He walked her to the door and she debated inviting him in. Gabrielle was going to have to get used to having him around. But on the same token, maybe she should talk to her about it first. Ares could sense her apprehension even without using his powers. He reached down and gave her a soft goodbye kiss. She put her hands on either side of his face and deepened the kiss.

"See you later," he said as he broke the kiss and held her in a lingering embrace.

"I'll call you tonight," she responded.

Gabrielle had heard the bike pull up. She looked out the front window and saw them both taking off their helmets, each dressed head to toe in their trademark black. She wondered wryly if they'd get a side car for the baby. She could see Ares dressing the baby in a shirt that read 'My daddy can kick your daddy's butt'. Worse, she could see Xena buying the 'mommy' version of the same shirt. Five minutes later and Xena still hadn't come in. She peeked out the window again and no sign of them. She chided herself for being so immature but she couldn't stop herself. She opened the door.

Ares, who was facing the door, saw her first. She expected him to scowl or say something really snide about the intrusion. When he disappointed her she briefly wondered if she had deliberately opened the door just to provoke him.

Xena whipped around. She didn't know if she was embarrassed at being caught or annoyed by the intrusion "Gabrielle," she said impatiently.

"Sorry," Gabrielle apologized and truly meant it when she looked in Xena's eyes.

"It's okay I was leaving anyway," Ares said.

Xena squeezed his hand and turned to face him. "Goodbye."

"You can come in if you want," Gabrielle offered. She didn't want to play power games. Xena obviously had decided she was going to have a relationship with him so she would accept it.

Xena was once again amazed at Gabrielle's ability to love and accept her unconditionally. It reminded her how lucky she was to have her friend back. She made a mental note to thank Aphrodite personally. She turned and gave Gabrielle a silent thank you.

"Thanks but no," he said, "I really need to tend to some things in the Middle East. I was preoccupied last night, oh and this morning," he added and waggled his eyebrows at Gabrielle.

And to think she had actually tried to be cordial. Xena elbowed him in the gut. It hurt. He hadn't been expecting it.

He grunted painfully, "Call me?"

"Maybe," she answered and left him on the doorstep. Why did he have to posture? She had told him she had chosen to be with him exclusively and yet here he was pissing on his territory. No, not really pissing so much as he was trying to get a reaction out of Gabrielle. They would have to talk about that. Why was love so damned complicated?

Gabrielle had tossed them some salads for lunch and they sat at the table enjoying them.

"So how did it go?" Gabrielle asked.

"Fine, I was a natural with the handguns. We're gonna go back out to the ranch in a couple of days and work on rifles. I'm going to buy a taser today."

Xena could be exasperating.

"You do know that's not what I was talking about don't you?"

"Hmm, oh, that?"

"Yeah, that," Gabrielle rolled her eyes.

"Things are good between us," was all that Xena offered. She wasn't sure she was ready to have the conversation.

"Good. Uh- huh. Is that really all you are going to tell me?"

Better sooner than later. "Okay. I love him. I accepted it and I acted on it. He loves me and I think he is finished playing games."

Gabrielle grunted in disbelief at the last comment.

"Look, Gabrielle, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt if this is going to work. And, what's more is that I am going to ask you to."

"Xena," Gabrielle started, she didn't know if that was possible. Accepting Xena's decision was one thing but trusting Ares that was another. "I don't know if I can do that."

"But I know you will try. And I am going to warn him about goading you."

"Don't," Gabrielle said quickly and heatedly.

"Why ever not?" Xena demanded.

"Because, I can handle him. If you go tell him to go easy on me, he will but not because he has any respect for me. It will be because you told him to."

"Gabrielle…"

"Don't Xena, I mean it. If you're going to be with him, I will stand by you. I always will. You are my constant, but I won't have you playing referee. He can't dish out anything I can't dish back."

"When you hear what I have to say that may change your mind."

"Why?"

"Because," Xena put her hand on top of Gabrielle's, "I am going to be with him exclusively."

Gabrielle swallowed hard. So, Xena was committed to this, to him. "Okay, I'll respect that. He can taunt me all he wants. So what, he's taking you to bed. I'll always be in here," she said and placed her hand on Xena's heart, "and whether you believe it or not, there is plenty of room for both of us in that big heart of yours Xena."

Xena harrumphed but Gabrielle had to wipe the tear that trickled down the warrior's face to her stone set jaw.

He didn't fell like going to Malibu just yet. He wasn't ready to face Hestia. Part of him wanted to gloat but the other part of him wanted to keep his relationship with Xena apart from his family altogether. There would always be animosity between them but she had been put in an impossible position. He knew she would take it back if she could, especially Athena. Xena had always respected her.

He decided to chill for awhile at his Condo in downtown LA. That bit he had told Gabrielle about the Middle East had just been posturing. How embarrassing that the greatest military power ever assembled did it entirely without his help. But the irony is that they fight in the name of Eli's god. He wondered if Gabrielle had taken the time to consider this.

The blast from the air conditioner was a welcomed respite from the California sun. In his sanctuary, he took a moment to revel in his godhood. He let his power flow over him. Funny, he hadn't missed it when she was around but no that he wasn't in her presence, the need to feed off it was staggering.

Sounds of sex emanating from his bedroom brought him out of his self-communion. "What the?" He cursed.

He opened the bedroom door to reveal a brown skinned, dark headed man with his head between his sister's thighs.

"Couldn't you go somewhere else?" Ares asked exasperated.

The man jumped up. "You didn't tell me you were married," the Latino protested.

"You didn't ask but relax this is my brother."

"Then why does he look like he is going to kill me?"

"Oh that? That's him in a good mood," she looked at Ares, "I didn't interrupt you last night, did I?"

He was infuriated and mortified, "You were there? You watched?"

He began to charge at her. The guy stepped in front of his path. These people may be weird be he wasn't about to let a man hit a woman. Ares stopped and looked at the guy. It wasn't worth ruining his carpet.

"Please," Aphrodite said, "Calm down, bro. I just peeked and saw you had things under control."

"No more," Ares warned.

"Sooor-rry, I was just totally bummed because Psyche's preggers and I don't want to be…" she stopped remembering she had male company, "Oh you know anyway, can you just get out of here. Juan was about to…"

"Juan is going home. You people are crazy," he said and began putting his clothes on.

"Ar, now look what you've done."

"Uh, last time I checked this was my place. Why are you here anyway?

She let out a dramatic sigh that said she was the one being put out instead of him, "My condo is being refurbished and you know Aunt Hestia's rule." Hestia forbade any mortals except trusted servants from entering the god's domain in Malibu.

"You didn't even consider getting a motel?" Ares asked.

"Not when you have such cool toys, bro." She gestured to the headboard and footboards which each had attached leather cuffs and to the mirrored ceiling.

"It is nice isn't it?" Ares got a mental image of laying Xena on that bed and him torturing her with sweet, sweet pleasure. Making her watch herself get fucked.

"I'm outta here," Juan said and made for the door.

"Toodles," Aphrodite called after him the mood was already ruined, no reason to be a bitch about it.

"So wanna talk about the warrior babe?" She asked and patted the bed for Ares to sit next to her.

"No," he stated emphatically, "wanna put some clothes on and change my sheets?" he suggested.

"Don't get me bummed out again. I'll need another sex buzz to get over it."

"Your fixes aren't my problems. Now, clean up after yourself and M-Scram."

She snapped her fingers and the room was in immaculate condition and she was fully dressed. "Spoil sport," she stuck her tongue out at him and disappeared.

Joxer didn't want to over think last night's events. It had only been a kiss and she had been drinking. But then again, she wasn't drunk and she didn't seem to regret it. She had even hugged him and gave him a timid peck on the check when they were saying their goodbyes.

He was sitting in his apartment reading about becoming a bounty hunter. When Gabrielle had told him about Xena's plan, he knew what he had to do. Xena would need a team. He could help her. It would be just like old times with them fighting bravely side by side. He was going today to apply for a gun permit. Gabrielle would no doubt try to talk him out of becoming a bounty hunter but somebody had to have Xena's back. He wouldn't let her go into danger alone.