He asked and Xena looked at him,
“How…” she started to ask and Ulysses looked at
her with a grin and Xena grinned back. “Well if you must know
I’m worried about what its going to be like when we get to
Ithaca.” Xena said and Ulysses looked at her,
“you’re worried about what the people will think of
you,” Ulysses said and Xena nodded. He let out a breath as he
looked at her, “truthfully, there will be some who will like
you and come to accept you for you and the majority of the others
won’t like you. They’ll pretend to and talk about you
behind your back and then there are those who won’t like or
approve of you and will make it known. It’s a real cut
throat, dog eat dog kind of world but I have no doubt you can
handle it.” Ulysses said and Xena looked down for a moment as
she toyed with his fingers then looked up at him. “Thanks for
the confidence,” she said and he grinned at her,
“you’re welcome.”

 

 

He said then watched as Xena picked up
Ulysses’ hand some and leaned down the rest of the way as she
placed a kiss on the back of his hand then leaned her face against
it. “Come here,” he said as he laid down and Xena laid
down in his arms placing a kiss on his chest then laid her head
back down. Ulysses placed a kiss on Xena’s forehead as he ran
his fingers up and down her back until she dosed off, her concerns
having been dealt with. Ulysses looked down at Xena and he grinned
then leaned in and placed another kiss on her forehead, “I
love you,” he whispered with his lips still against her
forehead and then he gave her another kiss before he too fell back
to sleep.

 

 

When morning came and Xena had the time she talked
to her mother about what she and Ulysses had talked about last
night. “I don’t know Xena, I wouldn’t feel
comfortable taking money from them,” Cyrene said as she sat
at the table cutting up carrots to put in a stew since it was
chilly outside. “Mom I know how you feel, the truth is I feel
the same way,” Xena said and Cyrene looked at her daughter.
“Then why do you want me to take it?” She asked and
Xena let out a breath as she leaned back in her chair,
“because it would ease my mind. Mom I’m not going to be
here to lend extra hands where it is needed, I don’t want you
guys to struggle more than we already are. The money that Ulysses
will give us will allow you to hire extra hands for the fields so
Lyceus and Toris don’t work themselves to death and extra
help in the kitchen and around the Inn so you don’t work
yourself to death.”