ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

What He Gave

by Sarah Miller

Disclaimer: We all know the rights belong to Renaissance pictures, so I don't have to go over all of that do I?

After watching the season ender of Xena, I felt as if something was missing so I thought I would write what I thought should come next.

There is nothing but love in this story. It involves Xena and Ares. Enjoy.

As always, my email is sarahmiller17@yahoo.com   Email me and tell me what you thought.

***
Ares watched as Xena bent to hug Eve and Gabrielle, feeling like he did the right thing. But something hurt. He took a breath as she stood and turned to him. The look in her eyes said it all. She was grateful for what he had done.

She stepped forward. "Thank you."

He didn't say a thing. He didn't know what to say. He watched her turn and turned himself, walking towards the hall. Once there, he felt eyes on him. Turning, he smiled as he looked into those blue eyes.

"Can we talk?" Her voice was soft.

He nodded and followed her down the hall to a room. She entered and he followed, closing the door.

"I can't begin to thank you for......"

He held up his hand, stopping her.

She waited for him to speak. When he did not, she opened her mouth to speak. "I..."

"No."

She drew her brows together, confused.

"You don't need to thank me for anything. I knew what I did and even though I really don't know why I did it.....I...." He looked away.

She walked closer and sat down on the bench next to him. "What?"

He looked up into her eyes and jumped when she raised a hand to his cheek, stroking softly.

She smiled. "Why did you do it?"

He turned away.

"Ares."

He slowly looked at her.
 
"Why?"

He stood. "Doesn't matter. You have your precious Gabrielle back...and Eve." He walked to the door.

She stood. "Ares."

He stopped. "Just let it go, Xena. You have what you wanted."

"What about you?"

He turned. "What about me? I'm used to people ignoring me. I did what I did because no one expected it."

"You're mortal now."

"I know." He raised a hand to the door knob.

Xena looked around at the room she was in and noticed the big, black doors leading off.

He pulled the door open but felt it being closed behind him. He turned towards her.

"I'm not about to let you walk off."

"Why? You'd be rid of me."

"Who said I wanted that?" She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the doors. Opening them one at a time, she pulled him in.

He jumped as the doors closed. He looked around and saw that he was in his bed chamber. "Why are we here?"

No answer.

He turned behind him but Xena wasn't there. His shoulders visibly sagged as he thought she had left him, and his eyes lowered to the floor. He jumped as the curtains were pulled. Light poured through the room.

"My gods."

He looked up to see her standing by the window, looking out.

"This is the most amazing sight I've seen in my life."

He walked forward till he was standing behind her. "I don't know about that."

She turned to look at him and smiled as she walked away. Her eyes traveled around the room. To the huge table against one wall, to the window again, to the crossed swords on the wall, and to the huge bed that was covered with blood red silk, noticing the dark black pillows. She leaned forward and ran a hand down one, smiling when she felt the soft fur.

She heard him move away from the window, but she didn't turn around.

"Why are we here?"

She turned around and smiled as she reached for the clasps to her armor.

He reached forward to stop her. "No."

She looked at him, confused. "No?"

"You don't need to thank me that way."

"Why?"

He let go of her hand. "Because you don't want me. Not really." He stepped back, mad at himself and his feelings. As a god, they were controllable. As a mortal, nothing was. He felt his breath catch when he looked up at her again.

She smiled as she walked forward. The armor clanged to the floor noisily. "I have two things I want to do. None of them include thanking you. Ever think that perhaps this is for me?" She studied his reaction as his eyes met the floor.

He felt her hand at his cheek and looked up at her.

"I was kidding."

He removed her hand. "No. Just go back to them and leave me alone." He sat down.

"Ares."

No answer.

"Ares."

He looked up.

"You've wanted me since I can remember and now that I am offering myself, you won't take it." She brushed a stand of hand behind her ear. "You don't want me anymore?"

He shook his head. "That's not it."

"Then what's wrong."

"I would rather you want me then you feeling you have to."

She smiled. "I don't do anything that I have to. Trust me." She kneeled down in front of him. "Ares, look at me." She waited till she looked into his dark brown eyes, noticing a shiver running through her. "I don't know why you did it and I don't care." She smiled as he tilted his head. "Okay so I do wonder. But I want you to know that I want nothing more then to show you what love feels like."

His head shot up. "Love?"

She stood. "Hey, I have my own secrets. Did you honestly think I wouldn't fall in love with you." She stepped back. "I have a soft spot for bad boys."

He stood up and walked forward. "I've lived for a long time and I have never met anyone who could...."

She smiled. "I know. Its not easy to admit the god of war has a heart."

He shook his head. "I'm not the god of war anymore." He stepped forward.

She reached back and began to undo the laces to her leather but stopped. She turned around. "Help me."

He just stared at the leather for a long time, not moving.

"Please."

He raised his hands up to gently undo each lace, slowly.

Feeling him slid the leather down her body, made her shiver as she stepped out of it. She turned and sat down on a chair, bending to undo the laces on her boots. Once done, she stood and turned to him. Holding out her hand, she bit her lip.

He was frozen solid to the spot. But only for a moment. He slid off his vest, pants, and bent to take off his boots. He looked back up at her to see her already sitting in the bed, waiting. His heart started to beat fast. He would finally have his princess. As he walked towards the bed, his feet felt like lead. Was this what it would be like as a mortal. He felt a sweat break through his body that he couldn't control. His heart felt like it would beat out of his chest.

She saw him stop and smiled. "Its not as if you haven't done this before."

He smiled. "I haven't." She looked confused. "This has never been about love before."

She nodded. "I understand."

He moved closer. "I guess you would."

As he pulled the blankets up and climbed in, he closed his eyes. When he laid down and turned to her, he knew he would never love again. "I love you."

She smiled. "I love you more."

THE END

Back to FanFic Index