Chakram Reborn: Slowly Shattered (S2E2)

Chapter 2: Mixed Emotions, Treading Lightly And Ares Secret Plan

Later that night, Gabrielle sits in the living room, working on a vlog, when Xena walks in. Xena looks at her, slowly smirks and walks to the kitchen, and grabs a beer out of the fridge. She twists the cap off, takes a sip, then asks, "How are you doing?"

Gabrielle looks up from her laptop and says, "I'm good."

Xena sets the beer down, walks to Gabrielle, sits next to her, and tenderly says, "Gabrielle, I know you're grieving right now, just know that I am here for you. If you need to talk, vent, yell, I am here. I know what you're going through, and I want to help.

A tear starts to roll down Gabrielle's face; she looks at Xena and seriously says, "Do you really know what I'm going through!"

"In a way, yeah," Xena says. I watched Alti take a knife to my mom, killing her.

"You were five years old and blocked it out for over fifteen years!" Gabrielle yells. "I had to watch as my father fell into my arms and then died hours later! It's still raw inside of me!" Gabrielle gets up and walks around and yells, "I have so many emotions locked inside. There is a part of me that wants to blame you for not making sure Metao was dead; there's a part of me that blames myself for not killing Metao first. And then, there is something inside of me that is telling me that something isn't right! That my dad is supposed to be here!! I don't know what to do, Xena!! I'm so lost!! I have this rage and anger inside of me, and I feel like I'm going to explode!"

Gabrielle starts to cry, and Xena gets up, hugs her, and says, "Blame me if you want to, just please let me help you! If you're lost, let me lead you back, Gabrielle. Please, let me help you."

Gabrielle tearfully looks at Xena and says, "I don't know if I can be helped!" Gabrielle walks away from Xena and goes to their bedroom, leaving Xena with a worried look on her face.

An hour later, Xena walks into their bedroom, takes her clothes off down to her bra and underwater, and climbs into bed next to Gabrielle, who is facing the other direction. Xena looks at her with sadness in her eyes and says, "Please know that I'm here for you, Gabrielle. Don't let that spark in your eyes fade, please."

Gabrielle opens her eyes and looks to the wall. She wants to feel rage, anger, but for this moment, she feels like herself. Her eyes get soft, realizing that at this moment, she needs a human touch. She needs Xena. She turns around to see Xena facing the other direction. She takes her hand over Xena's body and grasps her hand. Xena turns around, and they gaze into each other's eyes. Gabrielle caresses Xena's cheek and says, "I'm numb; just for this night, make me feel whole again."

Xena caresses Gabrielle's face and looks deep into her eyes. For a moment, she sees Gabrielle. Not Gabrielle full of rage and anger, but her Gabrielle, full of hope and light. Gabrielle pulls Xena close to her and passionately kisses her; Xena gets on top of Gabrielle, unhooks Gabrielle's bra, and passionately starts to kiss her. Gabrielle moans in ecstasy as Xena makes passionate love to her. Xena gives in to all of Gabrielle's needs, sending Gabrielle to highs she hasn't felt in a while. And as the night progressed, Gabrielle felt like herself. But deep in her soul, she knew the rage and anger would return. For now, she needed to live in the bliss of Xena's love.

————

The next morning Gabrielle sits at the island in front of her laptop; Xena walks out of their bedroom, walks to her, and they share a kiss. "Last night was amazing!" Xena says, smiling at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle looks at Xena and says, "Yeah, it was. I didn't want last night to end. At least I felt like myself in away."

Xena looks at Gabrielle seriously and asks, "And now?"

"I don't know," Gabrielle says as she hugs Xena. "Right now, I just want to live in this moment."

All of a sudden, Aphrodite appears. She sees Xena and Gabrielle hugging and asks, "Am I interrupting something?"

Xena and Gabrielle look at Aphrodite, and Xena says, "No."

Aphrodite looks at Gabrielle, smiles, and asks, "Hey, Little One, how are ya doing?"

Gabrielle smirks a little bit at her dear friend and says, "Right now, I'm doing good." She grasps Xena's hand and says, "Don't know when or if I'll be back to myself again, but for right now, it's a good day."

Aphrodite smiles a bit and says, "That's good, honey. I worry about my favorite bard."

Xena and Aphrodite lock eyes, giving serious looks to one another. Gabrielle then asks, "What brings you here, Dite?"

"Just checking up on everyone," Aphrodite says, smirking a bit.

Gabrielle then looks at Xena, smirks, and says, "I have to drop some papers off at campus, then I'm stopping at the store; how about I pick up some wine, and you can fire up the grill for steaks later."

Xena smiles at Gabrielle and says, "Sounds good!" They share a kiss, then Gabrielle grabs her Jacket and keys and says, "I'll be back. Later, Dite!"

"Bye, Gabby!" Aphrodite says, smiling at her. Gabrielle leaves the cabin, and Aphrodite looks at Xena and says, "You haven't told her yet, I take it?"

"No!" Xena seriously says. "Last night was the first night in a very long time that she was somewhat herself! She's full of rage and anger, but last night we had a small breakthrough!"

Aphrodite gives Xena a smirk and says, "You two had grief sex! Didn't you?!?"

Xena smirks a bit and says, "I wouldn't call it that, but it was like Gabrielle was herself again!"

"She needs to know what happened, Xena," Aphrodite says seriously.

"Don't you think I know this!" Xena says. "Right now, she's somewhat herself! Give me today, and tomorrow you and I are going to tell her everything."

Aphrodite gets a shocked look on her face and asks, "We are?"

"Damn straight, the both of us are going to tell her!" Xena says. "You were the one that was with her dad the whole time he was in Limbo; you are going to help me tell her what happened to her dad and why he did what he did!"

Aphrodite looks away, then back at Xena and says, "Ok. Tomorrow we tell Gabrielle that her dad sacrificed himself so she could live."

———

Meanwhile, in Mt. Olympus, Ares peeks in on what's been going on. He slyly smirks and says, "This just keeps getting better and better!" Ares starts to walk around and says, "Gabrielle is still clueless that everyone is keeping secrets from her. Maybe I can pay her a little visit, give my condolences and maybe just give her a hint of what's going on."

Suddenly Zeus appears in front of Ares and says, "Ares!"

"Yes, father," Ares says.

"Have you thought of when we would reintroduce me back on Earth?" Zeus asks. "I've been watching what has been going on down there, and Earth needs our guidance even more now."

"Soon, father, soon," Ares says. "I just have to lay the groundwork for it to happen. Get some things in order. Get the right people on our side."

"I'm trusting you, Ares." Zeus says seriously. "Don't make me regret it."

"Don't worry, father," Ares says seriously. "Within a few months, the world will honor you again. With the right people helping, you and I will put stability back into the world. You will get what you want, and I will get what I want."