It had been three days and yet Gabrielle had not yet woken. Hercules hardly ever left her side. They had finally gotten the bleeding to stop, but now all were in for a long healing process.

Gabrielle's fever had broken a couple of hours ago and Hercules was over joyous. If she could just overcome the obstacle of waking up, then she'd have a good chance of surviving. It was hard work caring for her, but it wa definitely worth it.

Amarice and Eli were still on non-speaking terms, mostly because Amarice decreed it, but that didn't bother Hercules much. All he cared about was Gabrielle getting well.

Of course, they had to keep traveling, due to the fact that the Romans were no doubt after them.

When the trio finally reached a town, it was such a relief to the cold. They got Gabrielle settled in a bed at a family's house who were nice enough to let them stay there.

It wasn't 'till four days later that Gabrielle woke. It was the middle of the night and Hercules was just starting to drift off in his usual chair next to Gabrielle's side. Just when he'd closed his eyes, he felt a hand clasp his own.

"Please don't leave me here alone in the dark." She whispered.

"Gabrielle! You're awake." Hercules felt like crying or at least picking her up and hugging her with all his might.

"Where are we?" She was obviously confused.

"We're in a small town in northern Greece. Amarice, Eli, and I are trying to get to Amphipolis." He eyes lowered.

Gabrielle silently caressed the scars on her hands. What a reminder.

Suddenly she burst out crying.

Hercules too let a tear escape his eye.

"Gabrielle..." He tried to comfort her.

"Hercules, don't. You don't have to live with the fact, that your decision to not shed blood led to your best friend's death. It was my fault. I froze. I could've save her and I froze. And now I have these scars, these hideous scars to constantly remind me of that. Xena gave me everything, she died to because she didn't want to see me stray from my path. How do I live with that?"

Gabrielle didn't need to be told twice to cry on his shoulder.

"We'll do it together Gabrielle. We'll do it together."

Epilogue

"Mommy! daddy! Here comes Uncle Iolaus! Quick, he's coming over the hill now!" The little green-eyed, hazel haired girl screamed as she spotted the man reaching the top of the hill.

The couple exited their house as soon as they heard their daughter's call.

"He came right on time." The husband commented.

"Did you ever doubt he wouldn't?" His wife questioned, as she watched her life-long friend scoop up her young daughter.

"No, never."

They walked to greet their companion from long ago. It had been a long journey, but they had done it.

They had: gotten over their grief, fell in love, saved a man from evil, gotten married, and started a family.

And they were the content to know that out of their greatest tragedy came their greatest joy. Neither would have it any other way.

THE END