Alcemene brought out a large roast pheasant and heaped large helpings onto everyone's place. Gabrielle licked her lips and dug in. Xena picked idly at her food hoping no one would notice. The tactic failed. Hercules leaned over to her.

"How are you going?", Hercules whispered.

"Oh I'll live", Xena mumbled. Hercules shook his head and stood.

"We're retiring for the night", he announced to the gathering. He pulled Xena up gently and took her away from the rowdy crowd. As soon as the couple was out of sight Xena found herself off the ground and in Hercules' arms.

"You know, I'm pregnant not disabled. I can walk", the warrior princess stoicly protested. Hercules shook his head and took a sharp turn before striding into his room. He laid Xena gently on the bed and turned to walk away. Xena grabbed his hand and pulled him back down to her. She gently kissed his lips before turning her head to whisper in his ear.

"I love you", she confessed quietly before turning away and falling asleep.

Chapter 7

Hercules frowned and slowly moved away from Xena. Silently he took up watch beside her. It wasn't like Xena to fall asleep so quickly, or easily. Infact, Xena slept like a cat. She shouldn've woken up when he moved before, then again, she was with child...his child. Hercules gently strroked Xena'sface before sliding his hand down to her abdomem, to where he knew his child was. There was an air of expectancy in the air. All of a sudden Xena jerked away violently and turned over sharply. She twisted herself into a feotal position for a second before straightening and turning over again. Hercules became increasingly alarmed. As Xena continued to toss and turnen dlessly Hercules sighed. Slowly he reached out and gently pinned Xena down by the shoulders. Xena contined to squirm under his touch. Gently he sat Xena up and leaned her against his chest. Xena continued to move erratically as Hercules wrapped his arms around her in a close embrace. Come on Xena, wake up...Hercules urged silently.

*****

It was the same dark empty place that she had been propelled into everynight since she discovered she had concieved. The forbidding emptiness closed around her blocking out all hope she had of escaping. Suddenly Xena felt something pushing against her shoulds, hampering her movements. She cried out softly and lashed out with her arms, and then she was lifted. Xena writhed fruitlessly against the force controlling her, and stopping her escape. Then suddenly, she heard low notes swirled into being. The music surrounded her miraclously giving her strenghth. Hazily the notes formed a tune as Xenatried to locate the source of the music. Some how she knew, if she could just find out where the music came from, she's be free. It was louder now,she had to get out! Her baby...

*****

"No!", the cry burst sharply from Xena's lips as she was jolted out of her dream. As the dullness of sleep faded from Xena's senses she realized that she was lying in Hercules' arms. She shivered despite the warm air in theroom. Hercules' arms tightened around her and she slowly slipped her own arms around her lover's torso. Hercules shifted his position slightly before looking down at Xena who was ostensibly lying content on his broad chest.

"Thankyou", Xena whispered.

"For what?", Hercules asked, the look on his face registered confusion.

"For bringing me back, I wasn't sure I could make it out of there again..."

"Out of where?"

"That place in my dream. Your song brought me back" A pink flush appeared on Hercules' face.

"Do you want to talk about it?", he asked her. Xena shook her head.

"Not yet, I'm a little confused over all of this and...", Xena began.

"But you're scared. Of what everyone else will think", Hercules stated bluntly.

"I'm not", Xena insisted but a look in her eyes betrayed her. Hercules shook his head.

"Don't worry you're safe here...", Hercules wrapped Xena up in a protective embrace as he softly planted a kiss on her head. Xena sighed and shook her head. Any child of Hercules and herself was sure to attract unwanted attention, especially from the gods.

TO BE CONTINUED...