This is a fan-fic written in Round Robin style by the Homage to Ares EGroup

The Aftermath

Part One - Ares

Ares had gone to the only place he thought he's be safe after he had sacrificed his immortality to save Gabrielle and Livia, dammit Eve, she's Eve, he told himself. That would take some getting used to. He knew that there were still plenty of other gods that were going to want to have a word with him, several words in fact.

He really didn't feel any different, his powers seemed intact, and his gusto and drive were unaffected, yet he had the feeling that something was going to happen soon. The Fates had told him, when he asked to be given the power to heal Gabrielle and Eve, that his time would come when mankind deemed it. Whatever that meant. The riddle was making him crazy. Xena was making him crazy.

'Thank you', oh yeah sure sure, just thought I'd try out mortality again to hear you say 'thank you' yeah, that's all I wanted really, Oh what in the name of...Me was I thinking. Xena wouldn't have killed me, she loves me, I know it, doesn't she, of course she does. Even at her nastiest she always comes to me when she needs something, he thought.

Ares was glad to pay the dupe now and then. Even if sometimes he did walk away from her little ruses with blue balloons, it was worth it, she needed him just like he needed her. She would give in someday, and as he sat in the Halls of War an idea popped into his head, and not just that he really should have cleaned this place up after that little fiasco with Hope, but that a child was the key.

He could give Xena the one thing no man other than him deserved to giver her, a child to raise. One that wouldn't be snatched away from her only to come back twenty odd years later and play with spiders. What was up with that anyway. Ares had watched Livia dip her bread in the blood of men she had killed and savor every bite, and now she was like an infant again. The thought of Eli and his followers floated into his mind, how he savored the moment he had run Eli through. It hadn't exactly had the effect on his followers he was hoping for, but the feel of Eli's warm blood running down his sword and onto his hand made Ares' own blood flow. The blood was flowing a little more than he had expected. Where the heck is Xena, why hasn't she come here yet. He knew this would be the first place she would come looking for him, and she WOULD come for him. She couldn't stay away, he knew she couldn't...

Part 2 - Amphipolis

Xena had been thinking a lot about Ares, since her return home. She had been wonderfully surprised to find her mother still alive and kicking after 25 years apart. The reunion between her mother and Eve had brought tears to her eyes. They had decided on the way to let Eve's past die, so Eve's time as Livia was never mentioned. Xena and Gabrielle had devised a nice edited version of Eve's life for Cyrene's sake, as well as their own. No one wanted to relive the events of the past months.

Although, there were several memories that Xena could not escape. Carnal images of her and Ares invaded her sleep every night and at the most in-opportune moments during the day. She still could not fathom why Ares had defied Athena and healed them. Giving up his own immortality in the process. Xena winced when she recalled the unemotional thank you she had given for his sacrifice. He had wanted more. She could see it in his eyes when he accepted her thanks. Not for the first time, Xena questioned her feeling for Ares. After all, if she could change, maybe it was a slim possibility that he was trying to change as well. A kinder, more gentle god of war! "HA!"

"Xena dear, who ever are you talking to?"

Xena looked at her aged mother and could still see the beautiful woman she had been in her youth.

"Just myself, mother. I do need to talk to you about something, though. I have to leave for awhile and want you to watch over Gabrielle and Eve for me. They have been through so much and they both need time to recover."

"Where are you going Xena? Now that the Olympian rule is over, I can't imagine what could tear you away from your family."

"Mom, you have to trust me. This is something I have to do, for myself. Don't worry it is nothing dangerous, at least not in the classic sense." Xena's crooked grin did nothing to Aleve her mother's worried look.

"Can you at least tell me WHERE you are going? In case we need to find you. I am a very old woman you know. I haven't much time left."

Xena laughed at her mother's attempt at a guilt trip. "Mother, you are as fit and sassy as you were when I was a child, but if you must know. I have a debt to settle with Ares."

"Oh I see, OOOOh I seee! Xena when you see him try to keep your clothes on this time"

Xena watched as her mother went back inside chuckling to herself and murmuring something about "If I was only 40 years younger. Hubba hubba!" Her mother would tell Gabrielle and Eve where she had, gone, so there was no since putting it off. Xena quickly gathered a few things, mounted Argo II and took off in a gallop for the Halls of War.

Part Three - The Settlement

As Xena rode hard for the Halls of War, something Ares had once said to her kept going through her mind, 'When Gods Dream destinies change', she then thought back to just after she had given birth to Eve when the dreams had first began. She licked her lips slowly as she thought of Ares touching her breastplate with the tips of his fingers. Slowly following the curves of the smooth metal. She swore she could feel his breath on her neck. Xena then remembered when Ares had asked her how she was sleeping. He had known about the dreams, when gods dream, she thought again. Was Ares really sharing her dreams? It had to be a coincidence, she never would have arched her back for Ares if she was in control of her dreams, she would have given him the old chakram around the temple move, not the chakram on the ground covered with her doublet move.

Finally she saw the opening to the Halls of War, how many times had she walked through this entrance? Of course the last time she was here she had watched Gabrielle fall into that pit Ares calls a fireplace, but the times before had been something quite different. Years ago, when she was still Xena, destroyer of nations, she and Ares had shared such passionate moments together, both of them full of such animal passion, wanting, and using, each other so much.

Xena found herself hoping that Ares would have gone somewhere else, somewhere that the other gods wouldn't know about, but she was not at all surprised to find him sprawled out over his dark throne. One leather clad leg carelessly flung over the arm, leaning back with those chocolate eyes closed, she found herself thrown off balance by the sudden rush of blood to her head. Well it wasn't so much her head as her pelvis. Xena adjusted her armor, making sure that her hardened nipples weren't showing through the curves.

She was tempted not to wake Ares, just to stand and watch him breath, to watch his muscular chest fill with air and then release. To gaze upon his legs, which in their present position gave a handsome view of his godhood. Xena looked around for a place to sit, seeing none she turned her attention back to Ares, but it was too late, he had opened his eyes, and was staring straight at her, with that grin, oh that soul melting grin on his face. Xena fought the urge to bite her lower lip as he licked his own.

"Hello Xena, so nice of you to come", Ares growled.

Part Four

"Hello Ares." Xena looked around at the roaring fire and grasped at a neutral topic.

"It's rather hot in here, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid this fire has been burning for years. There is no putting it out now!" Ares eased himself off his throne and walked over to stand toe to toe with the warrior princess. "You didn't come all the way to see me to discuss climate control, did you? You have come for something more tangible, more exciting."

"And what would that be Ares?"

"ME, or course! I've been waiting for you to come to me so we can once again make our dreams a reality. You can't deny it, Xena. I can see the pulse pounding at the base of that lovely neck of yours. I'm sure if I were to place my hand over your breast eeeer plate, I would find your heart pumping as hard as mine. Admit it Xena, you came here to take me up on my offer."

Ares leaned in, his breath hot on her neck and whispered in her ear. "Give me what I want. Your mind, body and a child of our flesh. Can you picture how it would be? You by my side. Righting the wrongs of the world by day, making love all night. I can see it, Xena. I can almost taste how sweet it will be between us. Ambrosia does not compare to the rapture of us."

Every word Ares spoke was like a lightning strike through her body. This had to stop! Her body was demanding her surrender and her mind was quickly agreeing. All that was important was the feel of his hand as it slid between her breast leaving a path of fire in its wake. The sensations his tongue was creating as he lightly bit then kissed her neck. With her last bit of willpower winning out, Xena whispered "Ares, I didn't come here for this. We need to talk!"

"We can talk later! THIS has been put off for much too long!" Ares picked Xena up and carried her into his bedchamber. The protest forming her in mind could not get past her lips. Her body would not allow it. Ares was right THIS had been put off for too long.

Ares did not set her down until he reached the bed and prepared for her argument. Surprisingly, he saw that there was not one and began to rip at clothing. Xena was also desperate trying to rid herself of the cumbersome armor she wore. The most important thing right now was getting as close as mortally possible. When the two had finally removed every stitch Ares joined Xena on the bed, rolling her over until she was straddling his chest.

"I pictured you like this a thousand times, Xena, but the reality is so much better!"

"Just shut up, Ares!"

"No problem!"

Xena leaned over and claimed Ares mouth. Her breast brushing against the soft fur on his chest. She felt his arms wrap around her waist and gently grabbed them and pulled them over his head. If she was going to give in to this, it was going to be on her own terms and if she let Ares put his hands on her, she would lose that control.

"I want to touch you, Xena."

"If you touch me now, I will explode! You can touch me
later."

The sound of Ares laugh reverberated off the Halls of War and their cries of pleasure would be ingrained in the very stone for eternity.

Part Five - Ares' Turn

Ares lay panting in the bed with Xena, the deep red of the silk beneath them soaked with sweat. "What was that about warrior sweat in the morning Xena," Ares laughed.

"I don't think we want to travel down that road Ares" Xena replied as she slid off the bed.

"Where are you going, there aren't any battles to fight tonight, stay with me, please just for a little longer." Ares knew that it was usually him that had taken off in a hurry so many times before.  He regretted treating Xena like an interlude for all those years.  He should have made her see how much he loved her then, instead of trying to make her believe him now.  He could see in her eyes as she pulled up her tight leather doublet that she was about to regret giving in to his needs, without realizing that they were her needs too.

"Ares," she started, but Ares interrupted her. "Xena don't you think it's too late to tell me to give up. Your cries a minute ago washed away any doubt that we aren't meant to be together.  I know you're worried about what the blonde wonder will think, but you might be surprised by how open she is to the idea."

"What are you talking about Ares?" Now he had her confused.  Gabrielle would never be happy with this sudden turn of events.

"I just mean that Gabrielle and I have had more than one interlude, she's not so opposed to us being together as she makes believe.  You didn't see the flare in her nostrils when she saw me and hope together.  It wasn't exactly a motherly madness, but more of an erotic jealousy.  Admit it, I'm every woman's fantasy." Ares waited to see Xena's reaction, to watch her ponder how far he had gone with her little friend.  He knew that the quickest way to get to Xena was to push that little green button. 

"Ares, shut up about Gabrielle,"she said,"She's my department, and I will tell her about this myself."

"I don't think so Xena, we just made love, it wasn't a moment of weakness, it was the fulfillment of our destiny.  I have been waiting for years to have you back and I'm not about to lose you again." Ares had moved off the bed to her side and slowly pulled her into a kiss.

"I have to go Ares," Xena breathed through her mouth.

"You can't leave yet, you haven't answered me"

"And what was the question?"

"Will you let me give you a child?"

"I thought I was supposed to give you a child," she replied coyly. "Isn't that what you've been after since the Fates told Zeus the prophecy?"

"All I've ever wanted was to be with you, to die in your arms."  Xena knew she had heard him say those words before, but she was sure it had been a dream, and what a dream she had been.  She found herself slipping out of the present and back into the steam filled forest.

"Xena, where are you going," Ares kissed her neck and undid her leather again.

"Ares, tell me something, how do you know what was in my dreams." 

"Don't act like we don't share a soul, even dreams.  Every time I think of you, if you pay attention you'll know." It was true too, He knew a few godly tricks to tell her what he wanted to say, even when she wasn't willing to listen. "Now where were we, oh yes I believe you were here," and he pushed her down onto the rug,"And I was here", Ares crawled on top of Xena and felt the heat swarm off of her body onto his, and then around his.  This time he would be in control, and she would be the one begging for more, for once, at last.

Part Six - The Telling

Several hours had passed and the two figures on the bed lay spent and exhausted. Ares looked down as Xena lay sleeping. He still couldn't believe the warrior princess was now his, no matter what she might think. A soft rustling sound came from the corridor outside and Ares knew they were no longer alone. Swiftly dressing he rushed to the door. Sword in hand he flung it open to find a very disgruntled bard at his doorstep.

"Ares, what have you done with Xena? I know she is here somewhere. Cyrene told me where to find her. If you have done anything to her I..I..!"

"Settle down, blondie. I've done a number of things to Xena tonight, but nothing she didn't enjoy. Now scoot on along back to where you came from and leave US alone."

Gabrielle could see Xena's still figure lying in the enormous bed. She didn't look as if she needed her help after all. A sheer bolt of pure jealousy ran thru her body as the situation came into focus. Xena had told her time and again that Ares was nothing but trouble and there she lay. Practically purring in her sleep. She looked at Ares and nearly cried. She had passed on his offer to be his successor, so as not to hurt Xena. Now it looked as if Xena had warned her off for her own selfish reasons.

"Damn her!"

"Easy Gabrielle!" Ares pushed Gabrielle farther into the hall and closed the door. "As you can see Xena is just fine, so what's the problem?"

"The problem..the problem? Oh never mind, just tell Xena when she wakes up that I wish her luck. She is going to need it."

"You know, Gabrielle, if I didn't know better I would swear I detect a note of jealousy in your voice. Could it be you are regretting turning down my offer."

"That's not it at all, Ares!"

"Oh really. If you recall I told you the offer was open. Just because Xena and I are together doesn't mean that you and I couldn't come up with some kind of deal. We could be one big happy family. It's not like you and Xena haven't shared a man before."

Gabrielle pulled her sais and thrust it in Ares face. "You don't know what you are talking about. Xena and I never...well there was that one time. Oh forget it Ares. You don't get to have your cake and eat it too."

"HMM Now that does sound tempting. I love
eating..cake!"

Gabrielle nearly plunged her sais into his laughing face. Sudden images of Xena, Ares and herself together made her blood begin to boil. "Xena would never go for it" she thought. "What was I thinking?"

"That's a good question, Gabrielle. What were you thinking?"

Ares and Gab turned to see Xena standing in the doorway with the red satin sheets wrapped around her.

"Xena! I was just telling Ares..."

"I heard what you were telling Ares and what he said to you. Do you wanna know what I think my love?"

Ares and Gabrielle both answer at the same time "What?"

"I think this is a case of killing two birds with one stone. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out a way to tell you about my feelings for Ares. Now that you are here and I know you feel the same way about him and don't deny it, because I could hear the jealousy in your tone too. There is no reason why we shouldn't both take him up on his offer."

Xena looked at the two stunned faces in front of her and began to laugh. Her two lovers together, forever. What could be more perfect?

Part Seven - Culmination

    Ares stood in the hall with his plump lips agape in surprise.  He looked at Xena for some hint that she was only teasing him.  It was true, he had pictured Gabrielle in a tangle with him before, but it actually felt quite odd now that he was given the chance to act on that fantasy.  He actually at that moment found himself thinking of his nights with Livia, that is when she was still Livia.  It was awkward enough for him to have been with Xena's own daughter, let alone the sidekick.

"Ares, are you just going to stand there looking perplexed, or are you going to show my dear Gabrielle why I can't resist you?", Ares couldn't figure Xena out, was this a test, or a genuine opportunity?

"Guess there's only one way to find out" he said, with a tilt of the head.

Xena took the bard's hand and pulled her into a kiss, "You and I will always be together," she whispered in Gabrielle's ear.

"I know Xena, but are you sure you want to actually do this, I mean it is a little , I don't know, kinky."

"Believe me, there is nothing little about Ares, he'll make you scream." Ares gently shoved the lovers into the bedchamber, helping them onto the raised platform of the bed.

"By the Gods Ares, you do like your shrines don't you?" The bard asked.

"Of course I do, more now than ever.  The idea of not living forever is more than a little disconcerting, I figure I better take it while I can get it." Ares' innuendo was not lost on the warrior princess.

"Oh, believe me you're going to get it." Xena had dropped the sheets to the floor and slid on top of Gabrielle, slowly spreading her silky legs apart and teasing the inside of her thighs with her tongue. Ares tried not to lose his control while he watched Xena bring Gabrielle to a climax.  Gabrielle moaned loudly and gripped the sheets until her knuckles turned white.  Out of breath she lay on the bed, slightly twitching as her muscles tried unsuccessfully to relax them. "Try...Try to beat that." She panted, looking at Ares and then back to Xena, "You really are quite splendid aren't you?"

"Oh yeah, I am pretty fabulous" Xena smiled back. Ares wasn't sure what the next step should be until Xena laid back on the bed, lightly brushing the inside of her own thigh with one hand and teasing Gabrielle's breasts with the other. "Are you just going to stand there? Or are you going to show us why we should still call you a God?"

"Oh aren't we brave?" With that Ares snapped his fingers and was in all his glory once again.  Gabrielle couldn't help but gasp, she wasn't a virgin, but it had been a while.  Thinking back she certainly didn't remember Perdicus being that large, or slender for that matter.  Every muscle in Ares' body was sculpted like a statue.

"I know what your thinking Gabrielle, and yes, statues are sculpted like me." They all laughed, it helped to ease a bit of the awkwardness as Ares tried to decide which of them he wanted more.  Xena turned her head to Gabrielle and asked her if she was ready for more.

"I think I better sit this one out, unless you think he won't have enough left over for me."

"Not likely," Ares said "Make no mistake, I am still a God, I don't get tired, and I'm always ready." As if to accentuate his point Ares' already swollen member became positively tumescent.  He kissed his way up Xena's gorgeous legs, flicking his tongue a couple times on her already wet opening, he then worked his way up her hard abdomen taking one of her nipples into his mouth, caressing it with his tongue until it formed a hard peak.  He then slid inside of her letting out a moan as he felt the warmth encompass him.  Xena grabbed the back of Ares head drawing him into a deep kiss while she slowly rocked her hips in motion with his own. Gabrielle found herself flushing again and reached down to try to satisfy some of her own urges.  At the same time Ares had begun to thrust deeply inside of Xena, her sighs turning into loud moans and finally she let out a howl crying out Ares name and biting at his exposed nipples.  Ares bit at his lower lip and let out a guttural scream of pleasure and collapsed onto Xena, kissing her lightly.

"You do know I love you, right?" He asked her. 

"Of course I do," she replied and kissed him again.

Gabrielle had brought herself to a bit of a frenzy and grabbed Ares arm. "I don't suppose you could help me out a bit here?" She asked.

"Oh I imagine I could be of some assistance."  Ares placed one hand under her back and the other on her hips, gently rolling her over onto her knees.  Gabrielle moved over to Xena and kissed her, she then began suckling at her firm breasts.  Ares felt himself swell again and eased his way into Gabrielle's moist cavern.  Placing his hands on her hips he began a slow rocking, then began going slightly faster.  She spread her knees further apart to take more of him in, although she wasn't sure she could take his whole godhood in without rupturing some vital organs of her own. Xena watched Ares intently, licking her lips each time he thrust into Gabrielle, who had moved lower down her body and was now anxiously licking her happy spot, working her soft fingers in and out of her canal, occasionally lifting them up for Xena to suck on. As Ares began to bite his lip harder Xena lifted her hips in motion with the two on top of her, with each thrust into her, Gabrielle thrust into Xena, The three of them began to sweat and their bodies became slick.  The sweet smell filling their nostrils, making the moment that much more fulfilling.  At last Xena and Gabrielle reached their peaks and kissed deeply, Ares made a final push into Gabrielle pulling out just before his god seed began to flow in a wave of ecstasy over them both.

"Oh My GOD!!" Gabrielle shouted, "Maybe Eli was right, maybe there should only be one God." Xena looked at Ares, who was laying on the bed with his eyes half closed, smiling broadly and laughing to himself.  He didn't have the heart to tell her what he was actually thinking, which was that now Cyrene was the only person close to her that hadn't tasted his passion.  Not that he was interested in her now that she was so old, but the thought still struck him as funny.

"What are you smiling at?" Xena asked.

"Oh just thinking that I must really be mortal." He replied.

"Why's that?" Gabrielle chimed in.

"Because as a God, world domination has always been my goal, but now, I think next time I better let you two do the dominating, I hate doing all the work." Laughter filled the Halls of War, mingling with the scent of the erotic that loomed in every chamber.

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