Ares popped in first at Aphrodite´s to let her know what was going on with Xena and to see if Eve was manifesting any of the same symptoms. Eve and ‘Dite were playing in the pool that was full of bubble bath and water toys. Bliss and Cupid were there too along with Psyche and Apollo. He was glad to see Apollo. At least he didn´t have go track him down all over the Ether to find him. There were a few kids of various ages from Eve´s size and upward that he wasn´t sure who they belonged to in the water, and playing by the pool too. It was clear that they were having a full blown pool party with bouncing rock music in the background with bubbles and colorful butterflies flying overheard. They were all laughing and joking, having a great time. It was a few moments before Aphodite or anyone noticed him.

She bounced up and waved at him happily when she finally spotted him. "Hi, ‘bro coming to collect Eve? Where´s Xena?" she asked puzzled. Then she took in his worried and scared face and got worried herself. Quickly, she put Eve in a floating water dragon toy, sensing that something was seriously wrong and that he needed to talk to her.

Ares came closer to the pool where they were all leaning against the cushioned sides. They had all grown quiet as they took in his grave and anxious appearance. "She´s sick, really sick," he told her gravely. All the gods became alarmed and visibly upset at his news. Then looking at the sun god, "Apollo, I need for you to look at her. There´s something seriously wrong. Is Eve sick?" he asked both of them.

The handsome sun god immediately responded, "Yeah, no problem," he told Ares, with a concerned frown on his handsome face as he got out of the pool and wrapped a towel around his waist to come over to where Ares was. It must be serious if the God of War was this shook, Apollo thought to himself, not that he normally had that much to do with God of War since they tended to irritate one another and didn´t socialize together unless they had to.

"No, she´s fine. Happy, bouncy. No problems," ‘Dite told her brother getting out of the pool and putting a wrap on.

"Well Xena isn´t and hasn´t been since she ate that ambrosia that Athena gave her. First I put it off as stress from everything that has happened to her, now I´m not sure. Remember her telling us she didn´t feel good before we left the Council chamber?´ Ares asked his sister.

"Yeah, but we all put it off to her being pregnant and the abrupt change from mortal to goddess. I take it, it is more serious than that?" She questioned, and involuntary shiver running through her.

"Yeah, she started getting worse after she used her powers to decorate the kids rooms. She was a little unsteady of her feet before that but after that she rapidly went downhill getting a blinding headache and then passed out. I left her resting in bed but she´s got a fever. Apollo, what the hell is wrong with her?´ Ares demanded, wanting answers.

"Off hand I don´t know. I´ve spent time with Eve and there is nothing wrong with her. She´s fine and healthy and adapting quickly to being a goddess. I´ve never heard of a mortal having this kind of reaction before," he told him truthfully. "yes, I definitely want to see her," he added.

Ares looked relieved. "Good, let´s go. Sis´, can you watch Eve a little longer?" he asked, hating to impose on her so much but he really didn´t know who else to ask.

"Sure, but I want to come with you," she told Ares, then turned to Cupid and Psyche still playing in the pool with Eve, "Can you keep an eye on her until I get back?"

"No problem, Mom," Cupid told her wanting to help any way that he could since this did concern his Dad and his soon to be step-mother. In the meantime, Psyche left his side went to over to Eve to distract the little girl from noticing that Aphrodite was going.

"We´ll take care of her until you get back. I hope Xena will be okay," Psyche said distracting Eve with making some bubbles dance and float over the little girl´s head which made Eve giggle and try to reach for them. "Go ahead and go ‘Dite," she told her.

Aphrodite nodded gratefully and turned to her brother, "Let´s go," she told Ares and they vanished in a blaze of light to reappear in Ares´ need bedchamber. She looked around impressed. "New digs?"

"Yeah, we did some remodeling and that´s when it got worse when she started using her powers," he told both of them as they went over to the bed. Xena was not even aware of them being there. She was still out of it just like he had left her. Ares hurried over to her, but stayed out of Apollo´s way as the golden god bent to examine the former mortal, while Aphrodite stood back out of their way not sure what she could do.

Apollo examined her every which way he could think of shaking his head, a frown creasing his face as his brows knotted in concentration. He stood up finally shaking his head and glanced at Ares regretfully, "I´m not sure, Ares, what´s wrong with her. It´s almost like she´s been poisoned, but I can´t figure out how. Few things can effect us. She wasn´t sick before she became immortal?" Apollo asked, hoping it was some mortal thing that got translated into something worse with the change s she had gone through.

"Not that I know of. Xena is generally healthy as a horse," Ares answered. "You said poisoned? How? The only thing that can do that is hind´s blood You don´t think Athena possibly…?" he didn´t want to say it, but given how angry Athena had been with Xena over a number of things it wasn´t totally out of the realm of possibility that his sister had deliberately tainted Xena´s portion of the ambrosia. Or else it had been all tainted and Eve was somehow immune to the hind´s blood. That was an unnerving thought that he tried not to think about. But Athena had been so hot to immediately transform the two once the verdict of the gods had gone contrary to what she had hoped as he knew his sister had been wanting to kill them both.

Apollo looked at him with regret, "Maybe. Athena can be a real bitch. And things have not been going her way since she took over Zeus´ throne. I´ve heard her raging a lot about your Xena , especially after Zeus and Hera died. She wanted her and Eve dead and was upset that it couldn´t be accomplished by her troops. That´s why she went to Amphipolis to oversee the siege personally. She was definitely not in a good mood when she came back after you and Xena had sealed your deal and announced that we were going to have a "full" meeting," the sun god told him.

"But I thought the hind´s blood amulet had been destroyed, lost?" Ares questioned.

"That´s what I thought, but maybe there was a stash of it somewhere that Athena found. It´s the only thing that makes sense given her symptoms."

"So is there a cure?" Ares asked thinking furiously about the times his kind had been poisoned, looking down at his beloved and knowing that she didn´t have that much time.

Apollo shrugged. "Maybe making her mortal might do it? It might get it out of her system, but then she´d be mortal and might not be able to become immortal again. Then it would be like she was breaking the God´s Council edict for her and Eve to be goddesses to remain alive," he replied thoughtfully, sure now it was Athena´s revenge working.

Ares was just barely containing his fury now. He was kicking himself for not seeing it before. Athena! She did this to get back at the both of them. He also remembered her curious remark that if Xena didn´t take the ambrosia that a suitable home could be found for Eve, not even considering him at all. Damn her! She had planned all this! He was going to take her out—this went too far this time! He looked down at Xena and knew something had to be done soon. "Make her mortal, Apollo. I know you can do it," Ares ordered him dangerously, taking up Xena´s hand in his own.

"Okay, Ares, I´ll do it. The only reason I am doing this only because it is the only way to cure her. You know Athena is going to hit the ceiling because I am doing this without her permission," he said with regret.

"I know, but there is no other way. Just do it, please?" Ares begged feeling his love grow weaker and weaker even as they talked.

Apollo lifted a brow, surprised at the fear and worry in the War God´s voice. Ares really was in love with this mortal after all. He had never seen him this concern about anyone or anything before. Then there was the child, correction children as the woman was also carrying Ares child. Which he already sensed was special and had to be born. The hell with Athena! There was more at stake here than even she knew. He nodded agreement and then turning back to his patient he held his hands over Xena. Ares removed his hand hastily. Concentrating, Apollo bathed Xena in an intense rosy golden glow. Ares stepped back and Aphrodite kept her distance as well as they knew the power of Apollo´s rays. What he was doing would sear through every cell cleansing her of the hind´s blood poison and reverting her back to what she had been, a mere mortal, no longer part of them. For what seemed like an eternity, the god worked over her making sure that all the poison was burned out of her. Finally, he stopped and stood there shakily, exhausted from his efforts. "It is done," he announced to the two gods waiting worriedly.

Xena stirred and finally opened her eyes confused to see Apollo standing over her and Ares and Aphrodite looking at her both worried and relieved. "What? What just happened?´ she asked them all, trying to sit up and finding it difficult because of the after effects of the hind´s blood.

Ares came to her side and sat down on the bed taking her hand, he told her seriously, "Apollo just cured you. It was hind´s blood poisoning. Athena did it, we think. Mixed it into the ambrosia she gave you."

Her response was immediate, "That bitch! I´m going to kill her!" wanting to jump up out of bed and do it right then and there, oh she was furious. But Ares restrained her and she settled back against the pillows glaring, seething with angry and fury at the Goddess of Wisdom. Then with a sudden flash she remembered that she and Eve were given the same ambrosia or at least she thought it was the same. "Eve! Where´s Eve? Is she all right?" she asked frantic now, fighting to get up to go to her daughter.

Aphrodite came forward to reassure the worried mother. "Eve´s fine, Xena. Whatever affected you didn´t her. She´s been healthy as a horse, playing and laughing. Cupid and Psyche are watching her. It´s okay, you can relax now, sweety," she told her, and Xena relaxed a little but not completely.

Xena looked up to Apollo, "Thank you," she said gratefully starting to feel better all ready and noticing she felt, normal, human, mortal even. She could tell the subtle difference between the states of being. "I take it I´m mortal gain?" she questioned them all.

"Yes, it was the only way to save your life. Apollo basically removed the toxins from your system. You are now the way you were," Ares told her with a touch of sadness as he had been enjoying her being his equal in all things and teachings her the ways of his world. "We´re not sure whether you can take any more ambrosia again since you had such a reaction to it. This has never happened before." Ares told her, concerned still.

"And the baby?" she had to ask sitting up straighter, not minding Ares closeness, even welcoming it. But she had to know, about the child having gotten used to the idea now. If she had lost it, that was going to be another thing Athena was going to pay for dearly as the Goddess of Wisdom was not getting off the hook.

"As far as we know it´s all right too. I don´t know if there is any damage or not because of the poison in your system, but you are still pregnant," Apollo told her as Ares hadn´t asked because he was more concerned about Xena.

Xena nodded with relief, taking in his warning about possible damage as well which Ares did notice and it made him feel better as he wasn´t sure how she was feeling about being pregnant with his child. That she obviously wanted it made him feel better. As unconsciously her free hand went protectively over her stomach. "So, I´m mortal now. What about the Council´s degree that I have to be immortal to live and be with my daughter," she questioned, her mind already working out the ramifications of this new turn of events.

They all looked unsure. Finally Apollo spoke, "you can try taking it again. This time I will personally make sure that it is safe. However, I would suggest waiting a couple of days before you try taking any just to make sure the hind´s blood is out of your system as it was it reacting to the ambrosia violently that caused your sickness. I will also double check Eve for you, but it seems you were clearly the target not Eve," he told her, looking thoughtful.

 "Yeah, it seems that way.," Xena replied, thoughtful too, not sure what scheme Athena had been cooking up with her daughter, but whatever it was it was not going to be.. She turned to Ares, whom she hadn´t really been ignoring but hadn´t really thanked for his quick thinking for getting Apollo. She looked up him gratefully, squeezing his hand, "thank you for saving my life."

Ares almost looked embarrassed, but covered it. "You think I wouldn´t?" he questioned teasing her a little seeing she was becoming her old self now.

She smiled back him, "I know you would and I am feeling better now," she told him. ‘So what do I do now? Hide out or what? Athena´s expecting me to be dead by now. And until I can take another dose of ambrosia I am not exactly on equal footing with her, though I can usually hold my own against her," she said, thinking of if it came to and out and out fight with the goddess still as weak and shaky as she still was she was going to get damaged. But she didn´t want to hide behind him either. She had too much pride for that. No, if it came to a battle, when Athena found out she was well and mortal, she would have to handle it as best she could without help. ‘Can someone bring me Eve?" she asked since she couldn´t just pop in and out and get her herself.

"Sure, Xena," Aphrodite replied coming over. "But do you think you can handle her now, seeing that you´re mortal now?" she questioned, wanting her to be sure. "I can keep her until you´re okay," she said, referring to her being a goddess again. She looked to Ares, and he just shrugged. If Xena thought she could handle Eve he wasn´t going to say no to her. If there were any problems he could handle them as well.

Xena didn´t get mad as she knew Aphrodite was only being thoughtful, not trying to keep her daughter from her. "I can try. If I need help, I´ll yell, is that okay?´ she asked. "But if Athena is up to something I want my daughter here with me. She´s going to have to go through me to get her," Xena added determinedly, looking up at the Goddess of Love.

Aphrodite knew that look. Heavens help anyone who went after any of her kids. The two women understood each other very well when it came to their children. "Okay, I´ll go get her. Be back in a sec´," she told Xena popping out

Apollo stood there still observing the two of them. It was clear that this was not a passing fancy on the part of Ares as he had thought it might be. His brother was very deeply in love with this mortal and without Aphrodite´s help. The mortal too was in love with the god, but there still was a wariness there, a disbelief. Though he knew the history of these two very well, having heard about Xena this and Xena from not only Ares, but from a number of the gods including Zeus, he could see meeting her under less formal circumstances why she had taken Ares heart. As well as why their relationship spanning years had been so stormy given their similar personalities. She was a very forceful and strong person even as a mortal, and worthy of the God of War. There was also a goodness to her, a searing need for justice and truth within her which balanced Ares´ bloodthirsty ways. Yeah, it might work out if they learn to compromise and not let their egos and pride get in the way. He smiled, thinking these two were going to be very amusing to watch, kind of like watching Zeus and Hera. Xena if she became a goddess again would clearly be a rival for Athena´s sphere´s of influence as rumor had it she already was.

Ares finally noticed that he was still there, "You still hanging around?´ he asked, keeping it polite as he had saved Xena and he was grateful for that, but why the sun god was still there puzzled him.

"Just waiting for Aphrodite to come back with Eve. Thought I´d better check her out just to be on the safe side," he told him, justifying his still being there.

Ares nodded, agreeing with his logic. "Good. I´d appreciate that," he said and saw Xena´s approval too.

About that time Aphrodite popped back in but empty handed and looking beyond frantic. "Gods, it´s awful! Athena´s taken Eve!" She told them overwrought with fear for both the child and the reaction of the parents too.

"What!" Ares and Xena both yelled simultaneously, jumping up on full alert now. Xena was already on her feet coming towards the Goddess of Love angry and visibly upset, ready to kill. Ares quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her, so she wouldn´t hurt ‘Dite in case that was her intention. Xena tried to shake him off, he gave her a warning look ,and she backed off to stand with arms folded across her chest demanding a full report now.

"So what happened?" Xena asked pinning the goddess with a deadly look. She was calming but not calm yet.

"You´re sure it was Athena?" Ares questioned, standing next to Xena, looking upset as well.
 
"Yeah, positive. She and her guards came in and overpowered Cupid and Psyche and Bliss is gone too. They were out cold on the floor by the pool when I showed up. I finally got Cupid coherent enough to tell me what happened. That´s why it´s taken so long. He said they came in right after we left and blasted them senseless before they could defend themselves or grab Eve.," she reported, getting a grip on her nerves, and avoiding meeting Xena´s eyes as she had told the child´s mother that Eve would be safe with her. How was she supposed to know this was going to happen? Gods, she felt super bad about this.

"Okay, so we know Athena´s got Eve. The question is why? And what are her plans? Considering my convenient illness, and possible death if it weren´t for Apollo stepping in, she did have this all planned out. It´s too well timed otherwise not to be. I´m trying to figure the point of all this," Xena told the gods as she tried to figure out what Athena was up to. She was pacing a little, trying to keep her panic under control as she looked to the three gods to see if anyone had any ideas why Athena would be so stupid to do such a thing as once word got out it would jeopardize her position on Olympus.

"Jealous is the first thing that comes to mind. She hates your guts. And now since mortals are seeing you as some sort of divine figure because of Eli´s followers it´s gotten worse. As a full goddess and with Ares at your side you were a threat to her power as top god around here. I never wanted the job, in case you wondered. I hate politics. She´s been carefully reorganizing everyone around here since Zeus´s death, reassigning us and giving us less sphere´s of influence to oversee. Those she considered threats she has shipped elsewhere out of the way making it seem like she was giving them promotions," Apollo informed them, and they both got real interested at that bit of news.

"That explains lots around here." Ares said. He hadn´t been hanging around Olympus that much so he wasn´t up on what had been happening with the other gods. He had noted that not as many were hanging around as usual, but he had put that down to Zeus being gone and no one being that fond of Athena and how work crazy she was. But that also explained a lot of the underlying tension he had sensed here went he had popped in as well as some of the sideways looks too as he had made it quite clear that Xena was off limits in every sense of the word. The only Gods going after Xena and Eve after Zeus´ death had been those that Athena could intimidate or threatened into helping her. "So she thinks Xena would be a threat to her power as a goddess? Yeah, if she put her mind to it, she could be," Ares said looking at his love, and seeing her shaking her head at his optimism.

"Gods, that´s dumb for a goddess of supposed wisdom. I had no interest in her power or even having any of my own. All I wanted to be was left alone both as a goddess and as a mortal. She just couldn´t leave well enough alone!" Xena said angrily. "Now it is all out war between me and her," she added her voice cold and bitter like the sharp edge of a sword as her blue eyes turned dark and flashed fire that promised terrible things for anyone that got in her way. Seeing that change come over her even Ares stepped back away from her as did Apollo and Aphrodite. Aphrodite looked beseechingly at her brother to do something before she did something stupid as he was still responsible for Xena.

He gave his sister a quick nod and indicated that she and Apollo should move out of the way and they did move to the other side of the room staying out of the two warrior´s way. Ares appreciated the sentiment behind Xena´s statements, but he wasn´t too sure about the practicality of it, given she was mortal again. Though he knew this out for vengeance Xena all too well. He hadn´t seen this side of her in many years, and it worried him. She´d tear down the place looking for Eve and not care who got in her way whether they were a god or not. "That may not be wise," he cautioned his love, and she only glared angrily at him.

"Right now I don´t care Ares. I want my daughter back. And I will get her back!" she told him, not backing down one inch. "So where do you think she´s taken Eve?" Xena asked in a deadly quiet voice that wanted answers now. But since this was their territory not hers she was dependent upon them for advice.

Ares knew he had to defuse her, get her calmed down before she did something reckless, which it looked like she was planning to do. Carefully he told her, "Good question. It could be any where from one of her temples to some place here on Olympus. By now she knows that we know she has Eve. What she doesn´t know is that you are still alive. As far as she knows you are about dead from the ambrosia or dead and no longer any threat to her. Maybe we can use this to our advantage," Ares told her and them, thinking out loud.

""How?" she asked, not yet seeing what he had in mind.

"Let her think you´re dead, play into her hands. Knowing Sis´ ego she´ll drop subtle hints about what she´s done and where she´s taken Eve and why. Somewhere there is a ‘why´ we are missing. For some reason Eve is still important to Athena. The Council´s decision effectively neutralized any threat Eve might have been by making her a goddess under everyone´s close supervision and care. She got everything she wanted so why take Eve and compound the situation?" Ares said trying to understand what had happened himself. "It just doesn´t make sense."

"I think it does, bro´," Aphrodite told him, speaking up. "Those scrolls I told you about. They´re missing. I hadn´t had a chance to tell you. I thought maybe I mislaid them and I was going to look for them after the meeting but then I was watching Eve so I didn´t have a chance to look for them again," she told Ares and he got worried.

"You think Athena has them?"

"Could be. Also could be why she tried to kill Xena when the Council reprieved her and Eve. I bet she knows now," she told her brother and he grew a little pale.

"I hope not," Ares told her, shaking his head worriedly.

Xena and Apollo were both puzzled trying to figure out what they were talking about. Finally Xena asked in exasperation hoping to get a straight answer out of one of them, "What damn scrolls?"

Aphrodite looked at her wide eyed then back to Ares, "You didn´t tell her? I thought you were going to tell her. That´s why I gave you guy´s space to talk," she asked rather preeved at him, her hands on her shapely hips frowning.

He shook his head, kicking himself. He should have put it together before this. "No, I didn´t. There wasn´t time before she got so sick to tell her," he threw back at her.

Xena looked daggers at both of them. "Okay, enough! One of you tell me what the hell is going on! What scrolls? And what do they have to do with Eve or me? Along with why Athena took my daughter?" she demanded, stalking over to Ares and Aphrodite who were glaring at one another.

Apollo calmly sat down in a chair over in the corner trying to keep out of the middle of this family fight. Finally he decided to speak up casually he asked, "You talking about the Cronos Scrolls? Athena asked me about them when she came back earlier today and I told her that Aphrodite had them.. She was real hot to get a hold of them because of something one of her priest´s or Eli´s priests had told her during the siege about Eve and wanted to check it out," he told them, and flinched back from their hard stares.

"Oh great!" Ares exclaimed, throwing his hands up, and making Aphrodite look very worried now as she stood there and dithered, glancing apprehensively at Xena. Their behavior was mystifying Xena even more as well as making her rapidly lose patience with them all.

Having had enough Xena took the direct approach. She reached out and grabbed Ares roughly by the front of his vest, startling him, as she pulled him to her, throwing him off balance as he skidded across the slick floor to meet her angry, blazing blue eyes staring up at him. "You tell me now, Ares, what the hell these damn scrolls you´re talking about have to do with me and Eve!" she growled menacingly at him.

He tried to look apologetic as he explained, "I was going to tell you, but you were finally accepting what was happening to you and Eve. You were actually looking happy, then you got sick. I didn´t have the heart to tell you, make you more worried," he tried to explain, looking for understanding and not seeing any in her cold eyes and features as she regarded him.

"Tell me now, Ares, everything," she said dangerously, still holding the front of his vest in her hands to keep from hauling off and slugging him like she felt like doing..

He knew he was in deep shit now and there was going to be no easy way out. He had failed again with her and he knew it and this time he wasn´t sure whether she would forgive him, or even if she should. He had screwed up royally. Taking a deep breath and meeting her eyes he found he still couldn´t tell her. He started to open his mouth knowing that every second he delayed was that much worse for the situation, but before he could get a word out, Aphrodite beat him to the punch.

 "It´s a prophecy about your kids, Xena, both Eve and the one you are carrying," Aphrodite told her, seeing that Ares still could not tell her or even look at her. "Eve is the Messenger that will proceed Creation´s Child that really will usher in the Twilight and be the destruction of the old gods. Except if Creation´s Child is destroyed it´ll make the situation a hundred times worse because in the place of your child will be conceived Destruction´s Child which will destroy not only all the gods bit most of humanity too," the Goddess of Love told her sympathetically, hating to do it but knowing that if her damn brother couldn´t be man enough to tell her, she had to. Someone did so Xena would at least have a clue to what was going on.

Xena´s reaction was swift and terrible, she threw Ares away from her making him fall to the floor on his rear. He got up quickly to his feet and moved away from her as he knew this rage of hers. It was her killing rage and the object of it was him now. She was horrified, and she felt deadly ill at Aphrodite´s words. She was also beyond mad as hell at Ares for not telling her. She couldn´t even look at him. How could he do this to her! How could he keep something like this away from her! Damn him! Did he know before they had made love that this would happen? Was this child of his all ready planned for this? She couldn´t believe that he didn´t know before hand.

"You bastard!" Xena yelled at him and he flinched back as she stood there with clenched fists wanting to hit something—preferably him and he knew it. He prudently moved quickly out of range. Mortal or not she still packed a powerful punch. Not being able to contain the anger building up, she did swing around and hit the post of bed with her fist making the whole thing rock with the impact. Making all three Gods move ever farther away from her. "Yagrrr!" she yelled to the ceiling in frustrated rage, too full of pain by this latest betrayal on his part to even cry. "You knew all about this Creation´s Child all along! It was a damn set up! All this time you knew, you bastard! And you pushed at me and pushed at me to get me in bed with you. All this talk of how much you were in love with me was nothing, but crap to get me to cave in and set me up for this! You´ve gone too far this time, Ares!" she screamed at him in rage.

"Xena, I didn´t know! Not until Aphrodite told me before the Council meeting—honest!" to tried to explain, grabbing her arm which she threw off, not wanting him to touch her ever, ever again!

Aphrodite stood by appalled at Xena´s anger at Ares and her thinking he had planned it. She had to put a stop to this now! "Xena! Ares didn´t know. For real! He didn´t know anything about the damn scrolls and the prophecy before the meeting! Honest! I swear!" Aphrodite told her seriously, staring her down.

"Sure!" Xena sneered not believing her. "You expect me to believe he didn´t know about this damn Creation´s Child before this?" Xena asked her skeptically.

"Yes! Because he really didn´t. When have you known me to lie to you?" the Goddess of Love asked her, and Xena had to admit that she was one of the few gods that hadn´t used or lied to her for their own purposes, so Xena calmed down enough to listen to her. "He didn´t even know they existed or where the scrolls were kept. These ones were buried with Cronos´ bones, the one´s that Herc used to kill Zeus with. One of my priestesses brought me the scrolls. She had stumbled upon the grave and found them and brought them to my temple. No one knew about them, I thought. I like reading about ancient history to use as inspiration for my writers and singers´ imaginations. And I thought these would be great reading. Besides Ares hates to read," she told the warrior.

Xena had a raised eyebrow as she thought over what Aphrodite had just said and decided that she really was on the level and Ares really hadn´t known before hand. And that he hadn´t set it all up. She was beginning to feel ashamed for automatically thinking the worse of him before there was any proof one way or the other. She looked at Ares, standing away from her with folded arms carefully regarding her. She could tell he was a little angry and hurt at her now for believing he could have put her in such a position knowingly. That she couldn´t believe he was on the level now and had been thinking of her when he withheld the information because she was so sick, he did have only himself to blame because of the way he had manipulated her over the years.

"Ares, I´m sorry," Xena apologized. "You´re off the hook. You didn´t know. But you should have told me as soon as you knew," she added.

"I wanted to but there wasn´t time before the Council and then afterward I was going to...but you were so happy and starting to relax. I didn´t want to put a damper on that . Then you got sick. I just couldn´t," he said taking part of the blame, but it bothered him that she was still so ready to think of him in the same way she always had. He controlled his anger over that just barely.

She accepted his logic as yeah, there hadn´t been time. She had known there was something on his mind, but something this world shattering hadn´t even crossed her mind as a possibility. She began to see why he might not know how to bring it up to her. She was having a hard time comprehending the ramifications of this if it were all true, that is. She wasn´t even sure whether it was yet. "What makes everyone so sure these scrolls are right or that this prophecy is true?´ she asked them.

"Because one of the Watchers wrote them and generally they are right on the mark. They describe Eve all right as being conceived of a mortal but not sired by man or god and belonging to the other side as their messenger. And when Ares told me that you were pregnant it fit in with the rest and that the child you are carrying had to be the Creation´s Child described in the scroll. He lost it completely when I told him so I know he didn´t know, " Aphrodite told her. "He wanted me to find the scrolls and let him read them and show them to you but I didn´t get a chance to get them."

Xena just shook her head stunned by all she was hearing, having to sit down on the bed and take it all in. She didn´t want to accept this news but she was going to have to. Again, she was going to be carrying a child that was going to be the target of every god. Dammit it wasn´t her fault! All she wanted was nice normal kids—what did she get? Super kids that everyone wanted to destroy for one reason or the other. It just wasn´t fair. And this was not the gods doing. She wasn´t even sure who to blame any more that she and her offspring had been thrust into this dangerous position. Why her/ Why did it always boil down to her. But it was her and crying over it was not going to help even though she wanted to very badly. First she had to get Eve back, then she´d worry about this new "problem".

She looked up at the waiting gods and told them, "Okay, I believe you both. Right now I don´t want to even think about this new child´s problem, I want to concentrate on my daughter and where Athena has taken her and getting her back. Anyone have any suggestions of where to start looking? Isn´t there some sort of god tracking device or some way to locate her?" Xena asked, calmed now, focusing only on the task of retrieving Eve, nothing more, including Ares which she was still preeved at.

Ares was not aware she knew of such things but he volunteered, "yeah, the mirrors, but not if one doesn´t want to be found. The only one that had the power to override anyone´s blocking was Zeus. But it may work if several gods work together using their powers to overpower her shields if she has put up blocks around herself, which she would be stupid not to do," Ares replied, hoping he was being helpful.

"Then do it. The longer we delay the more time she´ll have to really hide Eve or figure out some way to do something to her," Xena told them.

"Okay, we´ll try," he told her, seeing relief and gratitude in her eyes. Motioning his sister and brother they went over to the large full length gild edged mirror in the corner.

Standing before it the three gods held out their hands focusing on the mirror with concentrated beams of energy, one blue, one gold, and one pink tinged beam merged into one of pure white that caused the surface of the mirror to warp and shift and a picture began to form. Xena stood back but then edged closer to see the picture within the mirror form. It had lots of snowy interference but soon it was clear enough to see through to see Eve looking rather drugged and confused surrounded by white robed attendants in some sort of glowing red ritual circle with Athena smugly looking on. It was an inner temple room some where, that much was obvious. The gods pushed with their powers and expanded their focus so they could get an exact location. Finally they had it. Athena´s temple in Athens, Ares finally figured out as he had been there a couple of times to discuss business with his sister over territories. The main priestess was holding some sort of golden and jewel encrusted box, or container as her priestesses chanted and made mystic symbols in the air and on the floor surrounding the circle of energy that Eve was confined within. As they all watched horrified Eve began to grow more and more transparent until one could see the room beyond her and as the chanting increased Eve became a mist that was drawn into the box that the priestess held until finally all of her essence was captured inside. Athena laughed triumphantly as the priestess finished the ritual and handed the goddess the box. Then Athena smiled evilly looking in their direction some how knowing that they were watching her then with a flick of her hand there came a burst of energy from her and their connection was severed. Behind them Xena screamed in both rage and dispair knowing it was useless to try to get to her daughterbut wanting to anyway as she headed to the mirror. She found herself forcibly restrained by Ares.

"Xena, no," he said gently, still holding her back. "We can´t get to her. We can´t get through her shields," he told her sadly.

"What do you mean "can´t" get through? You guys are gods! I´ve seen you pop into one another´s temples before. What´s the big deal?" she asked totally confused and consumed with grief now. "I´ve got to get my daughter!"

He turned her to face him as Aphrodite and Apollo moved back equally distressed by what had happened to the little girl. He looked at his distraught love sympathetically, "Not when the god puts up personal shields. It´s why Athena didn´t burst in on us earlier at my temple. And now since she is top god she has even more power than before," he explained.

"Great!" Xena exclaimed, even more upset. "Isn´t there any kind of armor, weapon, or something to penetrate her shields?"

He shook his head, "no not really. Only combined power can work and it´s going to take more than just us to do it. We just skimmed the surface of her shields we didn´t go through them, understand?" he asked his warrior lady.

"Yeah, I guess. Just great. And by your reaction, the chances of getting enough gods interested into volunteering to help get my daughter back is rather slim?´ she questioned, getting that impression from him.

Ares nodded slowly knowing his fellows. What Athena had done to Eve was unforgivable but it also provided a neat and easy solution to whatever threat she may pose to them by not killing her but confining her safely out of the way. Athena had used a box similar to the one which had been used to contain the evil in the world which Pandora had opened. Now the child could be safely transported and hid without danger to the bearer of the box.

She looked at him dumfounded, not believing he was caving in so easily. That only made her madder that he and the other gods wouldn´t act in behalf of her daughter. "No! I won´t accept that Ares! I won´t. If I have to storm that damn temple alone I will. I refuse to let Athena win. It´s my child she´s got and captured in that box. Either help me or get out of the way," she told him her blue eyes blazing as she shrugged out of his grasp and went to where her leathers were piled. "Now if you all will excuse me I am getting dressed and then I am going after my daughter with or without your help," she told all three of the gods turning her back on them as she ignored them and took off the nightgown and began dressing. She was so mad see couldn't even cry, nor would she let any of them see her tears.

Aphrodite and Apollo immediately got the hint while Ares stood his ground and glared at her stubbornness.

Apollo told Ares, "later," and vanished in golden light.

Aphrodite went over to her brother, "she´s just upset. I´ll see what I can do with the other gods and let them know what is happening. We can´t let Athena do this. She has to be stopped. Besides, I like the kid and want her back with her mom. She´s going to make one great little goddess. I don´t want to see Athena ruin her. You´ve got to help Xena. Don´t let her do this alone.," she told her big brother and he nodded agreeing.

"If she´ll let me," he told her, watching his beloved strap on her weapons now, preparing herself for battle.

Aphrodite grimaced in understanding also knowing how strong willed the warrior princess was too. "You have to whether she wants your help or not. You have to protect your kid too," she added, and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Good luck," she told him and then vanished.

Xena turned knowing they were now alone. "So are you going to take me there or not?" she asked facing him, her face impassive. She was back to her old warrior self now. As far as she was concerned their deal was off as he had failed to protect both her and her daughter as he had promised.

"Yes," he answered knowing that if he didn´t she would find her own way off the mountain. "Do you have a plan?" he asked, knowing he was not going sway her from this course of action.

"No, not yet. Any suggestions?" she asked, seeing if he would help her.

"Yeah, lots," he said coming closer, having more than a few things to say to her and not caring how mad she got about what he had to say. "The first being for you not to go in alone after her now that you are mortal and vulnerable to attack. Not that you can´t generally hold your own against most gods, but you were damn near dead not quite an hour ago. You´re pushing yourself again. Then there is the matter of your being pregnant with ‘our´ child. I won´t have you risking yourself."

"Excuse me? When I last looked you weren´t my husband," she stormed at him her eyes blazing.

He stared her down, his own eyes beginning to blaze as well. "But I am responsible for you and your behavior—remember? And that was part of ‘our´ deal. We may not be married, or have a formal arrangement, but you are mine, lock, stock and barrel," he told her angrily.

"Like hell! That ‘deal' ended when Athena took my kid and tried to kill me. You didn´t protect me or her so I am damn well going to protect myself from here on out," she told him furiously,

"It wasn´t my damn fault. I did try to protect you and Eve every which way I could think of. How the hell was I supposed to know that Athena was going to do this? Tell me that! I may be a god, but I am not a damned mind reader!" he threw back at her angrily.

"Okay, that you´re definitely not," she admitted, being rather thankful that wasn´t one of his talents on many occasions. "But I am going to make this perfectly clear, Ares, you do not own me. Don´t even think you can, kid or no kid. And I don´t give a damn what the Council said. They don´t own me either—got it!" she said, meeting his eyes angrily with steely determination.

He crossed his arms, to keep from slapping her which he felt like doing, he was getting that mad, but he was controlling it, ohh he was controlling it. If he didn´t love her so damn much he would have said the hell with her and sent her off to go do whatever. "Yes, I got it," he said between clenched teeth. "But your are mine and you will always be mine, kid or no kid, Council or no Council," he told her just as stubbornly.

        "In your dreams," she growled, and started to leave, pushing past him having had enough of this conversation.

        But before she could get two steps away he had grabbed her, locking on her arm not letting her move, "We´re not through discussing this," he told her.

        "Yes, we are!" she shot back at him, trying to get loose and failing. "Let me go," she warned dangerously.

        "No, not until you calm down and listen to me, Xena," Ares told her, his dark eyes darker than normal as he stared her down, or at least tried to. "Look, I want Eve back as badly as you do. You and I don´t stand a change of doing this alone. Aphrodite has gone to talk to the other gods to get their help because Athena went against everything the Council decreed. That will not be tolerated. With Zeus gone, their decision is binding. You and Eve are part of us now and we do take care of own, even if you are mortal again, you have been accepted by all of us. You and I may not have a formal commitment of marriage, but I claimed you in front of all my fellow gods as my consort, or don´t you remember that? I am not letting you off the hook on that," he reminded her still holding on to her as she looked up at him slightly shocked.

        "You did, didn´t you? I heard the protection and responsible part, but consort?" she questioned slightly horrified as her eyes got wide in realization that he had committed himself fully to her. Then she remembered with a shock that she had accepted. She was honor bond to him too now. Oh great, she couldn´t get out of it! Where had her level head been? Too worried about Eve and herself surviving to care what she was committing to that was where. Ohh, she had gotten herself in deep now.

        "I should have said wife, but I knew I was pushing it far enough as it was. And I wasn´t saying it because I didn´t mean it either or as a way to bind you to me. I said it because I love you, but I will evoke my rights if I have to to make you see reason and listen to me," he warned her.

        On one hand she wanted to throttle him or the other she wanted to kiss him. How could one man get her so furious one minute and the next make her feel warm and loving towards him, then just as quickly want to kill him? He always had her on a emotional roller coaster. But this arguing was not getting them any closer to getting Eve. She wanted to get to Athena before she could put that box somewhere they couldn´t find it. Okay, she´d bend a little, cooperate, even though that was the last thing she wanted to do right now. "Okay, I get the point. I´ll cooperate," she said meekly, making him flinch back at the sharp turnaround in her attitude.

        Ares narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her, frowning. She had given in too quickly, too easily, what was she up to, he wondered? "You will?" he asked, trying to figure her out.

        "Only if it gets me to my daughter so we can get her out of Athena´s clutches."

        "Then what?" he had to ask, wanting to know what she was planning on doing afterward.

        She considered a number of responses to the question, but said only, "Honesty, I don´t know. I still have a lot to sort out—becoming a goddess again—if that happens, this child, whatever this prophecy thing is and how it concerns my children and everyone else, and then there is us, since I seem to be stuck with you."

        "Stuck?" he questioned harshly, as her words had wounded him. "You didn´t seem to feel that way earlier today. You looked like you were enjoying being with me or was that all an act?" he pushed, wanting to know the truth this time.

        "No, you were actually being ‘human´. I didn´t feel like killing you every five minutes like I usually do. I did enjoy being with you for a change," she replied honestly.

         Ares still wasn´t sure whether to believe her or not. Though it did irk him she used the word ‘human´ as being a positive thing when it came to him. He was heartened that she had liked being with him. He had to fish for a response that wouldn´t set her off again. "You did?"

        "Yes, you can be quite pleasant to be around when you try," she said with a slight smile.

        "Ohh really?" he inquired, not sure whether she was serious or not. "Well, so can you when you don´t try to take my head off. This does work two ways," he added. "Truce?"

        "Truce," Xena agreed, and before she could react he kissed her and she didn´t fight it.

        "Good," he smiled, releasing her, enjoying that he had thrown her completely off balance by doing that. "Now, let´s go see what Aphrodite has managed to do," he said holding on to her and within a blink of an eye there were at Aphrodite´s.

Continued in Part 5

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