Chapter 22: Eternal Pledge

Friday. Once again, the gym was swamped with training for both Ares and Xena. Xena seemed to attract the lustful men and the women that were more comfortable with a woman. Ares attracted most of the men that were serious about their training and the lustful women that desired his attention anyway it was offered. Xena recalled the day as she showered...

Ares was training a lady while Xena worked with her client. They were next to each other at the cable pulley machine. Xena demonstrated the squat while she explained the proper form. Xena's client, also a lady, struggled but she achieved it. Xena coached her on. Ares demonstrated the same squat for his client. Once his client lifted the bar, that is when the show started.

"Oooh Ares, the bar is soo heavy." Ares reexamined the weight on the bar, 5lbs. There was no way that the bar was too heavy with this small of weight. His client wasn't no Xena but he knew other mortals were not this weak. He disregarded her statement. Ares then noticed her form was all wrong.

"Your form is wrong. Un arch your back." Xena watched the lady from her peripheral as she also watched her client. His client wasn't even trying, she could tell that much.

"Can you guide me into the right position from behind?" Ares hesitantly positioned himself behind her.

"Open your legs some, so your knees won't touch."

"Oh, I'll open as wide as you need them." Xena and her client's heads shot over to them to see what was going on. From what Xena could tell, Ares was enjoying his client's ridiculous antics. Ares helped her down into her squat, as she purposely tried to rub her butt against him as she went down. Xena turned her lip up. When she realized her client was watching her, she smiled lightly, almost out of embarrassment.

"Ohh Ares, help me, I can't raise it back up." Ares took the bar from her with ease. She turned to face him.

"My, you're so strong, like a God," she flirtatiously told him as she twisted on a strand of her hair. Ares gave her a goofy smile. Xena loudly cleared her throat. Ares immediately dropped his smile, and they went to the next area to continue their training. Xena picked up her water to take a drink. Her client came closer to whisper to her,

"Oh, what I wouldn't give for one time with him. You know what I mean?" She playfully nudged Xena. Xena choked on her water. She wasn't expecting a comment like that from her. However, she definitely knew what she meant.

~XA~

Xena wrapped herself in her silk robe and rubbed the towel in her wet hair, as she walked out the bathroom. Ares was sprawled across the bed. He beckoned her to him. It was late evening and she was ready for her dinner. She crawled under his embrace, speaking first..

"Well, today was interesting. The women can't seem to get enough of you." She turned to face him, straddling his lap. She ran her fingers through his curls.

"And I can't either." She took his lips within her mouth for a deep sensual kiss. When she kissed him like that, he lost all control. It drove his mind wild! He ran his hands underneath her robe and gripped her ass tightly. She moaned in his mouth, enjoying the feel of him. His cock hardened as her wet center coated its shaft.

"Xena." He growled in between kisses.

"Ares." She whispered his name back. That was it! He couldn't wait any longer. He flipped her on her back and slid into her. Not giving her body time to adjust, he began thrusting animalistically. Xena gripped the sheets. The headboard banged loudly against the wall as it shook with each powerful thrust. The whole bed shook, as if it was going to collapse under the god's powerful plunges. Xena hadn't seen this side of him before. Normally, he would make love to her, very sensually. But now, he was really giving it to her, as if trying to feed an unquenchable hunger.

He placed his powerful hand around her neck partially, cutting off her windpipe. This excited her. Abruptly, he rolled her onto her stomach and her hips into him, continuing his hungry thrusts. He held onto her hips with one hand and pulled her hair with the other, causing her to arch more into him. Sweat was pouring off her body as her body temperature skyrocketed. She knew she was experiencing the full magnitude of the war god. She could get used to this rough sex. Ares filled her and collapsed on top of her. It ran out of her soaking the sheets. Her limbs were so numb, she couldn't move. She couldn't even touch him. All she could do was lay there and catch her breath. The god had taken her on a ride of her life.

~XA~

Monday, two Weeks Later. Xena awoke to Gabrielle knocking at her door. She groggily turned over in her bed, her eyes threatening to close again. She heard the doorknob turning.

"Xena, are you off today? It's not like you to sleep this long."

"What time is it?" she asked with her eyes still closed.

"10am." Her eyes shot open.

"What! I was supposed to be at work two hours ago." She rushed out the bed and grabbed her phone. 8 missed calls, none from Ares. However, all of the numbers did come from the gym's main line. She decided to get ready and head to work. She would explain everything after she got there.

~XA~

She hurriedly walked to her desk as she heard Emma's voice.

"I've been calling you all morning. I wasn't made aware that you were working half a day today. Mr. Ares has been training all morning. He even handled YOUR client that you weren't here for." Xena shook her head and kept walking. She didn't owe Emma an explanation anyway. Now Ares, that was another story.

She unlocked her office door and sat down her things. She was out of breath and feeling lightheaded. She chalked it up to the hastiness of her movements. She let out a deep breath, trying to calm herself, laying her head down on her desk. She heard her door open. It was Ares.

"Sweet, are you okay? You don't look so well. When you didn't show up earlier this morning, I didn't think anything of it. If you're sick, please Xe, go back home and rest. You know I can handle your clients for you." Xena raised her head off the desk and stood up. Her head was still spinning. She hugged him, trying to hide it all from him. If he thought for one second she was ill, he would send her home, whether he had to take her there on his own.

"I'm fine," she lied, "I just overslept. Phone was on silent." She gave him a convincing smile. He just stared at her with a concerned look. He knew she was lying. However, if he tried to push her, it would only cause a scene. So he left it alone. He watched her slowly walk out the office, heading towards the restroom.

~XA~

Saturday. Xena woke up to Ares massaging her scalp. His manipulations felt divine. She positioned herself more comfortably in his arms. His blankets were so soft and he had them wrapped tightly in them. She loved being in his bed. Even when he wasn't in bed with her, she still could feel his love, his power, radiating all around her. His smell lingered on every inch of the fabrics.

"Xena, I have a surprise for you later today. Be ready at 8pm. I have a few things to take care of so I'll see you later." He wrapped his arm around her lower back and kissed her. When she opened her eyes again, she was back in her bed. She broke out in a mild sweat, feeling sick to her stomach. She rushed to the toilet and vomited. She weakly got up and exited her room.

She walked in the kitchen and the aroma of breakfast cooking filled the atmosphere. Usually, this smell made her stomach growl, but this time, it made her sick. She quickly opened the window and stuck her head outside. Gabrielle looked at her strangely.

"Um, Xena. Are you okay?" she inquired as she put the biscuits in the oven.

"Yea," she said panting, trying to keep her nausea in check, "I just need some fresh air." Gabrielle walked closer to Xena and noticed how pale she was. She placed her hand on her lower back and saw her skin glistening. She walked away and returned with a glass of cold water.

"Here, drink something. Your skin feels clammy. Are you sure you're okay?" Xena took the water from her and took a sip. As soon as the water hit her stomach, she threw it all up out the window. Gabrielle stepped back and smiled at her. Chuckling, she went into the kitchen to grab Xena a paper towel so she could clean herself. Xena dropped down to her knees. She was spent. Gabrielle sat down on the floor next to her and pulled her head onto her shoulder.

"Xena, I think you should see a doctor."

"No, just take me to the store. I need to pick up something." Gabrielle turned off their cooking food and drove Xena to their nearest store. She didn't go inside, as she respected Xena's privacy, sometimes. Xena went straight to her restroom when she returned back home, putting the purchased product to use. She hastily paced her bathroom, as she waited those 15 long minutes. After what felt like a whole day, she looked at the results, two blue lines. She covered her mouth as her eyes swelled with tears, running down her cheeks. She wrapped the test in tissue and placed it at the bottom of the garbage.

~XA~

Ares arrived on time, dressed in an all black suit. He had his hair gelled back. He took her breath away. He was so devilishly handsome! She got butterflies in her stomach just by looking at him. She was glad that she had gotten dressed up too. She thought it would be something formal since he was picking her up at night. She had on a simple red halter mini dress. Her black hair cascaded beautifully down her back, the perfect contrast. She placed very soft waves in her hair. Ares held his arm out.

"Are you ready beautiful?" She stepped into his embrace and lightly kissed him.

"Yes." He materialized them in an open, grassy plain. She was confused. What kind of surprise was going to take place in a big dark field? He took her hand and materialized a hot air balloon. Her smile lit up the night. He took her hand and led her to the small opening of the basket, helping her inside lovingly. He entered after her and secured the door. With a wave of his hand, the burner lit, and they began to slowly sail across the air. The sight was breathtaking. Xena felt like she could see the whole city below her, tiny lights lit up everywhere. She looked at random houses and imagined what the various families in those houses could be doing at this very moment. Ares loved that she was enjoying the ride. He walked behind her and pulled her close within his embrace, wrapping his hands around her waist and holding on to her tightly. He leaned his head next to hers, getting high off of her scent.

He materialized an assortment of finger food and wine for them to snack on. He wasn't sure if Xena had eaten dinner prior to their date. Xena looked at everything and felt bad. There was no way she was going to eat anything. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep down a meal. She picked up a cracker and nibbled slowly. Ares looked at her inquisitively.

"Only a cracker looked appetizing?" he teased.

"I ate right before you picked me up," she lied. Ares felt she wasn't being honest but again, decided not to question it. He pointed to the sky.

"Xena, look at the stars there and don't move." Xena stared at the night sky. She saw a few stars twinkling in the dark sky. Then, the stars began to move. Such a phenomenon was something she had never seen before. Pensively, she stared, trying to figure out what was happening. All of a sudden, the stars formed words one by one saying, Will You Marry Me? Xena grabbed her chest and turned around to face Ares. He was down on one knee holding a massive ring in his hand, smiling deeply. She placed her hand over her mouth as her eyes swelled. He spoke first...

"Xena," he began, his voice a resonant blend of power and vulnerability.

"I've conquered realms, led armies, and reveled in the chaos of battle, but none of those victories compare to the joy you've brought into my life. You're the fierce warrior who conquered my heart, and I stand before you, not as the God of War, but as a man deeply in love." Xena listened intently.

"I want more than battles and conquests," Ares continued. "I want a lifetime of shared moments, facing challenges together, and basking in the warmth of your love. This hot air balloon, floating in the vastness of the night, symbolizes the boundless possibilities ahead for us."

He took her hand, the moonlight dancing on their intertwined fingers. "Xena, will you share this journey with me? Will you be my Queen?" She looked into his eyes. Is this what she wanted? Did she really love him? She closed her eyes and let the moment overtake her. Yes. Yes, everything felt perfect. The atmosphere, the mood, their love. It all felt right. He stood up waiting for her answer. His eyes were nervous, trying to read her expression. She shook her head yes.

"Yes?" he asked, making sure he wasn't misunderstanding. She shook her head in agreement. He swept her off her feet, spinning her around and kissed her lovingly. As the hot air balloon gently touched down under the moonlit sky, Ares and Xena shared a quiet moment, the night casting a soft glow on their faces. With the moon as their witness, Ares and Xena embraced, their hearts beating in harmony. In the serenity of the night, they knew that this proposal marked the start of a beautiful chapter in their love story. Aphrodite boohooed as she watched them on her portal, wiping her eyes with the softest pink cloth. She was so proud of Ares, her heart burst. He had finally won the woman of his dreams.