By the time they were closed for the night Xena
cleaned up the Inn then went to see about Argo, making sure the
mare had food and clean water. She grabbed the brush and brushed
her down as she talked to her, “I don’t know what to do
girl, I’m so confused.” Xena said then leaned into
Argo’s neck letting out a breath then she patted the mare and
told her good night before she left the stables. She headed back to
the Inn and went down to her bedroom where she got ready for bed
and wondered where Ulysses was. She let out a breath as she stoked
the fire in her room since it was a little chilly and other than
the fire place there was no other light in the room. Gemini lay on
the rug by the bed and Xena got into bed pulling the sheet up over
her body and she just lay there thinking. Twenty minutes later she
heard Ulysses quietly open the door and she pretended to be asleep.
He quietly went about the room getting ready for bed, putting
nothing on but his pajama pants.

 

 

He then got in to the bed from the foot and laid
behind Xena which was his regular spot. He lay on his back for a
while just thinking before he looked over at Xena. He turned on his
side, scooted up behind her and wrapped his arm around her as he
inhaled her scent. He held her tightly and Xena moaned as she ran
her hand over his arm and hand. Ulysses placed a few kisses on
Xena’s neck then laid his head down on the pillow and drifted
off to sleep. Xena was still awake but with Ulysses holding her it
wasn’t long before she fell asleep. Two hours after midnight
she woke up and just laid there thinking about the situation with
Ulysses and his family. She looked down at the ring on her finger
then at Ulysses’ hand ‘is your happiness worth
hurting the man you love?’ Xena questioned herself. Xena
lay there for ten minutes since she couldn’t get to sleep.
After that she eased herself out of the bed without waking Ulysses
then walked over to the door gently opening it and she held out her
hand to Gemini telling the wolf to stay.

 

 

She quietly closed the door back then headed up
stairs to the kitchen where she saw her mother sitting there with
Corrinna. “What are you guys doing up?” Xena asked,
“we’re getting old, old people rarely sleep,”
Cyrene said and Corrinna grinned as she sipped on some tea.
“What are you doing up?” Corrinna asked and Xena let
out a breath as she sat down at the table, “I have too much
on my mind,” Xena said as Cyrene stood up to fix her daughter
a cup of tea. “You’re thinking about preparing for your
wedding?” Corrinna asked and Xena let out a breath, “I
wish I were. I don’t even know if there is going to be a
wedding,” Xena said as she toyed with the ring on her finger.
Cyrene walked back over to the table sitting the cup down in front
of Xena, “why would you say that?” Cyrene asked her
daughter and Xena looked at her mother, “Ulysses’
parents don’t want him to marry me,” Xena said.