-1Part III:

All's Fair in Love and War…

"Aphrodite!"

She appeared, meek and mild, even though she knew what was coming. "Hey, Ar, long time no see."

Ares clenched his fist. "Let's cut the pleasantries. What did you do?"

Aphrodite twirled a blonde curl. "What do you mean?"

"You gave him your blessing?"

"Sure, he's my favorite nephew," she said even though her usual air headedness was missing. "He and that Alethea--they'll make a bitchin' couple."

"Aphrodite, do you know who Alethea is?" Ares was trying very hard to remain calm even though it was a wasted effort.

"Sure, she's that hot mama Arion's with."

Ares sent a fire ball into one of Aphrodite's favorite statues. "Do you really want to play this game?"

Aphrodite flinched. "Hey, watch that! It was a gift--"

"Like I really care about some stupid statue. Why did you do it, Aphrodite? Why?"

"I don't know why you're getting so worked up about it--it's not like it's going to change the way Arion fights or anything. A happy warrior is a laid warrior and if he marries Alethea--"

"This has nothing to do with Arion and you know it!" another fireball caused a wreath of beautiful lilies to fall to the ground. "You know what would happen if you gave your blessing and you did it anyway!"

"Okay!" Aphrodite squealed. "Yes, I gave him my blessing and I knew what was going to happen."

"Why? Why didn't you just say no or make up some reason? Why would you give her to him? Why would you--"

"Why wouldn't I?" she said facing his hard stare. "She looks happy, Ares. Why don't you leave her alone?"

"Because she's not supposed to be with him."

"Oh, really? Last time I checked, there was nothing stopping them," Aphrodite said, looking Ares square in the face. "Ares, you tried this before, remember? It didn't turn out so hot the last time either. She isn't going to be with you. There won't be a happy ending for the two of you, you know that. Gods and mortals are not meant to fall in love."

"Who's to say what can happen? She doesn't love him."

"She would if you would just leave her alone. I gave him my blessing, the minute they say 'I do' you'll forever be a memory. She'll have eyes for no one but him and he'll never want anyone but her. Let it go, Ares. Even if she was Xena, you know how it's going to end. How it always ends. She'll ride off into the sunset with someone who is most definitely not you, leaving you to watch them unable to stop them. Why don't you just go back to your priestesses and your harem girls? If you want, I can--"

"I don't want that," Ares said crossly. "If I wanted a harem girl, I could have my pick, I wouldn't need your help. I know what I want and I want her."

"You can want her all you want, but you won't have her. It just doesn't work that way, Ares. I'm sorry."

"You gave him your blessing, knowing who she was?" Ares repeated as if he just couldn't believe it at all.

"I suspected, but it wasn't until I saw her that I knew for sure. Does she know?"

"Not yet, but she's remembering. She's been remembering since she was a girl, she believes her dreams are nothing but dreams. Little does she know that her dreams are Xena's memories. She's going to remember, and then what, Aphrodite? Do you think that when she remembers any blessing you gave Arion will do any good?"

"She is not Xena," Aphrodite repeated. "She was born into this life as Alethea and so my blessing will work memory or not."

"You knew," Ares said again, this time with a sigh of heartache. "You knew that I would find her eventually--"

"I knew that you would never stop searching until you did, but I never suspected for you to have a child with--"

"Don't," Ares snapped, wrath in his eyes. "Don't even go there."

"When and if Alethea remembers and realizes who exactly Arion is, how will you explain that one? You should be thanking me, Ares. She'll never have to know who Arion is and how he came to be. She won't loathe you and for that, you should be grateful."

"Stop it," Ares said clenching his fists again.

"You've known all along who his mother was and yet you've denied it to everyone but yourself. Well, you can't deny it any longer, Ares. If Alethea is Xena's soul reincarnated and if she does regain Xena's memories, learning about Arion would break her heart. Leave it alone. Let them marry and live happily."

"And me? What am I supposed to do? I love her, Aphrodite," Ares snarled.

Aphrodite's firm stance didn't soften. She wasn't going to give him what he wanted. "If you really loved her, you'd let her marry Arion and forget you."

"I can't do that," Ares said grasping the hilt of his sword. "I won't do that."

Aphrodite crossed her arms. "You have no choice."

"Don't I?" Ares said a smirk on his face, without another word he vanished.

x.X.x.

Sprawled out on his throne in the Halls of War, Ares closed his eyes, but the only thing he saw was Alethea's face as she nodded yes to Arion's proposal. Then she saw them hug and kiss each other. It was enough to sicken anyone, especially the jealous God of War.

His head and his heart had been in a constant tug of war since the moment he first spotted her. It was best to just leave her alone, and have Arion do his bidding, but no, Ares couldn't resist a second chance--she was unlike any woman he'd ever known. Aphrodite didn't understand, none of them understood what it was like to spend everyday of an eternity waiting for the one person who made you feel alive. Xena did that. She made him feel alive, and now Alethea gave him a reason to get up in the morning. Eternity was long enough.

Alethea. Xena. They were the same yet completely different. Alethea had Xena's spirit, her independence, her willingness to sacrifice herself; yet she had never seen the heat of battle as Xena had. She had killed but her killing had been that to save her family and while she felt some regret, she would have done it a thousand times to save her brothers. Xena had been borne of war. She lived for it, thrived on it, and no matter what side she fought for, she would win. Alethea was still naïve, still trusting. She had warrior instincts but chose to remain at the sidelines instead in the heat of battle. If only she knew what power she possessed, there would be no stopping her.

Unlocking the Xena in Alethea would be a problem in itself. When she remember who she was, she would immediately look for Gabrielle and immediately resume her crusades. She would probably try to kill Arion because she would be morally against him, even though she fancied herself in love with him. The sweet, naïve Alethea would be replaced by the wary, knowing Xena who could predict his next move before he even thought about it. While he relished the thought, he also regretted it. He remembered a time when Xena had been so sweet and innocent, and all too quickly she had been plucked and molded into his ideal warrior. He had never regretted any of it, until now.

Ares knew the fruitlessness of wishing. He knew that mortals indulged themselves far too often wishing that a particular god or goddess would help them achieve whatever petty thing it was that they wanted. Still, from deep inside himself, he wished that things had been different. If he had been mortal and Xena hadn't--he stopped himself. If he had been mortal, he would have never been able to appreciate her for all the things that she was. He would have been a dumb farmer and she would have been his wide-hipped wife living on a farm in the middle of nowhere with a posse full of children and cows and chickens. He'd never experience the thrill and the rush of his true nature. It would be buried beneath years of aging and the bitter battle of death.

But he would die in her arms, a nagging voice reminded him. He would take his last breath staring into her eyes and hearing the beat of her heart as she held him close to her. He would never have to watch her die or know that the wide gap that kept them apart was the size of the Aegean. And Arion…

For the first time in a long time, Ares's let his mind wonder to what would be different between them if Xena was Arion's mother. There would be no denying that he was Ares's heir. There would be no discussion. Ares probably would have handed the godhood over long before this; Arion would have been born for it. He would know the intricacies of War--it would be in his blood. There would be no rift between father and son, no doubt. It wouldn't be a typical relationship, but it would be better than this uneasy settlement between them. But Xena wasn't Arion's mother and Ares could never truly forget the woman who was. Grief was a funny thing…and sometime you paid the price for it years after the fact.

He pushed all of that to the back of his mind. The fact remained that Alethea was Xena's soul reincarnated. It was a second chance and when she realized who she was, there wouldn't be a wedding--there couldn't be. She may not come running to Ares but she couldn't just ignore their history. There was too much there to pretend that it didn't happen. And if by some honor bound duty, Alethea felt she had to marry Arion--well, Ares had a plan for that too.

II.

"Yo, unc, what's up?"

Ares flinched. He grasp the hilt of his sword and tried to act nonchalant. It was now or never. He knew that this wasn't going to be easy, but he had been unprepared for this.

"Cupid, you know I've always admired you."

The buff, tanned blonde perked up a little. He definitely got his weakness for flattery from his mother.

"Really? Sweet," Cupid subconsciously flexed his muscles and his wings at the same time. "I always wanted to join up with you, but you know Mom…"

"I do know your mother," Ares continued glancing around the temple and admiring the numerous tributes Cupid still acquired.

"Yeah, she's so hung up on the love thing," Cupid smiled. "But it's kinda her thing, so I just let it go."

"As well you should," Ares circled Cupid, pretending to judge his form. Cupid stood up a little straighter and flexed to make sure that Ares's saw the very best of him. "Actually, I stopped by because you know, we've never really gotten to know each other. Both of us hanging around Olympus had very little cause to run into one another, but now that there's so few of us left, I think it's time to band together."

"Oh, definitely," Cupid nodded. He was finally being taken seriously. No longer, just Aphrodite's son, he was being treated like an adult by his uncle Ares.

"Say, I've always wondered, what kind of shot are you with those things?" Ares nodded toward the bow and arrows on Cupid's back.

"I'm one in a million," Cupid laughed. "I never miss."

"Never miss, that's interesting," Ares scratched his beard. "Are they all love arrows or do you have something a little more--dangerous?"

"Please, Unc, I have arrows for any emotion involving love--I have the standard white love arrow," he pulled one out and it was clearly marked by the white feather at the end. "Then I have the passion arrow." It was red, meant to incite lust. "Then my personal favorite, the jealousy arrow." The green feather on the end of the arrow winked at Ares from Cupid's hand. "Sometimes all you need is a little jealousy to solve a problem."

"Oh, I couldn't agree more," Ares nodded. "It's a shame you never did join up with me. I could use a fine archer like yourself. I only wish I could have seen you shoot one of those."

Pride gleamed in Cupid's eye. "Really? You want to see me take aim. I could do it for you now. Name the place."

"You sure you're not too busy?"

"Nah, I've been on the coast catching some bodacious waves. It'll be good to get back in practice again," Cupid said eager to please his uncle. "Name a target."

"I'd rather show you," Ares said, with a snap of his fingers.

They were standing in the middle of the town square where Arion was directing his men in taking down the decorations for the ceremony.

"How about him?" Ares gestured to Arion's back. "He's nothing but a lowly general. Doesn't he deserve some love too?"

Cupid looked a little bit skeptical, but merely shrugged. He had no idea who Arion was.

"What will it be? Love? Lust?"

"How about...jealousy?" Ares said, withdrawing the green arrow from its place and placing in Cupid's hand. "After all, it is your personal favorite."

Cupid shared his uncle's smile. "One dose of jealousy coming up."

"Just one?" disappointment was evident in Ares's voice.

"Okay, two--no, three," Cupid said taking aim with three green arrows. "Look out, this guy is about to go stark, raving mad."

Ares had to bite his tongue from yelling at Cupid to just fire after Cupid carefully lined up the shot for the hundredth time. Ares watched in heightened anticipation as finally Cupid fired sending a trio of jealousy arrows into Arion's back. Arion jerked as if he'd really been hit, turned his head to one side and then shook it off.

"See, I told you--I never miss," Cupid said proudly.

"Yeah, yeah, right, kid," Ares said, moving toward Arion. "I'll see you around the temple, okay?"

"Cool, and you can tell me what you think about me starting my own army--of love!"

Ares didn't bother to turn and look at him. "Sure. First thing on my to-do list. Let me see how this worked, okay, kid?"

"Sure thing," Cupid said with a smile before he disappeared.

Ares watched as Arion looked around frantically as if he were searching for something.

"Alethea!" Arion shouted. Then turning to a passing soldier, he grabbed the man's shirt. "Have you seen Alethea?"

The frightened man shook his head. Arion left the square in a frantic dash. Ares took the chance to reappear before him.

"Looking for something?"

"Get out of my way, I'm looking for Alethea," Arion muttered, shoving past the God of War.

"Oh, yes, where is she?" Ares asked, glancing down at his nails as if he didn't care what was going on. "And boy, was that some red dress she wore--"

"Don't you even look at her, you hear me? I'll kill you," Arion said, murder in his eyes. "No man will look at her. She's mine!"

"Oh, really? Because she sure doesn't look like yours--" Ares pointed to the road where Alethea and Playthus were walking together toward Arion. "Now, where could they be off to now?"

"She's going home," Arion said in a dazed voice. "To Angelius to see her family. She wants them to come to the wedding."

"And let me guess, you ordered that nitwit to go with her?"

"I couldn't very well send her alone," Arion snapped. "And I can't go with her. My army should be rejoining this very minute."

"Well, well, well," Ares yawned, as if bored. "Looks like you're in a bit of a quandary, now doesn't it? Sending a man who obviously loves your woman to escort her home…wow, I definitely didn't see that one coming," Ares barked a harsh laugh. "This oughtta be good."

He vanished from sight but remained there to see the exchange. Alethea twitched slightly and he knew that she knew that he was watching.

"Well, we're off," Alethea said with a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Ares wondered if Arion knew she was lying.

"I was thinking," Arion nearly dragged Alethea off by herself. "Why don't we just get married here and then I can ride back to Angelis with you and we can tell the family together? That way we don't have to be apart and we can get married sooner?"

"Arion, you know that my family is the most important thing to me," Alethea took his hands. "I can't get married without at least telling them. They may not show up or even care but I have to tell them. It will be okay. I'll be back before you know it."

"I just don't like the idea of you being out there all alone."

"I won't be, Playthus is with me--"

"He couldn't fight his way out of a sack," Arion scoffed. "Please, don't go."

Alethea kissed him softly, and Ares suspected that it was more for show than for meaning. "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

Then she was strolling away leading Argo and Playthus was following her with one last backwards glance in Arion's direction.

"Well, that was just beautiful," Ares reappeared to Arion's dismay. "You're letting her go."

"I can't stop her. If this is what she wants--"

"To be alone with Playthus. Clearly, you've played right into his hands."

"Playthus would never betray me."

"When love is involved, it's hardly a betrayal in the eyes of the betrayers."

"Alethea would never give in."

"Oh no, of course not. She loves you," Ares vanished leaving his laughter to echo in his wake.

At the edge of the village, Alethea and Playthus were loading up their saddles and preparing for the long road ahead.

"Did Arion seem funny to you?"

Alethea turned to look at Playthus. From his hiding place, Ares watched the scene clearly.

"Not really," Alethea said, springing into her saddle.

"He seemed funny to me," Playthus shrugged it off, as he finished packing his horse and hopped into the saddle. "He's watching us, isn't he?"

"Yep."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Where at?"

"The trees," Alethea said with a bitter smile in Ares's direction. "And if he knows what's good for him, he'll stay away."

She spurred Argo on and Playthus followed, leaving Ares to watch them disappear in the distance, a smile curving his lips. There were signs that proved that Xena was no normal mortal and this was just one of them. He turned back to the village where Arion had stormed away. He was almost wild with jealousy now. Ares appreciated his handy work and felt no remorse. After all, weren't all things fair in love and war?

x.X.x.

"What were you thinking?"

Aphrodite's piercing scream echoed loudly in Ares's temple as he lay across his throne. She appeared a moment later, no long the kinky sex kitten she used to be but instead she was furious.

"Three jealousy arrows? No one has ever been shot with three jealousy arrows."

"There's a first time for everything," Ares answered, unamused.

"You just couldn't leave it alone, could you? Don't you feel a little guilty at what you've done? When did you stop using your head and start using your--"

"How do you know what's in my head?" Ares was on his feet in an instant, the deep angriness in his voice echoing off of the walls causing them to shake. "I don't recall you ever loving a mortal for more an interlude between hair appointments and offerings. How do you know what I've been through?"

Aphrodite looked away. "Maybe I don't. But I do know that what you're doing is wrong. She may have Xena's soul but she's not Xena, Ares, when are you going to realize that? Sure, if you poke and prod her, she'll remember who she was, but that's not going to change who she is now. She's not going to put on the old breastplate and ride off into the sunset foiling your petty schemes so that you both can deny your attraction to each other. She'll marry some poor farmer and live in a rundown farm house."

Ares flinched at the closeness of his own vision and what Aphrodite described. "I could give her things she never dreamed about."

"She doesn't want them."

"She doesn't know what she wants."

"Do you say that because it's true or because she doesn't want you?"

Ares's eyes flashed to Aphrodite's. "Your concern is well noted. I know what I am doing."

"Do you? Do you really?" Aphrodite demanded. "What about Arion? In this quest to claim Alethea for yourself, you've totally forgotten about your son!"

Ares waved the complaint away without saying anything.

"You don't even care that this is going to rip his heart out, do you? He's your son, Ares!"

"So he claims."

"No," Aphrodite was in Ares's face the second he spoke the words. "Don't you do that. He's definitely your spawn. He looks like you, he acts like you, he even speaks like you. You can pretend to ignore it, but you've known all along from that first day in the temple that he was telling the truth. You just don't want to face it, especially now because it means betraying him to have what you want."

"He's a warlord."

"He's your son, and you treat him as if he were nothing to you. I remember a time when you despised Zeus for doing the very same thing."

"Aphrodite--" Ares growled.

"No, you're going to listen to me for once. I have the reputation for being dumb and ditzy, and that's fine. But this I know for certain, you're repeating the same mistakes Zeus made with you when he favored Hercules."

"That's where you're mistaken, I don't have a Hercules to favor," Ares said turning away.

"Not yet."

He spun around to face her.

"You can't tell me that should Alethea ever give into you, and conceives your child that you won't favor that child over Arion."

Ares had no answer for that. He knew within his heart that a child with Alethea would change everything.

"At least I would know about that child," he said in a meek defense. "I could watch it grow up. Alethea wouldn't run away in shame and try to pawn off my child on another man."

"So you admit, that Alethea's child would be more special than--"

"I'm saying that it would be a different situation."

"Because you wouldn't let Alethea run away as you did--"

"She made her own choices. She could have stayed, we could have--"

"You would have never loved her the way you loved Xena. You would have only tolerated her because you could see Xena in her. Not to mention your history. Gone but never quite forgotten."

"Enough!" Ares shouted, causing the walls to shake again. "You've made your point. What would you have me do, Aphrodite? Take him fishing? Tell him stories about my dad? Share all those special family moments? Hardly. We're not that kind of father-son."

"And whose fault is that? For years, all I ever heard you do was bellyache about how you didn't have an heir and now you have one and he's nothing to you. If he were killed tomorrow, you'd probably be happy because it just cleared the way to Alethea."

"He's a good soldier," Ares muttered. "And a good general. The men love him."

"But do you?" with that Aphrodite vanished.

III.

"Go get the firewood," Alethea said, laughter still in her voice.

That stupid boy had made her laugh yet again. They were settling down for the night and she had finished starting the fire with the little bit of kindling she'd found around their campsite. She was unrolling her bedroll and waiting for Playthus to come back so that she could cook the rabbit that she'd killed.

When he didn't return for a few minutes she stood up. "Playthus?"

She didn't hear anything and left the clearing only to find him held to a armed bandit with a knife against his throat.

"Well, if it isn't Arion's favorite whore?" he said, revealing a line of broken and rotting teeth. He nodded to the other men who stood behind him. "Take her. Arion should pay a high ransom for her."

Two men moved toward her direction, Alethea drew back and kicked one while simultaneous punching the other. Two more men sprang out of the darkness and charged her, but this time Alethea hurled the chakram in their direction. The whirling disk cut through the air efficiently stopping both thugs and causing them to drop to the ground. Only one was left, the one holding Playthus. With a sigh of disgust he threw Playthus to the ground and charged Alethea knife drawn. Alethea sprang out of his way and delivered a hard kick to his back which landed him into the knife he carried backwards as he ran head on into the tree.

Seeing that none of the men were rising, she quickly helped Playthus to his feet and guided him back to the fire.

"I'm sorry, Alethea--"

"Don't apologize. It wasn't your fault," she answered, examining his neck. "He didn't cut you, did he?"

Playthus shook his head. "I wonder who would dare send them to ransom Arion's woman?"

Alethea smiled bitterly. "I have an idea. Stay here and tend to the fire. I'll be back."

She walked into forest and turned abruptly, throwing the chakram straight up into the trees, causing three huge branches to fall down. They were incinerated before they hit the ground.

"Will you stop that?" Ares appeared as the flames died behind him.

Alethea caught the chakram flawlessly and hooked it back on her belt.

"Where did you get that?" he said in awe.

"It was a gift," she said bitterly.

"A gift? A gift from who?"

"Now, wouldn't you like to know?" Alethea said, her eyes growing cold as the blue steel of the chakram itself.

"That's some little toy," he said, testing her.

"It's highly effective," she replied calmly.

They were standing toe to toe, daring the other to reveal what they knew.

"I just wonder what else it can kill," she said slanting her eyes.

The way she said it, the way her eyes slanted and the determined look on her face--did she remember? She was not the same Alethea that had left Arion today in the town square. Ares had to be sure, he couldn't just assume that she realize who she was.

"Funny, Alethea. Real funny."

"Almost as funny as you sending a band of cutthroats to test me?"

"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Ares shrugged. "Besides, I could tell you were bored out of your mind with that slob."

"We were having a good time, actually. They could have killed him, you know."

"It was a risk I was willing to take. You would have stopped them," Ares said looking at her closely. "I had faith in you."

She rolled her eyes. "To kill. That's good."

"I have faith in you for everything you do," he said, his voice deepening. "I always have."

"How's Arion?" Alethea tore herself away from his heated gaze and looking at everything around him.

"Fine. He thinks that you and Playthus are having an affair," Ares said nonchalantly.

"And I wonder who gave him that idea," Alethea whirled around.

"I had nothing to do with it," Ares lied convincingly.

"I bet."

"Seriously, though, where did you get the chakram?"

"Why do you care?" she replied studying him carefully. "I have it now and that's all that matters."

"Call me curious."

"I'd like to call you something else."

"Tell me!" his voice thundered through the forest.

"Given to fits of temper these days, Ares?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.

"It is you," he whispered, closing the distance between them. "Xena."

She didn't flinch or blink. She just stared at him.

"I've missed you," he said, touching her face. She didn't move away or move closer. She merely withstood it.

"I bet," she replied tilting her head to look at him. "What did you tell Arion?"

"That Playthus was in love with you," Ares said before he could stop himself. He was staring into the most beautiful blue eyes he'd ever seen.

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it?" Ares couldn't look away from her. "It feels like forever, but you're back."

"Does that surprise you?" she asked, looking up at him. "You've been trying to get me to remember since the first time you saw me. Here I am."

"But I never thought you would," he said again, realizing that when she was around, he lost all sense of subtly. "Here you are."

"Tell me one thing," she whispered getting close to him, close enough for their lips to touch.

"Anything," he said, unable to look away from her lips.

Alethea licked her lips and felt her breath mingling with Ares's. "Which one of your sluts did you give my chakram to after you knocked her up?"

x.X.x.

Ares barely had time to ready himself before the first blow landed across his face. There was nothing like an angry Xena, he realized.

"Xena, just calm down."

"You calm down," she snarled, with drawing her sword and delivering a powerful kick that sent him sprawling. "Who was she? And how did you get the chakram?"

"Xena--"

"When I died, I gave it to Gabrielle," Xena snapped. "Did you steal it? What happened to her?"

Another solid kick and Ares withdrew his sword merely to defend himself. He found that in spite of everything that had happened, to see his Xena across from him, angry but fighting him was well worth a thousand centuries if need be.

"I didn't steal it," he managed to get out as her sword came crashing against his.

"Then how did Arion get it?" she demanded.

"I don't know," Ares said avoiding a blow from her. "Xena, just calm down."

"Quit telling me to calm down," she shouted. "You calm down. You wanted me back, well here I am."

Ares took the offensive with a sudden kick to her ribs that sent her spinning through the air. She got control of herself and used a tree to spring back at him.

"I don't remember you being so angry," he said deflecting a barrage of sword thrusts.

"That's funny, neither do I," she replied. "But I am now. Maybe because you just couldn't leave well enough alone."

"You couldn't honestly be happy not knowing--"

"I was fine," she replied. "Dreams are more easily dismissed than actual memories. So tell me Ares, exactly how long had I been dead when you were hitting the sheets with Arion's mother? And what did she do to earn my chakram?"

"You should be thanking me," Ares said blocking a kick and ignoring her taunts.

"For what? Avoiding the question? Ruining my chance at happiness? Disrupting my life completely?" an avoided punch. "I could have been happy. I could have just gone on forever never knowing, but now I do and there's no going back."

"For opening your eyes," Ares replied as Xena flipped back away from him. "You know that you can't marry Arion now. You know who you are--"

"I knew who I was before, and as for Arion, why can't I marry him?" they were circling each other, both out of breath.

"C'mon, Xena, he's my son."

"So?"

"So, you can't marry him."

"I don't remember asking your permission," Xena said, delivering another sword thrust. "Turn about is fair play, wouldn't you say?"

Eve's face flashed before Ares's eyes. "That was different. I didn't know she was your daughter."

"You did after I told you and you still tried to get her to kill me, remember that?" Xena dodged a kick this time.

She had a point, not that Ares would admit it. "That was different."

"Only you had no intentions of marrying her," Xena said, as their blades crossed. Ares grabbed her wrist and she grabbed his. "You were just using her, like you used me."

"You forget, I saved your precious daughter and the bard," Ares reminded her as they danced around each other.

"Yeah, but what have you done for me lately?" with that she drew back and delivered a powerful kick that threw her up in the trees and out of Ares's sight.

"Stay out of my way, Ares," her voice echoed in the trees. "Believe me, you've done enough."

IV.

Playthus sat up and glanced around the fire. In the darkness, Alethea lay across from him, peaceful for the first time since she'd returned from the forest with a busted lip and bruise forming on her cheekbone. She didn't seem in a mood to answer questions, but Playthus could guess what had happened.

The only thing he said to her was, "So he knows?"

Alethea nodded and sat down before the fire silently and had remained silent all through the night.

Playthus stood up and left her, creeping through the woods as not to waken her. The only peace she seemed to get these days was sleep. He knew miraculously when to stop and was unsurprised when the God of War appeared before him. It was nothing to be summoned in your sleep to the aid of a god.

"About time," Ares sighed impatiently. "Where are you going?"

"Why don't you ask Alethea?"

"She's a little bit angry with me," Ares muttered. "This is not the road to Angelius."

"No, it's not," Playthus refused to give anything away.

"Where is she going?" Ares demanded again. This time thunder boomed in the distance.

"Why should I tell you? I have a feeling you're the reason for her busted lip."

"She knew what she was getting into," Ares snapped. "Tell me where she's headed or--"

"Or what? I'm not afraid of you, Ares." Playthus's feet left the ground and he floated before the War God.

"Now, why is that?" Ares inquired staring into Playthus's eyes.

"You know why," Playthus said fearlessly.

"Now, isn't that interesting," Ares said as Playthus floated before him. "Destined to be reunited life after each life."

Playthus raised a defiant eye. "Jealous?"

"How long have you known?"

"From the very beginning," Playthus said slowly. "You see, in Heaven, if you want to be reincarnated you have to go through a cleansing process that removes all the memories of your past life. I skipped the cleansing process and reborn knowing exactly who I was."

"My, my, my, Gabrielle, you've changed," Ares laughed heartily.

"It didn't matter what form I took as long as I could get back here with Xena," Playthus answered.

"And she has no idea, does she?"

"Sometimes it's hard to see the things that are right in front of your face," Playthus said, raising an eyebrow. "Like why Xena is so angry with you."

"You know?"

"Of course, I know," Playthus answered. "She's jealous."

"Jealous? Of what?"

"That she was replaced--"

"You haven't told her?" Ares demanded.

"Why should I tell her? I think it would be better coming from you," Playthus said boldly.

"Where are you going? Just tell me that," Ares nearly pleaded, this time in defeat as Playthus's feet touched the ground.

"To Cyprus," Playthus answered.

"Why is she going back there?" Ares's head snapped up.

"She wants to know all about Arion's mother and plans to ask Virgil about it," Playthus answered.

"But you could just as easily tell her--"

"No, it's something she has to do for herself. She still doesn't realize who I am. She wouldn't believe me anyway."

"You have to stop her."

"Where she goes, I go. I won't stop her."

"Even though it means she will hate you?"

"If she doesn't know who I am, she won't hate me. You're more scared she'll hate you."

"I didn't wait all this time for her to return for her to hate me because of one mistake--"

"Arion was a mistake?" Playthus drew in a startled breath.

"That's not what I meant--"

Playthus has already turned away and was walking back to the fire, leaving Ares to watch him.

x.X.x.

"That's it," Playthus pointed to a little house in the distance. "If he's still alive, he lives there."

Alethea nodded, spurring Argo forward.

"Alethea, wait!"

She turned back to Playthus.

"What do you hope to find here?"

"If I'm going to give myself to Arion, I should know about his mother. He deserves to know about his mother."

"Alethea--"

She had turned back to the road and was riding forward heedless of what Playthus might say to sway her. She had to know who she was, she had to know who Ares had deemed superior enough to carry his child. Playthus rode silently at her side.

Virgil heard them approach and had stumbled out onto the porch to stare. He looked much like Joxer had looked when Xena and Gabrielle had awakened almost half a century ago. His face was drawn in with wrinkles and his hair was long white fluff about his head.

"Virgil," Alethea said swinging down from her saddle.

"It can't be," he said softly. "You look just like someone I used to know--"

Alethea nodded. "I know, Virgil."

"If you're back, does that mean--"

"No, Virgil, Gabrielle isn't with me," Alethea said, taking his hand. "I've come to talk to you about Arion."

"Bastard," Virgil hissed before trying vainly to spit at the name.

"He may very well be, but I have to ask you a few questions about him."

Virgil nodded and ushered her into the house, Playthus dragged his feet and finally entered the house after Virgil and Alethea were seated at the table.

"You can't be her," Virgil answered softly. "You can't be Xena. Xena's dead."

"Not completely," Alethea smiled sadly. "My name is Alethea, Virgil. I am Xena's soul reincarnated."

"You look just like her," he said shaking his head. "I wish Gabrielle was here. She waited for you to come back, she knew you would."

"I know," Alethea dropped her head. "I couldn't come back before I was ready."

Virgil stood up and stumbled over to a dusty sideboard and withdrew two very ancient looking scrolls. He came back and placed them before Alethea.

"I don't have anything for you to take, if you are swindling me," he said softly. "I don't know if you really are who you say you are, or if my old romantic brain wants you to be her so desperately. Gabrielle left these for you should you ever come looking for her. She wrote them down before she died."

Alethea's eyes clouded over with tears. She had suspected it, but to know it was true, broke her heart. "How did she--"

"Childbirth," Virgil hung his head. "She was so sure that if you were to come back, it would be in the form of her child. When the baby was born, she knew that he was your soul reincarnated, come back to be with her. We couldn't stop the blood, though and she died soon after, telling me to take care of him. She left the scrolls for him to read."

Alethea stared at Virgil who grieved afresh now.

"She didn't know that he didn't have your soul. She didn't know that he took after his real father no matter how hard I tried to teach him to be like her--to prefer peace. She would have been heartbroken had she known what he would become," Virgil shook his head. "She never forgave herself, but when he was born and she looked into his eyes, she found peace because she was sure that you would come to her through the baby. I'm glad she didn't live to see it--"

"Who, Virgil?" Alethea demanded, afraid of the answer.

"You don't know?" Virgil asked wide-eyed. "Arion, the murdering bastard son of the God of War is Gabrielle's child."

V.

"Alethea!"

Playthus tried to stop her but she had already bolted out of the house. She made it to the barn before tears overwhelmed her and she couldn't stop herself from crying. No wonder she'd always been drawn to Arion--he was Gabrille's child. She could see parts of her in his manner--his fairness and his tenderness to her. It was no surprise then that she couldn't find him all bad. He was part of Gabrielle.

But the other part…

Alethea shuddered.

"Are you happy now?"

Alethea didn't turn at the voice. She continued to cry silently even though she knew it was pointless.

"You should have left it alone," Ares said placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Don't touch me," she snapped, drawing away from him.

"It's not what you think it is," Ares said, this time leaving her to deal with her pain by herself. "Grief does funny things to people. Neither one of us meant to--"

"That's supposed to make me feel better?" she said softly. "The two people I love most--"

Ares didn't hear what else she said because she said she loved him. Did she love him? Could she love him now?

"You were dead, Xena, how were we supposed to--she came back from Egypt to tell me herself. We mourned together--"

"And one thing led to another and you fell on top of each other?" Alethea whirled around. "Did you not think I would find out?"

"I never meant for you to. I knew that it would hurt you--"

"You've used her child as an instrument of war, how do you think she would feel about it?"

"I never even knew about him until he had already raised an army," Ares said in defense. "I never even knew what happened--she ran off the next morning and I never saw her again. Then twenty years later, this scrawny kid starts sacking my temples claiming to be my son."

Alethea stared at him.

"If you want to know why, which I know you do, I love you Xena. I was never ready for you to go off on some suicide mission in Jappa, you never even said goodbye. I needed you, Xena, and the closest thing was Gabrielle. We mourned together because we were the two people who loved you most. What happened was out of our hands, but before you feel betrayed, it was never like that."

"I don't feel betrayed. I don't feel anything."

"Don't do that," Ares said, his face tensing. "I know you're in pain. I know you're hurt. How could you not be? You come back and find out that your best friend is dead and you're engaged to her son--the son she's had with an old flame of yours."

"I'd hardly consider you an old flame," Alethea said raising her chin, her tears drying on her face. "I am hurt but not because of what you think. Why did I have to remember? I could have married Arion and lived happily ever after."

"You would have never been happy. You were not meant to be the docile little woman--"

"How do you know? Maybe that's what I want? Maybe I see part of Gabrielle in Arion and want to spend my time with him? Things will never be the same now."

"No, they won't," Ares conceded, daring to take her hand. "But I think you've been missing a big part of the picture."

She looked at him with a question in her eyes.

He stepped aside and Playthus stood in the doorway of the barn. The fading sunlight framed his form and at once Alethea realized who he was.

"It's you," she said, moving past Ares to Playthus. "You've been with me all along."

Playthus nodded without speaking.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I knew you would have to find out by yourself," Playthus said softly. "You've been gone a long time, Xena. There's not a day gone by that I haven't thought of you. I may be in a different body, and Arion wasn't your soul reincarnated, but he led me to you nonetheless."

Alethea and Playthus hugged each other tightly.

"I love you," Alethea whispered softly. "You're the only thing that made all this bearable."

"You don't know how many times I started to tell you--"

"It doesn't matter now--"

"Isn't this charming?"

The intrusion of a third voice had three pairs if eyes snapping up to Arion standing before them.

"So the War God was right--Playthus was in love with my woman," Arion smirked. "I'll soon fix that."

x.X.x.

Arion stood overlooking plans for his latest conquest when Ares appeared. He didn't bother to look up at his father nor did he bother to acknowledge the god's presence.

"Gaul? Do you think that's wise?" Ares asked, looking over Arion's shoulder at the plans on the table. "Only one man has tried that--"

"And he's dead," Arion finished. "Caesar was a fool. He was too sure of those around him. He had yet to learn the most important lesson a true conqueror must learn."

"And what's that?" Ares demanded, throwing himself down on an empty couch in the corner of the tent.

"Trust no one," Arion said, throwing down his quill from making notes and turning to Ares. "So what brings you here?"

"Nothing, just checking on my favorite son," Ares said with a sarcastic smile.

"A little late for those Father-Son talks, don't you think?" Arion said, moving behind his desk and sitting in his throne-like chair. "If you're worried about what this whole thing has done to my mind, there's no need. After tomorrow, everything will be right again."

"Right? How so?"

"Playthus will die and Alethea will be mine. All will be right," Arion said rationally, as he looked at a few messages from his generals stationed in various places. "Of course, Alethea will have to be punished for what she did--"

"What did she do?"

Arion turned to look at Ares with mild disinterest. "She encouraged Playthus. I know that she loves me. She only had to pretend because she thought he was my best friend, but I want to make sure that no such feelings truly exist. That's why I intend to make her kill him."

"She'll never do it," Ares said dismissively. "You're better off killing Playthus yourself, if that's your track."

Arion looked at Ares suspiciously. "And what would you do?"

"Are you asking my advice?"

"Why not? It never hurts to have a second opinion."

"If you kill Playthus, she'll never forgive you."

"What makes you say that? Alethea loves me."

"To be sure," Ares said in a bored tone. "Alethea may love you, but she's attached to the idiot. If you kill Playthus, she'll hate you."

"She'll forgive me," Arion said defiantly. "She wouldn't dare not to."

"But why risk it? If Alethea is the one you want, why risk making her unhappy?"

"I've already risked it," Arion smirked.

Ares blinked. "What?"

"Alethea is locked up in my tent with armed guards."

Ares slid a glance toward the door. "She's not going to be happy."

"She'll be a lot happier when Playthus is out of the picture."

"You don't have to kill him for that," Ares said, trying to find his way back on track. "I have a better punishment for him."

"Any punishment that leaves him with his life is too good for him," Arion said firmly.

Ares shrugged. "Guess you've got your mind made up then."

He turned, knowing that Arion's curiosity would get the best of him.

"Well, you might as well tell me, since you're here and all."

"Thought you'd never ask," Ares smiled to himself before blanking his face to look at his son.

VI.

Alethea stood behind the gold gilded bars of the cage that Arion had so deliciously confiscated from one village or another. It had been designed to house birds but was large enough that she quite easily fit inside it and could pace if she wanted. She stood behind the bars when she felt her skin tingle.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing," Ares said from outside the cage as he materialized. With a wave of his palm the cage opened. "The guards are distracted. Argo is waiting. Go."

"I can't go. He's going to kill Playthus if I go."

"No, he's not."

"He's not? What do you know?" Alethea said, stepping from the cage and facing Ares.

"I've convinced him to let Playthus go into the service of Aphrodite. He'll have to tend to her priestesses but he'll never be allow to indulge. It's a sacred trust, should he break that trust, he'll be sentenced to a life pain and suffering in Tartarus. A fate worse than death for a man," Ares smirked a little. "But since we both know that Playthus only has eyes for you, he should be able to survive. At least, he'll be alive."

Alethea looked into Ares's eyes. "How did you--why would you--"

Ares looked away and squared his shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe it's damn mortal conscience that I seemed to have developed all those years ago."

"And me? You're freeing me, knowing that Arion will know that it was you?"

"He'll get over it. At least this way you can go back to your family," Ares said again, not meeting her eyes.

Alethea stared at him until he met her eyes. "What's in it for you?"

"Nothing."

"I hardly believe that," Alethea snapped. "Call me skeptical but knowing our history, I find it odd that you would do anything that didn't somehow benefit you in the end."

"I hardly call never seeing you again a benefit," Ares replied. "If you leave now, your family will welcome you with open arms. They won't remember anything. There even may be a butcher's son or a blacksmith waiting to make you queen."

"Arion will not let me go so easily."

"I have that covered."

"Oh really?"

"Alethea," Ares stubbornly didn't call her Xena, knowing that in the end it would just hurt to know that he had lost her again. "I'm giving you something I could never give Xena in her lifetime."

"What?"

"A second chance."

Alethea didn't say anything, she just stared at him. Was this really the God of War who had been trying to seduce her away from his heir? In that moment, he seemed more mortal than ever before, and she couldn't find the words.

"I have to check with Aphrodite but I'm sure that we can arrange for Playthus to serve in her temple near Angelius."

"So I can see him--"

Ares nodded. "It's all been arranged, but now you have to go."

Alethea couldn't find the strength to move. "Why?"

"I've told you why."

"No, really, why?"

Ares knew what she wanted. He knew what it was going to take to get her to leave. He sucked in a deep breath.

"Because you're a distraction," he said coldly. "I need Arion's head on the battlefield not chasing after some common woman who has a Xena complex. So you've gotten everything you wanted and your little boyfriend is going to live, so go. No one wants you here."

"I thought so," she said, shoving past him.

It would have been enough just to say that, but Ares couldn't stop himself.

"You know, I never could quite figure out why out of all the women Arion ever had that it was you that he settled on. I mean, sure back in your time Xena was a force to be reckoned with, but you're just some cheap pale imitation of her, but I guess whatever works, right."

Alethea turned furious eyes on him.

"Don't look at me like that. You know I'm only telling the truth. I tried using you to give Arion a better edge on the competition but that was as worthless as you trying to teach the wimp how to sword fight. Go on, back to your farm life. Pop out a few brats and cuddle up to some sweat soaked mortal and leave the real war to the rest of us."

"You're a heartless bastard," she hissed. "All your pretty words--"

"Just so you'd warm up to me. I gotta say, Alethea, I'm sorry that we never did the deed, Arion tells me you're just a regular hellcat in the sack. A few more tender looks and another blast from the past and you would have been all over me--"

He felt the stab to his heart more acutely than her punch to the face as he endured it. Then she was gone from his sight and Ares cursed everything around him.

x.X.x.

"Aphrodite!" her temple was abandoned even in this time of day. Ares walked around the pink decorations and knew what needed to be done.

"Ugh, you again. What is it this time, Ares? Need more of Cupid's arrows to get your dirty work done?" she appeared, cross armed and annoyed.

"No," Ares said slowly. "I need your help."

"Now, there's a first."

"I'm--sorry," he choked on the word.

"Oh, this is serious," Aphrodite waved her hand and two hunky men appeared and she stretched across their laps, as if they were a couch. "Do go on."

"I need you to cast a love spell on Arion."

"I told you--I'm not intervening so that you can get Alethea--"

"It's not about me getting Alethea," Ares snapped. "It's about Arion not killing her."

"Oh, snap. What's going on?"

Ares updated Aphrodite on everything that had transpired. The plot to discover who Arion's mother was, how it led to Alethea realizing that Playthus was actually Gabrielle's soul reincarnated.

"How is that possible? It took almost forty years for Xena's soul--"

"Gabrielle cut a deal with Michael," Ares said quickly. "She skipped the cleansing and purification process and grabbed the first body she could find just to get back to Arion because she was so sure that Arion was Xena's soul. Little did she know that Xena's soul had already been reborn in that of Alethea. Mortals dream of their past lives, Alethea would have never known who she was had she not met Arion and--"

"You," Aphrodite said up straighter on the men. "You were there to remind her and she remembered because of you--"

"Well, I didn't hand her the chakram and say, here remember everything. But she did recognize me and when Arion gave her the chakram--"

"She remembered everything," Aphrodite finished. "Does she know that Gabrielle--"

"Was Arion's mother?" Ares asked. "Yes."

"And his best friend?" Aphrodite said, her eyes widening. "This is some twisted and messed up stuff."

"I know that," Ares said quickly. "But Alethea and Playthus were reunited causing Arion who was already crazy with jealousy--"

"Thanks to you."

"--to order Playthus killed. I talked him out of killing him or having Alethea kill him, by sentencing him to serve your priestesses."

"Ouch, bummer," Aphrodite shrugged. "But hey, he's alive."

"My point exactly, and I've set Alethea free. She's gone but Arion will never stop until he finds her--he doesn't lose very well."

"Wonder where he gets that from," Aphrodite muttered. "So you want me to cast a love spell on him so that he'll forget all about Alethea?"

"Yes," Ares said, flopping down on a chair.

"And what happens between you and Alethea?" Aphrodite tilted her head.

"Nothing. She goes back to leave with her family and I stay here."

"You're going to sacrifice seeing her?"

"She'll live," he answered without meeting his sister's eyes. "That's enough."

"Oh, Ar," Aphrodite was overcome with tenderness for her war-torn brother.

"Aren't you the one who said that Gods and mortals could never have happy endings? Well, I'm giving Alethea hers. Will you help me?"

Aphrodite nodded once. "Of course I will. Name the girl."

VII.

Daphne slipped into the tent to bring Alethea her dinner. She didn't bother looking at the cage or noticing that it was empty. She hummed to herself as she turned her back and began preparing Alethea's meal as per Arion's order.

"Alethea, you're in for a treat tonight," Daphne said in a pleasantly voice as she turned she met the point of Arion's dagger.

"Where is she?"

Daphne's eyes flew to the empty cage. "I don't know. She was here at lunch."

"She's not now," Arion grasped Daphne by the hair and pulled her close to the bars. "Do you see her?"

"No," Daphne gasped.

"Now!" Ares shouted as Aphrodite waved her hand and Arion's grip loosened on Daphne's hair.

"I'm sorry," Arion said releasing Daphne. "I shouldn't have done that. I don't know why I even care what happens to her--"

"You love her, I understand," Daphne said, stepping away from the stricken warlord.

"No, it's not that. I don't really love her anymore. I don't think I ever did," Arion said in a shocked voice. "You have beautiful eyes."

Daphne blinked. "Thanks?"

"They're green with little flecks of blue. I've never seen a color like that."

"Thank you, they've always served me well," Daphne shifted proud of her eyes.

"Are you from around here?"

"I'm a priestess at Aphrodite's temple."

"Did you know--what's her name?"

"Alethea?" Daphne asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, I knew her. She was my friend. Now that Playthus is off, I'm the only one left to take care of her."

"You shouldn't be taking care of other people. People should be taking care of you."

"I happen to agree but--it's what comes with being a priestess."

"What would it take for you to leave Aphrodite's service?"

"Oh, I could never leave."

"What if I asked her? She is my aunt you know." Arion was chasing Daphne around the room. She was stumbling over chairs until he had her back into a corner.

"Why would you ask that? You love Alethea."

"No, it's the funniest thing," Arion said taking Daphne's hand. "I don't even remember what she looks like. All I can see are your eyes."

"Excellent," Aphrodite said nodding in satisfaction. "He's definitely enamored."

"Good. That will give them time to escape," Ares nodded once. "Now, for the last part of the plan. Did you get it?"

Concern etched its way across Aphrodite's features. "Ar, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

A vial of liquid appeared in Aphrodite's hand. "Niocene didn't want to give it to me."

"But she did."

"After I told her the story," Aphrodite looked at the vial and then at Ares. "What if she doesn't drink it?"

"Playthus will make sure she does."

"She'll never remember you."

"I know," Ares said softly. "Maybe she'll finally get the peace she spent her whole life looking for."

"I can't believe that you're saying that."

"Why is it so hard to believe?"

"Because I've never seen you do something for someone else."

"I know, I hope it's only temporary."

"Me too, I can't stand a mushy God of War," Aphrodite laughed, lightly.

"Me neither."

Both Ares and Aphrodite turned to look at Arion who was staring at them with a smirk on his face.

x.X.x.

"So, Daddy dearest, you had it right. Someone was in love with Alethea, but it wasn't Playthus, was it?"

"How does he see us?" Aphrodite whispered.

"Now, Auntie," Arion said knocking Daphne out of his way as he marched toward his father and aunt. "I'm half-God…do you really think that your little tricks that keep mortals in line scare me? No, I knew you were there the whole time. Just like I knew when Cupid shot me."

Ares started in surprise.

"Thankfully, Auntie Aphrodite was looking out for me," Arion jerked open his shirt to reveal a metal plate that covered his entire torso. "Forged from Hephaestus himself. Sure protection from all things God and Mortal."

Ares turned shocked eyes on Aphrodite who merely shrugged. "It was a birthday gift."

"And you have no idea how much I appreciate it. But now it's my turn to surprise you--bring them in!"

Two guards hustled Alethea and Playthus in--both bound and gagged.

"You look surprised to see them," Arion said watching Ares's reaction. "Oh that's right, you planned on letting them escape. After all you freed Alethea, didn't you? Talked me into letting Playthus live as Aphrodite's servant?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ares had to play it cool.

"Love has made you a pathetic fool," Arion muttered. "But it couldn't have worked better in my favor."

"You planned this?" Aphrodite asked, shock evident in her tone.

"Of course. Quite the actor, aren't I? Mom would be proud."

At this everyone even Alethea looked surprise. Arion just laughed. "Yes, I know who my mother is. The Battling Bard, blah blah blah. Doesn't seem to help her living incarnation, huh?"

Playthus struggled.

"Look, he wants to fight me. Well, Playthus, you may just get your chance."

"Arion, think about what you're doing," Ares said in a stern voice.

"I know exactly what I'm doing. Tomorrow, both Alethea and Playthus will die in the arena. And no strumpet," he spit in Daphne's direction, "will change that. No love spell or quick witted phrase will keep either of them from death."

"Arion--"

"Enough words, Dad," Arion slurred the term. "You should be proud. I found your weakness and exploited it well. Isn't that what you taught me? I didn't know for sure who she was--not until that day you gave her that horse. Yes, you thought you froze us, didn't you? Well, how many times do I have to tell you, I'm not like other mortals? I had a feeling the first time I saw her ride into battle and when you confirmed it, I knew that beautiful Alethea, or should I say Xena was the key."

"Key to what?"

"You'll know soon enough," Arion smiled smugly as he turned his back on his guests and admired the trinkets of his tent. "I must admit that I gave an amazing performance. Even she thought I was in love with her. I guess manipulation just runs in my blood, doesn't it, Dad?"

Playthus had managed to slip free of the rope that bound him. He waited for his chance and watched carefully all of the people in the tent.

"I do admit, she intrigued me. Something about her, probably the same thing that made the old man pant like a dog whenever she came around. Especially in that red dress."

Alethea flinched. Arion moved closer to her and removed the gag from her mouth. "Still, she is a beauty. And beauty like that shouldn't be wasted in death."

He leaned close to her his lips scant inches away from hers while he watched Ares's reaction.

Ares lurched forward clenching his fists when Aphrodite caught his arm and held him back. Alethea withstood the feeling of his skin against hers until he was close enough for her to draw back and head butt Arion. He leaned back and caught his balance.

"Why wait for tomorrow?" he withdrew his dagger started to charge Alethea.

"No!" Playthus stepped between them and caught the tip of Arion's dagger. Arion laughed wickedly and thrust the dagger in further.

"Playthus!" Alethea jerked away from her captors and with a wave of his hand, Ares had her bonds removed. She held Playthus as he dropped to the ground and gurgled blood.

"This time, I get to go first," Playthus smiled, and it was a true Gabrielle smile. "This time you get to wait for me."

"I love you."

"I know. Together always," Playthus murmured. "You asked me one time why I didn't settle down--the answer is simple. I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

Alethea smiled through her tears.

"I'm sorry, Xena. I'm sorry for everything. Especially not telling you about Arion--"

"Shush," Alethea said softly. "It doesn't matter now."

"Xena, I love you--" Playthus closed his eyes and Alethea felt the air leave his lungs.

She sat rocking him back and forth for a few moments until she realized that Playthus really was gone. Alethea wiped her tears away and stood up to face Arion.

"I agree," she said in a cold voice. "Why wait for tomorrow?"

"Wait!" Aphrodite stepped between Alethea and Arion. "Arion, is this really necessary? You have everything you want."

"No, I don't have everything," Arion said his gaze growing cold. "I'll never have what I've wanted most…and now neither will he. Aphrodite, I have no qualm with you. Stay out of it. Tomorrow, she dies."

With flourish he turned and left the tent and three guards appeared to shackle Alethea. She submitted to them, keeping her eyes trained on Playthus's dead form.

"Take him back to Cyprus," Alethea said to Aphrodite. "Give him a warrior's burial."

"It's done," Aphrodite knelt and gathered Playthus's lifeless body to her. They were gone in an instant.

Alethea was about to be hustled out of the tent when she struggled.

"Wait," Ares barked, causing the soldiers to stop. He crossed the room and stood before Alethea. "Let me talk to him."

"Thank you," Alethea said looking up at him. Her heart was broken and there were tears in her eyes. "But you can't stop this."

She turned to face the door and nodded to the soldiers who slowly led her from the room.

VIII.

Ares spent the night by Alethea's tiny cot in the tent guarded by two of Arion's best. She knew that he was there but didn't say anything. She spent most of her time thinking about Playthus and how good he'd been to her.

"I miss him," she said at length causing Ares to appear.

"I know."

"It was like losing them both," she said softly. "I lost her once but to lose them both--will I ever get used to being two people?"

He didn't say anything. He just watched her carefully.

"I know that I was Xena in a past life. I know that I am Alethea in this life. Yet I don't think two more different people ever existed," she whispered. "I was raised to appreciate war as a means to peace and Xena thrived on saving the day by violence."

"Not always," he piped up. "She always used her head and knew when a situation could be solved with words instead of swords."

"But she had Gabrielle--I had Playthus but now he's gone," she turned away and fought tears. "When will it end? My death?"

Ares didn't have an easy answer for that. Instead he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.

"I wish I never remembered," she said softly. "I wish that I had never ridden into battle that day."

He shushed her quietly and just held her for a long time. Finally she broke apart from him to lay on the bed. Ares started to disappear but she turned to him.

"Will you hold me?" she asked softly.

Taken aback but a vulnerability he'd never seen in her before, Ares took off his sword and lay next to her gathering her close to him.

"Don't get used to this," she said softly, causing him to smile. "One weak moment means nothing."

"Of course," he chuckled.

At day break, he left her and appeared in Arion's tent. Clearly, the boy had not slept at all.

"I'm surprised you didn't show up sooner," Arion said without looking up. "What deal are you trying to cut this time?"

"Let her go."

"Why should I do that?"

"Because she has nothing to do with this."

"Oh, I beg to differ. In fact I think her death will serve more than purpose. It will create a general fear of me with the men and therefore cause them to be especially loyal."

"Killing her will only create a distrust of you in the men. They love her, you know."

"Yes, that seems to be going around lately. Isn't she just the lucky girl?"

"Okay, okay. I get it, you're trying to get revenge on me for being a deadbeat Dad, that's fine," Ares began to pace. "But this is not the way to do it."

"Oh, Dad, I disagree," Arion answered. "This is exactly how you would have handled the situation and you know it. When will you stop thinking like a man and start thinking like a god?"

"Touché," Ares conceded. "But a good god always knows a lose-lose when he sees one. If you kill her, you'll cause a mutiny. No man in his right mind would serve you. The men are shook up enough after you killed Playthus but to kill Alethea--that's asking too much."

"Then what would you have me do?" Arion asked with a raised eyebrow.

The vial of Niocene's elixir appeared on the table.

"What's this?" Arion said lifting the tiny vial and examining it.

"Niocene gave it to Aphrodite to erase Alethea's memory."

Arion looked up a smirk forming on his lips. "Oh, I see, you want to erase Alethea's memory, how quaint. Should we just return her back to the bosom of her family with no memories of who they are?"

"No, there's not enough there to erase her entire memory," Ares said throwing himself down on a couch. "Just the last six years."

"Just me," Arion sighed.

"And me," Ares corrected. "She wouldn't remember either of us or the fact that she was Xena. She could go home, I can make the memories of her family disappear with a wave of my hand."

"And why can't you do that with Alethea?"

"Because she's stronger than the rest of them," Ares looked away.

"Or you don't have the heart to do it. Pathetic fool," Arion muttered. "Led around by your immortal heart to love a mortal woman. Look at all the things you've done to her--"

"Look at all the things I've done for her--"

"How long are you going to beat that dead horse?" Arion asked. "So you saved the bard and the Messenger of Eli, that was eons ago and no one cares now. Do you think that if you convince me to let her go that she'll know it? What's in it for you?"

"She lives."

"That hardly seems like your style, War God."

"Maybe I'm branching out, trying something new."

"Or more like you have a hidden angle," Arion watched him closely. "And if you don't, then I'm ashamed of you. But go ahead, I find this all rather amusing. Go to her, offer her Niocene's cure for the common memory but be sure to remind her that if she does drink it, she'll never know her beloved Playthus or the fool Daphne. She'll never know any of it. If she agrees and drinks the elixir, she's free to go. I won't stop her."

"I have your word?"

"My word," Arion nodded as Ares started to disappear. "I do have one question though."

Ares looked over at his son.

"Why did it take you six years to realize Alethea was Xena?"

Ares just smirked to himself and then vanished before answering Arion's question.

x.X.x.

When he found her again, she was awake and dressed. When he realized what she was wearing, his mouth when dry. It was Xena's leathers and her breast plate. Even her boots.

"Arion sent it," Alethea said without looking at him. "He thinks that if I look like her enough you'll intervene and that's what he's waiting for. Whatever happens, don't."

"It doesn't have to be this way," Ares said stalking toward her.

"Oh, really? Arion give up already?" she said braiding her hair.

"He's not going to give up," Ares said in a firm voice. "I have an offer--"

"Save it," she snapped, picking up her sword and examining the blade before sheathing it.

"Will you listen to me?" he demanded, crossing the room and taking her by the shoulders. "Arion is willing to spare you--"

"Spare me? After what he did to Playthus?" Alethea said throwing off Ares's hands from her shoulders. "He should be praying that I spare him--"

"Alethea, you can't beat him. He's too strong," Ares said as Alethea picked up the chakram.

"He's still mortal, isn't he?" she examined the blade and then tucked it on its hook at her side.

"Why won't you listen to me? I'm trying to save your life! He's agreed not to kill you--"

"You know what surprises me," Alethea turned to face him. "You never seemed to be the one who took orders. I guess a lot has changed since I've been gone."

"Alethea!" Ares's voice caused the ground to shake.

"Save the dramatics, I've got a merciless thug to kill," Alethea shoving past Ares and into the bright sunlight.

IX.

"Well, well, well," Arion said, as Alethea was led to the arena. He looked at his father who materialized beside him. "I guess you're just not as convincing as you thought."

Ares said nothing but stood pensively to the side as Alethea jerked away from the guards and took her place in the center of the arena.

"Oh, Arion," she called in a singsong voice. "You and I have unfinished business."

"So, we do, Alethea, dearest," Arion said, executing a dramatic flip to the center of the arena. "You know, a smarter woman would have taken him up on his offer."

"Good thing I've never claimed to be smart."

"Surely, you would prefer remembering nothing to the memories of Playthus dying in your arms."

"But then why would I hate you?" she said, pulling out her sword.

"I'm sure you could find a reason--"

Arion's sword was much heavier than Alethea's as he swung it around to met hers. The clang was loud and Ares merely set his jaw and watched.

Arion was no fool, he knew how Xena fought and therefore knew how Alethea would fight. She was quick with her feet, and one solid kick had his sword flying through the air.

"Nice move," he nodded approvingly.

"Thanks," she flipped to stand before him and before he finished nodding, she drew back and landed a solid right hook.

"It's actually going to be a shame to kill you," Arion said grabbing her hair and holding her in place to deliver a crushing a blow. Alethea felt her nose break and the blood pour. She dropped down and kicked his feet from beneath him while he caught her leg and dragged her down with him. He straddled her and pinned her in place.

"I wonder if this is how I was conceived--you know when Mommy was riding Daddy after you died--"

Alethea grabbed his shoulders and flipped him off of her. Arion landed on his feet as Alethea flipped upright to land on hers.

"I wonder if it was good. I mean after all--didn't Daddy diddle Gabrielle and Hope?"

Alethea charged and dragged Arion over her head as he kicked her square in the jaw.

"He must have some charm--you know, getting the mother and the daughter--well, who am I saying that to--you know all about Daddy and me, don't you? They should call you, Alethea, Whore-er Princess!"

He delivered a powerful kick to her ribs which had her gurgling blood.

"And to think there is something about you that he finds worth saving--worth negotiating with me about--women are weakness and we always knew that Pop was weak for the ladies--" this time Arion launched Alethea across the arena by her hair. "Well not any ladies…just you and the bard…dear Mommy…so ashamed of her reminder of that one weak moment…couldn't bear it, could she? Had to go and die…and leave the little brat to suffer--"

"There was so much good in her," Alethea spoke calmly. "The same good that was in Playthus too. You killed him."

"Well, since Mommy died in childbirth, I guess you could make a case that I killed her too--"

Alethea spit blood and struggled to get up. "If she had lived this never would have happened--"

"Oh, I don't know, Alethea. Eventually, my true nature would have come out, no matter how much good Mommy had in her. I'm just the bastard son of the God of War…and you…you were his whore."

Arion did a flip that had him grabbing his sword as he stood over Alethea who was struggling to stand up. He twirled the sword and raised it above his head to strike when Alethea disappeared before his very eyes.

Turning to face the empty place where Ares had been standing, Arion cursed him.

"Ares! You manipulative bastard! Bring her back! It was my right to kill her!"

x.X.x.

Alethea opened her eyes and she was in the middle of a huge bed with black satin sheets. She glanced down and she was wearing the red dress from the night Arion had proposed to her. She touched her nose--it wasn't broken. Her lip wasn't split.

"Lie down," Ares commanded, appearing at her bedside. "Don't push it."

"What did you do?" Alethea demanded, struggling to get up.

"Saved your life which more than you were willing to do--"

"Take me back--"

"To your death?"

"Ares, take me back," Alethea said in a hoarse voice. "I have to kill Arion--"

"Or be killed? No, you see I let that happen before and I don't intend to let you die a pointless death--again," Ares said as shackles appeared from the four posts of the bed and clamped around her wrists and ankles.

"You can't stop it. If it's my destiny--"

"I am a God, my will is your destiny!" the walls shook with the force of his voice.

"No, my will is my destiny. You've made your point, you've saved me. Thanks. Now, take me back."

"Alethea, I'm not going to watch you die."

"Then turn your head," she hissed, then struggling against the iron, she looked at him. "This is how it has to be. You can't keep trying to save me."

Ares looked away. "I lost you once--"

"And you'll lose me again, even if you save me this time," Alethea said softly. "I am a mortal. I will die one way or another. At least let me die doing something good and decent for the world."

Ares leaned close to her. "You dying isn't good and decent."

"No, but it has it's purpose," she said, meeting his eyes. "Now, kiss me and take me back."

Ares dipped his head and met her lips with a gentleness that Alethea wouldn't believe possible of the God of War. Her eyes drifted shut as she savored the feeling of his lips against hers. When she opened her eyes, Arion was poised above her, sword in hand.

He drew back twirling the sword one time for good measure, when for the second time, Ares intervened. She appeared between Arion and Alethea.

"Step aside, Ares," Arion said, bloodlust in his eyes. "You've delayed in the inevitable long enough. She has to die."

"No, she doesn't," Ares said pulling out his sword.

"What? I have to fight you too? Very well," Arion said drawing back again.

"No, you don't have to fight me. Here," he said handing the sword to Arion. "Take it. It's what you want."

Arion stepped back skeptically. "What game are you playing?"

"No game. You want this, take it," Ares said against handing the sword to Arion.

"This is your sword," Arion said, wariness still in his eyes. "Your godhood."

"Ares, no!" Alethea struggled to stand up but Ares pushed her back down.

"Stay down!" he commanded. Then turning to Arion, he shook his head. "You've been waiting long enough, don't you think? I'm giving you what you want."

"You're giving up your immortality?"

Ares nodded. "Take it."

"Just like that? What do you want?"

"Let her go," Ares said in a strong voice. "I'll give you your godhood if you promise to send her back to Angelius unharmed."

"That's all you want? Nothing else? No kingdoms? No riches?"

"Her life," Ares demanded.

"Done," Arion said, reaching for the sword. Ares reluctantly let it and his godhood go as a purple glow surrounded Arion.

Alethea watched as Arion became immortal and the power exuded from him. With a flick of Arion's finger, Ares flew across the arena.

"Wow, this is fun," Arion said with a jolly laugh.

Ares struggled to his feet. "Our deal."

Arion smiled bitterly. "Why should I honor it? Why should I kill you where you stand?"

"Because this is what you wanted," Ares said panting and flinching. "Now, let her go. Send her home."

"I always said that love made you a weak and sentimental fool, but very well," Arion said turning back to Alethea who was still huddled watching the exchange. "Well, Toots, it's been fun."

He blinked in her direction and she was gone. Arion turned back to Ares with a smirk forming on his lips. "Now, what should I do with you, Dad?"

Epilogue

Weapons of war lay strewn about the temple as offerings and tributes to the new God of War but Arion was hardly interested in them. His focus was on a portrait that hung in a private chamber in the temple.

"Jeez, Arion, clean much?" Aphrodite appeared, her nose curled up in disgust at the sloppiness of the temple.

Arion quickly covered the picture so that she wouldn't see it.

"Aw, Sweet Pea, no need to hide it," the portrait was uncovered and Xena's blue eyes greeted Aphrodite. "I never understood why everyone was so obsessed with her. She was just so butch. But whatever."

"I'm not obsessed with her," Arion defended himself. "And as for the temple, I'm still getting used to the God-thing."

"Why do you think I showed up? I wanted to check on you," Aphrodite's voice was bubbly.

"Well, as you can see, I'm doing fine."

"Sure you are," Aphrodite waved her hand and all the weapons flew to the walls while the tributes and offerings righted themselves. Three temple priestesses that Arion didn't even know that he had, appeared to right the temple in other ways.

"Not bad."

"You'll get used to it," Aphrodite smiled. "Then you'll wonder how you ever got along without it."

Arion didn't reply but instead turned back to the reports on his desk.

"You have people that handle that for you," Aphrodite said glancing at the paper work. "You shouldn't worry yourself about it. You're not a general anymore, Arion."

"I know," he said throwing himself down on Ares's throne.

Aphrodite looked around the temple, back at the portrait of Xena that hung unhidden, and then at Arion. "You never intended to kill Alethea, did you?"

"I would have, if it had come to that. I killed Playthus," there was much sadness in his brave voice. Aphrodite smiled quietly. So it had hurt him to do away with his friend, but in lust for power there had to consequences and Arion's moral coil was still intact.

"You don't have to lie to me. Love is kind of my thing," she said .

"I didn't love her," Arion argued. Aphrodite just looked at him pointedly. At last he sighed. "I did care for her but when it came down to it, I wanted my destiny more."

"I knew it!" Aphrodite squealed loudly. "You wouldn't have killed her! All of that--"

"You know as well as I do that Ares never intended to give up his godhood--"

"So you traded Alethea for the godhood," Aphrodite nodded. "Ares would be proud. It's totally something he would do."

"I know," Arion looked away.

"I knew you couldn't be all bad," she smiled. "I guess in the end almost everyone got what they wanted--"

"Almost?" Arion looked up.

Aphrodite smiled. "There's just one last thing…"

x.X.x.

"Arius, I know you said that you didn't want to meet anyone new--"

Ares blinked. He still hadn't got used to being called something so…mortal. Arius lacked the fear inspiring quality, but he couldn't very well walk around and proclaim to be the ex-God of War.

He turned to the simple farmer that stood next to him. Josiah was a kind-hearted man, but he was oblivious to anything that didn't relate to his quiet farm life. He had accidentally stumbled upon Ares not too long ago as Ares was trying to plant corn and failing miserably. Josiah had taken Ares under his wing as a kindly neighbor. He and his wife Valisa had just moved from a small town not too far away. They took over Greba's old farm to the east.

"I'm not in the mood--"

"It's been what--three years since you lost your woman?" Josiah said, scratching his beard thoughtfully.

Almost three years to the day since the last time he saw Alethea.

"The time has come, Arius. You can't just live like a monk. Farm life is hard, but it's worth it when you can share it with someone you love."

"I--"

"I know what you're going to say and I understand, but the fact of the matter is, you can't do this alone. Valisa and I both agree."

Ares shook his head. He had his typical encounters with women, it didn't mean anything. The one he wanted was the one he couldn't have. He had made the deal with Arion and he wouldn't cross the new God of War. He couldn't see her, he couldn't talk to her or tell her how he felt. Instead, he resigned himself to living on the farm that had withstood nearly a century after Xena had brought him here.

"Valisa has this sister--"

Ares sighed.

"Now, she's a bit wild and thinks she can take on the world. She's got a thing for bad boys."

Ares shook his head. Maybe once upon a time he was a bad boy, but now he was just a tired, middle-aged farmer. The thought made his stomach roll over. It was hard to be at the top and then fall to the bottom. His most decadent act these days was to fall asleep before sundown.

"But I don't know. There's just something about her," Josiah finished as they came upon the farmhouse in the distance. "She's always been able to catch any man's eye, but the fact of the matter is that she doesn't want any man."

Ares shook his head. Great, he thought. A woman that wouldn't want him.

"I know that you don't want any involvements, but just meet her and then Valisa will get off my back about introducing you two."

Ares sighed. Josiah had been very good to him. He had practically fed him and taught him how to work the fields, and how to kill chickens without looking like an idiot.

"Okay, I'll meet her."

Relief came over Josiah's face. "Who knows? Maybe you're just the man she's looking for."

Ares seriously doubted that a former god in love with a woman whose soul had been reincarnated into the body of a woman he was forbidden to see was high on Josiah's sister-in-law's list of priorities. But maybe Josiah was right and it was time for a change.

"Valisa! Woman, you here?" Josiah called loudly.

The door opened and a voluptuous blonde popped out of Ares's house. She had the tendency about showing up and cleaning the place while Ares and Josiah worked the adjoining fields. Ares didn't like his privacy to be invaded but he didn't have the heart to tell her not to.

"Of course I'm here. Arius, you're looking especially well today," Valisa said with a wicked wink.

Ares nodded, suddenly too tired to even speak to the eager-to-please neighbor lady.

"Valisa, where is she?" Josiah demanded tired of this game. He was ready to go home to his own supper, not play matchmaker for the soldier-turned-farmer that lived next door. Arius was an okay guy once you got past the overwhelming ego and vainness.

"She's around here somewhere," Valisa's eyes never left Ares's face. "Alethea!"

Ares thought his heart was going to beat out of his chest. He sucked in a breath. Maybe it was just an incredibly common name.

Slowly the door creaked open and Ares caught a glimpse of raven hair as Alethea trudged out on the front porch, looking less than thrilled. Her eyes were on her toes, but Ares knew without seeing her face that this was his Alethea.

"Alethea, this is Arius," Valisa said in a jolly voice.

At long last, Alethea lifted her eyes to Ares standing before her. She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut, her eyes widening in surprise.

Ares couldn't hear what was going on, his heart was pounding too loudly in his ears. Three years hadn't changed her at all. She was still as beautiful and mysterious as she had been the last time he saw her.

Alethea thought her tongue had swollen to fill her entire mouth as she couldn't form words. Was it really him? Arion had spared him?

"Well, don't just stand there. Shake hands," Valisa ordered.

Alethea was spurred forward. "Hello--Arius."

Ares moved to take her hand. "Alethea."

"Well, Arius, I hate to cut this short but I have my own supper to get--" Josiah said loudly, intruding on the introductions.

Ares nodded, he couldn't tear his eyes away from Alethea. The feeling of her skin against his caused tingles to rush up his spine.

"Woman, are you coming?" Josiah said to Valisa.

"Of course," but she was too busy watching the pair. She had known that Arius was just what her little sister needed. There were clearly sparks between the two of them.

"Alethea, you get Arius his dinner, I'll see you at home," Valisa said with a wink.

Just before Valisa and Josiah disappeared into the distance, Josiah turned, "Arius, you may want to have Alethea look at that bruise--it's a nasty one."

Then they were gone, leaving Alethea and Ares still facing each other, still holding each other's hand.

"Alethea--" Ares couldn't find the words.

"What bruise?" she interrupted, closing the small distance between them and pulling at his clothes.

"It's nothing," he said, pulling away from her.

"Let me see it," she commanded.

"No!"

"Yes."

Before he could tell her know again, she put the pinch on him. Ares fell to his knees after shooting her a dirty look. She pushed him down on his back in the middle of the yard and carefully pulled his shirt back. Sure enough, there was hoof sized bruise on his rib cage. With a quick move, she released the pinch and gently felt the wound.

"No broken ribs," she said more to herself than to him. "When did this happen?"

"A few days ago," he hissed sucking in air. "Was that really necessary?"

"Were you going to let me look at it?"

"It's nothing."

"No, but it could have been," Alethea shook her head. "Come on, there's a hot bath waiting."

She pulled him to his feet and then dragged him along behind her. In the back room of the farmhouse, Alethea had filled the giant wooden tub with hot water and fragrant oils.

"Strip," she commanded.

"I'm capable of taking my own bath."

Alethea merely shrugged and turned away. She was on the verge of leaving when she hurt him groan. She turned around and helped him with his shirt.

"That's all I need your help for," he said trying to get away from her.

"Suit yourself," she said, leaving him.

She left him alone for the better part of an hour and returned to check on him and saw that he had fallen asleep in the water. A smile curved her lips. She knew there was so much to say between the two of them, but she didn't want to think about that now. All she wanted to do was watch him sleep a little longer. There was something about the mortal Ares that grabbed your heart.

She crossed the room and picked up the sponge and slowly began to wash his chest and neck. Ares groaned in his sleep.

"Oh, yeah," he muttered, causing Alethea to smile. Mortal life couldn't be easy on a former god.

When Ares's eyes popped open, she was washing his neck in slow gently circles. Unsure if she was real or not, he just studied her profile. When reality sunk in that she was actually bathing him, he jerked away from her.

"You're awake now," she said with a laugh. "Hurry, your supper is waiting."

"Alethea," he caught her hand as she started to leave, she turned and looked at him. Now would have been a perfect time to say all the things he wanted to say to her, but he couldn't get past staring into her eyes and realizing that she was actually there, standing before him.

"Your dinner," she said, breaking the hold over the two of them and leaving him. Ares followed her after dressing himself hastily and foregoing a shirt.

She sat a plate heaped with food on the table in the kitchen at a place that she had set for him before he made it back from the fields.

"What are you doing here?" at last the words were being spoken.

She turned at the sound of his voice. "A better question would be--what are you doing here?"

"Yeah, sorry I didn't write," he couldn't help himself. He knew that he shouldn't be snappy with her, but happy she was here, but there was something reserved in her manner that he didn't like. After all, hadn't he given up everything save her life? "But that's what happens when the new God of War spares his old man's life and makes him vow to never see the woman that he gave up his godhood for."

Alethea was silent for a minute, not understanding why Ares was so angry. Then it dawned on her--he was afraid she was going to leave--that this was just to tease and test him. Three years was a long time.

"Who do you think sent me?" she asked at last after a lengthy silence hung between them.

"Arion sent you here?"

She nodded. "He showed up a few weeks ago and told me that maybe it was time that I paid Valisa a visit, next thing I know she's writing to tell me that I need to come meet the handsome stranger next door."

"I don't get it," Ares said flopping down at the table, not bothering to look at the food. His stomach however, knew it was there and growled in frustration. "What game is he playing now?"

"You should know," she said looking over at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's just that he's as manipulative as you are--were," she corrected herself.

Another silence hung between them. Neither of them seemed to have the nerve to say what needed to say. Alethea knew she should be thanking him, but couldn't bring herself to say the words. Ares knew that he should be savoring every moment he had with her, but for the first time, he felt worthless as a mortal. As a god, he felt powerful and all knowing--as a mortal, he was the witless farmer who couldn't hold a candle to Alethea.

"Valisa said that you needed a woman's help with this place," Alethea said looking around, unconsciously changing the subject.

"Why? What's wrong with it?" he asked looking at the dusty mantel place and the cobweb filled corners.

She laughed. "A lot."

He had to know how long he had with her, even though he was afraid to know the answer. "How long are you visiting?"

"You need curtains," she carefully avoided the question like she avoided his eyes. "And dishes. I'll make a list."

He stared at her as she paced the length of the room. She glanced over at him. "Eat. I know you're hungry."

Stubbornly, he looked at her. "How long will you be here?"

"A while," she said hastily. "Now, eat."

"I'm not hungry," his stomach belied his words.

Alethea merely shrugged and left him sitting in the kitchen. He found her out on the porch leaning against the rail overlooking the fields. She was hoping to find her nerve and relieve the awkwardness put between them by her sudden appearance and his apparent mortality.

"You know, when you gave up your Godhood--" Alethea started as she heard him follow her.

"Oh, let me guess," Ares finished for her, suddenly sensing that she was trying to distance herself from him. "I've heard this before. It didn't change anything, right?"

"No," she turned to face him. "It changed everything."

Before he could brace himself, she was in his arms. Her kiss was powerful and breathtaking. Never once did Ares regret giving up his godhood for her--he would have done it a thousand times over just to have her in his arms kissing him like she was.

"I only have one question," he said, when they came up for air.

Alethea raised on eyebrow.

"Did you bring that red dress?"

x.X.x.

"Now, that's a happy ending," Aphrodite cooed from her place beside Arion as they watched Ares and Alethea turn to go back in the house to their supper.

"Yeah, I guess."

"He's not such a bad guy, you know," Aphrodite said, nudging Arion in the ribs. "Especially as a mortal."

"I know," Arion sighed. "He's been helping me sort things out. Being the God of War isn't exactly easy."

Aphrodite nodded clearly impressed. "Still not father of the year, but he's trying. You gotta give him credit for that."

Arion nodded.

"Guess we're on the way to being one big happy family again," Aphrodite smiled. "I don't think it could have worked out better if I'd planned it myself. You got your Godhood, Ares got Alethea/Xena and I got a new purse to match my outfit!"

Arion rolled his eyes as he and his aunt disappeared into the sunset.