DECEPTIONS PART 3b
By D.virtue


“ Where are you getting this?”

Diana saw how the imager showed the clone Xena’s eyes going darker, and she
flinched from it.

“ Did you really think Questra wouldn’t tell me what was going on with the two
of you?”

“ Xena I.... I...”

“ What? You still want to deny it, maybe this will help. Dancea!!”

“ Yes My Lord?”

“ Bring in those things I told you to save.”

“ Yes My Lord.”

A few moments later Dancea came back to the chamber with a hand full of linen
off of the guess bed that the two had used and laid them at the foot of the
bed.

“ Leave!”

Xena then looked at Diana and asked, “ Recognize them?”

“ Yes.”

“ So, what have you to say for yourself now?”

“ It’s true, Questra was bedding me while you and Gabrielle were away.”

Xena’s quick hands came up and caught Diana’s nipple that was covered by the
light robe she was wearing. Pinching hard and pulling Diana to her, as Diana
whimpered in pain from it. Xena brought her right to her and held her in front
of her, and practically growled at her.

“ Give me one good reason other than I need you for the opening ceremony, why
I shouldn’t kill you whore?”

Both the watching Diana’s eyes and the imager’s Diana’s eyes went wide with
true fear.

“ I had no choice.”

Xena brought the dagger out from somewhere, where Diana did not even see, and
she held it to Diana’s chest.

“ Not good enough.” Xena then cut a deep cut into Diana’s tender and delicate
sternum. Blood poured from the cut, Diana screamed and the watching Diana
cried as she continued to watch the scene.

“ Gods!! She told me if I did it,and not tell you or Gabrielle, then she would
not ever hurt Gabrielle again, and would even step in to help me with you, if
she saw I was about to be hurt by you.” Diana said as she was held tightly by
her nipple while blood ran between her chest.

“ So it’s about Gabrielle again, you and your protective nature of her is
really way beyond nobel, and who knows, I would probably appreciate it better,
if I knew what that type of love felt like? But as it is, I don’t, so, once
again....it’s not good enough.” Xena then slowly begun pushing the knife into
Diana’s diaphragm, and Diana gasped, as she tried to pull away, but Xena’s
hold on her breast kept her from moving backwards, but instead she ended up on
her back looking up at Xena as Xena continued to slowly push the dagger into
Diana.

The blood was pouring from the hole that was being made, Xena was pushing slow
enough so that it would be a while before she touched any vital things.

“ Please give me a chance? I’m sorry.” Diana said with her mind as tears of
gold rolled from her eyes.

“ Why should I want to give a whore any type of chance?”

“ I’ll make it up to you.”

“ How? With more lies?”

“ I wasn’t lying to you about everything I said, I meant those things, give me
one week to show you, and if you have any doubts about me, then you can do
whatever you want to do to me? I mean what have you got to lose? If for no
other reason than to just bed me?”

Xena stopped pushing at the last thought Diana sent her, and she stay in that
position just thinking about it as she looked Down at the young woman
trembling beneath the blade of her dagger that was now mere inches from
piercing her heart.

Xena suddenly pulled her dagger out of Diana and when Diana went to sit up,
Xena held her in place and said in a voice that beckon no argument.

“ One doubt, and I will kill you where you stand, and if I miss you, then
Gabrielle will be the receiver of my dagger, is that clear my little whore?”

“ Yes. When did Questra tell you?”

“ Good, now get up and get cleaned up, and then clean this bed, then get back
in bed, and lay on your belly. I’m in the mood for you. She told me a day
ago.”

Diana watched herself over the next week that Xena gave her, she catered to
her, pampered her, she even caught a dagger that was meant for Xena, stopping
it at the same moment Xena would have stopped it, Diana saw how that caused a
light to show in Xena’s eyes, and when Diana initiated a kiss from the smile
Xena casted her. The light brighten more, Diana begun treating Xena more and
more the same way she would treat her own Xena, and when Xena extended the
week to two, then three, then a month, Diana was both pleased and sadden as a
result, it just meant that it would be longer before she and Gabrielle saw
their own mates back.

Gabrielle was put off by Diana’s behavior, and everytime she said something
about it, Diana would tell her, that she just decided to try and make things
work with her and this Xena, seeing how they would never see their other Xena
and Questra again. Diana had everyone believing she was getting use to being
with this Xena, when the fact of the matter was that Diana was putting on the
best act ever.

Diana watched one image where it showed a definite change in Xena. They were
in the garden and Diana was still limping slightly, but less noticeable, her
scars on her chest were healed but each had a scar showing where the dagger
had cut.

Xena was laying on the grass, in the field of flowers part of the garden and
she was tracing over the scars that were on Diana’s chest, then when she
looked down at Diana, who had her eyes closed, but not in sleep, just
relaxing, she became curious if Diana had her eyes closed, pretending as
though she was just relaxing, or whether because she didn’t want to look at
her and know that it was not her Xena.

“ Open your eyes Diana, and tell me what you see?”

Diana opened her eyes, without hesitation and looked into Xena’s sapphires,
that were studying her.

“ I see the most beautiful eyes, belonging to the most physically , beautiful,
woman to ever walk this planet.”

Xena smiled brightly at Diana when she didn’t feel any deception in Diana’s
words, or in her eyes. Xena leaned down and kissed Diana and Diana wrapped her
hand in Xena’s hair and held her there as they feasted on each others mouth.
The light in Xena’s eyes was now almost constant, the only time when a shadow
appeared was when Gabrielle would scold Diana for her behavior of love towards
the fake Xena. But other than those times, Xena was actually singing once to
Diana, and Diana sat on the balcony of their bed chamber , and listened to the
beautiful voice that despite everything, sounded beautiful.

The next day they were in the garden laying in the field, but this time they
had just finished making what Xena thought was love, but it was just sex to
Diana.

“ Xena?”

“ Yes?”

“ May I ask you something? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but
I am curious?”

“ What?”

“ Have you ever thought about staying here with me?”

“ Yes, and it will happen.”

“ No, I mean without your God?”

“ What do you mean?”

“ I was just wondering, are you and Questra obligated to him, other than the
fact that he gave the information to that person to clone the two of you that
is?”

“ No.”

“ Do you really want to live in his world?”

“ Why?”

“ I’m just wondering, especially with the love I feel flowing from you, I’m
afraid his presence will only sap that away from you and plunge you into an
even deeper darkness, one that you may never come out of, I mean he is pure
evil, right?”

Xena didn’t answer for a minute, and then she said quietly.

“ Yes.”

Diana then changed the subject for a moment just to keep Xena from getting
suspicious.

“ Oh...look, look, a flock of swans, look Xena, aren’t they just
so...beautiful, oh, and look, the peacocks, aww....their just babies,
following their mother.” Diana awed and ooed at the different sights, that
showed the beauty to Xena, without being direct about it. “ Aren’t they so
cute Xena?”

“ Yes.” Xena said simply, still thinking about what Diana said.

“ Xena? What is it?”

“ Nothing, I was just thinking.”

“ Oh? About what?”

“ Things?”

“ Oh...okay, well if you want to talk I’m here for you. Oh! Xena look, the
butterfly, it’s on the rabbits nose.” Diana said purposely jumping back tot he
delights of the garden and it’s natural animals.

Diana felt Xena’s mood change, she was actually feeling sad, and it was then
that Diana thought it was the best time.

“ Xena?”

“ Hmm...?”

“ I feel your mood, can I do anything?”

“ No.”

Diana then rolled to her side to face look at Xena as Xena laid on her back.

“ Xena, can I tell you something?”

“ What?”

“ Something that I maybe way off on, but my heart tells me I’m probably not.”

“ What?”

“ I think your hoping something happens that your God is killed some kind of
way, that way, you won’t have to deal with struggling to keep from sinking
into that bottomless pit of darkness again?”

Xena just looked at her, but she listened.

“ I wish I could help you with that, but I can’t. It’s completely up to you to
handle, but I will be there for you.”

Xena brought her hand up to Diana’s cheek and caressed it, and then she pulled
her in for a kiss that was tender and warm. It actually sent a chill Down
Diana’s back.

Diana then laid her head on Xena’s chest and Xena continued to caress it, as
she thought, then, suddenly she spoke again after a long period of silence.

“ I know how to kill him?”

“ Hmm... what?” Diana asked pretending as though she had fallen asleep.

“ I said I know how to kill him.”

“ Kill who?” Diana asked still pretending.

“ Diana are you listening to me?” Xena asked slightly scolding.

“ Yes, I heard every word you said.”

“ Really? tell me what I said?”

“ You said you know how to kill him, whoever him is?”

“ Him!” Xena said with a raise in her voice.

“ Oh! Him! Sorry, I must have dosed off. How?”

“ It has to be done during the ceremony.”

“ Really how?”

“ When the portal opens, My dagger has to be thrown into the opening, just as
he is about to step out of it, right when one of his shoes shows,it has to
strike him in the chest, it will send him back inside of the portal, but he
will be dead when her arrives back there, the only draw back to this is that
Xena and Questra could escape because of the time it would take for the
opening to close, but then the up side is, they would know that they would
have to be at the other end literally waiting for him to come back.”

“ You mean, the moment he returns dead, they have to enter in order to
escape?”

“ Yes, otherwise they will be there forever, and Questra and I won’t have to
deal with any grief from those two, and you and I can go on with you teaching
me how to love. So what do you think?”

“ I think Questra is going to be pissed?”

“ Not if she doesn’t know about it. Besides, she’s not as bad as she was?”

“ True, at least now she plays her cruel tricks on murders and other people
who hurt those less fortunate.”

Diana then erased the imager up to four days ago, where she then watched what
happened that evening, she saw Xena and Gabrielle come into the palace and
Xena ask the servant where she was, and Gabrielle ask Questra if she could go
to the library for a while.

After Questra approved, she turned to Xena and said, “ We need to talk.”

Then Xena and Questra went into one of the chambers downstairs and and there
is when Questra told Xena what was happening. Xena struck Questra hard and
Questra flew into the wall, Xena then drew her sword and leveled it against
Questra’s neck.

Questra simply told Xena that if Diana really cared anything about her, then
she would never have agreed to it, no matter what, Diana noticed that Questra
did not tell Xena who it involved that made her go along with it.

Xena eventually begun listening to Questra and slowly she withdrew her sword
and then put it away., Then she turned and was about to storm out the door
when Questra told her that she shouldn’t say anything to Diana, but instead
wait and see if she tells you on her own, if she doesn’t, then you know what
type of woman she is....a whore, one whom you could then make money off of if
you sold her skills?”

The watching Diana’s eyes narrowed, but she continued to watched as the imager
went though all of the events again. Then Diana erased it and once again took
it to five days before where she made herself tell Xena what was happening,
and then she watched the imager.

“ Xena I have to tell you something?”

“ What?”

“ May I sit on the bed?”

“ Fine.”

Diana moved to the bed and then sat down and turning to face Xena as she
positioned herself in an indian sitting fashion, she then looked at Xena and
started to tell her what happened.

“ Xena first I want you to know that I had no choice, I did it to protect my
sister.”

“ You did what?”

“ Where’s your dagger?”

“ Why?”

“ I want you to promise me that you won’t use it on me at all?”

“ Depends on what you tell me?”

“ Then I’m not going to tell you.” Diana said as she made the move to get off
of the bed.

“ Fine, I won’t use my dagger on you no matter what.”

“ Promise?”

“ I told you I wouldn’t.”

“ Okay, Questra and I have been sleeping together over the last week.”

“ So you’ve become a whore, and a liar?”

“ No. I told you, I did it because I wanted to protect Gabrielle.”
Diana then watched herself go through all of the conversation, and Xena had
not struck her yet, she then saw how when she told Xena that she was wrong for
not giving her a chance, Xena seemed to relax, and by the end of the
conversation, Diana did not have any marks on her body, and the opening went
just as it had when she did have the marks.

Diana then started to erase the imager, when she noticed movement at the very
top of the imager, that was not clear. Diana squinted her eyes to see if she
could tell what or who it was that was moving, then she decided to enlarge the
picture by projecting it onto the wall.

When the picture enlarged Diana’s mouth fell open. She saw her Xena and
Questra watching her intently. Diana’s heart begun beating wildly, and she
looked around the room trying to see if she could find where the two women
were, or see if they were even real. Diana then went and sat back down and she
waved timidly at the imager, just wondering if what she was now thinking was
in fact the deal.

The two figures waved back, and smiled. Diana came to her feet again, but this
time she forgot about her leg and the sudden movement irritated it, and she
nearly fell.

“ Hmm... Xena? Questra? can you see me?”

Both women nodded. Diana now limped over to the wall and touched the image of
Xena and of Questra, as tears rolled like water down her face.

“ We need you so badly.”

Diana read Xena’s lips as she told her they had been watching the whole time,
but couldn’t do anything until they got out of there.

“ Did you see and hear what you two need to do to get out of there?”

“ Yes.” Xena mouth.

“ Oh, Xena, I miss you so much.”

“ I miss you too kitten.”

Diana nearly fell again at the word she read on Xena’s lips.

“ Questra Gabrielle misses you just as much, and so do I.”

“ I know. I miss you both as well.”

“ Diana, you have to go, Xena’s on her way up the staircase heading towards
the chamber.” Xena warned.

“ No.”

“ Go kitten, please, we’ll be watching okay?”

“ Okay, I love you both, so does Gabrielle.”

“ We love you two as well, now go.”

“ Okay.” Diana threw a kiss to both of them, and then she limped back over tot
he imager and with a last kiss, she erased it, and then limped back over to
the closet and put it away and then went back to her pallet and laid down and
calming her heart she relaxed herself enough to where she could close her
eyes.

Xena came through the door a moment later and looked over at Diana, she then
undressed and cleaned up and rather than waking Diana, she just got in bed
angry at the fact that Diana was asleep.

“ Xena?”

“ Yes. I thought you were asleep?”

“ No, I was just resting, I need to talk to you about something.”

“ What?”

“ May I move to the bed?”

“ Fine.”

Diana limped a little more than she had been and Xena noticed it, but didn’t
say anything. Diana settled on the bed, and turning and sitting indian
fashion, Diana then looked up into Xena’s studying eyes.

“ So what is it?”

“ Where is your dagger?”

“ Why?”

“ I just want you to promise me that you won’t use it on me?”

“ Use it on you, why would I do that?”

“ Just give me your word that you won’t, and then I will tell you what I
wanted to talk to you about?”

“ I don’t know, maybe I want to use it on you if you think it’s something that
bad?”

“ Then never mind. “ Diana said as she started to uncross her legs, taking
care to not hurt the already hurt leg.

Xena caught her legs, and with an irritated arch of her brow, she said in a
low voice.

“ Very well, I won’t use it on you.”

“ Promise?”

“ I said I wouldn’t didn’t I?”

“ Okay. Well let me start by saying, I did what I’m about to tell you because
it was a way to protect Gabrielle, and now that I’m about to tell you, it
might cause problems for Gabrielle, and I want you to really listen to me,
before you do anything, okay?”

“ Fine! Now tell me!” Xena demanded in an impatient tone.

“ Questra and I have been sleeping together over the past week!” Diana said
and then leaned back to avoid a strike from Xena. But seeing Xena just sitting
back with her arms still crossed still studying Diana, but obviously listen,
due to the flashing in her sapphires. Diana went on cautiously. “ I agreed to
it, because she promised that she would not ever hurt Gabrielle again, and
would make sure that you didn’t either, as well as step in at times to help me
if she saw you were about to hurt me.” Diana again flinched as she chewed her
lip.

Xena still sat without moving just listening and glaring at Diana.

“ I wanted to tell you sooner, but part of the deal was that I wasn’t to tell
you or Gabrielle, or she would possibly hurt Gabrielle as a result of me
breaking my word. Xena please don’t tell her I told you?”

“ Why shouldn’t I? Why should I try to help a whore at all?” Xena said
bitingly.

Diana lowered her eyes, and she was going into her act at this point.

“ Because I’m truly sorry. I shouldn’t have kept it from you, I know how
jealous you can be, but I would do anything to protect Gabrielle.”

“ You shouldn’t have whored yourself.”

“ Xena, this was not the real reason I wanted to talk to you, I am sorry that
you think I am a whore, I just hope you won’t tell her I told you?”

Xena just glared at Diana.

“ Finish.”

“ Oh....well....the other thing is that I’ve been thinking about some things,
and in so doing I discovered why I have been behaving the way I have with you,
other than the fact that you aren’t the other Xena.” Diana said making sure to
keep her comments on her own Xena in a neutral aspect rather than a prominent
one.

“ Really?” Xena asked suspiciously.

“ Yes. I realize I haven’t been fair with you, I mean the other day when you
tried to reach out to me, trying to get me to see you in another light, I just
maliciously slammed the door in your face.”

“ Forget it. It doesn’t matter anymore, like I said, I won’t make that mistake
again.” Xena said factually.

“ But that’s just it Xena. You weren’t wrong for trying, I was wrong and
selfish, and hateful. I was angry at you for not stopping Questra, I wanted
you to hurt as badly as I was hurting, and because I couldn’t beat you one on
one in a hand to hand, I decided to try and hurt you the only way I thought I
could, especially if the opportunity ever arose. I wasn’t sure it would
considering the nature of both you and Questra, but when you tried to reach
out to me, I thought it was perfect for me to hurt you. I thought about
trying to trick you, but then I thought you would see right through that and
then I wouldn’t have the satisfaction of seeing you hurt, so I decided to just
take advantage of that moment.”

“ Did it make you feel good?” Xena asked with contempt in her voice.

“ No.”

“ No?”

“ No. I realized the moment I felt your feelings of hurt, and resentment, I
realized I had made a big mistake. Once again my impulsiveness, lead me
astray. It was at that moment that I realized that you did have a soul, and
that you were capable, if not willing to try to leave your darkness behind,
and here I was, the one person who you thought would not turn her back on you,
despite me knowing you were not my Xena, you were reaching out to a part of me
that has never turned it’s back on anyone who wanted help, and here I was,
willing to let Questra off the hook, but taunt and ridicule you, a woman, who
for all intense and purposes is every bit like my Xena, except I was there for
My Xena when she asked for my help. I didn’t give you a chance, and my self
loath as a result of it made me even more angry, but rather than acknowledging
that it was me that I was angry with, I continued to turn it on you, hoping to
prove to myself that I was not wrong about you, that you were this evil
incarnate beast, who just happen to look like my Xena, and know many of the
things my Xena knows, but when Questra came to me and made that deal with me,
and I accepted it. The first time we were together, I felt as though I was
cheating, as though I was breaking my vows, but I realized by being honest
with myself, that I would do it again to protect my sister, I mean if I can
give myself to Seductra, to protect the people of this world, then it was not
even a question to me to give myself to Questra, to protect my sister. She is
more important to me than all of those other people. Anyway, when I realized
why I was feeling so angry, I then was able to look within myself and see that
while you were wrong for pretending to be my Xena, and your motives behind
that deception, I also discovered that it really is not your fault, you and
Questra had no choice in being here, It’s like a newborn being born to a
family that doesn’t want them, so they mistreat the child as the child gets
older, blaming the child for the problems in their adult lives, when it is not
the child's fault that they are here, they didn’t ask to be born, they were
sent as a blessing to the parents, but instead of being a blessing, the
parents saw them as a burden.”

“ What’s your point?”

“ My Point is that I realize that it is not your fault how you ended up here,
and I should not judge you because of some evil God who found a way to only
let your dark side show, or at least that’s what he thought he had done, but
Xena, I saw that flickering light in your eyes at one time, although it was
overcasted by a shadow as I now see, but it was definitely there.”

“ Really?” Xena said flatly.

“ Yes, after the first month that you were here, when you were sure that I did
not know you weren’t my Xena, when we were together, I was making love to you,
and I saw how your eyes lit from that knowledge, the knowledge that I was
loving you, even though at the time you had no idea what love felt like, but
something in you liked what you were feeling, even though you didn’t know what
it was.”

“ So...What are you saying?” Xena sneered.

“ I was wrong. I’m asking you to give me a chance to make it up to you?”

Xena narrowed her eyes as she studied Diana, she used her body to tell her if
Diana was trying to deceive her in anyway, but Diana was focused, she cleared
her mind of everything and everyone, except Her Xena, she used that one
thought to give her the strength she needed to control her body enough to
carry off her plan.

Xena’s gaze relaxed slightly when she did not feel any deception in Diana, but
she continued to study her.

“ Go on.” Xena said curious as to what Diana had to say.

“ Give me, how ever long you choose, for me to show you that I truly want to
see that light in you shine brightly in those beautiful eyes of yours. I will
prove to you that I am sincere in my offer, I will be there for you, I will do
whatever you ask of me, I won’t contradict you, at least not in public...”
Diana said with a slight smile. Xena smirked, but continued with her studying
gaze. “ Give me the chance to prove to you, that I want you to know what love
is, Please?”

“ Why should I believe you? Believe any of this?” Xena asked with doubt in her
voice.

“ Look at me Xena, feel me, test me, do whatever you want? If you have any
doubt about me after whatever time you decide, then you can do whatever you
want to me?”

“ Trust me, I will. I’ll cut you down right where you stand so fast your head
will literally spin. “

Diana swallowed, but she was able to control it enough so that she did not
seem like she was having any difficulty. Xena cocked her head at Diana, and
then after a moment more of studying her, she then rolled to her knees in
front of Diana.

Diana startled back at the sudden move, but she did not try to get up. Xena
slowly leaned over Diana, indirectly pushing her backwards, with her legs
still crossed in indian fashion, soon Diana was laying on her back and Xena
had straighten her legs for her, as she now held herself up off of Diana with
her hands on either side of Diana’s head, and her thighs straddling over
Diana’s thighs.

Xena slowly lowered herself down getting closer and closer to Diana, using her
body to tell her if Diana was lying to her about her feelings, Diana stayed
focused. Xena brought her face within inches of Diana’s, and looking deep into
Diana’s eyes, she waited to see what Diana would do.

Diana slowly raised her head up from the bed, and looking into Xena’s eyes,
she let her mind see her Xena, and with that she brought her hand up to Xena’s
cheek and gazing at Xena’s lips for a moment, and then back up into the
studying, suspicious eyes, she lifted up further and placed a kiss on Xena, it
was so tender, yet unsure, that Xena had to control the shiver that wanted to
run up her spine.

She then broke the kiss and looked at Diana to see if it was real. Diana still
had her eyes closed but she soon opened them and after a moment of looking at
Xena she let a smile come to her lips, and Xena knitted her brows at the
reaction. Diana then wrapped her hand around the back of Xena’s head and
pulled her down to her.

Xena was leery at first, and was planning on just taking advantage of Diana,
and getting her evening fix, but as the two continued in their activity, Xena
noticed that during the whole time, and after countless releases, Diana seemed
to become more and more relaxed,and started taking liberties that she normally
would not have done if she were faking.

Xena found herself moaning many times throughout the night. When the two had
finished, Diana laid on Xena’s shoulder and wrapped her arm over Xena’s chest
and drifted off to sleep. Xena drowsily looked at Diana, but then when she
heard Diana sigh in her sleep, a slight curl lifted one side of Xena’s mouth.
She closed her eyes and just let her body feel what Diana was feeling, and she
actually smiled. Soon Xena drifted off to sleep pulling Diana close and
holding her tightly.

The next morning Xena expected to find Diana had reverted to her disrespectful
self, but instead when Xena woke Diana, Diana moaned and curled closer to
Xena’s body. Xena smirked and actually craned her head to look at Diana.

“ Well.” Was all Xena said, and allowed Diana to sleep for a while longer,
while she held her.

Later, Diana woke up and stretched in Xena’s arms. Xena waited to hear Diana’s
voice.

“ Mmmm....morning Xena, how did you sleep?”

“ I have a better question, how did you sleep?”

“ Mmm...nice, I feel so....relaxed.”

“ Really?”

“ Hmm,hmm, you know what?”

“ What ?”

“ I.....I feel like.....going for a swim! Join me?”

“ A swim?”

“ Yes. It’s been so long since I swam, come on, let’s get cleaned up in the
lake?”

“ Diana?”

“ Hmm?”

“ Aren’t you about to forget something?”

“ What?” Diana asked as she looked around herself as she was now sitting on
the edge of the bed with her feet dangling over the edge.

“ I don’t think you should get up out of this bed just yet?” Xena stated
meaningfully.

A perplexed look came over Diana’s face, and then taking a moment to think
about it, she leaned back and kissed Xena. Xena held her there for a moment,
enjoying the kiss, but then after a moment, she broke it and Diana leaned back
up and went to stand rather quickly, only to be reminded of her broken leg, to
which she remembered quickly as she stood and then went down.

“ Oww.... Gods!”

“ Are you okay?”

“ Yes, I just forgot about my leg.”

” Obviously.”

“ This is what you meant isn’t it?”

“ Yes.” Xena said with a smirk, and then swung her feet over the edge of the
bed and stood in one fluid motion.

Xena then bent down and cocking her head at Diana, who was mad at herself for
forgetting something like that, Xena chuckled and then lifted Diana up in her
arms and grabbing their robes she put them on her and Diana and then carried
Diana to the lake, and after taking off their robes she walked into the cool
lake with Diana in her arms.

Diana shivered at the initial coolness of the water, but then after a moment
she swam out of Xena’s arms and dove backwards into the water. She went deep
and Xena ducked her head under the water to watch Diana. Diana swam as though
she was born to the water, smooth and graceful, and fluid, one could not tell
she had a broken leg at all.

The clone Xena watched Diana for a while before she swam to catch up with the
woman. After swimming for a while, the two then cleaned up in the lake and
then Xena helped Diana walk back to where their robes were. Then the two
walked back to the palace, Diana using Xena’s arm to lean on as she limped
slightly.

“ Do you want me to carry you?”

“ No, I’m fine, I think I aggravated it the other day, but it doesn’t
hurt....as much. But thanks for asking.”

“ Your welcome.” Xena said with a studying gaze, but a slight smile.

“ Well, there you two are.” Questra said when she saw Xena and Diana walk into
the Royal dining hall, after dressing.

“ We went for a swim.” Xena stated, then sat down in her seat and Diana sat
down where she normally did.

“ Aren’t you going to town to inspect today?”

“ No....I thought I would cancel the rest of those, until another day.” Xena
said with a raised brow.

“ Hmm....any particular reason why?”

Questra asked glancing at Diana, and then looking back at Xena. Diana
continued chewing her food, but she casually looked around the room, although
she was concerned as to how Xena would answer the question.

“ I just decided to spend some time with MY Consort, before things get hectic
with the opening ceremony.”

“ Oh, I see, but no other reason?”

“ Does there need to be another reason? Is there something I need to know ?”

“ No other reason, I was just curious.”

“ Hmm...Diana, make me a plate.”

Diana immediately picked up Xena’s plate and begun placing different foods on
it. Then she placed it in front of herself and waited.

“ So Gabrielle how are you this morning?”

“ Fine.” Gabrielle answered curtly. “ Diana may I speak to you alone please?”
Gabrielle asked while still looking at Xena.

“ Of course sis. Xena I will be right back, okay?”

“ Alright.”

Diana then stood up and after Gabrielle got Questra’s okay, she stood and
headed out of the dining hall and everyone stood and paid their respects as
they always have whenever Xena, Questra, Diana or Gabrielle entered or exited.
Once Diana and Gabrielle had left, Gabrielle lead them to the library, and she
then turned and practically yelled at Diana.

“ What in Tartarus is going on with you?”

“ What do you mean?”

“ The way your acting, so....so nice!”

“ Nothing Gabrielle, just trust me.”

“ Trust you. So you have a plan?”

“ Trust me, and know I’m doing this for ALL of us, by the way, Xena and
Questra send their love.”

“ Wh...WHAT??!! XENA AND QUESTRA?!!” WHERE WHEN HOW??!!”

“ SHH! Gabrielle, I’ll tell you later, right now just keep behaving the way
you are, everything you feel, just let it flow, when you see me doing
something that turns your stomach, just let it out, okay?”

“ But what about your plan?”

“ Don’t worry about it, just be yourself, everything that bothers you, let it
out like you normally would, get mad at me if you don’t like what your seeing,
which trust me, your not. Don’t talk to anyone about this conversation, don’t
think about it, just be Gabrielle disgusted by the whole situation.”

“ Well that’s not going to be a problem....I can assure you>” Gabrielle said
with a smirk, and a bit of sarcasm.

“ There’s my loving sister.” Diana teased.

Then Diana heard Xena’s voice in her mind.

“ Consort, I’m waiting.”

“ Oops, there’s Xena, time to go. You alright?”

“ Yes, but we’re going to talk about that statement of My Questra and Xena?”

“ Yes, I promise, matter of fact I will try to make it happen. Let’s go.”

The two returned to the dining hall and sat back down in their seats.

“ Everything okay?” Xena asked feeling Diana’s mood of agitation.

“ Yes. Gabrielle, felt like venting to me about some things.”

“ Oh? What type of things Gabrielle?” Xena asked with questioning brows.

“ I....I just don’t like the way Diana is behaving with you, Your not her
mate, your just some clone wanna be!” Gabrielle sneered at Xena.

“ Gabrielle! Drop it. What I choose to do IS my business.” Diana honed in
before Xena could say anything.

“ How can you behave like this with her, how would Xena feel to see you
behaving all loving and sweet to someone who took our mates away, bedded us
under false pretense, and then beat you, whipped you with a whip, and everyday
until today, has threaten either you or me, it makes me sick.”

“ Well, Gabrielle, it’s like I told you a few minutes ago, We may never see
them again, and you know, I’d rather have A Xena in my life than none...”
Diana said as she choked on her words.

Xena felt Diana’s emotions, and then Diana turned and buried her head in
Xena’s chest and sobbed quietly. Xena was taken back by the out pouring of
Diana’s emotions, and the fact that she turned to her for comfort.

Xena wrapped her arms around Diana, and held her as she glared at Gabrielle,
then she spoke softly in a warning tone.

“ Gabrielle, I’m telling you now, if you upset My Consort again, I will punish
you.”

“ No Xena, she has the right to say what she feels, I understand her feelings,
I just don’t share them anymore. Gabrielle please try to understand why I have
to try to move on? You know how connected Xena and I are, I can’t survive
without HER, this Xena, or My Other Xena. They are exactly alike.”

“ NO! NO they’re not! Our Xena is not evil! She cares about the people! She
LOVES YOU AND ME! This Xena doesn’t know what love is, how can you even think
about trying to accept her into your life, our life, I’ll never accept it, not
her or Questra here, and you shouldn’t either. NEVER!” Gabrielle hissed, as
she whispered loud enough for those at her table to hear but not loud enough
for others to hear, and then she jumped to her feet and ran out of the dining
hall.

“ Questra go and check on her an make sure she does not get into anything.”

“ She’s lucky little girl, if you know what I mean?” Questra said to Diana as
she stood up and strolled out of the dining hall.

“ Xena please don’t be upset with Gabrielle, she’s just trying to deal with
all of the things happening?”

“ Fine. I’ll have a little patiences with her.”

“ Xena don’t focus on her, focus on me, on us, alright?”

“ How can I not focus on her, if she’s upset, your upset, and when your upset,
I get upset, so tell me Diana how am I suppose to not focus on her with
all....”

Xena’s words were cut off when Diana laid at hot kiss on her. Xena wrapped her
large hand around Diana’s long sleek neck, and ravaged Diana’s mouth. After
Xena finally broke the kiss, Xena smiled once again slightly.

“ That helped.” Xena said huskily.

“ I’m glad, I have a question for you?”

“ What is it?”

“ How long are you going to postpone the opening?”

“ Two more weeks. I think that will be enough time for me to find out what I
want to find out.”

“ Why not a week?”

“ Why not a month?” Xena threw back.

“ Why not?”

“ A month?”

“ Yes.”

“ Hmm....interesting. I’ll let you know.”

“ Alright. So....what do you want to do?”

“ I want you to practice, and I will be right there making sure you focus.”
Xena said seriously.

“ Are you serious?”

“ Yes. Now let’s go.” Xena said as she waited for Diana to stand up.

Diana knitted her brows for a moment and then stood up and leaned against the
table until Xena stood to help her, then the two left the dining hall and
headed to one of the workout chambers that was open to the outside overlooking
the grounds of the palace.

Once there Xena had Diana run through a series of things some things she had
done already and new cold, other things she showed her and then made her
practice on them until she could do them without really thinking about it.
Over the next few weeks Diana was treating the Xena clone almost the way she
would treat her Xena, only difference was Diana would scrub herself raw
whenever she had the chance to be away from the clone Xena.

One day Xena, and Diana were laying on the grass, in the field of flowers part
of the garden, and Xena was tracing over designs she was making on Diana’s
chest with her fingers, then when she looked down at Diana, who had her eyes
closed, but not in sleep, just relaxing, she became curious if Diana had her
eyes closed, pretending as though she were just relaxing, or whether because
she didn’t want to look at her and know that it was not her Xena.

“ Open your eyes Diana, and tell me what you see?”

Diana opened her eyes, without hesitation and looked into Xena’s sapphires,
that were studying her.

“ I see the most beautiful eyes, belonging to the most physically , beautiful,
woman to ever walk this planet.”

Xena smiled brightly at Diana when she didn’t hear see or feel any deception
in Diana’s words, or in her eyes. Xena leaned down and kissed Diana, and Diana
wrapped her hand in Xena’s hair and held her there as they feasted on each
others mouth. The light in Xena’s eyes was now almost constant, the only time
when a shadow appeared was when Gabrielle would scold Diana for her behavior
of love towards the fake Xena. But other than those times, Xena was actually
feeling what she thought was love from Diana, and for Diana.
That day they were in the garden laying in the field, they had just finished
making what Xena thought was love, but it was just sex to Diana.

“ Xena?”

“ Yes?”

“ May I ask you something? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but
I am curious?”

“ What?”

“ Have you ever thought about staying here with me?”

“ Yes, and it will happen.”

“ No, I mean without your God?”

“ Why? I mean where is this coming from?”

“ I was just wondering. Are you and Questra obligated to him, other than the
fact that he gave the information to that person to clone you?”

“ No.”

“ Do you really want to live in his world?”

“ Why?”

“ I’m just wondering, especially with the love I feel flowing from you, I’m
afraid his presence will only take that away from you, and plunge you into an
even deeper darkness, one that you may never come out of, I mean, he is pure
evil, right?”

Xena didn’t answer for a few moments, and then she said quietly.

“ Yes.”

Diana then changed the subject for a moment just to keep Xena from getting
suspicious.

“ Oh...look, look, a flock of swans, look Xena, aren’t they just
so...beautiful. Oh! look, the peacocks, aww....their just babies, following
their mother.” Diana awed and ooed at the different sights, that showed the
beauty to Xena, without being direct about it. “ Aren’t they so cute Xena?”

“ Yes.” Xena said simply, still thinking about what Diana said.

“ Xena? What is it?” Diana said as she glanced over at Xena and saw the
concentrated look on her face.

“ Nothing, I was just thinking.”

“ Oh? About what?”

“ Things?”

“ Oh...okay, well if you want to talk, I’m here for you. Oh! Xena look, the
butterfly, it’s on the rabbits nose.” Diana said purposely jumping back to the
delights of the garden and it’s perfect timing of beautiful images.

Diana felt Xena’s mood change, she was actually feeling sad, and it was then
that Diana thought it was the best time.

“ Xena?”

“ Hmm...?”

“ I feel your mood, can I do anything?”

“ No.”

Diana then rolled to her side to look at Xena as Xena laid on her back.

“ Xena, can I tell you something?”

“ What?”

“ Something that I maybe way off on, but my heart tells me I’m probably not.”

“ What?”

“ I think your hoping something happens that your God is killed some kind of
way, that way, you won’t have to deal with struggling to keep from sinking
into that bottomless pit of darkness again?”

Xena just looked at her, but she listened.

“ I wish I could help you with that, but I can’t. It’s completely up to you to
handle, but I will be there for you.”

Xena brought her hand up to Diana’s cheek and caressed it, and then she pulled
her in for a kiss that was tender and warm. It actually sent a chill Down
Diana’s back.

Diana then laid her head on Xena’s chest and Xena continued to caress it, as
she thought, then, suddenly she spoke again after a long period of silence.

“ I know how to kill him?”

“ Hmm... what?” Diana asked pretending as though she had fallen asleep.

“ I said I know how to kill him.”

“ Kill who?” Diana asked still pretending.

“ Diana are you listening to me?” Xena asked slightly scolding.

“ Yes, I heard every word you said.”

“ Really? tell me what I said?”

“ You said you know how to kill him, whomever him is?”

“ Him!” Xena said with a raise in her voice.

“ Oh! Him! Sorry, I must have dosed off. How?”

“ It has to be done during the ceremony.”

“ Really how?”

“ When the portal opens, My dagger has to be thrown into the opening, just as
he is about to step out of it, right when one of his shoes shows,it has to
strike him in the chest, it will send him back inside of the portal, but he
will be dead when her arrives back there, the only draw back to this is that
Xena and Questra could escape because of the time it would take for the
opening to close, but then again, the up side is, they wouldn’t know that they
would have to be at the other end, literally waiting for him to come back.”

“ You mean, the moment he returns dead, they have to enter, in order to
escape?”

“ Yes, otherwise they will be there forever, and Questra and I won’t have to
deal with any grief from those two, and you and I can go on with our lives
together. So what do you think?”

“ I think Questra is going to be pissed?”

“ Not if she doesn’t know about it. Besides, she’s not as bad as she was?”

“ True, at least now she plays her cruel tricks on murders and other people
who hurt those less fortunate.”

“ But Diana I need you to do something for me before I will do this?”

“ What’s that?” Diana asked not knowing what the offer would be seeing how she
didn’t see that part in the imager.

Xena studied Diana for long moments before she said anything. Then she rolled
up onto her elbow so that she and Diana were both balanced on thier elbows.
Diana’s brows now knitted together as she gazed into Xena’s studying eyes.

“ I am very satisfied with the way things have gone between us, you have been
honest and true with me, but I need one more thing from you that will prove to
me that you are truly mine?”

“ What?” Diana asked now studying Xena, and her tensing mood.

“ I want to claim you.”

“ Excuse me?” Diana asked with shock in her voice, but when she saw Xena’s
brows start to knit in perplexion, she quickly changed her tone. “ I mean, why
do you think you need to do that? You did just say I’ve been honest with you?”

“ Yes, I did. But this is just the natural progress of things, I mean I’m
going to kill my God so that we can stay together, the least you can do is let
me claim what you already claim is mine.” Xena said now in her tactician mode.

“ But Xena....that’s not the normal progress of things, I thought you wanted
me to help you know what love is, the idea to kill him was completely your
idea, I think we should just not perform the ceremony and leave him where ever
he is, I mean it’s obvious it can’t get out without the ceremony, right?”

“ Right, but that’s not the point, I know he’s there, and Questra will not
stop trying to get him here, the only way is to make sure he’s dead.”

“ Xena I.....”

“ I’ll give you three days to think on it, if you decide not to,
then.....things will go as planned. I’m going to go into town with Questra to
take care of a few things, we’ll be back sometime later tonight.”

“ But Xena?” Diana called as Xena rolled away from her and went to her feet
and headed back to the palace.

After Xena was gone, Diana sat up on the grass and looked around as if lost,
but then she made it to her feet and grabbing her crutch she made her way back
to the palace. Once Xena and Questra were gone, Diana grabbed Gabrielle by the
arm and ran up the stairs the best she could with the crutch.

“ Where are we going?”

“ To see some people.” Diana said as they came to Diana’s chambers. “ Guys, I
don’t want to be disturbed, except, let me know when Lord Xena and Lord
Questra return?”

“ Yes your majesty.”

Diana and Gabrielle then entered into the chamber and the servants were doing
some things, and Diana dismissed all of them. They then went into the bed
chamber and Diana immediately went to the closet and pulled out her imager.

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