By Xenamoured

Xena and Ares appear together on the wide beach. The sky above is overcast. Up on the grassy bluff, we see Gabrielle talking with Eve. Xena and Ares begin to walk slowly down the beach.

Xena stops in the sand to face Ares. Their eyes meet in a moment of flashing realization. Xena breaks the speechless spell cast upon them. “So what now? You’re no longer a God. How will you survive?”

Ares takes the serious query in stride. Laughingly he retorts, “Who knows what’s next? And as for this whole mortal thing, how difficult can it be? You and Gabrielle don’t seem to have a problem with it.”

Xena moves closer to Ares and gently touches his bearded face. “It’s different for us, we were born this way…but you…”

Ares reaches out to grasp Xena’s arm. He smiles warmly, “Don’t tell me you’re actually concerned about me, Xena?”

Her beautiful face is full of compassion as she replies, “Of course I worry about you…despite everything we’ve been through…I really do care about you, Ares…maybe more than you’ll ever know.”

Ares suddenly pulls away as if painfully stung. He points his finger accusingly towards her, “You say you care…but it’s always just words with you! I actually gave up my Godhood for you! What have you ever really given me, Xena-other than pain?”

The stricken warrior looks out mournfully over the ocean. Her chagrined expression is momentarily bereft of an answer. Slowly she turns to face her accuser. “You are right. What have I done for you? But what would you have me give? Don’t you understand that you’re asking me for something I can’t give you anymore? Don’t think for a second that I haven’t thought about you…us, together, but how?”

Ares is mollified somewhat. He nods agreeably. “Xena, you’ve always said that I’m not right for you…that I bring out the bad side of you…but what about me? Don’t you realize that you’re good for me? Who knows what good I could accomplish…if I knew that you loved me…I need that from you!”

Ares falls to the ground and pleads with Xena. His face is etched with a profound anguish. “Tell me! For God’s sake Xena, tell me what I have to do to win your heart?”

Xena is deeply moved by the War God’s emotional plea. She gets down on one knee to address him. She takes his head in her hands and kisses him passionately. The fire between them burns for several moments. Their lips are locked together in a timeless embrace. Xena slowly pulls away and gazes into his dark, smoldering eyes.

“Ares, I do love you…and not just because of what you did. I will always remember what you’ve done for me. I can’t help but love you. I look in your eyes, and I see myself…a part of myself that I don’t like…but it’s who I am, and I can’t deny it. You know me in a way that no other person ever has, and that scares me. I don’t want to be that person anymore!”

Ares seems to begrudgingly see the logic of the argument. “I understand what you mean…because I understand you, but you must understand this, Xena. I will never stop loving you…you are a part of me. I see your face in every reflection, every thought. Maybe someday you’ll learn to trust yourself, and learn to trust me.”

Xena smiles warmly at the newly mortal former God. “I should get back to Gabrielle and Eve. We’re headed west, you want to come with?”

Ares folds his strong arms in a heroic pose. “Naw…thanks for the offer, I’ve got to work on this mortal idea. Anyway, you know what they say Xena, two’s company, three’s a crowd, but four, well that’s a party!”

He winks mischievously at her and turns to leave. He walks alone along the empty beach. Xena returns to her friends.

LEARNING TO MAKE FIRE
by Tango

Marriage is not
a house or even a tent

it is before that, and colder:

The edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn

where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far

we are learning to make fire.

"Habitation", Margaret Atwood

The end was quick; so quick that no one noticed it had come. Or perhaps a farmer somewhere did stop his horse and stare warily at the furrow before him, sure that it had moved but a moment ago. Or a writer cursed at at the blot of ink on the vellum page. But the farmer moved on a moment later, and the writer dipped her quill in new ink and continued her work, and the flicker of fear they had felt dropped lightly into memory, and was gone. Nothing had changed.

Thus came the end of the gods.

They were not all dead, though a great many had died that day. Some, like Hermes and Apollo, fled south, to the vast hot sands of Lybia and the Nile. Others who, like Demeter, were ancient enough to recall a time before they had taken a human form, returned to that old life. They became again the wind, the sea foam, the warmth of sunlight. Old Demeter embraced Gaia, her mother, and became once again the beauty of the land.

The new day dawned cloudless, clear and cold as fresh water. The warm stale rain of the night was gone and the land lay quiet and still. Against the sand dunes, the sea rolled softly, its movement lulling and contemplative. There were two figures on the grass beyond the dunes, two young women. One sat with her chin on her drawn-up knees, staring out to sea. She wore rags and her brown hair was knotted and dull, but she was no beggar; her face was bright under the sun, and there was a clarity in her eyes and a wonder as in one seeing the world for the first time. The other woman knelt some way behind her, the wind blowing her short pale hair over her face as she struck a spark from a stone to light the fire. Though she wore the light armour of an Amazon there was no war in her movements. She glanced at the other woman, then her gaze dropped as if it pained her, and her shoulders stiffened. She held her palms to the fire and watched the sparks from the driftwood come orange and green.

There were two others on that beach, woman and man, though they could not be seen from beside the fire. They had separated earlier from the group, continuing out past the crest of the dune, onto the light-brown sand. Neither of them spoke, yet they had walked a long way along the curve of the beach as if by agreement, and stopped at the same time. The sun had started to set, and there was gold in everything, air and sea and their two faces side by side. Up close, it seemed they resembled one another, not in their features but in the way they moved, the way their feet were firm on the ground but their hands were lost, unsure of their place with no weapon to hold.

They did not look at each other at first. The woman, tall and dark like the man beside her, but with brilliant blue eyes and sharper planes to her face, was looking out past the waves breaking, spilling, retreating in the pale twlilight. The man was looking at her. What could he see, when her face was turned from him? Did he know that her eyes were haunted, that her mouth was set hard in anger that was not anger, but shame? Someone looking at her then would have been shocked by the violence of it, the despair. It was as though she had been acquitted of a terrible crime, yet judged herself guilty - and knew that she would do it all over again if she must. Who was she? A mother who had been hunted for the life of her child without pause, without respite, until cornered, she had let out the darkness within her to slay the hunters. Xena, Slayer of Gods. It was a terrible name. She had wanted peace.

Surely the man with her could see none of that. Yet he stood behind her and said nothing at all, as though her pain was a strange thing to him, and precious. There was too much darkness in his eyes to find compassion; but then many things may lurk in the dark unseen. In his own bearing there was no pain, though he seemed ill at ease, uncertain as if awaiting judgement. Or perhaps he merely feared thoughts.

They stood like that, together, until the sun grew large over the horizon, blurring in the mist of the sea. Finally, the woman's face closed as a scar closes a wound, and became composed. Only then did she turn away from the sea, to the man. He met her eyes. A fleeting change passed over the face of the woman, the Slayer of Gods, and touched also the face of the man. His hand went lightly to the pommel of the great sword at his hip, and in that small gesture there was a power that was more than a man's, or less. A former god, then. Ares, the God of War.

Some words passed between them and were lost in the breeze, in the crash of waves on the sand. Their hands moved without their notice, drawing the shape of their words in the air, speaking even when the voices were silent. Those hands spoke of a madness passing, of a tentative awakening. It was not quite a connection. Standing thus apart, they seemed to gather the pieces of themselves, to diminish finally into simplicity. They became human; first to each other, then at last, to themselves.

They talked with more ease after that, of generalities, plans. She would join her family, her daughter and her friend, and take them away from here. Would he travel a way with them? The words were asked lightly, but her face was taut. She, who had never feared the God of War, now seemed to fear a single word from this man. 'Yes' - or maybe, 'no'.

He shook his head, not meeting her eyes. He was not her responsibility; he had his own plans. She nodded, 'I understand'. It was a grace, and Ares raised his head then, and waited. Xena's hand went to his a moment, almost drew back, then darted briefly to touch his, fingertips to wrist. She stepped away. 'I have to go'.

'Yes.' He looked after her as she walked back, her footsteps light on the sand, falling beside his own. Then he nodded, 'I understand.'

And though it was impossible that Xena should have heard him, she turned around then, quickly, without stopping, and smiled.

The end was over; this was a new story. Ares looked out, to the footprints and the sand dune, and tried to imagine this life, and the things he could do. They were not many, but he could learn. He would not enter her life as a child but as a man.

He looked at his hands a moment, a god's hands, unused to work. Then he went to the tideline and slowly began to collect firewood.

The sun had fallen past the sea, leaving a blue, blue evening. Another fire was already burning down over the sand dunes; the three women seated around it were still, dark in the grass. A star blinked above the sea, then another. Xena saw from the corner of her eye as Gabrielle laid a hand on Eve's shoulder, and her heart eased a little. It was a good night for finding peace. Eve bowed her head and Gabrielle sat by her side, and watched the stars with her.

Xena lay down in the grass, her eyes still on her daughter, her friend. It was a very small world, but it was her own, at peace, and she was at peace within it. She turned her face to the warmth of the coals. The wood was smouldering, thin weightless smoke drifting away from the campsite. Beyond it was the wide, dark, open plain. A star sparked there, then died, then came alight again, glowing steady and warm. It was a man, learning to make fire.

By Nittany Lioness 1

Aprhodite’s sparkle showered the beach in a burst of delightful brilliance, denying the cataclysm that had just befallen Olympus.

One second later, Ares, Xena, Gabrielle and Eve materialized behind her. She turned.

”I guess… I guess this is it. Ares, are you sure this is where you want to be?” Aphrodite’s concern in her voice, spoken in uncharacteristic softness, matched the unease of her confrontation with Xena, asking the warrior if she was prepared to kill the remnants of her family. She stood now, facing her remaining brother.

”Sure, I’m sure. Sis, go on.” Ares tried to sound confident.

Xena and Gabrielle simultaneously approached Aphrodite, and Gabrielle took her in her arms. “Thank you Aphrodite. Thank you.” Xena clasped her shoulder and added, “You’re a true friend, thank you.” Eve stayed back a bit, and when Gabrielle finally released Aphrodite from her embrace, exchanged a tentative smile with the Goddess of Love.

She disappeared. The remaining stood silent for what seemed like an eternity. Xena spoke first. “You two, could you give us a moment?”

Gabrielle nodded and motioned to Eve. They started down the dune and meandered through a grassy portion of the picturesque seaside. Xena turned to Ares.

“I want you to know. I want … want you to know something.”

Ares’ eyes softened slightly and studied Xena’s soulful face and found something there, as she struggled a bit to find her words. He found genuineness. There was this authentic emotion in her eyes as they raised to meet his, and then…yes, he swore then he found something else there. He wasn’t sure he knew how to recognize it at first. It was all so new. But it was there now, without the shock and rawness that came with her thanks up in the Olympian grand hall…but it was there again. He saw love behind her sea-foam blue eyes. He looked down as she found the words to continue.

“You know, going around, doing …doing what I do. It was the hardest thing in my life to make the first step. Ares, Ares I never let myself consider you could, you *would* ever make that step too.” She chuckled and her face relaxed. “You told me once I’d be surprised by you. Well, you sure know how to shock a gal … even me.”

Ares smiled and watched the waves crashing onto the shore. “Yea, well, maybe your gonna have to start re-thinking the whole ‘despise’ thing.” He glanced at her slyly out of the side of his view. She laughed with a closed mouth and shook her head.

“Maybe I’ll have to.”

Ares felt a wave of cheer as she warmly bantered back. “You gotta admit now, I have my moments,” Ares said with bravado.

Xena grew serious. Intensely serious.

“Yes. Yes, you do.” And with that she reached for the back of his neck, and pressed her fingers until his lips met hers, and she kissed him. At first she tenderly let their faces separate enough to meet eyes once again, and then she wrapped both arms over his shoulders and kissed him more deeply. The sheer passion knocked Ares’ sense of the moment back for the briefest of moments, but then he recovered and took her in his arms, giving back this incredible feeling his was receiving. Receiving from this woman he loved so very much.

Finally, they surfaced.

“Will there never be a time Xena, when we could be together?”

Xena stepped back ever so slowly, her hands sliding down his shoulders, arms and wrists. She answered as their hands danced together with fragility. He already had his answer.

“Never’s a long time Ares. Try to be a better man than you were a god. … I’ll see you around.” Her touch lifted off and she turned to meet Gabrielle and Eve.

“Goodbye Xena,” he called. She looked back, smiled and gave a low wave. Then softly she touched her chakrum hanging on her waist.

Oh yes, he had his answer.

<END SCENE>

Coming Back
by Carly

She had smelt of blood, and sweat, and all the things of battle. There was the pungent scent of hot leather, too, and an acrid burning smell – that was from the barn, he realised dimly. For a moment he’d forgotten that particular fight, as though there had only been one; Xena standing up against a goddess, and winning. As though she’d been standing in the halls of war ever since she dropped the girl child out of her.

If anything, he recognised the blood and the burning from a battle long ago, when he’d first seen her. He’d thought he’d known everything about her from looking at her, then. Had seen the barbarian tribe camped out on the plains of Corinth and had guessed it would take a single sortie to wipe them out.

It wasn’t the first time she’d surprised him. That initial battle, which provoked the long drawn-out siege of Corinth, was a wonder of strategy, something that military tacticians spoke about for decades afterwards. He’d assumed, then, that she – and the man she was with – would follow it up swiftly, take the city, take the whole land. And then, when she refused, that the man would leave her and take the city himself.

Her hands dripping with blood, her hair singed with fire. He’d watched her then because he could not understand her. The blood dried to dark stains, the hair lay in rough strands, and the fight went on. Oh, the battle for Corinth had been swift, but there was some other fight that he could not understand. She made choices that made no sense to him. He watched; he could not stop watching.

It wasn’t as though she didn’t understand all the strategies of battle, all the ways to win a war. It was not as though the man she were with could not have decisively ended the siege, put every citizen within that city to the sword, and carried himself off as the victor. There was something else drawing them, and he watched and watched, but he could not understand.

The end came swiftly upon them. A night something like the one they had just had, a night of blood and fire, and inexplicable decisions. Her man had made his way to her side, even though it meant death to him. She had given up the siege, given up an entire army, when it had all been in her grasp.

It could have been a thousand years ago.

Except, Ares realised, that he could no longer think like that any more. A thousand years, or a day – they would mean something, now.

“Ares.”

He looked up. He’d been sitting, waiting on the beach while she bathed – bathed to get rid of the odors of fire and blood that had surrounded her. She didn’t want it any more. He wondered when it had stopped being her scent. Now she smelled like the salt of the sea, and faintly like flowers – he supposed it was a soap.

“What now?”

He stood, looking at her, the way her hand rested on the weapons at her side, the way she tilted her head, to listen. He couldn’t help but smile, but she frowned, and shook her head.

“Try to be a better man than you were a god, all right, Ares?”

He laughed at that, and finally she joined him.

“What do you plan – I mean –“

When had the inexplicable become clear? When had he realised that going back, even if it meant death, had been the only thing Borias could have done that evening? He wasn’t sure. He wondered what else was finally going to make sense to him, now, and he unexpectedly leant down and brushed his lips against hers.

“Wander the earth,” he told her, remembering the coming back.

A breeze blew over them, carrying with it the scent of the sea, the salt and the sand.

He made himself turn away in that wind, and walk, breathing it, tasting it, walking away, knowing the coming back, remembering always, always, the coming back.

By Akarnia

They had been completely healed, but their tired bodies still depended on my shoulders for support. We carefully walked to the beach and I gently set my daughter and best friend on the cool ground. I kneeled down next to Gabrielle and whispered to her.

"I'll be right back, I have to talk to Ares"

I don't know why I whispered it, I guess I was just trying to keep it secret from Eve. Not that it wasn't completely obvious of who I was going to talk to, or that she cared, I was just being motherly. That loving maternal feeling that I thought I had lost when Livia killed Joxer, but thankfully Eli saved her soul. However, the one I owe the most thanks to is the one who saved all of our lives, the one who used to be my enemy.

I saw him there leaned against a tree, a hand wrested one his leg covering his wound. He was mortal now, and although we was still the same strong, handsome Ares, he appeared peaceful, and vulnerable, but most of all ...human.

He saw me coming towards him. And I saw him straighten up and walk over to me. He was trying to walk confidently and stable, even though he had a distinct limp. It made me laugh a little.

"Sorry about that" I apologized referring to his leg.

He shrugged "It's not that bad, I deserved it any way."'

I shouldn't feel guilty "If I had some bandages, I could tend to it but-"

He stopped me and came closer.

"Xena, you don't have to do anything for me, I won't ask anything of you." He said sincerely.

He may not want anything from me, but I still want to make sure he'll be alright. He may not believe it but I care.

"well, do you want to travel with us for a while?" I asked

He looked down and frowned. "I don't think thats a good idea....I'll be fine on my own." He explained.

I nodded in understanding. I knew what he was trying to say, and I didn't argue it. There was a long silence and for the first time I felt nervous around him and I was having trouble looking him in the eye. He was a God, no a man that I had known for years and I always thought that he was cruel and manipulative, and only helped himself, but what he did last night changed that. He sacrificed his immortality to save me and I was finding it difficult to understand and take it all in.

I looked up at him with a serious expression and gently placed my hands on my hips.

"why did you do it?" I had to ask it.

Ares looked back at me and took in a deep breath of cool air, then looked back down again.

"When Athena had her sword raised above your head, I had a choice to make....to live for eternity with what it left of my family, who hates me by the way, or....."

He looked up at me.

"save the life of the woman I love...I chose you....I know you probably think i'm full of minitor @#%$, but thats why I did it, because I didn't want to loose you"

By the Gods! He was genuinely sincere. I didn't believe he actually loved me, or didn't want to believe, but he did....and he thinks I hate him.

"I believe you...Thank you" I replied just as sincere, and I meant it.

He nodded and smiled a little, It was silent again, so I had to think of something to say.

"Well, were probably headed back to Rome...To comfort Joxer's family" I told him, and he nodded with a crooked smile. "yeah, well I think i'm gonna go get wasted" he joked and we both laughed. I remember the last time he was mortal and he had drank to excess, not a pretty sight.

I moved closer to him. For some reason I was drawn to him, I wanted to be closer.

"If you need anything, I'll be here for you" I wanted him to know I wanted to help him...that I cared for him.

He looked sad, he probably thought that I was just trying to be nice, that I was forcing myself to care. He didn't know how much what he did really means to me, how much he means to me.

"I'm very grateful Ares, don't think that what you did was meaningless." I explained. He understood.

"I don't regret it." he said and touched my cheek with the palm of his hand. I couldn't resist. I leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips, and he joyfully returned the kiss. It wasn't a kiss of passion or pleasure, but of warmth and love. I pulled away and looked him in the eye.

"thank you."

he nodded in acceptance. I had to leave now. I started to walk away. It was harder than I expected.

"Xena" Are called, I turned back around.

"Could you ever have....feelings for me, any kind?"

I was hoping he wouldn't ask that. I didn't really know the answer. After last night I became confused, I didn't know what to think of him or how I felt, but I know I felt something. However I also know I can't act on them. There are many reasons why we could not be together,...at least right now.

"I do have feelings for you Ares....I...I just need time to figure them out" I explained. He smiled a little, and nodded his head. He didn't appear sad, or angry. just patient, and hopeful.

"Well, they say good things come to those who wait" he said almost trying to make it sound like a joke, but I knew he was serious.

so I seriously replied "maybe they will....I'll see you around"

We both smiled at each other and said a silent goodbye. I walked away to go be with the two people I loved most in the world. And I wondered, if maybe there was a third person, one that I just left behind.

Because He Loved Me
by XenaAmber

The meaning of life is something a lot of people talk about, but no one knows what it actually is. Gabrielle thinks it’s knowledge; Eve, as of a few days ago, thinks it’s the Way of Love. (It sends a chill down my spine as I think what it was before.) I, on the other hand, am happy to admit that if there is some as-yet-unsolved mystery about life (which I doubt) I am highly unlikely to ever figure it out.

If, however, I were forced to make a guess, I would suggest that it was change.

I could see him tossing a dagger from hand to hand as I walked towards him. Something about it was clearly deeply fascinating to him, as he got quite a fright when he finally noticed me.

"You might want to be careful with that. It’s easier to hurt yourself than you’d think."

"Oh, it’s you," he said, startled. Then the usual cocky grin made its appearance. "Didn’t know you cared so much." I knew I was not imagining the questioning tone in his voice.

I sat down next to him as he sheathed the dagger and looked at me. The grin left his face as I watched, replaced by a searching, desperate look. Normally I am good at staring people out but I found it impossible to withstand his gaze. I looked away, down towards the beach. I had seen the same desperation in his eyes the last time we had spoken here, when I drank the Essence of Death in front of him. He had known then that I had taken all his power away from him, he could do nothing to save me. Now, it was the same look, except that this time he had willingly given up that power to me. I was unsure which of us felt more lost.

We stayed like that, staring at each other for a long moment, and I wondered if it was possible to feel lost and found at the same time. Unbidden, my hand rose and touched his jaw; the flash in his eyes was a mixture of desire and trepidation. He took a deep breath.

"Are – Eve and Gabrielle all right?" he said, his voice catching. I found this strangely endearing, seeing this man (as he now unquestionably was) who had always been so sure of his own invincibility, unable to prevent his hand trembling as it covered mine. Unable to stop himself leaning toward me, at the same moment I moved nearer to him.

Our noses bumped just as though we were teenagers sharing our first kiss and I had to smile at the look on his face.

"It’s all right, it happens," I reassured him.

He pulled back from me, although we remained holding hands, and I thought his pride must have been wounded.

"Listen," he said awkwardly, "I want you to know something. I didn’t save them because I want – this," – he indicated our joined hands – "and I don’t want you to do anything because you think you have to repay me." He paused as he searched for unfamiliar words. "I did it because I knew it would make you happy – and that makes me happy." He shrugged uncomfortably. "So if all you’re doing is saying thank you, then… you’re welcome."

I didn’t know whether he had greatly over- or underestimated my character. On the one hand, I had only been thinking of my own feelings as I leaned in for that kiss; self-absorbed as I was I hadn’t even considered that he would take it the way he had. On the other, I felt uneasy that that was all he thought of me.

"I didn’t mean it like that," I muttered. I lifted my eyes from our hands to his face and it was my turn to shrug. "I just wanted it."

He squeezed my hand as I finished speaking and I saw the warmth in his eyes. He shifted closer to me and kissed my cheek softly. I turned my head before he moved away and I touched my lips to his.

I had kissed him many times before and I had had to fight not to appear breathless, but that was when he was a god. As a mortal the sharpness was no longer apparent, but was replaced by a tender yearning that was so intense that I could not help but breathe hard as we parted.

I smiled as I saw him swallow.

"Maybe there are some benefits to mortality after all," he quipped.

The sun had dropped below the horizon and the sky was beginning to darken so I stood reluctantly; he joined me.

"So," I said to fill the thick silence between us, "what are your plans?"

He looked at me quizzically and I scowled inwardly. What plans could he have? But then he smiled. "I’m going to wander the earth."

A surge of irrational longing almost made me ask if I could wander with him, but I didn’t.

"If you need anything, anything at all—"

He cut me off, "I’ll survive, don’t worry." I suppose it was enough of a shock to have to admit he might need help, let alone getting it from me.

"And Ares? Try to be a better man than you were a god."

He winked at me. "Only for you."

We kissed again for a short moment and then he was gone. I stood there watching him walk away until he was almost out of sight. He only turned around once, when I could still read his expression, and I could see that it was costing him as much to go as it did for me to stay. But neither of us caved: I turned away and went back to my friend and my daughter, and he disappeared into the world that was now his home.

It was his home because he loved me.

FIN.

"Goodbye"
by Aurora Goddess

He had done it--and all for her. His godhood, his family--they were all gone because he had done something for Xena she could have never expected. When Eve and Gabrielle's lives had been on the line, Ares had realized it was to be either him or them and he chose them, giving up his immortality, transferring it into Gabrielle and Eve so that they would live again. In doing so, though, he had lost all of the family he had ever known--not that they ever really meant much to him anyway, but they were his family, nonetheless. In only a short amount of time, much of his family had disappeared from the earth and he found himself mortal, all because of Xena.

His act did not go unnoticed by Xena and, once she had rejoiced in having Gabrielle and Eve back with her again, she had turned to Ares and thanked him, in a way that was truly grateful, showing that what he had done really meant something to Xena and it had touched a part deep inside of her that she never once thought Ares could ever reach. Her overwhelming thankfulness took over Ares and in response to her thanks, all he could do was a nod. In that one moment, Xena had realized that Ares had changed and he had proved to her how much he really did love her. He had given up everything he ever knew for Xena and Xena was amazed by his sacrifice.

They stood and looked at each other for only several moments but, to Ares, it felt like a lifetime. He had done something good for Xena and, for the first time, she was able to show a kindness to him she had never once shown before. He was relieved that she could believe what he did was a true act of love for her and he couldn't help but wonder what the future might hold for them, if he would finally get a chance with Xena in the future. That's really the only hope he had--and the only reason for his actions: to see Xena alive and happy with the two most important people in her life and to hope for a chance to be with her one day. Perhaps his sacrifice would be the turning point and everything would change between them.

Ares stood back and watched as Xena, Gabrielle and Eve begin their descent back to earth. He wasn't sure whether to follow them or not, and he figured that he had better make it Xena's call. He watched them as they began to leave, a thousand thoughts and feelings still filling his mind, thoughts of the past, the present and the future. He thought of his current situation and his mortality. He thought of his feelings for Xena and wondered if what he had done had all been worth it. He was so drowned in those thoughts that he barley heard his name being called, the voice calling him soon shaking him out of his thoughts.

"Ares?"

It was Xena calling to him and Ares looked at her. She was looking back at him, her eyes were kind and warm, expressing feeling that he had never seen in her before--at least not a feeling she had ever directed his way before. Her eyes seemed to have a tenderness to them that reflected the look she had given him when she had thanked him.

"Are you coming?"

Ares nodded and walked up to her and the four of them headed out of Olympus.

The cool breeze blew around them as Xena and Ares stood in the tall grass, the backdrop of the ocean behind them, the waves lapping up against the shore creating a sense of tranquility around them. Gabrielle and Eve were in the distance, sitting on the grass, talking amongst themselves.

Xena was in front of Ares, looking him over. She was smiling a little and they were looking at each other, in silence. It was still amazing to realize what he had done and she still found it difficult to believe that it had all really happened. She never saw it coming; it was a complete surprise.

Ares sighed and looked down at himself, raising his hands in front of his face.

"Mortality... Doesn't feel that different, really, except that it feels like I've lost something, something that I can't replace."

Xena smiled. "It's really not so bad, once you get used to it."

"If I ever get used to it."

"Oh, you will," she smirked and then chuckled, putting her hands on her hips, "in a few years, if you're lucky."

Ares let out a soft chuckle along with her and they smiled at each other before becoming more serious. Xena looked at him and sighed, seeming to want to say something but not sure of how to go about it. She swallowed and Ares awaited her next move.

"Ares...what you did..." she broke off in mid-sentence and looked down.

Ares smirked and for a moment, regained his familiar wit and bravado that was so often a part of his persona when he was a god. "Was amazing? Yeah, I know."

For a moment, it was the God of War standing there rather than the mortal, and Xena looked at him, smiling to herself, then nodding at him.

"It was."

Xena and Ares continued to look at each other, at a loss for words. Then, Xena moved closer to him and Ares stood there, trying to anticipate what her intentions were. Xena lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek, stroking it gently, her eyes showing a level of affection for him she rarely, if ever, showed him. In times before, when they had been together, she had always been nervous about giving into those feelings that she had for him but now that Ares was mortal, and the fact that he was that way because of her, she decided it was time to let her guard down, if only briefly and let him know that she did care.

Ares watched her, a flood of emotions rushing through his body, wondering what was to happen next. Her touch was soft and warm, stroking his cheek, and sending him into a place of rapture. Her touch had always had an affect on him but when it came to him with kindness and true affection, it made him feel completely different. It made him feel truly human. He was always amazed at the feelings that she could spark in him as the God of War. Now that he was mortal, those feelings seemed to be ten times stronger and he wondered if that is how mortals feel every day.

Ares continued to gaze at her, as she did him, and he wondered how far she would actually go but part of him didn't care, because he knew that, for the first time, she was showing him that she cared and part of him knew that if he was to die right there, knowing that he had gotten that one moment with Xena, it would be enough to last him a lifetime.

Xena too, was in a place of bliss as she touched his cheek, knowing that what she touched was no longer the God of War but the mortal embodiment. He looked the same but he was subtly different, she could tell. She seemed to shiver inside, never having once been that close to him. He seemed to have softness to him that he never had as God of War, and she believed that he had become human.

They stood there together, with her hand on his cheek and time seemed to have stopped.

When she lowered her hand, they still looked into each other's eyes. Moments passed and Xena began to lean forward. Ares closed his eyes, anticipating a kiss but she wasn't aiming for his lips. She moved to the side and gently planted a kiss on his cheek, a kiss that sent shivers through both Xena and Ares' bodies. Their eyes were closed and when her lips touched his cheek, they both knew that things were changing between them.

When Xena stepped back and they opened their eyes, she saw a new love in his eyes, and both Xena and Ares' eyes seemed to shine with a new light, a happiness that they now shared.

"Thank you, Ares. I really do mean that," Xena said, her voice was caring but it was clear to both her and Ares that Xena wasn't just thanking him for his sacrifice, it was also a promise of the prospect of things changing between them in the future.

Xena and Ares were lost in each other for that single moment, looking deeply into each other's eyes, neither of them knowing what to say.

"So...where do we go from here?"

Xena looked at him, her eyes soft and gentle but they also showed a bit of sadness and Ares nodded.

"This is goodbye, isn't it?" Ares asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"It's how it has to be, Ares."

"Goodbye forever?"

"Perhaps not, but for now...yeah." Xena sighed and began to back away from him. "I hope you have a good life, Ares. Your life is what you make of it so make the best of it."

Xena turned around; a pain in her chest, seeming to tell her that she really didn't want to leave yet. But she knew that she had to, for her sake and Ares'. At that point and time in their lives, it wouldn't have been right for them to move forward in a relationship. Xena knew that, and so did Ares. But it was still hard for her to leave him and she knew he was feeling the same.

As Xena walked away, she heard Ares call to her. "Xena." Xena turned back too look at him. He hesitated for a moment, trying to get the words out and she waited patiently. "I love you." His words were loving and true.

Xena nodded. "I know. Thanks for that."

She smiled half-heartedly and then turned away from him, and he watched as she disappeared over the hill. Ares sighed and looked on after her.

"Goodbye, Xena."

He stared at the spot she had been for a moment longer then turned in the other direction and headed off, walking toward the beach.

Xena was coming down the hill, toward where Gabrielle and Eve were and, in the distance, she saw Ares walking along the beach, away from her, the ocean waves crashing around him. She stopped and at that same moment, he stopped too and looked back. Their eyes met and then he continued on and she watched him as he disappeared in the distance.

"Goodbye, Ares."

Once he was gone, Xena went to join up with Gabrielle and Eve. She knew that everything would be all right now. She had her daughter with her and her best friend again. But still, she couldn't help wonder, how would Ares fair in the mortal world that he was now apart of? It can be a cruel and harsh world at times, would he really be all right?

Xena tried not to think of such things and tried to just think about her life with Gabrielle and Eve and the joy she had again in having them back with her. But the thoughts of what lay ahead for Ares still filled her mind.

Perhaps they would see each other again one day, but he was mortal now, and anything could happen. She knew she was going to miss his ability to appear whenever he wanted to; she was going to miss that overwhelming presence he had around her. But she knew, too, that mortality would be good for him. He had already begun on the road to change even before he became mortal, and now, being moral--that was his next big step to becoming fully human.

When she reached Gabrielle and Eve, they were sitting together talking, and for the last time, Xena looked in the direction that Ares had taken. Her lips formed a small smile and, in her heart, she knew she would see him again. She just knew. And she knew that, in the future, there just might be a chance, for both of them. When the time was right, that chance would come. Xena knew it and Ares did, too. One day, everything would be different.

But for now, it was a goodbye.

Thank You Isn’t Enough
by Deadly Chakram

You’re standing there in the sunlight, the little that comes through the scattered clouds of the mostly overcast sky. The warm breeze caresses me, and the gently rolling surf seems faint and distant as I search for words. I look out at the water for a moment, the breaking waves reflecting my own inner feelings. What can I say to you? I turn back around, and see Gabrielle and Eve talking to one another, alive and well.

You catch my eye, and a smile creeps over my face despite myself. You come walking over and stop before me. I try to speak, but the words lodge in my throat. I try again and shakily, I am able to get them out.

“Ares,” I manage and stop.

You look at me so quizzically, unsure of what I’m going to say to you. In truth, not even I know. I begin again.

“Ares, I’m not sure what I can say to you. Do I say thank you for saving my daughter and Gabrielle? Or thank you for saving me? You gave up your immortality for us. I don’t know how a simple thank you is enough.”

You close your eyes for a second and then reopen them, those brown eyes softer than I have ever known them to be.

“I….Xena, look. I don’t need the thank yous. I did the only thing I could do. I wasn’t going to lose you. If the only thing that I lose because of the Twilight is my immortality, then I’ll be happy.”

“But your family,” I instinctively parry, but stop at that.

You hang your head for just a few seconds; no doubt the images of your family members flashing before your eyes.

“My family was wrong, Xena.” You speak so softly, your voice barely above a whisper, with just a hint of sadness. “I don’t regret what I’ve done.”

I start to walk now and you follow; I want so badly to hold your hand, show some affection for you. You did save my life, and the lives of my family – Eve and Gabrielle. The sun is beginning to move towards the horizon now. Already it has dropped low in the sky. A few bold rays of sunlight guild all the world in gold. But before I reach out to you, I hold myself back, afraid. No, I’m not afraid of you, but of myself. I’m afraid to let down that comfortable wall that I’ve managed to build around myself. I’m afraid to let myself feel for you.

“I still don’t understand it all,” I finally confess. “I still can’t figure out why you did what you did. That’s not what the Ares I once knew would do.”

“You’re right. The old Ares wouldn’t have done such a thing. The old Ares would have probably kicked my butt for what I did. But as for why, I can only say that I meant it.”

“Meant what?”

“Everything that I told you. What I said to you.”

“Ares, please…”

You take a deep breath before continuing. “What I mean is…I couldn’t care less about the Twilight. When we were up there and you were fighting Athena and for a moment you didn’t have the power to kill gods…I thought I might lose you. When I saved Eve…I wasn’t doing it for her sake. It was for yours. I meant it when I told you that I…I have feelings for you.”

You’re gazing at me now, looking deep into my eyes, and I into yours. I look for something – anything – to read your feelings by. I see nothing but sincerity, and I feel myself trusting you, believing you. Now you look away, looking at the surf, and gently, slowly, I reach you my hand to you. I caress your cheek, and as I bring my palm to your chin, I lightly move your head to look at me.

“I know,” I say.

I can see the smile tugging at the corners of your mouth. After a moment, you finally let it come, and as it spreads across your face, I see you with fresh eyes. You’re right; you aren’t the same Ares I once knew. You are different, changed, and I wonder why and how such a change came over you.

The smile lights up your face, and I can’t help but flash a smile of my own. And deep down, I’m glad that you didn’t get in the crossfire of this whole mess. Surely, you’d had your duties to your family, and you tried to play the part you were assigned, but yet you still managed to distance yourself from them, never in the thick of the battle the way Athena was. If you’d have gotten in the way…I can’t even think about that. I’m just thankful that you’re alive and here.

A silence settles between us, and I can see that you’re uncomfortable, fidgeting with your foot, lightly dragging your toes through a patch of dry soil.

”So...,” I break the fragile quiet, “what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know. I might travel around a bit. Maybe Aphrodite can fix me up someplace.”

I nod, but I can see the wanderlust in your eyes. I have no doubt that you’ll take to the road. But where you will go, I can’t even guess. Almost, I ask you to travel with us, me, Eve, and Gabrielle. But I hesitate. I can see that you need to work things out, get used to the whole idea of being mortal for the rest of your life. I am afraid to let you go, a thousand bad scenarios run through my mind, but still I don’t ask. You need to be on your own. If you traveled with me…you won’t like it. My lifestyle is not for you. You may be changed inside, but I still doubt that you’d love the “Greater Good” lifestyle – traveling all over and doing good deeds. Maybe one day you might be able to deal with that, but not now. You’re not ready for that. And so, I dare not suggest that you come with us.

“You better get going,” you say to me now, glancing in the direction of Eve and Gabrielle. “They’re going to wonder where you got to.”

“Just you let me worry about that,” I say. “Where do you think you’ll go?”

You shake your head. “I don’t know. Any suggestions?”

It’s my turn to shake my head. You’re better off trying to figure things out on your own.

“Xena? When you were killing the other gods…why didn’t you go after me? I mean, it’s not like you didn’t have just cause to. After all I’ve done to you in the past…it doesn’t make any sense.”

I give an amused half-smile in spite of myself. “No, I didn’t. What’s in the past is over. I wasn’t going to hold that against you. And besides, you forget that you tried to help me save Eve so long ago in Amphipolis. And you of all of them didn’t join the effort to kill Eve.” I stop, unsure of myself and what I might say. “Let’s just say that I have my reasons.”

Again you smile.

I look over to Eve and Gabrielle, their backs towards me, getting Argo the Second ready for the road.

“Maybe I should go Ares.”

“I understand.”

“Before I go…I want to say thank you again. But somehow, thank you doesn’t quite seem like enough to say.”

I lean over just a bit and give you a soft kiss on the cheek. You look surprised, but happy. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“You’re welcome,” you half stutter out.

“Goodbye Ares.”

“Bye Xena.”

I turn and walk away, back up the gently sloping sand. I can’t bear to turn around to look at you. It’s unbelievably hard to keep walking, leaving you behind. And somewhere, in the bottom of my heart, I feel afraid for you, like something bad might happen. But I push the thought away, mount Argo, and ride off, away from the setting sun, and away from you.

By SaphiraBleu

"Our daughter," Xena told Gabrielle, her arm tightening over the other woman's shoulders in a quick, fierce hug.

The salt kissed wind from the ocean swept her clean but the sun burning on her back and tall grasses waving around them on the dune reminded her of unfinished business - and a new debt.

Gabrielle looked briefly over her shoulder. "Do you think they will remember? The day the God of War gave everything for love?"

Xena's gaze never wavered from the waves washing onto the beach below.

"I guess that's your job, isn't it?" She tried to make the words sound light but they came out flat and tired. "Another scroll to add after all these years?"

"I…" Gabrielle's mouth twitched slightly as a fleeting cloud of confusion and concern passed over it. "I see the horses over there. I'll go and get them." She slipped from beneath Xena's arm and began walking down the dune toward the packed sand of the beach.

Halfway down she stopped and turned to look back. Xena's hands rested on her hips and her feet were braced as though ready to move quickly; her face was stiffly alert and though she seemed to watch Gabrielle, there was no sign that she actually saw her. Beyond the warrior, Gabrielle could see the tall form of Ares staring toward her friend, waiting. She turned and continued down the incline.

Xena took a deep breath and turned. He was there, where she'd known he'd be, stiff and wary to the practiced eye. She took a few steps toward him and stopped.

"Ares."

A long moment passed and for the first time in her life she wasn't certain if he would come to her. A rush of memories assailed her - memories of calling his name and his immediate appearance. An almost physical pain slid through her and she felt the stoic lines she'd so carefully formed in her face slip. She struggled to pull the mask back into place but he'd already seen and was taking the few steps forward.

She studied his face a moment - a face still curiously naked to her. Her throat was suddenly choked with too many and not enough words - regret for his loss, thankfulness for her family; words lacking the full scope of what she wanted him to hear.

"Thank you."

He nodded in acknowledgement and looked down at the hand he had rested on the pommel of his sword.

"I'm sorry."

His head came back up and his eyes flew to hers.

"It had to be that way," he said solemnly.

She bowed her head.

"So…" he said, attempting to make his voice sound light and teasing. "What now? Round up a few warlords - defend a few villagers…"

She looked back up at him and smiled a little, appreciating the effort he was making to make this easy.

"I don't know yet," she said earnestly. "Maybe get to know my daughter."

"I thought you might say something like that," he said with a mock sigh. "I'm afraid I'll have to leave you on your own then. I need to go learn about this whole mortality gig. Have a couple of drinks; tavern brawls look rather interesting."

She chuckled lightly. "Ares - try to be a better man than you were a god."

His laughter faded into uncomfortable silence as the smile faded from her lips.

"Xena… do you think… maybe, now that I'm mortal…"

"No, Ares," she shook her head slightly. "We both have things we need to do right now."

"But do you think there'll never be a time…"

"Never's a long time." She smiled a little sadly.

"So you're saying there's a chance," he grinned broadly as though teasing her.

She laughed at this attempt at humor, then leaned closer and impulsively kissed the full lips, startling him. Standing back, she shook her head with a bemused smile.

They smiled at each other for a long moment, and she turned to go. He watched as she started down the embankment, then stopped to look back at him, a smile haunting her lips and something unreadable in her eyes. Hope? Sadness? She turned and began walking again.

"I love you, Xena," whispered on the wind after her.

Her steps paused.

"I'll be seeing you, Ares."

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