The temple was larger and more ornate that even Aphrodite's had been. The bard and the warrior princess had never seen anything like it. Xena had been to Thessaly many times and had never seen the building before. Of course they had been gone several years and a lot of changes had been made in their absence. The shock of coming to Amphipolis still haunted the couple and seeing it slowly rebuilt was giving them both a sense of peace.

Reginald and his men had accompanied them up until the opening where two men took guard. The rest stood far back. It was like none of them really wanted or dared to go in. But the bard and the warrior princess had no problem. They had been to many temples over the years. The only one they would never visit was one that still caused them both pain at the darkness it caused. Of course it had also been destroyed thankfully. But that was the past. This was the present. And they had a god to deal with.

The couple stood in the middle waiting. It was like most of the gods they dealt with. They wanted you on their terms and made you wait. That was all right with Xena. She knew it was not going to be pleasant dealing with Zeus if it really was the head god. After all it was because of her and her daughter that had caused Hercules to kill his own father. That was something she had not asked the demigod but would eternally be grateful to him for it.

There was a flash of bright yellow light. Suddenly there was a very familiar figure standing before the couple. Then there was a succession of lights and the pair was nearly blinded as every god that had been killed was standing before them. Two more lights flashed and to Xena's side was Ares and to Gabrielle's side there was Aphrodite. There was silence for the longest time. It was the gray haired god that finally spoke. "Xena. Gabrielle." He nodded at them. "Welcome."

The bard looked at the warrior who looked back. Then Xena looked at the Gods standing there and finally left her gaze on Zeus. "Zeus." She nodded but that was her only way of acknowledging any respect what so ever to the god standing before her. "If it was you that sent the zealots to Amphipolis there are easier ways to get our attention. You can ask your son and daughter." There was a slight shifting among all the gods standing there.

"I am the one that sent them." Zeus took several steps forward. He eyed his son then his daughter. "I could have come before you. Any of us could. But that was the easy way." He took another step forward and he looked directly at Ares. "You could have told them we were back." Aphrodite tensed just a little as she knew the words were meant just as much for her as for her brother. The main god's attention turned back to the warrior. "I wanted to say that there are no hard feelings."

Both Gabrielle and Xena were so stunned they almost lost the ability to stand. That was the last thing that either of them had expected the main god to say to them. Finally it was the bard that found her voice. "Well if you'll forgive me for saying this there are hard feelings." She took a confident step forward. She was now within a foot of the tall gray haired god. "You hunted us down. You tried to kill our daughter. All because you were afraid to die. What did it get you in the end? You all died anyways."

Zeus laughed out loud. It was a booming laugh that hurt both the bard's and the warrior's ears as it seemed to echo forever in the tall marble temple. He shook his head and just smiled. He looked from Ares to Aphrodite as he spoke. "Now I can see why you like to play with these mortals. They are not like the rest. They actually have backbones and are not afraid to stand up to us." He took another step forward and was eye to eye with the petite blond. "Even though I could squash you like a lightning bug."

That got the warrior princess into action. Before any of the gods could react she had placed herself between Zeus and her wife. Her hand idly went to her chakrum knowing that it would not really help her against her present foe. There really wasn't anything that she could do to any of them. But the weapon still felt good in her hand and gave her a measure of comfort. "Threaten her again and we're out of here never to look back. So tell us why it is that you summoned us here. Why you are starting a war and who in Tarturas put out a bounty on us?"

Zeus took a few steps back. He was not afraid of Xena but he had a small measure of respect for anyone that was willing to stand up to him in this matter. His children and his wife never would stand up to him like this though Hera did surprisingly when she stood up for Xena and her unborn baby. Well they did from time to time and they regretted it later on. "I only wanted you here for two reasons. The first was truly to thank you. The twilight was actually a rest period if you will for us Gods. Only Ares and Aphrodite never got to experience it."

The God paused for a moment before continuing. "You see we were never told the rest of the prophecy. Had we, we never would have come after you or your daughter." The god waited for the pair to get the shocked looks off their faces. "We have been at rest for the past few years. Some of us longer than others." Both the bard and the warrior looked skeptical. "It was your resurrection and now the lives of your babies that have brought us back. I like to think of that as irony."

Gabrielle blinked several times. The whole thing was unbelievable and yet they were standing there talking to a god that should not be there. But what had really struck her was one word in that entire sentence. She glanced over at her wife who didn't seem so surprised at the omission. Perhaps she had guessed but was saving it to tell when they were back home. But still, babies? Plural? "Um I don't understand any of this and I'm a bard. But could you clue me in on how many babies exactly?"

Zeus actually laughed. "Well I could tell you or let that be a surprise." He watched as Xena instinctively put her arms around her wife. Though there were still some hard feelings he understood what had gone down between the mortal couple and the Gods. They were fighting for their child and for their love. It was something he had done on occasion as well especially his beloved Hercules. "Your two children will usher in a new time in Greece. There will still be fighting but peace will win out more."

Gabrielle found herself being held up by strong arms. Twins? I'm carrying two babies? This is almost too much happiness to take in. I just want to curl up with Xena somewhere and celebrate! "So you believe this prophecy as much as you believed that Eve would bring the end of you?" The god simply nodded. "Gee it's usually the bad stuff that everyone has an easier time believing. That's why some people to this day don't believe that my wife has changed."

Xena whispered softly in her wife's ear. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I wasn't sure until last night." Gabrielle only squeezed the arms that were still holding her upright. The warrior then turned her attention to Zeus. "So you sent the zealots to get us here. That I'll believe. But who started this war and why were there traps set along the way? And like Gabrielle asked what about this bounty that was placed upon us?"

"Would you believe mortals started the war?" Zeus looked at Ares who shrugged. "And would you believe that it was mortals that set those traps and set the bounty." The bard and warrior exchanged looks. "There is a warlord named Hector. He has started to build up an army." Ares stepped forward. "I believe my son knows the details better. I will turn the floor over to him. And by the way for what it is worth once again I am sorry."

That stunned the warrior and the bard who quickly turned their attention to Ares. "Hector came to me just before your return from the dead." The god of war strolled so that he was in front of the blond and dark haired women. "I was desperate for a score. My worship was down. Wars were down. I needed a big score sorta speak. So when this young punk came to me I thought why not? Only problem is now he has weapons, an army and he wants to take your place as my chosen. It was bad when he found out you were still alive."

Gabrielle put her head in her hands. Xena instinctively reached down and started rubbing her belly. Their lives would never be simple that they knew. But why was it the gods had to play with them and then forget to tell them that 'oh by the way there is a maniac warlord that wants to do you harm'. The warrior princess sighed heavily. "So because of you, Ares, we have to go and stop a warlord. Give me a break just for once."

Ares came and stood between Zeus and Xena and Gabrielle. He turned his back on his godly family and turned to what he considered his real family. The god would never tell anyone, not even his sister Aphrodite that he truly cared for, that he would rather be around the warrior princess and the bard. True he had messed with their lives a lot over the years. Partly that was because he really had wanted Xena back as his chosen. But partly that was because he truly cared for them.

It had driven him nearly insane watching Gabrielle suffer so without Xena by her side. What was worse had been knowing that he could do nothing about it. He had been grateful to his sister for doing what little she could to help the bard finally be reunited with her soul mate. And watching just how happy his chosen was made it now worth what he was about to do. It went against his grain and might just get him in trouble with his father. But that wouldn't be the first time and it wouldn't be the last.

Xena eyed the god with a suspicious look never truly trusting what he said or what he did. However it had been clear from where he and Aphrodite had stood that they two gods were on their side and always would be she hoped. Messing with the gods was dangerous even for someone like Xena and definitely for her wife and their unborn children. She put an arm around Gabrielle's shoulder and waited to see what the god of war had to say.

Ares licked his lips and crossed his arms over his chest. He caught the knowing look that his sister shot over the tall warrior's shoulder. For a moment he wondered if his sister had not been going to interfere had he not decided to. It would be so like her especially where these two were concerned. "I think I can take that burden of your chest." That got one raised eyebrow from the warrior princess and a doubtful look from the bard. "I have another that wants to be my chosen. I can let them fight it out. You do remember what that was like don't you?"

Gabrielle looked up over her shoulder so that she could see Xena's eyes. There was that tiny bit of spark as it reflected the anger at the memory. Ares had decided to let his latest conquest challenge Xena. But it wasn't that simple. The bard had been sent to wherever it was that Ares had sent them as well as the warrior princess. By night Gabrielle had to fight this blond woman and by day it was Xena. All they had to do was fight her to a standstill with the girl finally calling for Ares help which then doomed her. "I remember." The bard's voice was just a touch bitter.

"So do I." Xena's voice was even more bitter. Of all the trials that Ares had put them through to her that had been the worst. It had separated the two and that was something that the warrior princess never wanted. Whether it be just in their everyday lives or in battle she wanted to be with Gabrielle. Even after they died she wanted them to be side by side. But that was not her choice though she would fight tooth and nail to make it so. "Not one of my favorite memories."

"Why?" Ares smiled smugly. "It all worked out for you two foxes. I say that because you were sly in getting that wench, gee I don't even remember her name, to call for my help." He shook his head and chuckled at the thought. "That's why I've always wanted you as my chosen. Sure you look hot and you can kick ass better than anyone I know but what you have that no one else has is that incredible brain. And the bard here just magnifies that attribute."

Gabrielle blinked a little. Though they had been getting along a lot better over the past few encounters the bard still had trouble with the god of war. She knew that he was a necessity as much as the goddess of love was but still he could be a major pain in the ass. "I've always said it's her best feature. Where do you think her many skills come from?" Even though they were gods you could hear the audible murmurs going around knowing the double meaning. "We'd be grateful if you could stop this war and get that bounty taken care of. I'd really like to get home and prepare myself for having not one but two babies."

The god of war smiled at this. "I'll tell you what. I'll do this for you and you can owe me a favor down the road." That got him two looks of death. "No? Well then I could just let it…" He was cut off by his sister suddenly appearing next to him. It was rare that Aphrodite got mad but when she did it was a scary thing to behold. Even he was smart enough to know when to back down from his sister. "Or I could just do it since it is my mess I created."

Both the bard and the warrior stifled chuckles. It was something to see someone else besides Xena totally emasculate the god of war. But it was a good thing as now they could hopefully get back home to their friends and family and share the good news. Only just over five months left until they would meet their two little ones. Gabrielle smiled and walked over and hugged the god his eyes bulging out of his head. He gently pushed her away and snapped his fingers and disappeared into a puff of black smoke.

Aphrodite blew them a kiss and disappeared in a puff of pink smoke. The other gods also disappeared in various colors of smoke except for Zeus. He walked just a little closer to the pair still standing there. "Perhaps if we took the time and the inclination to get to know the mortals that worship us…" He smiled when both women's eyebrows shot up. "Or at the very least put up with us than we might actually be benevolent gods and not act out of fear and stupidity. Again I apologize for my actions. As a god I never had to face the end of my existence before. Safe journeys my mortal friends." With that the god disappeared in a flash of purple smoke.

That left Gabrielle and Xena to just stare at one another. Their lives were never easy that was for sure but this had turned out to be one of the easiest solutions ever. It was like it had resolved itself and other than the fact that the warrior got hurt and that Virgil almost got hung everything was fine. They both shook their heads at the same time and just hugged one another for the longest of times. Then they kissed one another with a passion neither of them had known before.

When their breathing finally settled down Xena took the bard's hand. They walked out the entrance to find Reginald and his men still standing there. The warrior princess raised one eyebrow. The tall man shrugged his shoulders. "I was told to escort you to wherever it is that you wish to go. And he also wanted me to tell you that it was not Zeus' order to burn the building. As for the arrows…" He turned and glared at his men. "That was a test by my men. They will be punished for not following orders I assure you."

Xena let all that sink in. It made her wonder if the place had been burned on purpose knowing she and Gabrielle were supposed to be in there or if it had just been an accident. Places like that in the seedier part of a larger town were not well cared for and it wasn't unheard of for accidents to happen in the kitchen or it could have been a fight that broke out and knocked over a candle or torch or whatever and started the place on fire. The screams haunted her still. Part of her wanted to go back. But the part that was tired of this whole mess and the part that ached to be home won out. "We'll go back to where we are staying. You can join us if you like."

"Very well. Please after you mi 'ladies." That got a full out smile from both the warrior and bard. Neither of them really considered themselves ladies. Gabrielle was closer than her soul mate. Not that they weren't both beautiful and sexy and could dress the part. It was just that both of them were more warrior than anything else with the bard still having stories to tell. It was funny to hear but also nice to hear.

They took off down the road. It wasn't long before they were back to the temple with Hippocrates and Virgil. It was getting late and so they decided to stay one more night and take off back for Amphipolis in the morning. They shared an evening meal and some stories and some new healing techniques before they returned to the room that they had so generously been given. Xena had seen to the horses and Virgil was in his own room.

The soul mates were lying in bed now. They had enjoyed an evening of lovemaking. It had felt different this time. Perhaps they were feeling all the love now. Not just their combined love but the love that was coming from their children. Xena had her head on the bard's stomach and Gabrielle was stroking long silky black hair. It was the bard that finally broke the silence that had engulfed them. "So we now have to get two of everything, huh?"

Xena stroked the inside of the bard's thigh causing just a tiny bit of a squirm. "It looks like it." Her voice was soft but it was full of more happiness than Gabrielle had ever heard in it not even when they were exchanging their vows had her soul mate sounded so happy to her. "I'm sorry I wasn't the one to tell you." Her motions on her wife's leg ceased. "I really didn't figure it out until last night when I had my hand just lying there. I…" She stopped not knowing what more to say.

Gabrielle remained stroking the silky hair before roaming to massage her wife's shoulder a bit. "I know. I can feel how sorry you are. So you don't have to keep apologizing. It would have been nice to share it just between us but we were a little busy as usual." She sensed her warrior's feelings change into relief and happiness once again. "I'm just glad I'm going to have you by my side. I was thinking the energy I'd need to run around after one little warrior princess now there are going to be two more of you? Wow!"

That got a genuine laugh out the warrior princess. Two more of me running around. She's right. They're going to be a handful. But what about my bard? She's not one to stay out of trouble either. And she has a fair amount of energy. "I'd say we were in double trouble with just one child let alone two." She felt the tenseness and the change in emotion of her wife. "Well you aren't exactly lazy and you have been known to get in to your fair share of trouble."

Both women smiled and laughed once again wrapped up in a layer of love and anticipation. Soon they would meet their children. Soon they would be chasing after two energetic balls. It would make life an adventure. Their lives already were but this was something else. This was something special. The two fell asleep almost at the same exact time and had almost the exact same dream. It was an interesting dream where there children knew no wars and only peace. It was a wonderful dream that they both hoped to come true.

An-well I think that wraps this story. But I already have a sequel planned. It will pick up fifteen years after the babies are born. Has there really been peace? What have Xena and Gabrielle been up to in all those years? What are their children like? If you want to find out read 'A Time of Peace?'. Thanks for reading and reviewing!