Back in Amphipolis life was still great for Xena
and Ulysses, it had now been five months since Ulysses had been
there but it felt like a lifetime to them both, as far as them
being in love was concerned and they were still spending as much
time with each other as possible. Xena was in the Inn behind the
bar straightening things up when she got a surprised visitor.
“Hello Xena,” a voice said and Xena turned around and
looked at who spoke to her, surprise in her eyes.
“Maphias,” Xena said and he grinned at her as he walked
over to the side of the bar where there was an opening.
“It’s great to see you,” he said as he hugged her
and she hugged him back, “it’s good to see you
too,” Xena said and then she pulled back. “Wow you look
amazing,” Maphias said as he looked over Xena who
wasn’t wearing the long cloth skirt he remembered her in, but
a black, leather skirt that came down to her knees and a sleeveless
blue shirt.

 

 

“Thanks, you look great too,” Xena said
and she went back behind the bar and he walked back over to where
he was. “So what are you doing here?” Xena asked and
Maphias hunched his shoulders, “missed home I guess,”
he said and Xena nodded. “So things in Pella are good?”
Xena asked and Maphias nodded, “yea they’re great,
farming is good so business is good. I have a nice house,” he
said and Xena nodded. “Sounds great,” she said and he
nodded as he looked down, “it is but um…” he said
then looked at Xena who looked at him. “I wanted to apologize
to you for the way I ended things,” Maphias said and Xena
nodded. “It’s in the past but you should know Maphias,
I’m still the same, in fact I’m actually doing what I
wanted to do.” Xena said and he nodded, “you’re
fighting?” He asked and she grinned and nodded, “I am
and I love training and life is great.”

 

 

Xena said, “hey Xena where do you want
this?” Ulysses asked as he held a heavy box covering his face
and she turned and looked at him. “Over there in the
corner,” Xena said and that’s way Ulysses dropped the
box and let out a breath. “You’re mother must think
I’m a god,” Ulysses said as he placed his hands on his
lower back and stretched back popping things back into place. Xena
grinned at him as she took his hand pulling him over to the bar,
“you’re probably picking things up wrong,” she
said as she pushed down on a few spots on his back making his back
feel better. “Who knew there was a right and wrong way to
pick things up?” Ulysses said then closed his eyes and
moaned, “you’re a goddess,” he said and she
smiled at him as he stood and she walked up closer to him leaning
in for a kiss. “Isn’t that what you said last
night?” She whispered to him and he grinned at her as he
placed her hair behind her ear, “mmm…I think it
was,” he said and she smiled as they kissed. It was a soft
passionate kiss and shorter than either of them would have
preferred.