When night fell and it came time to close the Inn
and clean up, Marguerite who was usually in bed at this time,
helped Xena, Cyrene and Corrinna clean up which helped things go by
a lot faster. When they were done and the Inn was locked up they
all headed to bed. When Xena got to her room Ulysses was knocked
out. So she quietly got dressed for bed and Gemini settled herself
on the rug by the bed. Xena got into bed and let out a breath as
she turned on her side facing away from Ulysses and as she lay
there she thought about the last thing she and Marguerite talked
about. ‘He does know that I don’t plan on giving up
being Athena’s chosen just because I’m marrying
him?’ Xena asked herself and as she lay there and
thought about that she eventually dosed off to sleep.

 

 

An hour after she was asleep Ulysses scooted up
behind her wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close to
him. Xena moaned as she ran her hand over his arm and they both
stayed asleep. When morning came Ulysses was still deeply asleep so
Xena carefully eased herself out of his arms then quietly put on
her shorts and sleeveless short shirt, what she wore when she
exercised. “Come on Gemini,” Xena said softly to the
wolf who looked at her mistress then stood and walked over to the
door. Xena opened the door and Gemini went out first and then Xena
who closed the door behind her. When Xena walked into the kitchen
she bid her mother and good morning then walked outside where she
stretched while Gemini took care of her business. When she had
stretched enough she began running and Gemini was at her
side.

 

 

She ran three miles then stopped to do some
exercises before she headed back to the Inn doing a total of six
miles; and Gemini kept up with her the whole time, jumping over any
and everything Xena jumped over. When she got back to the Inn so
was covered in sweat. She walked into the kitchen where her mother,
Corrinna and Marguerite sat at the table talking while they sipped
on their tea. “Morning,” Xena said as she walked over
to the counter, “have a nice run dear?” Cyrene asked
and Xena nodded as she drained a cup of cool water, “yea, it
was refreshing,” she said. “I’m going take a
shower,” Xena said as she sat the cup down on the counter
then headed back downstairs where like she said she went to go take
a shower. Xena was just getting out of the shower when Ulysses woke
up.