Part 2

Sarah and Lara walked back to their room hand in hand. The God of War had left with the final words; “Just be ready girls.”   Lara led her love to their bed and sat down pulling the smaller woman onto her lap. She started to gently kiss her way down from her loves soft lips to her sweet neck. Her fingers were softly rubbing the exposed stomach causing the smaller woman to moan in reaction to the loving attentions.

Lara kissed Sarah right under the little ear and whispered, “I love you so much. I have such a burning need to protect you.” Then she pulled the earlobe into her mouth nibbling gently sending bolts of lighting through Sarah’s body making it impossible for her to answer her. Lara really didn’t want her to at the moment. She was on the move pulling them back on the bed and flipping them so she was on top and gently starting to kiss her way down the beautiful body beneath her.

She started to suckle a nipple while her other hand busily kneaded the other one.   Then she switched and smiled as she heard Sarah moan and cry out, “Please…”

“Soon,” She purred as she kissed her way across the stomach and sucked on the belly button till she had her love wiggling. She very slowly kissed her way to her love’s apex. The legs were spread way out and she saw that Sarah was pushing up like she was trying to get the dark woman’s attention where it was needed.   Lara smiled and kissed the soaking wet area as she listened to Sarah moan again. She lapped up the sweet nectar causing Sarah to buck and moan. Then she slowly tasted her way into her favorite part of her wife’s body with a hungry tongue. She started the ancient rhythm going slowly adding a finger till she sent her love tumbling over the edge in ecstasy falling over herself in pure reaction to her loves eruption.

When Lara recovered she moved up trembling body till she was cuddling the still reacting woman in her warm loving arms. Sarah looked into the loving blue eyes and smiled, “I love you.”

“Mmm, I love you too.” Said Lara kissing her deeply and then hugging her tight.

Sarah pulled back slightly and then asked, “Why are you so worried about me?”

Lara’s head dipped and she cuddled her head against her loves soft shoulder unable to meet the concerned green eyes. “In all these dreams that I’ve had so far you were no where to be seen. I was always desperately looking for you. I’m afraid…I’m scared that…”

“When it really happens you won’t be there?”

Lara nodded against the soft shoulder ashamed and unable to lift her head. Sarah lifted the chin till their eyes met and said gently, “I trust you. I know we will be ok as long as we work together. Our strength comes from our unity.”

“God I love you,” Said Lara passionately pulling her love back to her and kissing her deeply.

***       ***       ****     ***

Sarah was walking along a beach looking for Lara. She was worried because she couldn’t seem to feel her. She was by a cliff with strange marking on its face, which she felt she understood.

“Sarah love?”

Turning she saw her Auntie Mel leaning against the opposite wall.

“Auntie?”

Mel smiled and nodded

“Do you know where my Love is?”

“She is safe and probably fast asleep, Darlin’. You and she are going to have to trust each other completely on this one. You both have so many wonderful gifts. This time though you will have to completely rely and trust in each other.”

“I do trust her. Utterly.”

“Yes Sweetheart, I know you do. You don’t trust yourself though and you have to.   You will both have to face your greatest fears, you will have to trust yourself and Lara will have to face hers too. When you reach the island you will not only face Alti, but you will face yourselves.”

“Are we going soon?

“Yes Darlin’”

“So I will have to try and trust myself what will be my love’s challenge?”

“Her vulnerability. She has never really dealt with that before. She has always skipped around it.   Alti won’t allow that, she will use it against her. You will have to protect her…”

“Me? But?”

“You’re the only one who can save her this time…”

“But I’m…”

“Sarah, please trust yourself I know Lara does…”

***       ***       ***       ***      

“Auntie? No please Auntie wait! I can’t…”Sarah was writhing and crying. Lara held her tight trying desperately to wake her with out scaring her.

“Sarah, please sweetheart…Love, come back to me,” She cried kissing her all over her tear-stained face and gently rubbing her back.

Suddenly Sarah stiffened and yelled at the top of her lungs, “No!!!!!!!” Then she burst into tears. Lara was shocked by the scream but never lost her hold on the smaller woman. She was trying to comfort her, the best she could whispering into her ear, “Shh Angel, I’m right here. Everything is ok. Shhh, I have you and I’ll never let you go…”

Sarah slowly calmed down in her wife’s loving arms. She rubbed her cheek against Lara’s warm one. She pulled back and looked into scared anxious blue eyes. Lara gently started to wipe the tears with the back of her hand. Sarah pulled the hand to her and held it under her chin. She said softly, “I’m sorry I scared you Lara.”

“Shh, remember we don’t apologize for nightmares in our family. Right?” She said with a slight smile.

“Right,” said Sarah smiling a bit back.

“Are you all right now, my Angel?”

Sarah nodded, “Yes, sorry…”

“Angel,” Lara growled.

“What?”

“We have an agreement, you violated it twice there is only one answer to this,” Lara said with a serious face then proceeded to tickle the small woman till she couldn’t hold back her own smile any more and Sarah cried out, “No more sorry’s…I promise.”

“That’s better.” Said Lara with a lopsided grin pulling her back and hugging her close.

“I forgot…um, I don’t know how it will come about but I think we will be leaving tomorrow.”

Lara was kissing along her jaw line as she mumbled, “Oh?”

“Mmm, yes Auntie Mel told me.”

Lara pulled back and said quietly, “Our guides seem to be working over time, huh?”

“Yes, They are very active.”

“So what did Mel say?”

Sarah’s face suddenly reflected the fear she felt from her dream.

“Angel?” Lara cupped her cheeks with her warm hands and looked deeply into the scared green eyes. It instantly calmed the smaller woman and she answered softly, “We are not only facing Alti but were going to have to face our biggest fears. For me its to trust myself and for you …um….”

“Yes?”

“You will have to trust someone else. Actually rely on someone else to help you…”

“Who Angel?”

Sarah closed her eyes and said very quietly, “Me of all people.”

Lara shook her head and kissed the tiny nose, “Open your eyes Angel.”

Slowly green eyes opened to meet blue eyes full of love and compassion. “Honey I don’t fear that at all. That is not my biggest fear I trust you completely.”

Sarah’s eyes reflected shock as she asked quietly, “Then what do you fear?”

Lara’s eyes suddenly filled with tears as she replied in a barely heard whisper, “My greatest fear is losing you.”

***       ***       ***       ***

Lara carried a large silver tray into their room with two large steaming mugs of hot chocolate and a plate of chocolate chip cookies on it. Sarah’s eyes filled with affection at the sight.

“I feel like we’re on an episode of the Golden Girls.”

Lara chuckled as she placed the tray on a side table and slid into bed next to Sarah. “From what I’ve seen of the show since you hooked me on it this should be cheese cake then…”

“I’m allergic to cheesecake.”

“I know,” said Lara kissing Sarah on the cheek and pulling the tray on to its legs in the middle of the bed. “So this is the next best thing.” Lara took a huge cookie and stuck into Sarah’s mouth with a playful smile saying, “Mmm, good huh?”

Sarah chewed the soft cookie enjoying the taste as well as the indulgent look in Lara’s eyes, “Yes, this is wonderful. So are we having a picnic?”

“Best thing to do when you can’t sleep,” replied Lara as she sipped her hot chocolate.

“Lara, do you have any idea what all this means?”

Lara saw that Sarah was scared and trying very hard not to show it. She put the cup down and cuddled her, “Sweetheart, we are going to be fine. I promise. I will not let this thing destroy us and what we’ve built.”

Sarah nodded her head against Lara’s soothing body and said quietly, “Do you want to know something really strange?”

Lara lifted her head so she could look into the beautiful green eyes and then she licked the small woman’s nose. She chuckled at the amusing reaction she looked like a cat washing her face.

“Hey!”

“You are just so cute. I couldn’t resist. What’s strange?”

“Its not facing Alti that I’m scared of it’s the part where we face our own fears.”

“Angel, that’s normal. Do remember the scrolls about Alti?”

“Yes,” said Sarah shuddering at the memory of them.

“I think that’s why are guides are preparing us the way they are she will use our own demons against us. Our fears will be her weapons. They are trying to get us ready for that.”

Sarah nodded slowly and replied, “I know that you will be able to do that. I’m not sure about myself though…”

“Sweetheart, I don’t know about myself either. We really need to face these fears before we face her. Then she will have nothing to harm us with.”

“How?”

“There is a method I learned in Tibet a few years ago that may help.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s enjoy our treat first…”

“Lara?”

Lara took a deep breath and then said, “It’s a meditation technique that if we do it correctly we will be able to face our fears together…”

“Together, how?”

Lara sighed and looked into her wife’s curious eyes with a tinge of doubt, “We will be able to guide each other. We will join our minds through both physical and mental means and once they are joined we will be able to guide each other over every hazard.   We will be able to face our fears and defeat them forever.”

Sarah’s eyes were now huge as she asked shocked, “You will be able to read my mind?”

Lara nodded, “Yes and you will be able to read mine.”

“How…um, how long will it last?”

“Forever. It will be something we will be able to control but it will be from now on.”

“Wow!”

“Do you want to do that? Do you trust me?”

“Yes, I love and trust you. I have no doubts about that. It’s just that you will be bored to tears reading my thoughts.”

Lara shook her head smiling, “I have to tell you this, you never bore me. I find you absolutely fascinating. Everything you say and do sets me on fire. You are an incredible woman.” Then she put a cookie in her mouth and brought the other side very close to Sarah’s. Smiling Sarah took the hint and gently bit the other end. They both chewed till the reached the others lips and kissed each other deeply. They lost themselves for a while in a loving kiss full of promise.

***       ***       ***       ****

They were sitting cross-legged on the floor of the bedroom with their knees touching and hands entwined with each other’s. Their eyes were closed and they were both deeply into the meditative state. Sarah was concentrating very hard on the instructions that Lara had given her before they started the complex meditation. She was following a path of light till she came to a golden door. It glowed and all she wanted to do was open it.   When she did there was her love in a bright ray of golden light, and Sarah realized that it was Lara’s love for her and hers for the dark woman that made the room glow as it did. They smiled at each other and embraced.

“You are so beautiful,” said Lara quietly her voice seemed richer here.

“So are you. It seems…um, strange here its…”

“This is our safe room. We are deeply within our minds in a very private and safe place. Nothing can happen to us here, This room is bathed in love. We can come here anytime we need each other even if we are in the middle of nightmare we can come in here and we’d be safe.”

“You mean if we were in the middle of one the dreams we’ve been having we could just leave it and come here?” Sarah asked in wonder. She was amazed that she felt like they were floating and their voices seemed to echo in her mind slightly. Yet she felt completely loved and safe. Both in this room and in these loving arms.

“Yes Sweetheart, The thing is we will have to build our bond so we are strong enough to leave a very bad nightmare. If it’s powerful it could take every ounce of strength and courage to leave it, but once we did we’d be in each others arms and safe.”

“How will this help us against Alti?”

“We can communicate through a link that this created when we joined. As soon as one of us needs the other it will open and we will at least be able to guide each other though any encounter.”

“And this is forever?”

“Yes, how do you feel about that?”

“Wonderful,” Her face glowed with joy which made Lara feel like singing. “I’m really a part of you now…”

“Oh my little Angel, you have been apart of me from the day we met.”

Lara kissed her love deeply, which seemed to cause the strangest effect they felt like they twirling in a circle still tightly embraced in each other’s arms. When they parted Lara smiled and said, “Nice special effects, huh?”

“Yeah, Wow!”

Lara’s smile widened and she caressed the soft cheek. Sarah leaned into the caress and asked quietly, “What do we do now?”

“Well we need to concentrate on our connection. It’s already very strong but we need to make it absolutely unbreakable. Then we’ll um…we will have to go through our fears and conquer them.”

“How will we do that?”

“It will be a dreamscape. We will always be in the safety of this room but we will feel like we were really in the midst of our challenges. We will have to try not to rely on each other during the encounters, we have to vanquish these fears ourselves.”

“Can we get it all over with in one shot?”

“No, I don’t think that is a good idea. First we will strengthen our bond then we’ll rest before we fight our personal demons. I think that is the wisest course of action.”

“Ok, how do we strengthen our bond?”

“We must become truly one. Close your eyes and concentrate till you feel that we are merging into one person. We will breath in the same rhythm and feel as if we were one entity.”

With in they’re minds eye they felt as if they were merging. They could feel each other’s thoughts and feelings as their own. They felt all the fear. They felt all the love. They felt all the needs. It all became the same as if there was no wall of self that separated them. They were now so connected that not only could they feel each breath come in and out in the same rhythm they could feel the blood rushing through their veins. They were one.

When they slowly came out of the meditation and opened their eyes at the exact same time they saw their own spirit in their partner’s eyes. Neither woman could speak yet it was as if they were still in a deep trance and they were very reluctant to let go of it. Slowly they felt their minds separate and become themselves again but their spirits were still joined and they could feel the link between them as if it had always been there.

They both blinked and shook their heads.

“Wow!” Exclaimed Sarah in wonder finally finding her own voice again.

“Yeah I couldn’t put it better myself.” Said Lara with a smile.

Sarah’s smile became slightly wicked as she said, “This will be an added bonus to our love life won’t it?”

Lara’s eyebrow arched and she suddenly pulled Sarah onto her lap kissing her deeply. As they kissed the physical enjoyment was increased ten fold by the connection of the link. They could feel each others soaring pleasure and just that stimulated increased contact which increased the reactions till they built up into a powerful orgasm which made both woman fall over the edge at the exact same time.

As they recovered cuddled together in each other’s arms Lara whispered with a lazy voice, “Yep, I think you could safely say it will add a new level to our sex life.”

“Sweetie, if this the reaction to a simple kiss anything else might kill us.”

Lara rubbed her cheek against her wife’s and said, “I really doubt that, Angel. We have been through a hell of lot sexually I think this will add some nice spice to it though.”

Sarah kissed Lara’s chin and Lara was blown away by the reaction her body had to the simple kiss. It was like a bolt of lightning hit her she moaned deep in her throat and kissed Sarah on the cheek causing the same reaction in her little Angel.

Sarah recovered and whispered, “Um would you like to experiment? We can use our toy?”

Lara’s head snapped up and met playful green eyes with amused blue, ”You are so wicked…um, I don’t think we should do that right now. We need to get some sleep if were going to fly to Santiago tomorrow.”

“Aww Lara,” Sarah playfully whined.

“Angel I promise you we will experiment with our toy. In fact given what just cuddling is doing for my libido I am very much looking forward to it.”

*** ****                 ****     ****  

They were in their hotel suite in Santiago Chile. This was the connecting point to Rapa Nui the current name for Easter Island and its people. They occupied a beautiful one-bedroom suite in the small hotel that faced a garden in the inner court.   They would be staying there for two days before going on to the famous small island. They still had a lot of preparing to do before they stepped foot on Rapa Nui.

Sarah was in their bedroom unpacking. Lara had decided they would need a little down time so she went to arrange a city tour for the next morning. Suddenly within her mind she heard the beautiful beloved voice call, “I’m home My Angel.”

Sarah stopped in mid-movement and replied within her mind, “Experimenting are we, Love?”

She heard a chuckle and then, “No time like the present, Sweetheart.”

“Shall I come in there?”

“No Angel. Let’s see how we do at a distance. Are you sitting down?”

“No, I was unpacking.”

“Well sit and get comfortable I don’t know how long this will take.”

Sarah smiled sweetly and sat on the bed, “Are you sitting too?”

“Yes Love, I’m sitting on the couch. Are you all set?”

“Yep, now what?”

“Do you want to play or do some work first?”

“Play.”

Another chuckle was heard inside her head which made her smile widen as she leaned back against the stacked pillows then she heard Lara say, “Ok, Let the games begin”

Suddenly with in her mind’s eye she saw herself and very slowly each piece of clothing disappeared from view. As each garment disappeared Sarah felt a string of warm kisses. When her bra disappeared she felt a warm mouth suckling her breast causing Sarah to moan in ecstasy.   Her head was thrown back and she had tight grip on the sheets beneath her. The warm mouth was now gently kissing its way to her belly button where it started to suck and she felt soft hand strokes on her back and in her hair. Sarah could barely contain the pleasure, which ripped through her in a swirling tide. When the warm quick tongue lapped up her juices she moaned aloud as well as with in her mind. When she felt two finger enter her, she felt Lara’s name leave her lips as she crashed over the edge in tide of pure ecstasy.

Both in her mind and out loud in the suite she heard Lara scream her name as she fell over long distance. When she recovered enough to speak she said in her mind, “Lara could you come here? I really need you.”

“I am already on my way, Angel.”

Laura stumbled into the room, the thin sundress she had been wearing had been thrown off and she was naked as she kicked the suitcase off the bed and crawled onto the bed. She pulled her wife into her arms hugging her close. When she felt the real moisture of her beloved against her own skin she stiffened, calling out Sarah’s name within her mind she fell over the edge. She heard Sarah do the same and they lay in each other’s arms trying to catch their breath.

Sarah had pulled off her sundress as she had recovered from their first experiment in love making with in their minds. Now the two sweaty naked bodies held each other lovingly and slowly recovered from their passion. Unfocused blue eyes met dazed green and Lara said quietly, “See I told you it wouldn’t kill us.”

Sarah nodded as she drifted off to sleep against the warm shoulder her head was resting on. Nuzzling her wife’s hair Lara followed her wife into a deep sleep.

***       ***       ***       ***

Sarah was nervously cutting some carrots and celery for their lunch. She knew they were going to work on the big one today it was their last chance to do it before they went to the island. The thought of it terrified her.

“I promise I won’t let anything happen to you,” Said the soft voice behind her.

Sarah put the knife down and turned toward her love who was looking at her with those big blue loving eyes melting her heart in one glance. “I know you will…but I have to rely on myself this time Lara and…I really don’t think I can…”

“Yes you can, I have so much faith in you. I wish I could just give it to you. I wish that I could put it into your head like my thoughts because you deserve to believe in yourself. You are such an incredible woman. Please have faith in yourself Sarah; I have seen you grow so much in just the short time I have known you. I’m so proud of you.”

Sarah had tears slowly slip from her eyes, “Thank you so much.”

“There is no need.”

Sarah threw her arms around Lara pulling her close and hugging her tight against her smaller frame. “Thank you for believing in me.”

“It’s easy, you should try it some time,” said Lara softly.

Sarah pulled back shaking her head saying, “You never give up do you, love?”

Lara smiled sweetly and said with a wink, “Nope.”

***       ***       ***       ***

Sarah was alone in a deep dark cave.   She had to find the way out and she had to do it all by herself. Her heart was beating wildly. She knew that if she wanted she could call out to Lara but that would defeat the purpose of what they were trying to accomplish.

She paid careful attention to what she was doing and where she was going. She then gasped as she slowly found a way out and followed it. Much to her astonishment she was out of the dark and in bright sunshine.

***       ***       ***       ***

She opened her eyes and looked into sparkling blue eyes.   The link had allowed Lara to observe and she was biting her tongue not to interfere. She was so proud of her Angel she was about to burst when she saw she was going to make it. She had a blinding smile on her face when she saw the beautiful green eyes open and the face lit with joy. She hugged her close and kissed her deeply.

Sarah pulled back slightly and said, “I did it, Sweetie.”

“I knew you would.”

Sarah blushed and said, “You look like I just took my first step.”

Lara rubbed her nose gently against her loves and said softly, “Well my darling in a way you did just that.” Then she kissed her again with a deep loving passion.

***    ***       ***       ***

Lara swallowed as she entered the tomb. She saw that Sarah was in trouble. She was trying to get to her but there were several soldiers shooting at her. When the opportunity came she threw one of her guns to Sarah praying that one of the enemies didn’t stop her love from getting it. Much to her relieve Sarah caught it.

She couldn’t see what happened next because a huge man with an oozy blocked her path.   She had to use every bit of ability she had to get around him. When she did she couldn’t see Sarah.

“Angel!” She shouted.

Slowly out of the clouds of smoke Sarah walked out toward her with a sheepish grin holding out the gun toward her love with a shrug.

***       ***       ***       ***

Lara opened up her eyes and met Sarah’s eyes who was just as surprised as she was, “Did that really happen?” Sarah asked quietly.

“In a way, Angel it was real to us so in that way yes it really happened. You did what you had to do and I…um, I…I did nothing…”

“Yes you did, If you hadn’t gotten that weapon to me I wouldn’t have been able to make it. We are a team, right?”

Lara kissed Sarah deeply and then she pulled back gently tilting her forehead against her loves, “You bet we are.”

“We defeated our demons.”

Lara pulled back and nodded, “Yep we sure did. I guess were ready, huh?”

“Yes, I think we’re ready.”

Lara nodded then pulled Sarah into a hug and said into her wife’s ear, “Don’t worry love we’ll be fine.”

***       ***       ***       ***

They arrived on the island at dusk and they were setting up their camp in a pre-registered area. Sarah looked around at the beautiful sites and said to Lara, “You know if we have to fight against great evil at least the fates picked a nice spot for it to happen.”

This was greeted with a huge smile and peel of laughter from the seated woman. Lara was working on starting their small-contained campfire as she shook her head still chuckling at her wife’s statement. “You are the sweetest nut I have ever known.”

Sarah chuckled too as she sat down next to her love on the log by the campfire, “Oh and how many nuts have you known?”

“Many but I only fell in love with one of them.” Said Lara drawing Sarah closer by putting her arm around her loves shoulders. Sarah cuddled her head on the warm broad shoulder and sighed with contentment.

“And who was that?”

Sparkling blue eyes met mischievous green eyes as she bent over to kiss the pert little nose and said, “The one I just kissed.”

“Good, cause I’d hate to have to get up and beat the crap out of someone else I’m really comfortable right now”, Lara laughed again bringing Sarah onto her lap and holding her even closer. “You are a very scary woman, Sarah Covington Croft.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“Doesn’t matter a bit which because I love you just the way you are. I don’t want you to change one thing. There isn’t apart of you that I don’t worship and adore.”

“Thank you, I feel the same way,” Sarah kissed the dark woman passionately. Lara was about to pick Sarah up to carry her toward their bedrolls when she stiffened and pulled back.

“Who is out there?” Said Lara in a strong voice.

“What is it with your line, hmm?   Do I smell or something?” Asked Aries with a smirk as he strolled out of the bushes.

Lara’s eyebrow rose and she said, “Yes, you could say that. Could Grandmother tell when you were around too?”

“Yeah, Xena always knew when an Immortal was around. She seemed to really zone in on me though. I mean she could be really in the thick of things and sense me even though you’d have thought she was too busy. Man it was annoying…”

“Awww,” Said Lara with no sympathy in her voice.

“Hey! I am here to help.”

“Why?” asked Sarah quietly.

“Cause I am a nice guy,” He tried to look sincere which caused a snort to come from Lara and snicker from Sarah.

“What are you up to this time?”

“Maybe I like you girls, did you ever think of that?”

“Yes, I think you do but I also think you are up to something. What is it?”

“That is another trait that you and Eve both got from Xena you are way too suspicious.”

“With very good reason, “said Sarah.

“Listen to me you little brat…”

“Aries, Why don’t you just tell us what you’re up to and save us a lot of needless bickering.”

“I like bickering.”

Lara just glared at him and he shrugged his shoulders and created a big comfortable chair to sit in. He made himself comfortable and said, “I hate Alti, she destroyed a lot of Xena that was good. Even I recognize that. Gabrielle saved her but she was never the same after that witch played with her mind. She was purely mine till then. She destroyed all chances that Xena had with Solan and then she came up with that vision to haunt them both with of the crucifixion it was enough to make me scream cause I couldn’t raise a finger to stop any of it. She gives any other evil being a bad name. I don’t want her evil to continue so I’m here to help.

“Aries you are so full of shit! I read the scrolls. You exploited what she did with Solan and when Eli resurrected them you tried to use that to your advantage. So honestly why are you suddenly trying to get involved in all this?’

“That was Gabrielle’s interpretation of the Chakram of Light and darkness. I had nothing to do with Solan…Hope killed the boy not me. I just…I did direct…I tried to help…”

“Aries, I read the scroll you tried to manipulate Xena and you almost succeeded in getting her to kill her soulmate.” She growled gently placing Sarah on the log so she could get up and confront the God.

“Easy…I…Well I…Lara I can help you girls. You need me.”

“No we don’t! We’re prepared…”

“Up to a point yes you are. What you did was a good start but you still need me.”

“Why?”

“Cause I know what will finally destroy her.”

***       ***       ***       ***

They were both deeply involved in their own dreams; they allowed a light link in case the other was needed. Lara had suggested they needed a night of uninterrupted sleep if they were to face Alti the next day so they made a conscious effort not to be within their mate’s dreamscape.

Lara was on the beach, on the island and she was by the famous Petroglyphs. She looked at them very closely and was astonished to realize she understood them completely.

“That is because you were there my child.”

Lara looked up at her Father and asked quietly, “What do you mean I was there?”

“One of your previous lifetimes…”

“Really? I was a native Rapa Nui?”

“Yes, you were their Queen and Sarah was your consort.”

Two eyebrows shot up in shock as Lara reacted, “You're kidding?”

“No, Don’t you feel comfortable here? Like everything is familiar to you.”

Lara tilted her head and then slowly nodded, “Yes…it does. It feels very good here in fact. Sarah and I were just talking about it. She feels the same sense of belonging. Is that why this place was chosen for this battle? Because My Angel and I were once it’s rulers?”

“No, it was chosen because it is a power place. It is called Te Pito Te Henua, which means “The navel of the world.” You were chosen to battle because you and Sarah own the spiritual power of this place…”

“So she wants to fight us to obtain the power?”

“Yes, exactly My Child.”

“What can we do, Daddy?”

“Call your wife, she needs to join us.”

Lara nodded and smiled as she sent a message through her link, “Angel, I need you, please come to me as quickly as you can.”

With in a blink of an eye Sarah seemed to appear out of nowhere. When she saw Lara she ran to her and hugged her tight.

“Are you ok?”

“Shh, yes I’m fine.” She kissed her wife’s forehead and said quietly, “I needed you here so we can plan our strategy against Alti. Also my father wanted to meet you.”

“Your Father?”

Lara smiled and gently turned Sarah’s head toward the older man. She smiled at the nice looking older gentlemen and held out her hand to shake hands with him. He took her hand and gently kissed the top of it.

Lara’s face was bright as sunshine as she said, “Angel this is my beloved Father. Daddy, This your daughter in law, Sarah.”

Sarah tilted her head so she could see into his similar blue eyes and said, “Sir.”

“It is a great pleasure to finally get to meet you. I am so pleased that you two have found each other.”

Sarah smiled and met her wife’s sparkling blue eyes above her. Lara hugged Sarah close and kissed her cheek. Sarah leaned into the kiss feeling very loved and protected.

Lord Croft enjoyed watching his daughter happily in love, a sight he never thought he would have the opportunity to witness. He quickly sobered though and said, “I need to speak to you both about what is to come.”

“Wait Daddy, You said you foresaw us loving one and other. How?”

“Soul mates are linked through time and that was my obsession. Through my studies I found your Aunt’s works and found that our line was linked to the great Warrior Princess herself. From your looks and early abilities I could see that you were Xena’s descendent I had no need for confirmation. Through the scrolls it wasn’t hard to figure out Janice was Gabrielle’s descendent and that Sarah was her obvious heir. I knew from my research you were meant to meet and fall in love. It was so clearly preordained to me…”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Cried Lara clearly hurt.

“Sweetheart, This was something you had to discover on your own. You had Xena as your guide that was powerful enough. I would have been redundant. I felt it would be better for your both if you discovered each other naturally.”

Lara nodded and looked into Sarah’s eyes. What she saw there was pure understanding and she knew that she would have found her Little Angel no matter what. So she instantly forgave her father and said quietly, “Ok.”

“Now as you know Mel and myself are your guides but your protector in this is Aries…”

“Aries?” Both girls asked surprised.

“Yes, he volunteered and you will need his help. Even here on this ancient site, your powerbase needs his Godhood.”

“Wait, Grandmother defeated her several times with out help and she became more and more powerful each time. She even defeated her when she was pregnant with Eve. Why do we need Aries help?”

“She hadn’t yet centuries to harvest her evil and she will have the help of a God…”

“Who?” Asked Lara shocked.

“That I don’t know. This God will be powerful and evil. That’s why you need Aries. He is good at manipulating evil and he has much power himself. He knows all they’re tricks. Good luck my children…”

***       ***       ***       ***

“Wait!!” The two women called at the same time as they woke up in each other’s arms. Sitting up in their joined sleeping bags they looked at each other for a minute then hugged each other with a tender need for their mates touch.

Lara pulled back enough to see her loves face and then kissed her lovingly on lips that were already seeking hers. Then when she opened her eyes she met dazed green ones and asked, “Are you all right, My Angel?”

Sarah nodded placing her head on Lara’s shoulder and snuggling as close as she could. “Yes, I’m a bit scared. I did like meeting your father though,” she replied with a sweet smile.

Lara smiled back brightly and said, “And I could tell he was delighted to meet you too. I think he loved you when you were an infant way before we met because he knew you would grow up to be my wife.”

“But how is all this possible, Love? How could he know all that?”

“Daddy belonged to a group of people who wanted to control time. Daddy wanted to control it to help people. You know stop famine and help control storms so less people would die. Several evil men decided it would be better to do what they will with it for their own greedy profits. So they killed my father because he got in the way…I um, I killed the man in a battle to the death a few years ago. It was going to be only one of us leaving that site alive and I decided it would be me.”

“My poor Lara, I’m so sorry. Is that when your father helped you before?”

“Yes, Sweetheart.”

“What are we going to do?”

“We have little choice, we’ll let Aries help us…”

“About damn time too!” Said the impatient voice of the God of War from the bushes behind them.

“Aries.” Both girls said at the same time.

“Who else? How many other God’s do you know are hanging about in the bushes waiting for a couple of mortals to come to their damn senses?” Said the annoyed looking God as he leaned against a cave wall near their camp.

“Aries, Have you ever heard of personal space?” Asked Lara equally annoyed.

“I’ll give you personal…”

“Enough!” Said Sarah loudly.

Both combatants looked at the small blonde in astonishment. Sarah smiled slightly and shook her head saying quietly, “You two can play later, right now I feel like we don’t have a lot of time. We need to get going.”

Lara could feel the same thing through her link. She could feel that Sarah was now spiritually linked to island it must have happened very suddenly. Lara nodded her head and said to the God of War with a smirk, “Truce?”

Aries smiled back and nodded, “Yep, enough fun and games. To work we go. Sarah is pretty much linked with the planet spiritually now and your going to be the power source Lara…”

“Wait, I am? I don’t feel that all…”

“You will. It will hit just like it did with small fry here.” He said with a smirk at the squawk that came from the small blonde. Lara squeezed her hand glaring at Aries. “Now go get dressed like good little girls so we can go back to the power base where you once ruled…”

“You know about that too?” Lara asked surprised.

“Yeah.”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell us in New York? What is this? The keep secrets from Lara and Sarah quest. Don’t you think it would have been common courtesy to…”

“Shut up and get dressed.” Said the God of War disappearing in flash of light.

“Arrogant, Isn’t he?” Asked Sarah with a smirk.

“Yeah very,” said the annoyed tomb raider.

***       **** ****     ***

They were by the famous ancient row of statues and Sarah went right to a center one and touched a series of carvings in a sequence then she looked astounded when the damn thing actually opened.

“How did you do that Angel?”

“I…I don’t know. I feel…um, strange. Like I’m two people. I feel like a part of me knows this place very well…it’s home. She’s guiding me and yet…she is me.” Sarah’s face looked almost distant as she tried to explain it. It was like she was looking off into the far off past but she was still firmly rooted in the here and now.

“Yes, that does make sense. That’s what Aries and Daddy were talking about. Do you still feel our link, love?”

Sarah smiled and nodded.

“Good,” Lara gently took Sarah’s hand and squeezed it. “So do I. Come on lets go in,” she said as she led the way. She had a small flashlight in one hand and Sarah’s little hand firmly in the other.

The cave opened up into an incredibly beautiful ceremonial chamber. It had gold everywhere. There were brocades of blue and green silk entwined on the wall. In the center was pedestal and on that there were two large ornate thrones. Lara felt her heart thump when she saw them. It was as if she was being pulled toward them and she couldn’t stop herself from stepping up on that pedestal even if she wanted to. Lara walked right up to the thrones as she stepped up onto the pedestal her stature changed she seemed more regal and so did Sarah. They walked liked a couple used to this life. Lara gently handed Sarah onto her consort’s throne, which the small blonde gracefully sat on smiling up at her wife. Lara returned her smile and gently caressed her cheek then she sat on the thrown of the Queen and she knew who she was and what her love was at the time that this cavern was in constant use.

Once comfortably seated a flood of thoughts, memories and emotions came over both women.   It was as if they were in two periods of time. Their hands were still tightly joined and their eyes closed simultaneously.

They saw the chamber filled with people worshipping them. They were the power of the island and they only worked for their people’s benefit against many adversaries. Through their bond with each other and the island their people prospered. Life on the island was very good. They fought anyone who tried corrupt their island and when they lost that fight just before they died all the beauty, success and happiness of their people died with them.

Lara had tears in her eyes as she remembered. She was now the Queen and she felt it all fully. She saw and felt herself in that time. She looked as she did now physically but she had a more aristocratic air and she was much grander in attitude and style. She was dressed in a blue silk dress with a crown of cream colored flowers in her hair. Her wife looked as she did now the same sweetness and goodness radiated from her. She was dressed as she was, but her dress was a vibrant green and the flowers of her crown were yellow almost lost in her shining hair.

In the hand not holding on to Sarah’s was gold encrusted scepter…

Suddenly both eyes flew open and as one they said, “The scepter!”

Their eyes met and Lara said, “We have to find the scepter that’s what Alti’s after…”

Applause came from across the chamber both heads snapped in that direction, Aries was leaning against the chamber door with a smirk. “Good girl Lara, Now its time to do your thing.”

“My thing?”

“Yeah, you know, Tomb Raider?”

“What tomb are you talking about?”

Aries smiled wickedly and shook his head, “Follow me oh mighty Queen.”

***      ***       ***       ***

They followed the War God through a series of hallways. Lara fully herself was really annoyed at the dark man that they were following, “Aries if you knew what this was all about why didn’t you bloody tell us!”

“Sorry my dear, I was told to guide you not help you. You and Sarah have to figure out the puzzle all by your little selves.”

“You know something War God, I think your enjoying this way too much.” Growled the dark woman behind him.

Aries chuckled, “I am. Torturing you a bit is just the appetizer I am really looking forward to the main event though…”

“Who is the opposing God?”

“I’m really not…”

“At liberty to say yada, yada, yada!” Lara crossed her arms and rolled her big blue eyes.

They reached an antechamber at the end of the hall and Aries stopped and turned to look at the two young women behind him. “Ok girls, I have to leave you for a bit but I’ll be back.” He vanished with laughter ringing in the hallway.

“Aries!!” Lara screamed.

Sarah put a gentle arm on Lara’s shoulder, “Wait calm down. I know this place. Look around, Love. It was the preparing room I think…I” Sarah walked straight to a wall and again followed a series of carvings with her hand applying gentle pressure. Then she stepped back looking at Lara expectantly. Lara feeling the same gentle guidance walked beside her and followed a second set of carvings. There was a loud straining groan as the wall slid open.

Lara shook her head and said, “How did the ancients do that, I’ll never figure it out.” She smiled at Sarah, who chuckled at her loves curiosity and held her out hand. Lara took it brought it to her lips gently kissing the open palm. Then she led her by that beloved hand into the tomb. Her ancient self was steadily guiding her because she knew where all the booby traps were and easily avoided them all. Effortlessly they entered the main part of the tomb and their ancestor’s burial urns were before them. She and Sarah kneeled before them humbly with their heads bowed and waited.

A small vault above them opened and there was the beautiful gleaming gold scepter encased in black velvet. Lara stood up and took it out of its resting-place. When she turned back toward Sarah, she was once again the ancient Queen and Sarah was her consort. Their posture had changed, as had their expressions.

In a deep voice void of any British accent Lara said, “Arise my Love, We have much still to do.”

Sarah’s hand still firmly in Lara’s stood up and nodded. Lara smiled leaned forward and kissed her beloved’s cheek. Then she said, “Come,” as she led the way back to the Throne room.

             ***       ****                 ***

They were both comfortably seated back on their thrones when a tornado of light suddenly appeared in the room. In the center the dark tornado the evil witch took shape before them. She was dressed as a shaman of the Northern Amazons. She laughed wildly as she looked at her two potential victims.

“Well aren’t you both pretty. Xena and Gabrielle would have been proud. I am afraid your reign has ended. Now give me the damn scepter before I torture it out of you!”

“You think so, huh?” Said Alti with a vicious laugh. She tilted her head and stared right into Lara’s eyes. Lara’s head became filled with the pure panic she felt when she first met her Angel and she couldn’t revive her in a tree in Greece.

Sarah feeling it through the link called up her new abilities and blocked the memory through the power she had built up from the island itself. Lara slowly came back to herself and felt the power that her love was protecting her with. She redirected it to the scepter and when enough energy was built Lara aimed it sending bolt of pure power toward Alti’s chest. The power bolt was strong it sent the woman flying backwards landing on her butt instead of her feet like she would have if she had been prepared for the strike.

“Ooooh, Aren’t you special?” She then threw another memory this time her target was Sarah. An overwhelming feeling of falling came over the small woman. She tried valiantly to overcome it herself but she was starting to fail miserably when she felt the calm loving mind of her wife touch her own. Then slowly she remembered that Lara had protected her the whole way down that mountain in Greece. Sarah’s heart rate slowed and her breathing became normal as she opened her eyes and discovered she was in Lara’s arms in their safe room within the link. They smiled at each other and Lara gently caressed her cheek and winked at her.

Their eyes opened at the same time to find Alti with her hands on her hips smirking at them. “Well it seems you really have prepared yourselves to fight against me. Can you fight him though,” She gestured with her thumb over her shoulder where suddenly their appeared in a golden light a tall blonde man with an wicked smirk on his face.

“Loki, Loki, Loki,” Aries voice calmly echoed through out the chamber. He appeared in front of the girls and casually strolled in front of the evil Viking God. “Invading my territory again? Didn’t get enough last time we had it out huh?” Asked the calm God with a wicked smirk of his own.

“What do you mean your territory? We are not in Greece this is Polynesia…”

“These two are Greek descendants and so is your viscous little witch.”

“The dark one called me forth…”

“You know it really is a shame that you have such delusions of grandeur. If you’re so damn powerful how did my little brother beat you when he was at his weakest?”

Lara and Sarah remained calmly seated but Alti was fit to be tied. She strode over to where the two Gods were circling each other and said angrily, “Loki, Aries is not the problem…!”

“Maybe he isn’t your problem but his is mine.” The blonde God growled at Alti.   Then he looked back at Aries and asked, “What the hell do you mean his weakest?”

“He was not himself, Old Boy. He was despondent and miserable. I can’t say I enjoyed old Herc more then when he lost his little buddy. He wanted to die. He didn’t really care anymore. He felt he was responsible because he didn’t save him so he was very vulnerable. Did you strike at that? No. Did he defeat you really easily? Oh yeah, I was quite amused…”

Within their link Aries sent his thoughts quickly to the girls, “Ok Kids, now that I have him nice and distracted get them.”

Their eyes closed and Sarah brought the power of the island into her body. Through their joined hands she sent it to Lara who directed it toward the scepter. It now glowed bright, bright white. A flashing bolt of pure power hit Alti dead center shattering her into a million pieces hopefully never to be resembled.

A second bolt that was even more powerful left the scepter and hit Loki in the head. It actually melted his essence to drops of power on the floor of the chamber. Aries withdrew his mantel from its sheath and slashed through it destroying the evil God in one quick movement.

Lara and Sarah stood together and walked off the pedestal. As they stepped on to the floor of the chamber they became completely themselves again.

“Thank you Aries,” said Lara quietly.

“Hey it was chance to pay back your Grandmothers and get rid of a really annoying rival.” He winked at the girls and said, “See ya!” And was gone in flash.

          ***       ***       ***

They were back in the penthouse in New York City. Lara was in the living room on the phone. Sarah was making dinner in the kitchen. With a smirk she opened the link and sent a message, “Hurry Dinner is almost ready.”

Smiling Lara shook her head and completed her conversation. Then stood in the kitchen doorway with her hands on her hips. “You are incorrigible, My Angel.”

Sarah looked up from the spaghetti sauce she was stirring and smiled as wickedly as she could with her sweet little face, “So is it all set at the University? What did they say about the scepter?”

“Yep it’s set and they can’t wait to get their anxious little hands on it.”

“Sweetie, can we look more into the island’s history? I want to know about …well the past of…I mean…”

“You want to know about our past lives there?” Sarah nodded and Lara smiled, “Yeah I do too. I already have them looking into it. They should have some good stuff for us when we get back home.”

“We’re going to Charleston tomorrow.   That’s not really fair, Lara is it?”

“Weeelll, I thought we could spend another week here. You know relax, play tourist, see some shows and experiment with our toy…”

“Oooh my Darling, I love the way you think.”

“That’s good because I thought we would put dinner in the refrigerator and have it for breakfast.”

“Spaghetti and meatballs for breakfast?” Asked Sarah with an amused look.

Lara stepped closer turned the stove off and then gathered her wife in her arms, “Then lunch but the point is I want to experiment now…” Lara bent and kissed her love deeply feeling the link increase the feeling ten fold she locked her knees so they didn’t fall down.

“Yes, my Queen your every wish is my command.” Whispered Sarah into Lara’s ear as she kissed a spot under it that she knew Lara just couldn’t help but respond to.

Lara moaned then picked Sarah up, “No Sarah you are my Queen. My Queen of hearts, we’ll leave this till a little later the stove is off so were safe. Come my love let's experiment.” She carried her toward their room and murmured against the crown of hair under chin, “I love you so much My Angel.”

“I love you too Sweetie.”

“Are you ready to play?”

“Any place, anytime, anywhere.”

Lara laughed as she reached their bedroom, “Good, then the game is afoot My Angel.” She said with a wicked laugh as she headed toward their bed and bliss.

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