you will, between her outward demeanor and the energy I sense within her. It's as if her heart is not fully engaged, as if there's a veil of illusion covering her true feelings. I feel like her heart is black." Xena's stomach churned with anxiety, her mind racing with questions and doubts. Could it be true that the person they had welcomed into their home had secrets and hidden motives? With a heavy sigh, she turned to Aphrodite,

"I hear you, Aphrodite." Her voice was reluctant.

"But let's not jump to conclusions just yet. Ashley has been nothing but kind and attentive since she arrived. Perhaps we're reading too much into things." Aphrodite's expression softened with understanding, her hand reaching out to grasp Xena's.

"Of course, my dear," she said with a gentle tone.

"But remember, trust your instincts. They rarely lead you astray."

As Ashley excused herself to fetch refreshments from inside the house, Xena leaned in close to Gabrielle,

"Gabrielle, I need to ask you something," she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Do you sense anything...off about Ashley?" Gabrielle creased her brow in thought, her gaze looking towards the house before returning to meet Xena's eyes.

"Honestly, Xena, she seems perfectly genuine to me. She's been nothing but helpful and friendly since she arrived. Why do you ask?" Xena's lips curved into a faint smile, though her thoughts still swirled with uncertainty.

"It's probably nothing. Aphrodite mentioned something earlier, but I'm not sure if I'm just being paranoid." Gabrielle reached out to place a comforting hand on Xena's arm.

"You're under a lot of stress, Xena. It's natural to feel a little anxious, especially with everything that's been happening. But trust your instincts. If something feels off, it's worth paying attention to." Xena nodded, a sense of gratitude washing over her.

"Thanks, Gabrielle. I appreciate your honesty. Let's just enjoy the day and not worry too much about it for now." With a shared smile, Xena and Gabrielle returned their attention to the garden, the warmth of the sun and the sound of laughter washing away the lingering shadows of doubt. But deep down, a hint of doubt started to take root, and it would keep bothering Xena long after the day had turned into night.

~XA~

Aphrodite walked into the gym, heading straight for Ares' office with a serious look on her face. Men whistled at her and she blushed as she tried to remain focused on her task at hand.

"Ares, we need to talk." Ares turned to her, a hint of surprise in his eyes at her serious demeanor.

"What's on your mind, Dite?" Taking a deep breath, Aphrodite launched into her concerns about Ashley, her words coming in a rush as she explained her suspicions to Ares.

"There's something not right about Ashley. I can sense it, Ares. Her heart...it's not where it should be." Ares listened, but a skeptical expression crossed his face as Aphrodite spoke. He shook his head, dismissing her words with a wave of his hand.

"You're reading too much into it, Aphrodite," he insisted.

"Ashley has been nothing but helpful and kind since she arrived. I don't see any reason to doubt her intentions." Aphrodite's concern only deepened at Ares' dismissal of her warnings.

"Ares, please," she begged.

"I know it's hard to believe but trust me on this. There's something off about her, and we need to be vigilant." But Ares remained unconvinced, his faith in Ashley strong. He started going on about how great their new caregiver was, talking her up and brushing off Aphrodite's worries with a confident grin. Feeling defeated, Aphrodite could do little more than shake her head as she turned to leave.

"I hope you're right, Ares," she said, her voice heavy with worry.

"But please, be careful. Something tells me we haven't seen the last of this." Aphrodite walked away feeling heavy-hearted, leaving Ares alone with her words. Even though he tried to focus on his work, a bit of doubt stuck with him, no matter how hard he tried to shake it off.

~XA~

Xena's gaze followed Ares with anticipation as he walked through the door. She expected him to come straight to her, as he always did, to check on her well-being. But today was different. Ares walked right past her without a glance and disappeared upstairs. Xena's heart skipped a beat, worry igniting in her chest.

She watched as he returned downstairs, his demeanor seemingly back to normal. Relief washed over her as he took her into his arms, his lips meeting hers in a tender kiss. She snuggled into his embrace, though a nagging feeling of unease lingered at the back of her mind.

Her attention was drawn to Ashley as she walked by them on the couch. The casual brush of her fingers against Ares' head sent a jolt of alarm through Xena. There it was! It was a subtle gesture, barely noticeable to anyone else, but to Xena, it was a glaring red flag.

She kept her thoughts to herself, choosing instead to make a mental note of the interaction. Something about it didn't sit right with her, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. With a forced smile, Xena turned her attention back to Ares, burying her concerns. She snuggled closer into his embrace, seeking the comfort she had grown accustomed to.

But instead of reacting the same way, Ares turned to her with a confused look on his face, like he couldn't quite figure out why she was touching him. Xena's concern grew as she looked into his eyes.

"Ares, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice filled with worry. For a moment, Ares blinked, as if trying to clear his thoughts. Then, he frowned his brows.

"I'm fine. Just got a lot on my mind lately." His arms encircled her, pulling her closer into his embrace, but the confusion in his eyes remained, casting a shadow over their moment of intimacy.

Xena's heart sank as she studied Ares' expression. His words were reassuring, but his eyes betrayed him. There was a distance, a disconnection that she couldn't ignore. The way he held her felt different—mechanical, almost as if he were going through the motions rather than actually being present in the moment. She leaned back just enough to look at him fully, her gaze searching his face for any sign of recognition, of the spark they always shared. But it wasn't there.

"Ares," she whispered, her fingers tracing lightly along his jawline. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

His grip tightened slightly, but his eyes darted away, focusing on something behind her, anything but the depth of concern in her gaze.

"There's nothing to talk about," he muttered, his tone becoming frustrated. Xena's chest tightened. She bit her lip, weighing her words carefully, not wanting to push too hard, but also not wanting to let him slip further away.

"I know when something's wrong," she pressed softly, her hand resting on his chest.

"You've never been able to hide anything from me." He finally met her eyes, and for a mere second, she thought she saw something familiar, a flicker of the man she knew. But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by a cold, distant mask. He gave her a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You're overthinking it, Xena. I'm fine." Before she could respond, he shifted his position, gently but deliberately pulling away from her embrace.

"I need some air," he said abruptly, standing up and heading towards the door. Xena watched him go, her stomach twisting in knots.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Xena sat in stunned silence. Her mind raced, trying to piece together what had just happened. Something was very wrong with Ares, and the more she thought about it, the more certain she became that this wasn't just stress. She glanced toward the staircase where Ashley had disappeared earlier. Her fingers brushed against her lips where Ares had kissed her, but that kiss had felt hollow, empty.

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Was Ashley somehow involved in this change in Ares?