She looked at her son one last time. It seemed hee too, was determined to make the same mistakes she had. "Fine Ares. Keep sitting here by yourself. You're going to regret this one day," she stated before disappearing.

*****

"Fine, if he doesn't want to tell her than I will. Serves him right, the pompous blow hard. Why do I do this to myself? He's a pig, he had always been a pig, he will always be a pig." Sophia stomped out of the Temple and down the road. "That's it, I wash my hands of him."

"You don't really want to do that." Hera appeared in front of the Guardian.

Sophia narrowed her eyes at the Queen of the Gods. "The Hell I don't. And what are you doing here?" she sneered at her grandmother. "I thought I made it perfectly clear that I didn't want anything to do with you."

"You did, but some time has gone by, and I hoped that you would have forgiven me."

"It isn't my forgiveness you should be asking for." Sophia began walking past the goddess.

Hera reached out and touched the Guardian on the arm. "Sophia, please. I know I did something horrible, and I know that I can never make up for it. But I am your grandmother."

"Yes, you are. Through no fault of my own." Sophia regretted the words as soon as she saw the hurt on Hera's face. "Damn it. I didn't mean that."

"It is true though. You were brought into this world and you didn't choose your family. But never forget Sophia, we are family."

"So is Gabrielle and Xena. And if I have to choose between the gods and them, they win."

Hera removed her hand from Sophia's arm. "There is no need to choose."

Sophia stepped back from the goddess. "What are you up to?"

"I know you are planning on visiting Xena and Gabrielle, and I accidentally overheard your conversation with Ares. Whether he wants to admit it or not, he really cares about you and your siblings."

"Yeah, as long as we don't interfere with his war parties."

"He didn't mean that. Unlike you, he isn't forced to say whatever pops into his mind. Once you left, he was very upset at himself. You know what he told me?" Hera paused, making sure she had Sophia’ undivided attention. "Ares told me that he has a relationship with one of his children–you. He said he will always be there when you need him. It may not sound like much, but coming from Ares, that is the world."