‘Till Next Time
by Cora2000
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters ( though I wouldn’t have a problem with that!), they actually belong to MCA, Universal and Renaissance Pictures. They are being used for fan fiction purposes only and I’m making no profit from it.
Subtext: No, I don’t really like the idea of seeing more than real good friends in Gab and Xena!
Violence: Well, this is a Xena story but there’s no violence in this one.
Rated: PG-13 (It’s dramatic, so if you’re disturbed with that, nobody forces you to read on. )
Summary: Athena killed the baby Eve. Gabrielle is alive and Xena hadn’t seen Ares since her daughter was killed.
Authors Note: Story takes place after/ in MOTHERHOOD. When Xena tried to kill herself with the poison Ares stops her in this story too. Gabrielle is really dead and Eve was really in the wagon and is dead too. Now she has to deal with all these events.
Feed Back: I would love to have some feed back, good or not. Hey, I have to learn, right?! ‘kay here’s my mail: Cora2000@a-topmail.at
It was before sunrise when Xena awoke. She didn’t know why she hadn’t sensed him sooner. The fire had nearly burned down but she was still able to make out the dark figure on the other side of the dying fire. She didn’t know how long he was sitting there by now but she was going to ask him.
Carefully, not to wake up Gabrielle, she slipped out of her bedroll and made her way through the nearby woods, not even looking back to make sure he would follow. As soon as she was sure Gabrielle wouldn’t hear them she turned around, just to see that he wasn’t there.
Stunned she spun around again and when he didn’t show up she was getting angry. She twisted around and headed back to the camp when she sensed him. But it was to late. They bumped into one another, both too surprised to react, fell to the ground.
Xena laid on top of him, staring down at the god of war, who was just staring back at her, not moving, not saying a word, just looking up into her ice blue eyes.
And then the magic moment was gone and Ares let out a loud sigh.
A: You can’t imagine how long I’ve waited for this to happen.
Xena smirked down at him.
X: I have a fair idea but I’m sorry, you have to go on waiting for it.
With that she sat up, still pinning him to the ground by sitting on top of him.
X: What are you doing here and what do you want?
A: Oh my dear Xena, always so irritating ,Lets-get-right-to-the-point".
And dam it I LIKE IT!
He roared the last words. Bending forward Xena put a hand onto his mouth afraid that he would wake Gabrielle. She listened carefully and then realized that Ares had started to kiss the palm of her covering hand. Stunned she pulled her hand back, a puzzled look on her face she stared down at the god of war.
X: What do you want?!
A: I just wanted to see you.
X: Yeah, sure! Well you saw me, you can go now.
A: Ahm, well I think I would do so but first of all you would have to get off me,….. but
Because I know you like it where you are right now,…. Hey, just stay as long as you want
to.
Her eyes grew wide when she realized that she was still sitting on him. She lazily got up, offering Ares a hand and helped him to get up. Forgetting to take a step back they end up standing nose to nose. She was able to feel his breath against her lips. She looked up into his eyes, he was looking into hers, still holding her hand.
A: I’m sorry.
She looked deep into his eyes just to see that he was telling the truth. He squeezed her hand, still looking into her eyes.
She couldn’t stop the tears whelming up in her blue eyes. She felt so lost and lonely, he hadn’t been there when Athena killed her daughter. Xena was going to kill herself but Gabrielle stopped her.
FLASHBACK:
Gabrielle crying, holding Xenas face in her hands.
G: Look at me! Look at me! Listen: WE-WILL-STAND-THIS-THROUGH-TOGETHER! Did you hear me?
TOGETHER!
She whispered.
X: Always.
Xena whispered back.
She hadn’t cried since that day, she hadn’t even opened up to Gabrielle, she refused to talk about her daughter . Every time she thought about her she felt like dying inside. Something inside of her had been broken that day.
Eve had been her greatest hope and now she was dead and had lost another child.
Somehow Ares broke the wall she built up around herself just by saying that he was sorry.
The anger built up inside of her, the helplessness, the frustration and the deep never ending hurt was now going to come down at her with al its might. She started to shiver. So much feelings; she wasn’t able to deal with them. Using all her willpower she forced them back into the depths of her soul.
Coldly she glanced up at Ares.
X: Since when do you care!? Leave me alone!
With that she fiercely spun around, walking in another direction, trying to get as much space between them as possible. She had to sort out her feelings or just put them back where they belonged so that they would never ever be able to come out again.
She was nearly running when Ares appeared in front of her stopping her dead in (her) tracks.
His voice was soft and gentle.
A: Xena, I know you. If you believe me or not… I loved her too.
X: Leave me alone.
Her voice was a dangerous low growl.
A: You’re screaming inside. I know you to well. You may be able to hide it from your little
Chatty friend but not from me, Xena.
Not from me.
Xenas face showed no emotion. She took a step closer to him, nearly whispering.
X: Go to Tartaus, bastard.
A rage was whelming up inside her behind these words. She was shaking, her hands clenched to fists.
The words hurted him but he knew they were meant to do so and make him go away but he wouldn’t give up on her that easy.
A: Xena, you’re crying inside. So am I. You know I’m not lying. You can feel it, can’t you?
He stepped closer. He was now standing in her reach. He saw a slight motion of unbearable pain crossing her face. Then the mask was built up again. But he saw tears shining in her eyes.
A: Don’t leave me Xena.
That was the only thing he whispered but it was enough to break down her defends. Her well built up walls trembled and finally broke down for the first time in weeks she gave in to her feelings. The moment the first tear found its way down her cheek an angry sob escaped her lips. And finally Ares reached for her pulling her into a tight embrace.
Her sobs became louder, her whole body was shaking when her tears finally broke free.
X: I loved her so much,….
Was all she could press out between the sobs and Ares held her close to his body.
A: I know. Shhh….
She buried her face in his shoulder, her hands pressed against his back, holding him tightly like she was afraid that he would just disappear if she let go of him. But he stayed, holding her shaking body while she cried until the tears were gone.
When he looked down at her it seemed as if hours had passed. She was awake, staring somewhere else, holding on to him, her head lying on his shoulder. She seemed to be kind of absent.
He slowly started to stroke her hair, rapped his arms around her just to reassure her that he was still there.
Suddenly she shivered in his arms and then she moved her face closer to his to kiss him slightly on the neck. It was just a brief touch, light as a feather but he sensed it. It was hr own way to thank him. Though it sent chills trough his body.
In a moment of emotion he buried his face in her hair, letting out a loud sigh.
They stayed so for a very long time.
The sun had already rose when they heard Gabrielle’s voice calling out for Xena. Xena lifted her head and glanced in the direction of the camp and loosened her grip on Ares. She took a step back and looked up at him. He glared at her and smirked.
A: Well, I think I should go by now.
Xena just looked at him. Ares shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortable, glancing back at her.
A: Ähm, so,… see you next time.
Before he could disappear she reached for his hand, holding it tightly in her own and kissed the back of it (his hand). She closed her eyes, let out a sight and looked up to him. Her blue eyes were shining and he couldn’t take his eyes of her.
X: ‘Till next time.
Was all she said. A little smile curled her lips. Then she turned her back on him and went back to Gabrielle.
Ares watched her until she was out of his sight. He was still moved by her doings just a minute ago.
A little smile crossed his face and while whispering
A: ‘till next time.
He disappeared.
END
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