by Lissia
Disclaimers: Characters aren’t mine, story is. For fun, no profit involved. No
subtext. Takes up after Eternal Bonds ends. Send comments and constructive criticism to lissia_rieger@hotmail.com. Thanks!
Summary: Ares drops in while Xena is playing with Eve and boy is he surprised to see the warrioress softer side. Very short story.
An hour after the battle, Xena, Gabrielle, Eve and Joxer arrived at a
clearing in the woods. “Xena, me and Joxer are going to go get some water and Dinner,” Gabrielle informed. “Okay, go on, have fun, knock yourselves out,” she answered distractedly. Gabrielle and Joxer laughed a little, then went deeper into the woods. “How can they think of hunting when there is a cute little baby like you around that needs attention?” Xena asked the baby in her arms. Eve suddenly burst into tears. Xena wrinkled her face into a pout and remaining unnoticed to her, Ares appeared. Xena, using a baby voice said, “What’s wrong honey? Who’s the cutest baby? You are! Yeah, you are Eve! Yes you are, yes you are.” Eve laughed and waved her little pudgy arms around in the air. “Yeah,” Xena laughed a little and said, still using her baby voice. Ares laughed and Xena turned. “Am I interrupting something?” He asked sarcastically. Seemingly ignoring his question, Xena turned back to Eve and said, “What’s that bad boy doing here? Yeah, what’s here doing here?” He looked at her as if she had lost
her mind, then went to sit by her on the log. “Okay Eve, can you say ‘Go away Ares’? Come on, try it sweetie, ‘Go away’. Yeah now you try it,” Xena said. Eve made a few grunts, then burped loudly. Xena laughed and Ares shook his head. “Good girl Eve! Yeah, that’s mommies little girl,” she congratulated. “Xena you’re scarring me,” he said. Still using her baby voice, she said, “Oh! You just need to get in touch with the mother within yourself.” Eve cooed in agreement, then started to cry again. Xena wrinkled her nose and Ares raised an eyebrow. “Aw, did somebody make a mess in her pants?” Xena asked the wailing child. She quickly took off the dirty diaper and cleaned the baby off a bit, then handed the dirties to Ares, “Get rid of these nasty ikkies,” she ordered. He wrinkled his nose in disgust, but took care of the dirties, while Xena put a clean diaper on Eve and picked up the baby who was still wailing. “Now what’s her problem?” Ares asked agitated by the noise. She laughed, then turned to Eve, “He doesn’t know much about babies, does he Eve?” He just shook his head in an arrogant manner. “She’s just a little hungry, that’s all, right Eve? You just want an early dinner, yeah,” she cooed at the child. “Then feed her,” he said irritably. She smiled and
keeping herself appropriately covered. began to nurse the baby who finally stopped crying. “Yeah, that’s better, isn’t it sweetie, yeah,” she cooed. Then she turned to Ares, “Thank-you for saving my daughter earlier,” she said, then leaned over and lightly kissed him, “Maybe one day we can be together.” He smiled at her, “Maybe,” he said, “I better go before Gabrielle and Joxer get back.” She nodded and then he was gone in a flash of blue light.
THE END