Disclaimer: All of the characters appearing in this story belong to MCA/Universal/Renaissance Pictures. I have borrowed them for the sole purpose of this story. No copyright infringement was intended.

This is the third and final chapter of the trilogy which I had started with ‘A New Life’, part of the Hercules & Xena’s Scrolls. Thanks to Chelsea who wrote the second part of the trilogy with her amazing story ‘Queen of Hearts’, listed under the Iolaus & Nebula’s Scrolls. Well, with this story, the trilogy is finally complete.

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"Gabrielle looked at her best friend and couldn’t believe the change in her. No one looking at Xena now can imagine her as the fearsome warrior princess of not so long ago. With the baby in her arms and the most contented smile on her face, she looked beautiful and at peace.

"Can I hold her?" Gabrielle asked.

"Sure Gabby, but please be careful." Xena handed her daughter over to the bard.

"She’s adorable!" Gabrielle took the baby and cooed softly to her. "What are you going to name her?"

"Hercules thinks that we should name her Lycia, what do you think?"

"Lycia? It’s a bit unusual, but it does have a nice ring to it."

"Well, it was thoughtful of him. He knew how much I’ve missed Lyceus."

"Xena, I’ve never seen you looked happier than you do right now." Gabrielle smiled at her friend.

"Let me tell you Gabrielle, there is nothing like spending your time with the person that you love and knowing that he loves you too. I have never even imagined that I could feel this way. It’s the best feeling in the world." Xena glanced over to the other side of the room where Hercules was in the middle of a conversation with his best friend Iolaus. He turned around and smiled at his wife when he felt her eyes on him.

"Just watching you two make me feel left out." Gabrielle said half seriously.

"From best friend to best friend? When you find the right man, don’t wait. Just go for it. Don’t waste time questioning yourself as to why or why not. Promise me?"

Gabrielle nodded and started to say something but then a soft voice interrupted them, "promise what?" She looked up at the smiling face of Nebula. Suddenly embarrassed, she shook her head and changed the subject, "have you seen the baby yet? She’s beautiful."

Nebula looked at the baby and smiled at Xena, "yes, she certainly is. You are one lucky woman Xena. Just look at you, a wife and a mother; it’s starting to give me ideas." She grinned.

"Are you and Iolaus…?" Xena asked in surprise.

"No, we haven’t set the date or anything like that yet, but he did ask me to marry him, and I’m seriously considering it."

"Oh Nebula, what are waiting for? He’s crazy about you…" All of a sudden Gabrielle realized that her companions were no longer listening; the whole room had turned silent. She turned just in time to see Hercules and Iolaus heading over to the other side of the room. She turned again and sighed; Ares, the God of War stood silhouetted against the corner of the room just watching them.

"What do you want Ares?" Hercules asked aggressively, stopping two feet in front of his half brother.

"I came to see my new niece." He looked around and saw all their friends were hanging around including a few gods and goddesses. "I must have misplaced my invitation." He added sarcastically.

"You were not invited." Hercules said softly but clearly.

Ares simply shrugged. "Come on little brother, this is friendly visit. Couldn’t we at least bury the hatches for one day?"

"Why don’t I believe you?"

"Maybe because you have a suspicious nature." He pushed past Hercules and walked over to where Gabrielle was still standing next to Xena with the baby in her arms. She started to back away but since she was already standing against the wall, there was no place for her to go.

"Ares, I’m warning you…" Xena started but Ares cut her off, "relax Xena, I just wanted to see if the baby is as gorgeous as you." He put out a hand to try to touch the baby, but Gabby got nervous and slapped his hand away.

Instead of being angry, Ares’ expression turned into one of amusement, "hey annoying brat, you still hanging around? Don’t you think its high time you get a life of your own?"

"Why don’t you crawl back to whatever hole that you came from and leave them alone?" Gabrielle said, holding the baby close to her, not seeing Xena’s frantic attempts to take the baby back herself.

Ares frowned, "what is wrong with all of you? I came here for a friendly visit, and you all act like I’m here to start a war." He looked at the baby; "she’s beautiful. With my brother’s eyes and Xena’s smile, she is going to be a heart breaker."

Hercules rushed over to stand in between Ares and Gabrielle, forcing his brother to take a step back. "So now that you have seen the baby, why don’t you leave?"

There was no longer any trace of amusement in Ares’ voice when he said, "you want me to leave, fine. I’m going, but since I came to see the baby, I think I’ll take her with me." His hand snaked around Hercules and grabbed hold of Gabrielle; the trio disappeared before anyone could stop them.

"Ares…" Xena & Hercules cried out in unison as they watched the trail of smoke slowly evaporated.

Xena stared at Hercules in disbelief as tears started to run down her face. Hercules pulled her into his arms, "don’t worry, he won’t dare to do anything to her." He motioned for Aphrodite. The goddess came over, "don’t worry Xena, Ares isn’t going to hurt the baby, he’s just being spiteful. I’ll find him."

"I’m coming with you." Xena said, wiping the tears away.

"We are coming with you." Hercules corrected her.

"We’ll come too." Iolaus started to say, but Xena turned to him, "that wouldn’t be necessary Iolaus. This is a private battle between Ares and us; we will handle it."

"O.K., let’s get going." Dite said and the three disappeared in a shimmering flash of bright lights.

"Ares, come on Ares, enough is enough." Aphrodite yelled as they reappeared in the House of War. "You didn’t actually think that you could get away with abducting Lycia, did you?"

But the place was empty. Dite’s voice echoed through the empty halls. She turned with a worried look on her face; "they are not here."

"Where could he have taken them?" Hercules asked.

"He could have gone to any one of his temples or he could have simply taken them just about anywhere." Dite said.

"Oh thank you Aphrodite, you are so much help." Xena said sarcastically, but she quickly apologized when she saw how upset Dite was. "I’m sorry, but I’m going out of my mind."

"I know." Dite patted her gently, "but you know Gabrielle, she will make sure that Lycia is safe."

"And who’s going to keep Gabrielle safe?"

"Where are we?" Gabrielle looked around but the place was unfamiliar to her.

"Don’t you know?"

She glanced around and finally spotting the statue in the center of the room, "this is one of Aphrodite’s temple, isn’t it?" She laughed softy; "you are hiding out here because you don’t think they will look for us here."

"Hiding is a strong word. Let’s just say I’m borrowing my sister place for a little peace and quiet. Just where do you think you are going?" He asked when she started to walk out of the room.

"To ensure that you get your peace and quiet, WE are leaving." She said clearly.

"You don’t have my permission to leave." In a flash he was in front of her, blocking her exit.

"And you don’t have my permission to abduct us."

He chuckled, "confident, aren’t we?"

Gabrielle refused to answer. She was a mass of nerves, but he didn’t have to know that.

"I’ve been watching you, you sure have changed ever since Xena got married and you’ve been out on your own. You have became quite the little warrior." He continued.

"I’m not afraid of you Ares, so don’t even try to intimidate me."

"Is that what I’m doing?" He asked, running a long finger down her face and watched as she flinched away from his touch.

Gabrielle felt the blood rushed into her head at the simple caress, and still holding the baby protectively against her, "don’t touch me!" Her raised voice startled the baby, and Lycia began to cry.

"See what you have done!" She started to hush the infant by walking up and down the hall with her, but Lycia continued to cry.

"Here, let me." Ares took the baby from her and went to sit down on one the high chairs. He tapped his foot a few times and as if by magic, the baby gurgled and quiets down. Gabrielle stared at him in amazement, "how did you do that?"

"Different babies respond to different things. This one likes to sit." He shrugged.

"Alright Ares, you have had your fun, now give her back to me."

"Why? She’s comfortable."

Gabrielle stared at the two for a while and had to agree that Lycia did look comfortable as she blinked and drifted off to sleep. She watched as he smiled at the sleeping baby and all of a sudden she was sure that he would not hurt her. With that fear eliminated, she sat down next to them and asked, "so what’s all this about?"

"Nothing really, I didn’t go there with kidnapping on my mind. I went there out of curiosity, but you guys made me mad. And you must know by now that it is not a good idea to anger the God of War."

"How long are you going to keep us here?"

"Lycia? Just long enough to get them rattled." He smiled at her.

Gabby felt her heart missed a beat at his smile. She shook her head to get away from that hypnotic pull of his. And the fact that he only said Lycia made her uneasy. Her voice came out unnaturally high, "I think they have worried enough. Why don’t you let me take her back?"

"I don’t think so. You know Gabrielle, I like having you around."

Oh my, he’s flirting with me! Gabrielle felt herself starting to blush.

"What’s the matter? A little too warm in here for you?" he teased.

He color darkened even more, but before she could form a rational reply, an angry trio appeared.

Ares sighed, not at all happy at the interruption. He stared at Dite, "how did you find me?

"Simple, I started to think like you." Dite returned, giving him one of her sweetest smiles.

Still clutching her chakram in her hand, Xena rushed over and grabbed Lycia from Ares.

Seeing the trace of tears on Xena’s face, Gabby quickly jumped in, "it’s alright Xena, he didn’t hurt her."

"You’ve gone too far this time Ares." Hercules said as he grabbed Ares by the collar and literally pulled him out of the chair. Ares pushed him away. An angry Hercules let his fist fly, but before it could connect with the intended target, Gabrielle stepped in between the two men and felt the mighty fist of Hercules hitting her on the shoulder. She yelled out in pain as the force of the punch knocked her over. She thought she was going to fly through the walls only to find herself caught in a pair of strong arms as she fell against Ares.

"My gods Gabby, I’m so sorry." Hercules was immediately all concern as he dropped his aggressive stand and tried to apologize.

Ares gently lowered the bard onto a chair while still keeping his hold on her. Consequently a confused Gabrielle found herself sitting on Ares’ lap and he had no intention of letting her up.

Ares gave Hercules a murderous look as Gabrielle managed to catch her breath, "I’m O.K., I’m O.K."

Dite came over and checked for injury, "no permanent damage, but I think it will be bruised and sore for a few days."

Xena too came over with Lycia in her arms; "I’m sorry Gabby. This isn’t exactly the kind of reunion that I had in mind for us.""

"Look, why don’t you all clear out of here." Ares said

Xena gave him a filthy look, "come on Gabby, let’s get out of here." She held out a hand to the bard, but before Gabrielle could grab her hand, she heard Ares barked, "she’s staying!"

"You are crazy if you think we’ll let her stay behind." Hercules said angrily.

Aphrodite eyed the pair sitting in the chair thoughtfully for a moment, "why don’t we let Gabby decide."

Four pairs of eyes stared intensely at the blonde bard who by now was blushing from the top of her head to the tip of her toes. "Let me up Ares." She stammered as she tried to get up.

The arm across her waist was acting like a steel bar trapping her in place. "I don’t think so." His voice was low and seductive, but it was the warm breath against her neck that caused her to tremble involuntarily. Ares felt it and smiled. "Gabrielle and I have a little unfinished business to take care of, but the rest of you can go."

Xena handed Lycia over to Dite and drew out her sword. She pointed the tip of it on the god. "Let her up Ares. You harm one hair on her head and I swear I will cut you up to a million pieces."

"I’m not going to hurt her!" Ares muttered. "Look, I just need to talk to her. Gabrielle is free to leave after if she still wants to."

"Gabby is our friend. If you have anything to say to her, you can say it in front of us." Hercules moved over to stand besides Xena.

Aphrodite was not the Goddess of Love for nothing. By now, She had a pretty good idea where this was leading. "I think we can safely leave Gabby here a little while. She tapped Xena & Hercules sending them back home. She then smiled at Gabby, "don’t let him bully you." And she too, disappeared still holding on to Lycia.

Gabrielle felt strangely shy after everyone is gone. Once again she tried to get up and this time he let her. Gabby stood up and walked away a few paces, felt his eyes burning into her back, turned around and said, "what?"

"You know what, stop pretending to be dumb."

"I’m not dumb, you…"

"Ares, Ares, say it, Ares." He came up to her and smiled. The smile that made her blink and forgot everything else that she had wanted to say. Instead her voice broke and "Ares?" came out hoarsely.

"Don’t be afraid of me." He said softly as he ran one hand through her hair, pushing it back behind her ears.

"Why are you doing this?" Gabrielle had never been more confused in her whole life, and it showed in her voice.

"Doing what?"

"You know very well what…trying to confuse me, making me…" her voice stopped when she realized what she was about to say. And he just stood there and smiled at her, "yes my love?"

The endearment was so unexpected, and Gabrielle found herself drowning in a tidal wave of emotion. "Ares, I can’t. They would never understand." She whispered.

"Why should they need to? This is about us, as far as I’m concern, the rest of the world can get on without us."

"It’s not that simple…"

"Yes, it is. So what if Xena doesn’t approve? What if Hercules doesn’t approve? As long as you and I do. This is about us and only us." He gazed into her eyes and saw her confusion and yearning. "I’ve lived a long time Gabrielle, and no one had ever made me feel the way you do. This isn’t a case of wanting what I can’t have, it’s a case of finding my destiny."

"Ares, I…"

"Don’t try to analyze everything. Just go with the way you feel. If you can honestly tell me that you don’t want to have anything to do with me, then okay, I'll respect that. But don’t let your fear get in the way."

All of a sudden, her conversation with Xena flashed across her mind; just go for it. It won’t be easy to place her trust in him, but Gabrielle had decided to take that leap. Life doesn’t offer any guarantees, but if she falls, she knows that he’ll be there to catch her.