Disclaimer: All of these characters belong to someone else (USA Studios, Universal, Renaissance Pictures, etc.). No harm or infringement intended. This story contains no graphic sex or violence, but it is a subtext friendly zone.

Time Period: Immediately following the Xena: Warrior Princess series finale, A Friend In Need.

One Path

By Jody Leak

"It's time, Gabrielle," Ares said in a gentle voice.

"I know," Gabrielle whispered, letting her eyes wander through the dimly lit passageway. "I just didn't think it would happen so soon," a pause, "or in that way," an exhale of breath, "for that reason." She shook her head in disbelief, and then looked up at the God of War. "Thank you, for giving me this time, for holding up your end of the deal."

Ares nodded silently.

"And thank you for collecting these, keeping them safe." The bard ran her hands along the rough orb of rock, pausing every few inches to caress her scrolls, which rested in the stone, each in their own individual hole. She smiled at the memories.

"I needed something to read while you girls were snoozing," He made a weak attempt at a grin.

"Mmm, twenty-five years is a long time to be without your favorite plaything. Glad to help you break up the monotony here on Mt. Olympus," Gabrielle said with a smirk.

"Thanks for the addition," he said, pointing.

Gabrielle nodded and touched the newly added scroll with melancholy.

"Don't worry, Gabrielle. Your stories will not be forgotten. I'll see to that personally," Ares said sincerely.

The bard just smiled, silently doubting the sincerity of the statement, but hoping for the best.

With a wave of his hand, the stone rotated into the wall, revealing a simple circular shield to mark the treasure. A new presence caught his eye.

"Hello, Celesta," Gabrielle breathed.

"Hello, Gabrielle. Are you ready?" Celesta held out her hand.

Gabrielle was always surprised when she saw Celesta---her beauty and grace, as she floated just above the ground with her ever present, ever burning candle. But, she mused to herself, should Death not be beautiful?

"Yes," she replied, "I'm ready." She turned and began to walk toward the hovering figure.

Ares watched the scene unfold with great interest from beneath his slightly raised brow. A sudden burst of light disturbed the quiet anticipation, as Aphrodite burst in with a shout.

"No!" She grabbed the bard's arm, stopping her progress toward Death.

Gabrielle put a comforting hand on Aphrodite's arm, "It's all right, Aphrodite … it's time," with a gentle squeeze. "Actually," she said, looking to Ares with appreciation, "it's way past time."

"No!" Aphrodite reiterated, now turning to her brother with obvious anger. "You got what you wanted, Ares. There's no reason for this now."

The air between the siblings was electric. Gabrielle's brow furrowed and her eyes darted quickly between Ares and Aphrodite.

"Reason? We had a deal, Aphrodite," the bard offered calmly. She shot a questioning glance at Ares and waited for his affirming nod. It didn't come. Instead he turned his eyes to Aphrodite.

"This was decided years ago, Aphrodite, it's none of your concern," he sternly scolded his sister. "Gabrielle agreed to it. It's not something I pulled out of my sleeve at the last minute like---" He stopped abruptly and looked away, cutting off his speech before he said something he'd regret.

Gabrielle shot him a concerned look.

"What's going on here?" Gabrielle asked anyone present. She raised her hands in question and turned to face each one. They all looked at each other and avoided her gaze when it fell on them. "Aphrodite?" She questioned hotly, turning slightly to face the goddess at her side.

Aphrodite looked over at her brother, as he took a menacing step toward her.

"Aphrodite!" Gabrielle barked, tightening her grip on the goddess's arm.

Aphrodite ignored her and continued the stare down with her brother.

"This is not ... your … concern!" Ares shouted, accenting the words with a finger thrust toward his sister. They were face to face now.

Gabrielle released Aphrodite's arm and stepped back, wary of the palpable energy oozing from the gods. Celesta merely observed in silence, as she so often did. It was obvious to Gabrielle that this was a matter between Love and War.

"She is my friend, Ares!" Aphrodite angrily pointed into his chest. "That makes it my concern!" More staring.

Ares blinked first, and then a broad grin crept across his face. He turned to Gabrielle, her brow twisted in confusion. "She's a sentimental fool, Gabrielle," he said calmly. "What else would you expect from the Goddess of Love?" With a wave of his hand, he made like the little tiff was nothing, and stepped away.

"Well, I'm rather sentimental myself, Ares, and you're the God of War, so what's your point?" the bard responded, putting her hands on her hips.

Ares just smiled and sat down on a boulder, hands resting on his knees. "I think I'm outnumbered," he mused, wearing his best charming grin as he regarded the three women.

Aphrodite focused her gaze and squinted in anger, "Nice try, Bro … but you're not going to get away with this by changing your tact. You used her!" she hissed, lowering her voice as she pointed at Gabrielle. She continued glaring at her brother.

"Wha---?" Ares began, putting his hands to his chest in innocence.

"Wait a minute," Gabrielle protested simultaneously, putting up one hand. "Look," to Aphrodite, "I'm not sure what's going on here." Now in a soothing voice, "I appreciate what you're trying to do, my friend, but he's not lying. We do have a deal."

"You're right, Gabrielle," the goddess turned to face her friend. "He's not lying, he's just not telling the whole truth. And I'm going to tell you what's going on here."

That brought the God of War to his feet, glaring with rage.

Aphrodite swaggered over to Ares. "He tricked you Gabrielle," she began, in a taunting tone. Her gaze never wavered from her brother as she walked around him in a slow circle. She trailed one hand lightly across his broad shoulders as she spoke. His breathing increased as well as his temper. "He realized a long time ago that Xena was lost to him---"

"And you just couldn't resist helping that along, could you, Sis?" he interrupted bitterly.

Aphrodite smiled, patted his shoulder, and let out a satisfied, "Hmph." She continued her path around his body until she was facing him. With a quick shove, he was deposited to his seat on the boulder. "And you just couldn't let her go, could you … Bro?"

The way he shifted and worked his jaw told Gabrielle that Aphrodite was on to something.

Aphrodite settled in behind her brother, draped one arm across his chest, and rested her chin on his shoulder. "Your best bet was better luck next time … hmmm?" she crooned into her brother's ear as she traced its outline with one finger.

Gabrielle's confusion deepened.

"You'd just start over in the next life … hmmm?" She glanced at the bard to see if she was getting the hint of where this was going. Furrowed brow.

Aphrodite got up and walked a few paces until she stood next to her friend. Gabrielle gave her a questioning glance. The goddess raised an eyebrow in her brother's direction. Both women were now staring at the God of War, while Celesta silently observed the scene.

Aphrodite crossed her arms, tilted her head, and glared at her sibling, "Well …" she dared.

Ares put out a hand and made a gesture of defeat, "Oh, no. Please. You're doing such a swell job," he snapped, crossing his arms and pouting like a small child.

"Well," she began, this time to Gabrielle.

"Wait … wait …" the bard interrupted, lifting her hands. "If what you're saying is that he wanted Xena to die so that he could torment her in her next life---"

"Hey, I object to the word torment!" Ares complained. "I was good to her. I gave her everything!"

"Quiet, you!" came in unison from the goddess and the bard.

Ares continued sulking.

"Then why wait?" Gabrielle continued. "He had a dozen chances to take her, and if he wanted me out of the picture, why didn't he just let me die in that pit, in Dahak's temple? Why go through all the trouble of saving my life and offering me some deal?"

Ares raised a mocking, wondering brow at his sister.

"Mmmm … that's the irony of it, Gabrielle," the goddess answered. "Without you, Xena couldn't have gone on---"

"She never would have gone back to him or what she was, Aphrodite. I'm sure of that," Gabrielle interrupted.

Aphrodite rubbed the bard's shoulder, "I know, little one, I said she couldn't have gone on---" the goddess raised her brow and dipped her head slightly to emphasize what she meant.

"Oh," Gabrielle understood, and then thought for a moment. "Well, so … then we're back to letting me die in the pit. Xena … um … doesn't go on … and Ares takes his shot at her in her next life. Which, by the way," the bard sharpened her tone and glared at Ares, "won't be any more successful than this shot."

"Yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes and waved her off.

"So, I don't get it?" the bard concluded, turning back to Aphrodite.

"Yeah. Makes no sense," Ares quipped with confidence.

"Quiet!" in unison.

"She wouldn't cross over to rebirth at her death unless she'd found her true self in this life."

They all looked over as Celesta spoke.

"Without that discovery, her essence would remain … suspended … ending at this incarnation."

"Oh," Ares threw his hands up, "now you say something. Hey, we don't need any help over here!" he whined, pointing at Death.

"So, you see Gabrielle," Aphrodite began, "the only way Xena was going to find her true self in this life, was through you. He had to save you---"

"So that I could save her … so that you …" Gabrielle turned to Ares, her anger rising, "You bastard! You used me!" It was all she could do not to fly across the room and throttle him.

"Exactly!" Aphrodite mused, her voice lifting.

"Oh, like you didn't get what you wanted out of this, little girl. A few more years of warm fuzzies." He hugged himself and made an obnoxious face. "Who gave you that? I did!" Ares boasted.

"Actually, I handle the warm fuzzies," Aphrodite added quietly, raising her hand.

"Ugh, Ares, you are unbelievable!" Gabrielle spat.

"Yeah, well … thank you. I do try," he chided smugly.

"Gods!" Gabrielle put her hands to her head. "Um … sorry," she looked up, apologizing to the present company for the curse.

"Mmm. Yes, he is something, isn't he? But that's not even the best part, is it, Ares?" He glared in response, Aphrodite smirked in return. "What do you gain from her death now?" pointing at Gabrielle. "She led Xena to her true self. You got what you wanted," picking up her argument where she'd started it.

"Because he doesn't think I know my true self," Gabrielle broke in, before the god could answer. Ares' plan was becoming very clear. "He never thought that I belonged with Xena, but when he found he could no longer control her, I became the key to getting her back. He also thought that under her influence, I would never find my true self. So, if Celesta takes me now, he thinks I'll be suspended here for eternity … and Xena's soul will go on, and he can corrupt her utterly, in every lifetime, with no one to get in his way."

"Pa … leeease," he snorted in denial, rolling his eyes.

Aphrodite shook her head and moved over to where Celesta was floating.

"Shows how much you know, Ares," the bard continued flatly. "Think about it. Without me, you get one lifetime of mayhem at best. We complete each other. Without me, your plan for her doesn't work."

"Kinda cocky there, aren't you, blondie?" he mused.

"It's a fact, Ares, and you know it. You've already lost. Not only do I know my true self, I know that the path I'm on is exactly where I should be. And as for the future, my soul is linked with Xena's. Even you will not change that."

"Blah, blah, blah … yeah … whatever," Ares mumbled in irritation. "Bottom line, we had a deal. Xena dies, you die. Xena's dead … your time is up … let's go. Take 'er away," snapping his fingers toward Celesta and thumbing over his shoulder.

"And who's going to enforce that deal, Ares?" Aphrodite said smugly, looking up from her conference with Death.

Ares looked up at Celesta, who slowly shook her head. "It is not her time …" Her voice trailed off as she disappeared.

"Hey!" Ares shouted, jumping to his feet. "Her time was years ago! We had a deal!" His protest fell on deaf ears.

Aphrodite put her hands on her hips and let out a giggle, "You're so cute when you're … losing!" She made an L with her thumb and forefinger and put it to her forehead, Loser, she mouthed.

Gabrielle feigned indifference, but the faint smile on her face gave her away.

"We're not finished," Ares bristled in Gabrielle's direction. "You're living on borrowed time!"

"Who isn't," Gabrielle muttered under her breath.

"And YOU!" he pointed at his sister, enraged. No words followed, just a clenched fist and bulging veins on his brow. A faint blue flash, and he was gone.

"Whoa … he's pissed," Aphrodite chuckled.

Gabrielle gave her a cautious glance, "I think that means trouble for me."

"Don't worry, little one. He'll get over it," Aphrodite said, with a small squeeze on the bard's shoulders.

"Hmph. Not likely. This is Ares we're talking about," Gabrielle reminded her.

Aphrodite didn't seem too concerned, the bard noticed, but why would she be, she was a god. Ares was her brother. What could he do to her?

"Celesta won't do his bidding. She's a free agent. And without the Fates to do his dirty work, I think you're pretty safe," the goddess said with confidence.

Gabrielle didn't answer. She studied the ground and shifted uncomfortably.

Aphrodite sought out the bard's face, which was now hidden by the short blonde disheveled hair on her bowed head. "Gabby?" the goddess lifted the bard's chin with a hand.

Gabrielle gently shook her face from Aphrodite's touch and covered her eyes with her hand. "I'm sorry, Aphrodite." She now raised that hand in apology. Tears filled her eyes. "I … I just didn't think this far ahead."

Aphrodite put a comforting hand on her back as they sat down.

"I knew Celesta would come for me soon after Xena … well … you know," she made vague motions with her hands. "But now, suddenly, I'm faced with life without her … and I'm not sure I know how to do that."

The goddess just nodded in sympathy.

"It's odd," the bard continued, "when I realized, by that fountain, that she wasn't coming back … that she wouldn't let me bring her back, the wave of grief was just …" gods, she said silently, remembering the emotion, "overwhelming. And then I remembered … that I wasn't going to have to live without her, that I would join her soon. And then I was just sad … for us … that our time in this life was over. And proud … proud of her, because she'd come so far … we'd come so far … and we did that together." Her voice was breaking, and emotion was beginning to get the best of her. She stopped briefly to try and compose herself. She was unsuccessful. "What we had was … um …" she bit back a sob, "really … amazing," she finally got out through a tight throat.

Aphrodite merely listened, doing what she could to comfort her friend.

"I'm sorry, little one," pulling her close until the young woman's head was resting on her shoulder.