Secrets of the Past

DDR

RATING PG13

PAIRING Xena/Hercules Xena/Ares

SUBTEXT not really. I do use the terms soul mates and companions.

VIOLENCE Typical Xena/ Herc violence (U know)

SUMMARY Ares offers Xena a chance to change a secret that happened in the past that would break Hercules' heart if he knew about it.

AUTHOR'S NOTE This is set in the fourth season of Xena, somewhere around the episode In Sickness and in Hell. As for the Hercules timeline, well, I didn't like it when they killed Iolaus, so it never happened in my story. There are a lot of mentions of Xena's past and the Hercules episodes: Warrior Princess, The Gauntlet, and Unchained Heart. ENJOY!!

DISCLAIMER Everyone knows the Disclaimer so why do we have to put one on?! Universal Studios and Renaissance Pictures own all, except for Samantha and little Atrius, I created them.

FURTHER NOTES I know that the first scene is written in present tense and it switches to past tense after the opening scene, I don't know why I wrote it that way, that's how all my stories begin, so just bear with me. Okay? Also, some things in this story may not be completely accurate to the real Xena time line.

THE STORY Chapter One

A younger Xena is laying in a house bed birthing a baby. She cries out in pain as she faces hard labor. A man with a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee is holding her hand, it is Autolycus. She cries out again. A short plump man with a graying hair and beard is at the foot of the bed waiting for the baby's arrival, he is Salmoneus. Salmoneus tells Xena that it's time. Xena body is soaked with sweat and her breathing is heavy. She clenches her jaw, grasps Autolycus' hand and bears down. Soon a baby is crying loudly. Now Xena's face is tear streaked and she is gasping for air. Salmoneus' face breaks into a grin as he wipes the baby clean and swaddles it. Autolycus watches and smiles still holding Xena's hand. "It's a girl!" exclaims Salmoneus cheerfully, Autolycus chuckles as he takes the baby and hands it to Xena. Xena holds the child to her chest and rocks her. Then she begins to sob. "I don't want to give her up." she whispers. She hadn't wanted to be attached to this child because she had known that she wouldn't be able to keep her, but already she loved her too much. Autolycus puts a hand on Xena's shoulder. "I know, but it's the only way, it's the best thing to do. I promise that I'll take real good care of her. Now, don't think about that. You two get some rest." Xena wipes her face with the back of her hand, then falls asleep.