Now, he walked briskly through the dozens of merchants selling their goods and wares. People were everywhere and he decided it was time to start asking directions. He stopped for a moment and looked around, trying to locate a person who seemed knowledgeable in this marketplace mayhem. Finally he saw one of the merchants selling fruit turn and look over at him. Joxer decided he looked like a promising person to ask, so he walked over to the stand and stopped in front of the man giving him he best ‘warrior look and stance.’ An air of confidence rang in his voice as he spoke.

"I am looking for some one," he said, never losing eye contact with the man. The man himself stood much shorter than Joxer. He was round with jolly brown eyes that seemed to smile at him. He looked friendly enough, Joxer thought as he sized the man up. He knew he was a good judge of character, he could tell if someone was evil or good just by looking at him or her. Joxer always referred to that ability as his ‘special gift’, while if anyone had ever asked if about it that is.

"Would you like to buy an apple, first?" The man said keeping Joxer’s constant eye contact and still smiling at him. "They are fresh, picked this morning." Joxer looked down at the apples on the stand and grimaced, they looked to be about a week or more old, one had a worm crawling out of it.

"No, thank you. Not today," Joxer replied pleasantly, he figured it would be rude to say anything about the fruit. Probably all the man had, he thought to himself and turned back to the man’s eyes, keeping his expression serious for him. "I need to find a friend."

"Well, we have lots of those here in Cornith. Does this friend have a name?" The man now looked down at the stand, rearranging the apples and assorted fruits. He seemed disinterested in the conversation all of a sudden.

"Gabrielle," Joxer said. "She’s about this tall," he showed with his hands reaching his own chest, "striking features, red head, she wears an Amazon warrior’s outfit," Joxer continued. "Green top, short skirt." Joxer remained focused on the man, but his thoughts were straying as he imagined Gabrielle in his mind. He could have continued with his description of her commenting on her beautiful eyes, the way her body curves when she fights and her legs…at that moment an older woman came up to the stand and started inspecting the fruit taking Joxer out of his thoughts and back to his purpose.

"Sorry," the man said quickly drawing his attention to the woman. "No one like that in Cornith."

"She hasn’t lived here very long," Joxer said quickly to the man. He didn’t look at Joxer; he shrugged his shoulders instead. Joxer figured he try one more attempt, "she tells stories," he added to the man.

The woman suddenly looked up from her own inspecting of the fruit before her to where Joxer stood. Joxer turned to her with a sudden warrior reflex, which came out a bit jerky.

"You mean that sweet little girl Iolaus married," the woman said smiling at her. "She’s a nice one. Gabrielle, yes, that’s it. You remember," she said looking back at the man now. "She’s the one who told that wonderful story on Winter Solstice Eve at the Tavern." Joxer looked over at the man, who turned away from the woman shaking her head. Obviously he was trying to hide the information from me, Joxer thought quickly and then turned his attention back to the woman in front of him. "Oh, she’s good at those stories of hers, " the woman said, leaning into Joxer. "And she sure is a pretty little thing. Caused quite a few heads to turn around this place," she smiled at her last statement and stood upright again. "Iolaus finally did something right," she said, quickly adding, "bringing her home I mean." She went back to the fruit, resuming her inspection of the sickly things.

Suddenly, the woman broke out in laughter, "That Iolaus, he always was the wanderer. Taking off with Hercules, leaving his poor mother behind. Well, I am glad he’s finally come to his senses." She huffed, giving Joxer an indication that she did not approve of Iolaus’s adventuring ways. "And bringing with him a girl to marry. I tell you, no happy mother was there in Greece than Iolaus’s that day." The woman continued to chatter on, "I will say, I wasn’t sure about her at first, what with her being a little bit of thing and all, but she has sure keep up that house of his. That can’t be an easy task and that girl can certainly tell a story," she laughed again. "Never heard a better bard in Cornith than that one."

"Do you know where I might find her?" Joxer asked the woman.

"Of course, everyone knows Iolaus’s place," the woman said as a matter-of-fact. Joxer looked over at the man who had turned away from the two of them, helping a customer on the other side of the stand. Joxer focused back at the woman, awaiting her answer. "It’s just down the main road out of the village about five miles or so. You can’t miss it. It’s perched between the lake and Growley’s place." Joxer nodded and decided those were good enough directions for him. He’d find it.

"Thank you, my dear lady. Your assistance has been appreciated," Joxer said in his best hero voice. The woman smiled at him and watched him walk away.

"Nice boy," she said to herself and continued looking at the rotten fruit.

The sweet little girl who married Iolaus, Joxer thought as he walked along the road. The words pounded in his hand. There was gratitude for you, Gabby. You’ve been narrowed down to the sweet little girl who married Iolaus. It almost made Joxer ill, but he pushed the feeling down. He needed their help, even Iolaus’s, if he wanted to make this a useful trip. He knew they would help once they knew what was at stake, but the thought of having to see them married was not something Joxer was looking forward to. He had tried to get past his jealously of Iolaus and the feelings Gabrielle and him had for each other. He keep telling himself he should be happy for Gabrielle, she loved him, everyone, including Xena saw that. From the moment that they met, they had found a part of one soul. At least that’s what Gabby had said about the experience when she told Joxer about her impending marriage at the time.

That had been over a year ago now. Iolaus and Hercules had some battle to do with a warlord and Tyrant king while Xena and Gabrielle had adventures of their own to finish. ‘One last time,’ Gabrielle had said to Xena at the time. Joxer went along, he figured it would be the last time he would see Gabby and besides missing her, he thought Xena could use another sidekick so it was a good idea at the time. Of course, Xena wanted nothing to do with him after Gabrielle left to get married. She kissed her best friend goodbye, gave Iolaus a hug, got on Argo and left not too long after the wedding. Joxer had followed her as best he could, but didn’t catch up to her until two villages later, she was in a tavern, drinking and from the look of it crying. She tried to hide the tears from him, but Joxer knew it hurt her to know Gabrielle wouldn’t be with her anymore.

So he stayed with Xena for a few days, against her constant insisting that he leave. Then as luck would have it a fight brought out and Joxer helped as best he could. After it was over, Xena told him she needed to ride alone and he should get on with his life and find a wife of his own to settle down with. Joxer had laughed at the absurd idea and Xena had told him she knew how much he cared for Gabrielle and how it must hurt. He had tried to act as if it was nothing but another of many beautiful women in his life that he left behind, but he knew Xena hit the target too well. He had grown fond of Gabrielle and even felt strong feelings for her. He wasn’t even aware how strong those feelings were until ‘he’ showed up that day.

Things couldn’t have been worse that Gabby’s true love would be someone Joxer respected and knew all too well. Iolaus was a great guy, a little too much ego and arrogance for his taste, but overall he never really had a problem with him. That was until he stepped in and stole his girl, well that changed everything to Joxer.

It wasn’t as if Joxer felt malicious toward Iolaus now that Gabrielle and he were married, it was just an honest jealously. Unfortunately, Joxer couldn’t stop feeling the jealously even as he watched them on their wedding day. They were so happy, everyone saw it even Joxer, but as he continued to walk toward the house in front of him, he figured to himself six months was a long time. Gabrielle might even be bored by now. At least that what he was hoping to find as he approached the steps of the house and stood at the front door. Joxer stopped for a moment before knocking and looked around. It was a nice little place, he thought, a bit small for his taste but nonetheless a quiet place. Far off the busy village square in the center of Cornith. The land seemed to stretch on for miles. He could see Iolaus must have been farming for a living. Joxer detested that thought, he always hated farming. That type of hard labor could kill a man faster than any battle. The house itself was built sturdy at least, he observed as he stepped back to take a look at the roof. To the left and right of him he could smell the flowers, he assumed Gabrielle planted. There were all different kinds, each giving its own uniqueness to the house and to the woman who lives here. The colors were vibrant and alive, he thought as he looked around at the neatly planted flowerbeds. Joxer wasn’t too surprised at this though, it was Gabrielle’s house as well now. He expected no less from her. He smiled at the flowers once more and then turned quickly at the sound of screaming. He knew that scream and he raced around the back of the house jumping around the flowers as best he could, unfortunately he misjudged a bit and stepped right on a patch of beautiful violent flowers at the corner of the house. He heard another scream and ran quickly drawing his sword. If there was trouble, he’d be ready, he thought to himself and then he heard laughter and Iolaus’s familiar voice.

"Give it up, Gabby, I win this time," Iolaus said, holding her down, his hands holding hers above her head while he straddled his body over hers to keep her from kicking.

She smiled up at him and as he leaned down to kiss her, his hold loosened and he found himself on his back in a matter of seconds with her now over him, laughing.

"Never," she said quickly and rolled off him to a bucket nearby. He sat up and was instantly greeted with the water Gabrielle had thrown at him from the bucket now in her hand. She laughed now and Iolaus wiped his face and shook his head allowing the water to spray her. She tried to stand up but the fact that she couldn’t stop laughing made this task difficult. Iolaus reached over and took her hand pulling her to where he was. He sat her down on his lap sideways, with her arm around his neck, they looked at each other for a moment and the laughing stopped. Instinctively, they both leaned forward to a kiss when…

"Hey guys," Joxer said in a loud voice from where he had been standing. Iolaus and Gabrielle looked over quickly, seeing Joxer they both stood up and Gabrielle was the first to smile at him.

"Joxer," she said, coming up to him, still smiling. She reached up and gave him a quick hug. Joxer held her for a moment before letting go. She hit him lightly on the arm. "Nice to see you."

"You too, Gabrielle. I hope…" Joxer started as Iolaus walked up behind Gabrielle and moved to Joxer, extending his arm for a welcome.

"Joxer, this is a surprise," Iolaus said as Joxer took his arm and they shook in a warrior’s style. "What brings you to Cornith?" Iolaus was still wet from the bucket of water. He had taken off his vest and was carrying it with him when he approached. Joxer ignored how Iolaus hadn’t changed in stature in six months. Not that Joxer expected he would, but being married and all he kinda hoped he would find Iolaus gaining some weight or something.

Joxer looked over to Gabrielle before answering Iolaus’s question. For the first time, he noticed what she was wearing. He was surprised he didn’t notice right away. She wore a one-piece blue plain dress, no sleeves, just a plain and ordinary peasant’s dress, not the same Gabrielle he had come to know. No longer dressed in her Amazon Princess outfit, Joxer had come to know so well. Now, Joxer knew who was expected to change in this marriage. He eyed Iolaus once more with this thought and decided to talk about the matter at hand. Otherwise his own rage or jealously would get the better of him and Joxer didn’t want to upset Gabrielle with his temper…not yet.

"I need to speak with you both. It concerns a mutual friend," Joxer said, trying his best to hold a serious warrior’s expression on his face. Iolaus and Gabrielle exchanged a concerned look.

"I think you’d better come inside," Iolaus said quickly as Gabrielle, who was already walking ahead of them, turned the corner and went into the house.

Sitting at the kitchen table a few minutes later, Joxer watched as Gabrielle walked around the kitchen placing out some food and a pitcher on the table with glasses. Joxer felt sickened by this show of ‘wifely duties’. She was becoming a slave, he thought as he watched her place a cup in front of Iolaus who didn’t even look up at her but acted as if this was expected. Joxer was getting angry. You can’t be happy with this sort of life, Gabby, he thought to himself. What happened to the Gabrielle who loved adventure and excitement?

"So what’s all this about?" Iolaus asked, breaking Joxer out of his thoughts. Gabrielle reached over and lifted the pitcher to pour a drink for her husband. Iolaus smiled at her and finished pouring his own drink. Obviously this action indicated something else for Gabrielle who immediately sat down in a chair and looked at Joxer. Now he was really getting mad. Do you tell her what to say to? He said to himself and focused back on Iolaus who was looking at him intently waiting for an answer.

"Xena," Joxer said and immediately he saw Gabrielle’s relaxed body tense in recognition of her best friend being obviously in trouble. Iolaus and her exchanged another concerned look at each other.

"What happened?" Gabrielle answered with concern in her voice. Iolaus looked over at her and silently took her hand on the table, squeezing it lightly. "Is she alright?"

Now this was the Gabrielle he knew. Willing to do anything for her friends, instinctively reacting to an impending danger. Joxer smiled at her. "She has changed since you were with her," he said, staying focused on Gabrielle.

"Changed?" Iolaus said, dread apparent in his voice. Joxer acknowledged him by nodding and then turning back to Gabrielle.

"Where is she?" Gabrielle said, quickly.

"Not far from here, about two days ride. Last time I saw her, she was talking about Ares."

"Ares?" Gabrielle said, pensively thinking. Why would Xena go to Ares? Gabrielle thought quickly. Iolaus looked over at her, knowing instantly what she was thinking.

"I’m sure it’s not that," Iolaus said. Gabrielle nodded at him. "Xena’s smarter than that."

"She’s been raising an army," Joxer said looking from Gabrielle to Iolaus as he spoke. He noticed the unspoken communication they had. He didn’t like it at all. He knew he was being ridiculous. They’re married, of course they have a connection. Isn’t that what Gabrielle had told him about their relationship when he first found out about Gabrielle’s love for this man. Souls finding each other and all that. But it was different now that he sat in their house and watched it first-hand.

"For what?" Iolaus asked, taking his hand away from Gabrielle and looking at Joxer. "She’s going into battle?"

"Yes, but I’m not sure with whom. All I know is some people are saying that Xena’s army consists of some of the most dangerous warriors. Some are even warriors that fought with Xena before…" he trailed off, but the couple staring at him knew what he had meant. Warriors’ Xena had in her army before she let go of her dark side and become an advocate for saving lives and not taking them.

"It can’t be true," Joxer heard Gabrielle say in almost a whisper. "Why would she?" Suddenly, Gabrielle stood up. "I have to see her and know. I can’t just sit here and assume what you’re saying is true." Iolaus and Joxer stood up together. Iolaus went to Gabrielle.

"I’m sure it’s not what we think, honey," Iolaus said softly, touching her hand. "But I agree we should find out what this is all about." They both looked to Joxer who was staring at them now. Did he just call her honey? Joxer said to himself and tried to brush away the impending feelings he held deep down.

"Good," Joxer finally said, smiling briefly. "I guess you can come along if you want to, Iolaus," Joxer said, giving both Gabrielle and Iolaus an uncomfortable feeling. Iolaus started to say something as Joxer walked into the living room and towards the front door, but Gabrielle turned his face slightly to meet her eyes. He knew the expression there. Don’t say anything right now. She said silently in her eyes. He nodded at her and they made their way to the living room.

"Where is she?" Iolaus asked Joxer as they stood with him in the living room.

"Thebes," Joxer said. Looking around at the living room area. It was cozy if not a bit too humble for Gabrielle in his mind, but it did have a fireplace and a bearskin rung on the floor. Obviously, something either he or Hercules had gotten from an unsuspecting bear they happened upon on one of their adventures.

"That’s good," Iolaus said which caused Gabrielle and Joxer to look at him. "I heard that Hercules is in Treacle. That’s on the way." Gabrielle looked at her husband for a moment. "Just in case," Iolaus said, softly to her, answering her unspoken question. Now it was Joxer’s turn to ask the questions.

"Hercules?"

"I’d like to think I can talk with Xena about this," Gabrielle said, almost a sad tone in her voice. "But if Xena has changed, it’s Hercules who can help her the most," Gabrielle finished in a positive tone and smiled at Iolaus. Joxer could tell they were thinking about the same thing, something from their past that Joxer hadn’t been involved in. Typical, he thought to himself.

"Well, if you think you’ll need him, fine," Joxer said confidently walking to the door. Iolaus stepped forward again at Joxer’s coaxing, but this time Gabrielle caught his arm and held it firmly. Iolaus didn’t look back at her, he knew what she was going to say. Let it go. But Joxer was pushing him. Why? Iolaus thought, quickly and then let the thought pass as they began to concentrate on finding some supplies and heading out. It was still late morning and the trio thought the best plan was to leave right away so they gathered some food. Gabrielle took a moment to change her clothes, not to her usual Amazon outfit but rather a comfortable brown skirt reaching her ankles, some leather boots and a tight fitting shirt close to the green one Joxer was so accustomed to. Iolaus had taken his sword over the fireplace, sheathed it, swung it over his shoulder attaching the strap to keep it on his back and put his dagger into his belt at the waist. As they walked out the door, Iolaus stopped for a moment and picked up the staff by the door and called to Gabrielle.

"Forgetting something, aren’t you?" He said, throwing are the staff as she looked back at him. She caught it instinctively and smiled at him.

"Thanks," she said and waited for him to close the front door and walk to her. Joxer was all ready walking down the path to the main road, several yards ahead of them.

Iolaus walked at Gabrielle’s side and quietly leaned over to her. "He doesn’t like me very much, does he?"

She laughed quickly. "That’s just Joxer. Don’t worry about it." She said smiling her best smile at him. He returned it. "I still like you," she focused back to the road ahead of them. "Most of the time," she added with a hidden smile. Iolaus fought the urge to get her back for that remark, but matters called for a more serious purpose that lay ahead, so he decided to let it pass this time. Gabrielle had held ready waiting for him to retaliate when he didn’t, she decided he must be concerned for Xena…just as she was. Very concerned, she thought. What if Joxer was right? Could Xena really change into her former self? Creating mayhem and killing innocent people? It really seemed impossible to Gabrielle. She wouldn’t, she kept telling herself. But with Xena, Gabrielle knew anything was possible. Iolaus and Gabrielle walked in silence the rest of the way to the village square of Cornith.

Joxer had slowed down a bit but was still ahead of them. Some of the locals waved to them as they past, some stopped Gabrielle to comment on her stories of late or the men asked Iolaus about this year’s planting, but neither the bard nor the hunter let them deter them from the path. They were both polite as they waved goodbye telling them they had to see an old friend. That seemed to satisfy their curiosities and they went on their way.

"What about the planting?" Gabrielle asked Iolaus after they were safely out of the village square.

"Don’t worry about it. It will be weeks before more seeds are planted." He said, smiling. "Besides, it’ll be good to get away for a while." Gabrielle looked at him for a moment as they walked and for the first time, she realized Iolaus was beaming, something she hadn’t seen for a little while. He was going on an adventure, she thought to herself and that’s exactly what he wanted. She knew all along he would yearn for that type of life again and had even warned him about that before they were married. He had assured her then and several weeks after that he wanted to be with her and to live their lives without the fear of death each day. She knew he was happy about their marriage, even happy to be home, but the look he had know showed her he wasn’t completely happy without a sense of danger from an impending battle or a fight.

They had both kept themselves trained. Iolaus had many friends in the village and often they would fight for fun. He had even taught her a few more moves with the staff she now held, but Gabrielle knew he would still long for moments like this one, not to mention the thought of seeing Hercules again certainly made him happy and why not, she said to herself. She had the same feeling about seeing Xena. She had left so suddenly at the wedding, at least Hercules stayed on in Cornith for a few days after seeing some of his old friends. They had both shown her some of the old places they had grown up in and what they meant to each of them. It was nice and she was finally able to spend some time away from battle with Hercules to get to know him better than just as a legend and the main character in many of her stories. He had been nice and she knew how hard it was for Iolaus and her to make the decision to leave. Neither one of them, she was certain, regretted that decision, but she had to admit even she longed for an adventure once in a while.

She broke herself out of her thoughts. It had only been six months, she told herself and since then, they had been busy with the farm, the house and building a life for themselves. They talked about everything from their own adventures to the ones they wanted together…like children. This was a subject that had become increasing more important in the past month at least from Gabrielle’s side. They both wanted children, but Iolaus was reluctant to push the issue. It wasn’t until recently that she found out why he was careful about it. They had talked long into the night about Hope and how she felt. Gabrielle didn’t think it was possible to love him more but when she saw the concern he showed for her feelings about that dark time in her life, even though he wasn’t there was so touching to her she knew he understood. That was the first and last time the subject was discussed. It was a decision both of them had made, not spoken but completely understood. That was what she loved so much about being with Iolaus, everything was just understood.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, causing her to laugh. "What’s so funny?"

"You." She said, smiling and then when he looked at her, she explained. "I was just thinking about how much I love you and how you know me so well."

"Oh," he said and smiled at her. "I guess I can’t read your thoughts yet."

"Yes, you can," she smiled up at him. He knew what that smile was for all too well.

"Come on, you two. It’ll take us until nighttime the way you walk," Joxer called from ahead of them. They both looked at him and turned to each other. A challenge in their eyes, instantly recognized and just as instantly taken on. Gabrielle put her staff down in front of him. He tripped and fell on the dirt road, she giggled as she ran up to where Joxer was, darting quickly towards him and then passing him, waving.

"Come on Joxer," she said, smiling at him and looking back at Iolaus charging towards her. She laughed again and took off running down the road. Joxer looked at her strangely until he saw Iolaus pass by him at top speed.

"Come on," Iolaus said passing him. "We’ll never get there." Joxer shook his head as he watched Iolaus come up behind her, she darted to her right as he reached for her from behind. Joxer heard her laugh and then Iolaus caught her picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. She was kicking, but it didn’t do much good since she was laughing still.

"Put me down," she said, trying to be serious.

"Sorry, can’t do that," Iolaus said, smiling. He slowed his pace a bit and then suddenly Gabrielle felt him take her off his shoulder and place her on her feet in front of him. He was staring straight ahead.

"What?" She said, looking at him. He put his fingers up to his mouth to indicate her to be quiet as Joxer came up to where they had stopped. Iolaus was looking around, walking slowly. Gabrielle stayed at his side, while Joxer stayed behind.

"What’s wrong?" Joxer said to both of them. They both turned to him.

"Shhh!" They both said in unison and they looked at each other quickly before turning back to the road ahead of them.

Suddenly, a man jumped from the nearby tree out at Iolaus. Iolaus dodged him and he landed on the ground to the side of him. Joxer pulled his sword and Gabrielle instinctively turned with her back to Iolaus. Three more men jumped out from the trees. Iolaus knew where they were and was all ready in combat with the first two on his side, Joxer had the third. Gabrielle kept her staff ready as she saw the first man get up off the ground and turn his dagger to stab it into Iolaus’s back. She reacted quickly, swinging her staff to swipe his feet, the man fell, got up and turned back to her, smiling, still holding the dagger.

"What do we have here?" The man said in a raspy voice.

"You shouldn’t stab people in the back," Gabrielle said. The man smiled and lunged for her, she took a jump back dodging the swinging blade and then brought the staff down on his hand. The dagger dropped. She thrust the staff straight out hitting him in the chest, he went down. She looked around her quickly and waited.

Iolaus held his own against the two men he was fighting. In a matter of moments, a few kicks and a couple of punches aimed in the right direction, both men were swaying on their feet, dagger since lost in the dirt. Iolaus took both of them by the back of the necks and slammed their heads into each other. They fell to the ground.

"Forget it," One of the men shouted from the ground, looking over at his comrades. The men started to run off.

Joxer who had his opponent almost down, saw him start to get up and he shouted. "That’s right, run, you coward." The man looked at him and started to run off with his friends. "No one defeats Joxer the Mighty!" Gabrielle and Iolaus exchanged a glance and looked over at Joxer.

"Good job, Joxer. That scared them." She said, smiling and tried to be encouraging. Unfortunately, Iolaus couldn’t help throwing out a remark of his own.

"Next time, why don’t you tell the bad guys first who you are," Iolaus walked up to him. "Maybe we won’t have to fight them. They’ll just run away." Iolaus shook his head and walked back to where his dagger lie, picked it up and replaced it in his belt.

"It wouldn’t be as much fun." Joxer said from behind them. Iolaus smiled and Gabrielle hit him on the arm.

"Hey," Iolaus looked down at her with a hurt expression. Her expression said everything to Iolaus. "Sorry," he told her. "It was a joke," he added, quickly flashing her a smile.

Gabrielle shook her head at him and looked back to Joxer, who was obviously caught up in his own thoughts and hadn’t taken Iolaus’s words as an insult. That was good at least, she thought. She knew Iolaus hadn’t intended on hurting Joxer’s feelings, but just the same he couldn’t joke the same way that he did with Hercules. Joxer was different. Oh, she knew he was too over-confident sometimes, well, she had to admit, more than sometimes, but he meant well and she had come to know Joxer had a good heart and even could fight a little when he really needed to. Gabrielle felt she knew too much about this man who now casually strolled behind her and Iolaus. She had met Joxer when he had come to kidnap her for Callisto, years earlier. Then Gabrielle had the unfortunate experience of becoming his partner when Aphrodite used a bell to make Joxer turn into a swashbuckling warrior. An event which caused more distress for her and Joxer than she cared to admit. He drove her insane with his confidence, but overall it was an interesting experience to say the least. Not to mention, all the other times Joxer had met up with her and Xena, too many adventures to count, she thought. But there were overall good experiences, even frightening ones.

So now this man who walked behind them, humming his never-ending tune of glory, came to be a friend to Gabrielle and Xena, someone they had both trusted.

"Joxer," Gabrielle said, suddenly stopping him in mid-hum as well as Iolaus who looked at her now. "Can you tell us anything else about Xena? How long ago was it that you saw her?" Gabrielle asked. Joxer had approached both of them, coming in-between the couple and talking directly to Gabrielle. They continued walking after a moment.

"I stayed with Xena a little after…" he stopped and looked over at Iolaus for a moment before turning back to Gabrielle.

"The wedding?" Iolaus said, finishing his sentence.

"Yea. That." Joxer answered. Iolaus shook his head at him while he continued. "Anyway, we fought a band of thieves not far from here and then Xena said she wanted to go it alone for a while. I respected her decision of course, I had places to go as well, but I always felt like it was a bad idea to go out alone," Joxer added. He quickly turned his attention back to Iolaus. "Then about a month ago. I heard about the company Xena was keeping." Iolaus wasn’t sure what to make of that comment, so he dismissed it. "I heard about the army and then the warriors she met with…you know the type. Fierce, dangerous, beady eyes." Joxer had turned back to Gabrielle again, describing the warriors. "I went to where my informant told me Xena was and saw her for a brief moment." Gabrielle leaned in listening closely to his story. "She seemed fine and I was going to leave when something made me turn back and that’s when I saw him."

"Ares?" Iolaus said. Joxer looked over at him with a expression on his face that read Duh.

"Of course, Ares." He looked Iolaus up and down and then shook his head at him. He turned back to Gabrielle. "How do you put up with him?" He said to her, this time it was obvious to both Gabrielle and Iolaus exactly what he meant. That was it, Iolaus had had enough. Gabrielle knew it and tried to signal him not to say anything, but it was too late, Iolaus had stopped walking and turned Joxer to face him. As much as Gabrielle wanted to know the rest of the story, she had to admit that was a low cut even for Joxer. She wasn’t sure why Joxer was acting like this toward Iolaus either. He had never been openly rude, well, she thought, maybe a few times. She knew he had some feelings for her, but she regarded it as a crush and not any real feelings…until now.

"What is with you?" Iolaus said in a somewhat angered tone. He wasn’t this easily offended usually, but he felt like there was something he should know about Joxer. Especially since he seemed to hold such hate for him. He never remembered Joxer to be like this.

"What?" Joxer said, looking at Iolaus with an innocence that made Iolaus want to provoke him even more. Iolaus took a breath and decided he’d take the direct approach.

"Ever since you came to our house this morning you have been insulting. What did I do?" Iolaus asked, sincerely. He knew Joxer wasn’t trying to pick a fight with him, he wasn’t that stupid, besides Iolaus couldn’t understand why he would be so mad at him. He truly wanted to know.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Joxer said, standing up to him. Iolaus looked at him for a moment before sighing and turning away. "I just made a comment to Gabrielle. Jeez, I didn’t think you were this touchy." Joxer added, shaking his head and turning back to Gabby. Gabrielle heard Iolaus take another deep breath, she could feel the dislike Joxer had for Iolaus but she dismissed it as Joxer. He always had his moods, so to speak. She didn’t actually think Iolaus would notice, but from the look of her husband’s face, he more than noticed. He was annoyed.

"Joxer, why don’t you continue with what happened with Ares and Xena?" Gabrielle said trying to break the silent tension between the two men.

Joxer took a breath, looked at Iolaus for a moment and continued, "well you see, Ares was saying something about a deal she had made with him and Xena said she would live up to the bargain, but that she had to get some men together first. Then Ares said don’t take too long, Xena because if you doublecross me this time, you’ll know what I’ll do. And then he just disappeared, you know in that big poof thing that the gods do." Joxer indicated with his hands the motion and then finished. "And that was all. I decided to come and get you. I thought Xena could use your help."

"It was good thinking, Joxer." Gabrielle said, sincerely. "I’m glad you came. So what do you think, Iolaus?" Gabrielle said, looking past Joxer to Iolaus who was staring intently ahead of them. He turned to face her for a moment.

"I don’t know. Sounds like Ares bargaining again. I just want to know what for," Iolaus said, his voice taking a colder tone to it. "If Ares is involved it can’t be good."

"Well, we should know soon enough, if Xena is still in Thebes," Gabrielle said.

"I heard her say, she had to stay for a while to get the men together and all," Joxer answered back. Gabrielle nodded.

"Good. Then maybe we can get to the bottom of this." Gabrielle looked over at Iolaus again, judging his reaction by his facial expression. She could tell he was already worried. So was she.

It was a good three hours before the group decided to make camp. It was something Joxer had been dreading since they had all started this journey. Gabrielle and Iolaus had talked almost the entire time during the last part of today’s journey. Once in a while, Joxer would recount something that happened on his travels in the past six months, Gabrielle would sound interested and then Iolaus would ask a question about the adventure, usually one Joxer couldn’t answer. He hadn’t exactly been making up the stories, but they weren’t entirely true tales either. That’s what Iolaus would catch him on. He didn’t mean to, it was just simple questions, but to Joxer he believed Iolaus was deliberately making him look like a fool and he took it to heart making the tension between them grow as the day went on. Something Gabrielle was starting to feel uncomfortable about.

After they made camp, it was that discussion that Iolaus wanted to have with his wife. Iolaus asked Gabrielle to take a walk with him to find some logs for the fire. Joxer was going to offer his help when he decided against it. Why should he help him? He thought.

"Gabrielle," Iolaus started after they were a short walk away from the camp. She had been picking up sticks along the way and he hadn’t spoken until now. She stopped her searching and looked up at him. "I want to talk with you…." he paused for a moment, "about Joxer." Gabrielle knew this was coming and she had been dreading it.

"Don’t worry about Joxer," Gabrielle said lightly. "It’s just…"

"Joxer." Iolaus said, "I know, you’ve said that before. But, Gabby you know it’s more than that. He’s mad at me for some reason." Iolaus walked in front of her and stood looking at her for a moment. "Before I talk with him, I thought you might know something first."

"Why would I know?" She asked, her eyes expressing the innocence in her face.

"Well, you traveled more with him than I did," Iolaus said, taking her hand. She shifted her sticks to her other arm.

"It’s nothing," she said, but already she knew she was lying and she knew Iolaus could tell. He lifted her chin to face him. "Well, actually that’s not true. He had some feelings for me before. I figured it was a little crush and he’d get over it." Gabrielle looked at him, apologetically. "I’m sorry, Iolaus, I should have told you before, but I honestly didn’t think he’d act like this." Iolaus laughed suddenly, causing Gabrielle to look at him with confusion.

"Well, now it makes sense. Every time I met up with him. The day we parted in Potedia after I asked you to marry me, the wedding, now. It all makes sense." He let go of her hands and his expression softened. "Gabrielle, we need to talk with him. I’m not certain he will listen to me. Since he’s made me his enemy. I think you’ll have to talk with him. You can make him understand…in a nice way." Iolaus looked at her with sweetness in his eyes.

"I don’t know. I’ve talked to men before about Xena, but never about myself. I was never good with my own suitors," she said with a knowing look toward him. He smiled and touched her cheek, gently.

"Sweetheart, I don’t want Joxer to be hurt about this. I like Joxer, I think he had a good heart and if we want to all help Xena. We are going to have to make him understand, don’t you agree?" Iolaus looked deeply in her eyes. Don’t do that she said in her mind. I love it when you look at me like that. There’s nothing I won’t do for you, but… "Gabrielle…" he stood still looking at her, waiting for an answer.

"Alright, I’ll talk with him, but not tonight." Gabrielle looked back at him with a look she knew worked and from Iolaus’s reaction, she knew he had worked again. She smiled. "I need to think about how to say it."

"Alright, but I’m counting on you," Iolaus finished and then smiled back, taking her face in his hands, leaning down. He kissed her sweetly at first and then deepening the kiss into passion. Gabrielle let it take her in. She kissed him back with intensity. The kiss led deeper into passion. He kissed her neck, shoulder and then moved back to her lips. The sticks she was holding, lay on the ground, forgotten after the first kiss. They stayed like that taking in each other in a way only two lovers’ can. Every kiss deepened their bond with each other, every caress was equally met with the other’s desire. This was what they had, love. A complete soul yearning to join with the other. Gabrielle felt herself fall into him as he touched her making her flesh burn and then sending chills up her spine only to burn again. She was lost in this that when Iolaus moved away suddenly she felt a coldness come down on her quickly that made her shiver. She opened her eyes after a moment.

"Iolaus what…?" Gabrielle said almost in a breathless whisper.

"We should go back," he said, softly, kissing her once more softly on the lips. He leaned close to her ear, an action that brought another wave of desire over her. "We don’t want to cause any more trouble, do we?" He said, smiling. He reached down and took her hand, picking up the sticks by her feet and led her back to the campsite.

Joxer watched them as they slept soundly. Gabrielle’s angelic face turned toward him and he could almost see a smile upon her lips. Suddenly she awoke with a start. Her green eyes searching it seemed desperately. After a moment, they rested upon Joxer as he sat on the log. He looked behind him for a moment and then pointed to himself, ‘me?’ he mouthed to her. She smiled and nodded her head. Slowly she got up from the makeshift bed on the ground and moved toward him very slowly. Joxer slowly stood up waiting for her to approach. Her smile stayed fixed on her face as she fell into his embrace and she laughed. Joxer dipped her in place and started kissing her neck and up to her lips. She gasped and closed her eyes as his lips slowly went down on hers…

"Good morning," Gabrielle said awaking Joxer from his dream. For a moment, he had to stop and look about him taking in his surroundings. The first thing, outside of Gabrielle he noticed, was that Iolaus was nowhere to be found. That instantly made his morning better.

Gabrielle was standing over him, smiling now.

"Where’s the hero?" He said, mumbling as he stood up. Gabrielle’s smile faded and instantly he regretted his harsh tone.

"Iolaus," she emphasized his name, "went down to the river to catch some fish for breakfast." Gabrielle turned slightly and started to walk away. She turned back to him, quickly. Joxer stopped in his place and looked at her. "Joxer, I think…" she stared at him for a long moment, trying to figure out how to say this. Finally, she decided against the idea all together. "…he could use some help, if you wouldn’t mind?"

Joxer shook his head and mumbled to himself again, "I doubt that."

"What?" Gabrielle said, catching Joxer off-guard for a second.

"Nothing," he answered back, quickly. "I just go see if I can help." He started walking away from the camp when he heard Gabrielle call to him.

"Joxer," Joxer turned back to her, "the river is that way," she said pointing in the opposite direction.

"I knew that. I was just stretching," he said as he suddenly starting stretching his arms out and yawning. Gabrielle tried to hide a laugh. She wasn’t certain if sending him to help Iolaus would be a good idea, but it couldn’t be worse than the uncomfortable feelings they all had right now. She smiled at him and he waved, tripping over a tree branch and falling. Gabrielle started to go towards him when suddenly he jumped up and stood, facing her. "I’m fine," he said as he continued his walk. Gabrielle shook her head and pick some more sticks on the fire trying to keep it going.

Iolaus sit patiently by the river, holding a makeshift fishing pole and waiting for a fish to be baited. He had been there for quite some time now. He had already caught a few little perches that were now on the ground next to him.

Rustle,rustle…Iolaus looked toward the noise suddenly and waited. It was too loud for….Joxer, he said to himself. As if on cue, Joxer came out of the woods a few feet away from him. Iolaus concentrated back on his task at hand.

"Good morning, Joxer," he said not looking away from the line cast in the water.

"Is this how you catch fish?" Joxer said in a mocking tone. Iolaus looked sharply at him. Control, Iolaus. He said to himself. He decided this would be a good chance to get to know Joxer a little better and maybe they could solve the problem at hand as well. Iolaus softened his expression.

"Do you have a better idea?" Iolaus asked, politely. Joxer shook his head and laughed.

"Sure," he said, taking out his sword and walking into the water. Iolaus watched him as he picked up the sword over his head and waited. After a few moments with a slight tension in the air, Joxer gave a war cry, if you could call it that, and brought the sword crashing down in the lake. Iolaus forcefully held back a laugh as he watched Joxer start stabbing at the poor unsuspecting fish as they darted his sword. After a few more minutes, the entire area now disturbed by this commotion, was void of any fish left, Iolaus thought. After a few more unsuccessful attempts, Joxer came back on the shore and sat down next to Iolaus, he was soaking wet and dripping all over.

"Good try," Iolaus said, this time smiling at him. If figured Joxer could at least take a joke. "I’ve never seen anyone quite use that technique in fishing before." He gave him a side-ways glance and smiled to himself. Joxer was not amused.

"It would have worked, if you hadn’t disturbed the fish." He said, seriously.

"Hey, I…" Iolaus started to protest when he thought about Gabrielle and stopped himself. "You’re right," he said, through gritted teeth and got up, picking up the fish he had caught and started walking back.

Joxer got up quickly, smiling. Finally, he was starting to see reason, Joxer thought to himself and followed Iolaus back to camp. Confident, he would still win this little match he was silently playing out in his mind. Iolaus wasn’t perfect and Gabrielle just had to see the problem with marrying someone so…heroic. He’s just opening himself up to make mistakes. Joxer smiled as he entered unto the campsite behind him.

"We’re back with breakfast," Iolaus said, holding up the three little tiny perches in his hand tied with some of the string he had. Gabrielle looked at him strangely. "It’s the best I could do." He said as Joxer smiled behind him. Gabrielle laughed and took the fish from Iolaus.

"Well, it’s better than nothing," she said, giving Iolaus a kiss. "Thank you."

Thank you. Joxer to himself, did she actually say thank you to him for three tiny little fish like that? He shook his head and walked to the other side of the campsite, defeated.

"Thank you, Joxer for helping," Iolaus said looking over at him. Gabrielle looked up from the fire, still holding the fish. Her back was to them both, but she knew it was Iolaus’s way of trying to make things better. She just hoped Joxer took it the right way.

"No problem," he mumbled to himself, although they both heard it. Gabrielle glanced briefly over her shoulder at her husband and smiled at him. Iolaus acknowledged this gesture. He shrugged his shoulders at here, indicating he didn’t know what else to do.

"I could use some help," she said, suddenly and instantly Joxer was up on his feet and at her side. Gabrielle taken back from his sudden movement, tried to smile at him and handed him the fish and the dagger she had taken from Iolaus a moment earlier. "I never really liked cutting off their heads," she said. Joxer took the fish, taking on the task as the greatest challenge ever asked of him, chopped off the heads of each of the little fish and handed them back to Gabrielle, gallantly. "Thank you," she said, laying them on the stick over the fire.

"No problem." Joxer answered throwing her a smile and sitting back down on the log.

Gabrielle took that as perhaps a better beginning to this next day of travel. After the little meal was served and eaten, they began their next part of the trip. Aside from a few minor insults thrown to Iolaus, the day had been better. Iolaus and Joxer had even gotten into a conversation about swords, much to Gabrielle’s liking. But mostly Joxer walked behind them or at Gabrielle’s side. Iolaus was tolerant to say the least and she had to admit, she was relieved he could ignore most of the small things Joxer said. That made her very proud of Iolaus. He didn’t even flinch when Joxer took Gabrielle’s hand, a gesture that was almost inappropriate even for Gabrielle’s liking, but Iolaus ignored the gesture, hoping he would take that as a hint to not try anything else and not an invitation.

Now the three stood on the main road into Treacle. It was late in the afternoon and all three hadn’t eaten since that morning. Gabrielle knew the tension still slightly present wouldn’t keep at bay much longer, if they all didn’t get something to eat soon. A few minutes later the trio appeared in a tavern at the center of Treacle Village Square. They all ordered some food and Iolaus had asked about Hercules. A villager told him where to find him and he had left as they were waiting for their food. Joxer took this opportunity to be alone with Gabrielle.

"It’s nice to have you back," Joxer said, suddenly breaking Gabrielle out of her thoughts about seeing Xena again.

"What?" She asked, confused for a moment. "Oh, yea. It’s different to be back on the road travelling, sleeping under the stars." Gabrielle smiled.

"You must miss it," Joxer said, leaning on the table, looking at her.

"Oh, sure. But I love my life now." Gabrielle said, smiling at him. "It’s filled with adventures."

Joxer grimaced at her. "What adventures? He’s a farmer, Gabby."

"I know, but it’s interesting learning about planting and growing different crops. It’s not at all like the dangers I would come up upon with Xena, but it’s doing what I’ve always wanted to do." Gabrielle was staring into some space across the room, a dream like expression on her face.

"What’s that?" Joxer asked, carefully. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

"Making a difference. Now I can feed hungry families, save children who have lost their parents, work together in a village. I mean, just last week, one of the families not far away from us almost lost their entire house and barn in a fire and everyone in village worked for days to rebuild. We took some of the children with us to live while others took the parents and some other relatives until they could go back to the house. It was wonderful. I always remember my home in Potedia and how it was like that growing up, everyone helping everyone….but things changed. People grew greedy and soon everyone was out for themselves. It was sad leaving my home, but now in Cornith. I really feel like a found a new home…with Iolaus." Gabrielle stopped suddenly and realized she had been babbling. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to babble."

"No," Joxer said, pensively. He had been listening very closely to her story and realized he was wrong, Gabrielle wasn’t unhappy at all with her life. She was very happy, happier than he remembered her being. A different, more content feeling he felt from her now. A calmness. It almost radiated from her as she had talked. Joxer knew that he was being foolish and decided to try a little harder to get to know the man who made Gabrielle so happy. He can’t be all bad, Joxer thought to himself. "I’m glad you’re happy, Gabby. Truly." Joxer finally said, slightly smiling at her. Gabrielle reached out and touched his hand.

"Joxer, I hope you know that I’ll always be your friend. I love Iolaus with all my heart and I can’t picture my life without him there, but if I had to live my entire life without friends like you, my life wouldn’t be complete," she said, smiling at him, softly.

"Thanks, Gabby," he said, somewhat shy about expressing his feelings and knowing he was being such a jerk the last few days. "Maybe I should get to know Iolaus a little better and apologize for the way I’ve been treating him." He said, looking down at the table. Gabrielle smiled and moved her head down to look at him.

"I think that would be nice, Joxer," she said looking at him. "I would like for the both of you to be friends."

"Gabrielle…Joxer," they both heard Hercules say as he and Iolaus approached the table. "It’s nice to see you both." Gabrielle and Joxer stood up to greet him. He reached out and gave Gabrielle a hug, which she reciprocated quickly, smiling at him.

"I see she’s still that beautiful woman I let you marry," he turned his head to Iolaus, he shook his head at him. "Now, remember Gabrielle, I’m still the best man, so if you ever get sick of him…" Iolaus laughed with Gabrielle. "Joxer," Hercules said looking over at the man behind Gabrielle. "It’s good to see you again." He shook his hand as a warrior. Joxer smiled at him. He always like Hercules, he never laughed at his schemes or his fighting. Hercules had always told him it was good to have another fighter to help out, especially ‘one with a good heart.’ Joxer never forgot that generosity.

"Good to see you, Herc." Joxer said back.

All of them sat down after a moment, Hercules and Iolaus on one side of the table, Joxer and Gabrielle on the other.

"I heard you didn’t come with good news," Hercules said, looking over at Iolaus. Joxer and Gabrielle figured Iolaus had filled him in already about Xena and Ares’s conversation. He looked from Joxer to Gabrielle and saw the expression on her face. Hercules reached across the table. "I’m sure she will be fine," Hercules said, comforting. Gabrielle nodded. "I know Xena she wouldn’t lose her way. She’s fought too hard for it." He let go of Gabrielle’s hand and his expression darkened. "It’s Ares that’s the problem. I knew he would go after her. I warned her when she left the wedding that day. I had even offered to ride with her for awhile, but Xena’s too independent, even to admit when she needs help."

Hercules paused for a moment and got up. "We can stay here tonight and tomorrow we’ll find a wagon going to Thebes. We should be there by sundown. I have some things to finish up here. I’ll meet up with the three of you in a few hours at the Inn in town." Hercules finished and smiled at Gabrielle. "Don’t worry," he said, reassuringly touching her hand for a brief moment, before looking over to Iolaus, an unspoken conversation in their eyes. Iolaus nodded and Hercules walked out of the tavern.

"So, what do we do till then?" Joxer said, half-smiling at his two companions. The food arrived and was brought on the table. Iolaus and Joxer ate heartily after all it was a long journey they had taken today. Gabrielle hardly ate any of her food, Iolaus keep looking over at her. She picked at the food and her expression was one of pensive thought. He knew she was worried about what they would find once they were in Thebes and Iolaus knew he had to try to calm her anxious thoughts about Xena.

After dinner, Joxer took off to the front of the tavern talking with a few of the woman standing there. Iolaus stared at Gabrielle for a moment before moving to where Joxer was sitting.

"Gabby," he said, softly. She was staring in front of her and barely acknowledge his presence another than a short nod. "We can’t worry about what we don’t know yet. Even if Ares has come to Xena, we can’t expect that she wouldn’t fight against him. Come on," he said trying to light it up, "you know Xena better than anyone and you know how hard she fought against him. How hard she fought to keep her demons away. We should have confidence in her now. If Xena sees that we don’t trust in her, she’ll turn her back on all of us, you know that." Iolaus finished, silently waiting for her answer.

"I know," she said, quietly and turned to look at him. "I just hope we’re right, Iolaus. What if we’re wrong. I’ve seen Xena’s darkness and it scared me." She said. Iolaus brought her face up to meet his eyes.

"I know that darkness, Gabrielle. I felt it once too and I know what Xena is capable of when she allows herself to be taken over by that darkness, but I promise you, whatever happens, we will get through this together." Iolaus held her to him as she fell limply onto his chest. He stroked her hair and tried to make her forget about the times he knew all too well she had been thinking about ever since Joxer had told them about Xena’s ‘change.’

"Nothing is going to happen to you," he said, confidently. She lifted her face up to look at him. The expression he saw almost broke his heart. She looked like she had already lost the battle they haven’t begun yet. He reached at and touched her face, trying to stop the tears forming in her eyes. "Nothing," he said again. "I won’t allow it." He pulled her to him quickly holding her tightly and soothing her tears. "Not this time," he said to himself, a slight anger in his voice at the last statement.

Iolaus had found out enough about Dahak from the evil being within him not many years ago. When Gabrielle and he met up again during that horror, he never thought he could forgive himself for hurting her. He knew it wasn’t him and he knew she never blamed him, but he couldn’t help shake that feeling he was responsible somehow for Dahak’s return and the ultimate terror he had put into Gabrielle. After those events were over, they had all needed time to heal. Time which led him to marry this woman he now held in his arms. Gabrielle had gone home for awhile with Xena until Iolaus and Hercules decided to go see them.

The next few weeks had been the best Iolaus had ever known. Gabrielle and he talked about everything from her horrible experiences to the most wonderful moments of her life and finally together they were able to move past what happened to both of them and they found solace in each other. A comfort neither one of them had ever known before. She knew him so well, it was frightening to him at first. No one had ever known him that well, except Hercules. It was scared to take another chance on losing someone close to him. But slowly, they both realized they were perfect together. Each one completing the other. When they all were going to go their separate ways again, he didn’t take Iolaus much time to know how much he needed Gabrielle and how empty his life was without her. They were meant for each other, he knew it and so did she. The night before their impending parting, Iolaus asked her to marry him. She said yes before he could finish asking the question and from there everything moved quickly. They each decided to part for a short while and explain to Hercules and Xena on their final adventure with them. Two weeks later they all met in Cornith for the wedding.

To Iolaus it seemed like a long time ago now as they sat here again, right where they had started. Doubts in both their minds about impending danger that lies ahead. He knew she was scared about what she find when they met with Xena in Thebes and he couldn’t hide his own fear, not from her. But he vowed that she wouldn’t be harmed. He vowed it to himself many months ago in Potedia when they first shared their love and he vowed it again on his wedding day. No one was going to hurt her. If Xena had changed, he would make certain Gabrielle wasn’t her target.

Xena pushed through the Thebes Village Square, she had some matters to resolve with her once-partner. A man who quenched her dark desires and a god whose power controlled her every emotion. No longer, she had said, years ago as she stood against Ares that day.

"Just call my name," he had said to her as she hung condemned in a prison of our own mind. That prison has been real enough for Xena. The prison the simple villagers had kept her in after accusing her of murder, was nothing to Xena compared to the torment game Ares had played out in her mind. A mind determined to change, a heart that had given up on hatred and revenge and death, a soul that had found light and tenderness and love in the arms of Hercules and the friendship of Gabrielle. Those days seemed so long ago to Xena now, but she knew the darkness she fought so hard each day to conquer would be weakened. She knew Ares would try to take away the light, the love and the joy just as Gabrielle left to find her own happiness in the arms of her true love, Iolaus, Xena, too would return to what she knew best. But sometimes even gods can be wrong.

"So you have come to me, Xena." Ares said, appearing in a flash of god-like smoke encircling him. His black outfit reflecting his own lack of feelings and coldness which would empty the light within the most innocent of eyes. This was Ares, god of War in all his splendor and grandeur. He moved slowly toward Xena, staring at her with his intense eyes.

"You knew I would," she said, seductively. Causing a lustful stir of emotions within the god, himself. Xena felt it, she always felt it. "I have assembled the army. We wait on your commands," she moved to him and let him take her in an embrace, pulling her deep into his darkness and a desire that threatened to consume her very soul.

"We will be great together," he spoke low, seductively moving his hand down her back and he pulled her in tighter against him. She didn’t fight but embraced his own desire and kissed him hungrily. His response was filled with lust as he pulled her hair causing her head to go back and exposing her white neck to his mouth. Slowly, he leaned down kissing the soft flesh on her neck, she moaned in ecstasy as he continued his kisses moving further…..

She jerked his head up suddenly, pulling his own hair from behind. The movement startled the god of war for a moment, before he saw her lust-filled face still flushed with desire. He smiled, conquering was his favorite game. And now Xena would be his…finally.

"I have much to prepare for. I need your help to overthrow the Cornith forces, King Iphicles won’t be easy to defeat when his brother finds out about our plans." She said, still holding him in a seductive, intense stare. Ares let go of her and turned away to his throne that sat in the back of his temple. He sat down, looking back at her.

"You know what you have to do," Ares smiled. "Something you’ve been wanting to do for a long time, Xena. Something even you can’t deny." He tilted his head slowly, bringing up a sword, Xena hadn’t even seen him pick up. He ran the sword, seductively across his hand. No blood came, but both he and Xena watched the movement with anticipation. His eyes darted back to her and she held his gaze. "As I have said, I will take care of my brother."

"How are you going to kill Hercules?" Xena asked, cruel curiosity stood in her eyes.

"I will kill him and all those who threaten you, my dear, in a way never imagined possible." He stood up now, confidently striding to the center of the room, taking the sword with him. Xena watched him closely as he turned to her. "We have all made so many mistakes, Callisto, you, even my dear mother Hera, but this time, we will win." Xena smiled at him, deviously. "I knew once that sniffling little brat left you to marry that…." He stopped for a moment as he thought upon Iolaus. What a thorn in his side that mortal was? Always there, it had be the most persistent, annoying man Ares had ever met. He never ceased to save Hercules, never ceased, not even death could end that mortal’s life. But that was about to change. Ares smiled at Xena. A destructive smile, a smile of victory. "I knew you’d return to me…I told you everyone leaves you behind, Xena. Hercules, Gabrielle…everyone you’ve ever cared about. I’m the only one looking out for you." He moved to her, "the only one waiting, patiently, for you. Like always." He kissed her deeply, she returned the kiss building an electric passion between them. This time, Ares stopped. "Now, you have a job to do and so do I. We will meet in Cornith." He kissed her once more before disappearing in the same god-like cloud he had appeared from.

Xena stood there for a moment. Slowly a smile grew across her lips and she headed out of the temple and hit right into Hercules. Iolaus, Gabrielle and Joxer stood a short distance away.

"Hercules," she said, suddenly, her eyes moved to where the other three were. Her mind started to spin, No, they had to leave. She couldn’t have them here. What of the plan? She thought quickly and she began to think.

"Xena, it’s good to see you." They had all traveled from Treacle to Thebes that same day and night was falling as they had arrived. Hercules immediately went to Ares’s temple. He had hoped he wouldn’t find Xena here. He was wrong.

"What are all of you doing in Thebes?" She said, her tone becoming harsher as she continued. "I thought you were in Treacle and you two," she said throwing a look over to Gabrielle and Iolaus, "were making house somewhere in Cornith." She walked past Hercules and up to Gabrielle who stood staring at her, a look of pain in her eyes. Xena took a deep breath and stared back. "Shouldn’t you be at home making little brats?" Her voice cut deep into Gabrielle’s heart.

"Xena," Gabrielle started towards her with compassion in her voice and tears forming in her eyes. Instantly Xena laughed, causing Gabrielle to stop where she was, Iolaus and Joxer staying right behind her, watching Xena closely. Iolaus placed a protective hand on Gabrielle’s arm. Xena looked quickly at him.

"Couldn’t stay away, could ya, Iolaus?" Xena mocked. Iolaus stared her down with an intensity he hadn’t felt in a long time. She walked up to him, passing Gabrielle. "Well, listen," she said in a seductive voice, "if you ever get bored of the good girl you come find me. I might have a place for you in my new army," she said, smiling and licking her lips. "You been there with me once, it was good, wasn’t it?" She looked him up and down, reaching her hand out to touch his chest. Iolaus grabbed it, twisting her hand with the motion. She looked at him, pain registered for a second in her eyes.

"You forget I already walked that path with you, Xena. It won’t happen again." Iolaus let go of her hand after a moment. Iolaus stared at her ready to meet the challenge in her eyes. She laughed, brushing him off and turning away from those faces.

"Xena, what does Ares want from you? This isn’t you and you know it," Hercules finally said, amazed at how much this woman in front of him was so much like the Warrior Princess whose very name evoked terror upon countless villages. He didn’t like the darkness he saw in her. It was engulfing her and Hercules could see it better than any of them. But sometimes, even half-gods are wrong. "There is no bargaining with Ares, you know this." Hercules said, appealing to the Xena they all knew. "We can help you. Let us."

Now, she turned on the group laughing harder. Go away, she heard in her head. Leave you fools. But the group of friends only saw their friend in turmoil, laughing viciously.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her. It was soft, comforting. She stopped and looked down into Gabrielle’s beautiful face. The eyes bore through her and she felt each tear that dropped from them as a knife in her heart. She blocked herself and her emotions again. No, she kept saying in her head. Iolaus, Joxer and Hercules all stood slightly behind Gabrielle. She had moved so suddenly that no one could react. She was too close to the madness, they all knew that, but somewhere in each of them they believed Gabrielle could help Xena. After all, they were the best of friends for years. Helping each other through the worst and best moments of their lives. So they kept a distance, something which caused Iolaus to keep in check his own feelings. He would wait for the moment.

Xena held her stare for a long, silent moment. It was as if no one took a breath as this moment felt like an eternity. Finally, Gabrielle spoke.

"This isn’t right, Xena. Think about what you taught me. Think about Solein and Hercules, Iolaus, Joxer," she shook her head slightly. "and me. We’re your friends, Xena. We love you. Don’t let Ares take anything away. I know you can fight it, if you want to." She finished, tears were coming down her cheeks freely now. She had tried to be strong and not show the tears, but this was her best friend, this was Xena and she looked so lost. The emptiness in her eyes, told Gabrielle everything. She had lost her way and then for the briefest moment, Gabrielle thought she saw compassion flash in those blue eyes. Just as quickly as it had come, it was gone. The next thing she felt was the back of Xena’s hand coming down across her face. She was thrown on the ground.

"Stay away all of you," Xena said, a threat flashing in her eyes. Hercules saw it. It was a warning, but he saw something else in that look. She held Hercules stare too long, she thought as she jumped up on the horse waiting next to her and took off down the main road, yelling her warrior cry. "Yiyiyiyiyiyi." She sped down the road on the horse. None of the three people protecting Gabrielle saw the tear drop from Xena’s eye as she looked back for an instant or heard her sad reply, "I’m sorry, Gabrielle." She kicked the horse sending it galloping far away from her friends and the hope they had brought with them.

Blood fell from the wound on Gabrielle’s forehead, caused by a sharp rock digging itself into her flesh as she hit the ground. The slap still stinging on her cheek as Iolaus instantly was at her side, pulling her up. She stumbled for a moment, using his arm for balance. Quickly she refocused and looked out to where Xena had left. The dirt from the road still was swirling in the distance.

"Gabrielle, are you alright?" Iolaus asked, already inspecting her headwound. He could have cursed himself for allowing her to get so close to Xena in her madness. He should have known better. Xena’s good at lashing out at people she cares about the most.

Gabrielle stood silent where she was, staring outward in a daze. Joxer was on the other side of Gabrielle looking from her to Iolaus now. Hercules looked down at her and knew the wound that Gabrielle felt was much deeper than the one caused by the rock that hit her. "Come on, honey. Let’s tend to that wound." Iolaus said, trying to get her away from the scene, which had caused people at the Thebes marketplace to stop and stare now. Iolaus tried to distract himself with her wound. Her eyes were too painful to look at. He could feel her pain. He knew she was falling apart inside and he was going to damned to let her stand there and relive it. She didn’t move, finally, he picked her up in his arms, her eyes still focused on where Xena had left. He walked with her to the inn across the way. He hadn’t moved more than two steps when he the anguished scream escaped her lips.

"XENA!!!" She reached her arm out to the road ahead as if her own will would make Xena come back and be her friend again. Iolaus stopped at the painful cry. Hercules and Joxer stood where they were, all eyes watching her now. "No," she said, softly, defeated. Her eyes found Iolaus’s, a look of complete helplessness and fear on her face. It was tearing at his heart as she broke into the most painful tears he had ever heard. He held her to him closely as she continued to cry on his shoulder.

Hercules stopped in front of the inn and held Joxer’s arm as he started to follow after Iolaus and Gabrielle. Joxer turned to face him.

"I’m going after her," Hercules stated in a voice that left no room from argument. "Stay here," he added quickly to Joxer. Hercules knew that scream had affected more than just Iolaus and him. "Gabrielle is going to be fine. If anyone can make her understand, Iolaus can, believe me." Hercules said and then placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But, she’s going to need friends like you to help her get through this."

"She never believed that Xena would turn back to her old ways, did she?" Joxer said, looking up at Hercules.

"Gabrielle doesn’t believe that people who can be so good and trusting could turn. She only sees the good in people, it’s her special gift." Hercules smiled at him for a moment and then turned. "I’m not sure about Xena’s change." Hercules said, softly. Joxer barely heard the comment.

"What do you mean?" Joxer asked, quickly. But Hercules was already walking away.

"I’ll take care of things," Joxer adding, a little louder. Hercules turned back to him.

"I know. I’m counting on you," he answered back, smiling for a brief moment before following where Xena left a moment earlier. Something about the entire scene just played out in front of them, bothered him for more reasons then even he knew at that moment.

"Gabrielle, talk to me," Iolaus finally said, after the endless silence that enveloped the room they were now in. Since he had laid her down on the bed and tended to her wound, she had sat up, the only movement to prove to him that she was still aware. Otherwise, her eyes stared blankly ahead of her. The crying had stopped now just a dark silence hung around her; a silence that was breaking Iolaus’s heart. He had been pacing in the room, now he sat down on the bed facing her. "Come on, sweetheart. Scream or cry or yell at me to shut up, but say something." He begged her, reaching out to touch her face. She kept her stare, something was holding her in that moment. Something he couldn’t fight against. Something that scared Iolaus.

"It’s all gone," she said to herself. Within the blank stare that Iolaus and the outside world couldn’t see was a constant fight.

"That’s right, little girl." Gabrielle looked and saw Ares appear. She jumped suddenly. Iolaus reacted.

"Gabrielle…." She heard Iolaus say as if in a dream. She tried to look at him. Look at Iolaus, he’ll protect you. Look at him. But she couldn’t move her head. It was stuck in front of her. The pain started in her head. It grew to a deafening shriek. She heard Ares laugh and she screamed. A tortured, painful scream, bringing her hands up to her ears to block out the noise.

"Gabrielle," Iolaus said, quickly as he heard her scream. He pulled her into him, but she was backing up on the bed, hands over her ears. Her face contorted in pain. Iolaus didn’t know what to do. "Gabrielle, stop it!" He yelled at her. She banged her head against the wall behind her, she had to stop the pain, it was killing her. "Gabrielle….stop it!" He screamed again. Holding her away from the wall. She needed to get out, yes, stop the pain. She got up quickly and ran to the window, pushing Iolaus hard away from her. "NO!!!" Iolaus yelled and ran to her. She was about to jump up on the ledge of the window, when Iolaus reached her and grabbed her holding her tightly. "Let it go," he soothed. "Let it go," he began to stroke her hair. "Shhh," he said in a comforting tone. Gabrielle stopped screaming. She looked up at him suddenly. The blank stare gone now from her eyes. The pain was gone. Iolaus could see recognition her eyes.

"Iolaus…" she said, barely above a whisper and then fell exhausted against him. He picked her up and slowly laid her back on the bed. He sat next to her, placing a protective arm around her and he heard her soft breathing. He stroked her hair.

"I’m here, my love," Iolaus said, soothingly. "I’m here. I won’t leave you."

"Till next time," Ares had said somewhere in her mind. She saw him smile and then it faded, leaving only Iolaus’s soft words and gentle touch soothing her into sleep.

"I really hate him," the god of war said to himself in his temple. "He’s gotta go" Slowly a smile formed on Ares lips as the thought of a plan began to develop in his mind.

Joxer walked into the inn and sat at the tavern on the first floor. He waited for Iolaus to do whatever he had to so Gabrielle would be all right. It seemed like hours passed while he stay focused on several groups of people who were talking, laughing and overall, enjoying their time. Finally he decided he should check on them himself and got up walking towards the stairs to the upstairs room.

"Hey, Joxer," Iolaus said in a bright, if not a bit tired voice. Joxer looked up at him coming down the stairs. His expression told Joxer, Iolaus was still worried about Gabrielle, even if he tried to hide it in his voice.

"How is she?" Joxer asked, sitting opposite Iolaus at the table he had just left.

"Better. She’s resting now. I don’t want to leave her alone for too long." Iolaus looked down and Joxer could see just how much this was affecting him. He also realized Iolaus hadn’t eaten since they had left Treacle this morning. The day was starting to wear on him.

"Listen, Iolaus. I can stay with Gabby. You get something to eat." Joxer stood up.

"No, thank you, Joxer, but she’s…" Suddenly, Iolaus looked away from Joxer to search the room. "Where’s Hercules?" He asked, looking back at Joxer.

"He went after Xena," Joxer stated simply, no point in trying to break easily into that conversation. Iolaus knew Hercules better than anyone and from the look of Iolaus’s face Joxer figured he all ready guessed the answer to his question.

"It’s probably better this way," Iolaus said, looking over at the food coming onto a table nearby. "At least it will keep Gabrielle away from that…" Joxer could see hatred in Iolaus’s eyes. He turned back to Joxer and stared at him for a moment. "I’m sorry," his expression softened. "She’s just too trusting." He said, looking down. Joxer watched him as his mind silently played out a conversation he didn’t want to have.

"Hercules says Gabrielle has a special gift," Joxer said trying to make him feel better. He knew how Iolaus felt to a certain extent, he had been shocked at the way Xena treated Gabrielle in the square. He had only seen that kind of hatred in her eyes once before in the Amazon Village and Joxer wanted that memory to go away. "It was hard for her to accept Xena changed. She never thought it could happen. Once she rested, she’ll focus."

"There’s something wrong. I know Gabrielle, Joxer and she just slipped away from me…from all of us in a matter of moments. I’m scared for her." He paused for a moment looking at Joxer with a sadness in his eyes. Joxer nodded his head and tried to think of something to say. "I need to go back. I can’t leave her alone right now." He stood up from the table.

"No," Joxer said standing up and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I know I’m not great warrior or.." he looked down, "or even a good one at times. But let me go and sit with her. You need to eat." Iolaus started to protest, but Joxer wouldn’t allow it. "You won’t be any good to Gabrielle if you don’t eat and get some rest yourself. When you’re done here, just come up and I’ll disappear." He said, smiling at him.

"Joxer, I can’t…"

"Yes, you can, Iolaus. Look, I’m sorry about the way I treated you in Cornith…but I loved Gabrielle." Iolaus looked at him now, taking in every word. "I do, but I’ve watched the two of you in the last few days and I know she loves you…and you love her. It’s the best thing really. I’ve never seen her happier than when she told me she was getting married. You make her happy, Iolaus," Joxer paused for a moment, "and I just glad that she found someone like you." He said, quickly and turned to the stairs.

"Joxer," Iolaus stood next to him. "Thank you." Iolaus said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Joxer nodded and headed up the stairs to the room where Gabrielle was.

Iolaus watched him leave and smiled to himself. Now, I know why you are his friend, Gabby. He’s a nice guy. Iolaus sat down and decided he should take Joxer’s advice, he was starving.

Hercules found Xena finally at a clearing not far from Thebes. He watched her as she got off the brown horse she was riding, whistled and saw Argo, Xena’s horse come toward her.

"Hey, girl." She soothed to Argo. "How have things been?" She said, petting Argo’s nose.

Hercules wondered why she hadn’t had Argo with her. He was starting to get the picture.

"Who’s there?" She asked, suddenly. Her warrior instincts went into effect as she stood facing where Hercules stood. She relaxed a bit when she saw him and then anger crept in her eyes. "Go away, Hercules. I don’t need your help. You destroyed everything last time." She turned away quickly. Argo whined "It’s all right, girl," she said, quieting him.

"Why do this?" Hercules said, trying to understand now what would make Xena hurt her best friend and turn away from all of them. "What threat did Ares make this time?" Hercules moved closer to her. She turned away from his gaze.

"I told you to leave, Hercules," she turned to him quickly. Her eyes were cold and unfeeling. "What you can’t take a woman telling you what to do." She pulled the reins down Argo’s back, attempting to mount the animal. Hercules caught her arm and turned her back to face him.

"Xena, don’t do this," he said, softly. He could see her fighting against him in her mind. What was Ares up to? He questioned to himself. Xena pulled hard away from him, letting go of the reins in her hand. She turned quickly and kicked him square in the chest. Hercules fell back from her surprise attack. It took him a moment to recover. That was enough for Xena. She took out her sword and held it to his throat. Hercules looked up at her from the ground.

"Go away, Hercules…." She said with fire in her eyes. "All of you go away. You can’t save me," she mocked at him. A moment later, she was on Argo and riding away. Hercules watched after her as he got up. He knew what he had to do.

Gabrielle stirred slightly as she slowly turned her head towards the person sitting in the chair next to the bed. She opened her eyes focusing on her surroundings.

"Iolaus," she murmured, half-awake and still half-asleep. She closed her eyes again and reached out a hand. "Come here," she said, slowly almost in a whisper, "hold me." Her hand reached toward Joxer coaxing him. He looked around to see if Iolaus had actually entered the room. He realized Gabby just assumed it was her husband sitting there. She murmured something inaudible then turned completely towards Joxer. He looked at her, so beautiful, so innocent, Joxer thought as he watched her sleeping. Her hair shone in the moonlight as it streamed through the window. Slowly he reached out his hand to her, taking hers, she smiled in her sleep. By the gods, she was beautiful, Joxer said to himself. It wasn’t fair. All of his life he watched as men stole women he cared about. Even early on, he had to watch this horrible ordeal. His mind was fighting between his own desires and what was right. At least he appreciated her, Joxer said to himself. That was somewhat of a comfort. But then, Joxer wasn’t certain he actually believed that. Wasn’t Iolaus the one making Gabrielle a slave to him? Joxer looked around him suddenly. Where did that thought come from? He said to himself. Iolaus let her walk up to Xena and didn’t attack Xena after Gabrielle was hit. You would have defended her, wouldn’t you, Joxer? Joxer nodded his head at the thought. Of course, you would have. No one touched your Gabrielle. That’s right, Joxer said to himself. No one touches my Gabrielle….wait a minute, he said in his mind. She’s not mine. Sure she is, he heard himself think. Look at her. You were the one that spent time with her all those years. You traveled with her and Xena. You were her friend, even a confidant at times. What does Iolaus know about her, really. They hardly saw each other for all those years. He just walked in and stole her, claimed her like some prize in a battle. Yeah, Joxer said, anger flashing in his eyes. He didn’t know Gabrielle. He just saw a beautiful innocent girl and took advantage of her good heart and giving ways. He seduced her with his charms and then married her. Joxer started thinking hard now about that time when Iolaus first appeared on the scene. Potedia, remember, he said to himself. In Potedia, Iolaus and Gabrielle had spent a few weeks together as she was healing from the deep wounds of Dahok’s torture. He knew she’d be weak, isn’t that why he showed up to use that to his advantage. What was Gabrielle supposed to do. He was sweet, charming, kind, everything she needed after that evil. She didn’t have a chance against him. He’s no better than…Joxer didn’t really feel himself move, he just reacted. He sat down on the bed, gently placing her arm aside to lean against the wall and put his feet up. That’s right, Joxer, you’ll protect poor Gabby from him. He’s not going to hurt her again. He’s probably off charming some barmaid now or an unsuspecting villager. Moving on to his latest victim, forgetting all about his beautiful, loving wife. Gabrielle moved suddenly, turning to lay on Joxer’s chest, she smiled and slowly…

"Joxer, what in Tartarus are you doing?" Iolaus said from the doorway as he entered the room. His own interpretation of the scene in front of him was evident on Iolaus’s face, staring back at Joxer. At the same moment, Gabrielle had woken up and jumped at Iolaus’s voice.

Joxer was looking at Iolaus with a confused expression on his face.

"Joxer," Gabrielle said, looking at him and then turning to her husband.

Joxer didn’t know what to say. He knew he had been thinking about Gabby and that must have led him to lie down on the bed, but that assumption even confused Joxer. He wouldn’t do something like that. Besides, Iolaus was….remember it’s just playing with you. Acting like your friend, when all along, he’s been laughing at you. He thinks he’s a great warrior and you’re nothing in his eyes. Not worthy of a woman, much less his wife. Look at him, Joxer’s mind said, he’s so confident that you’re wrong and he’s right.

"Yeah," Joxer said, suddenly startling both Gabrielle and Iolaus. Iolaus recovered and stared at him, moving a step closer. Gabrielle stood up. Slowly, Joxer stood up challenging Iolaus. "Are you scared that Gabrielle might find out you’re not the only real man around?" Joxer moved a step toward Iolaus, staring him down.

Gabrielle’s face turned into shock as she listened to his words. This wasn’t like Joxer. He was challenging Iolaus. Could he possibly be that stupid? Gabrielle thought to herself.

"Joxer, I suggest you leave this room, before someone gets hurt," Iolaus was hoping Joxer would listen to reason…for once. He was wrong.

"Are you scared of me?" Joxer said, looking at him intently waiting for a fight. Iolaus looked over at Gabrielle, she was staring at Joxer in disbelief. He didn’t want to….Iolaus felt a hard fist hit it jaw. His head fell downward but he didn’t waver. Immediately he turned back to Joxer, who tried not to look surprised at Iolaus’s ability to take his punch. Before Gabrielle could say no, Iolaus pushed Joxer hard against the wall behind him, holding him up slightly off the floor.

"I guess you didn’t hear me," Iolaus said, taking a breath and attempting to control the anger that was boiling inside of him. "I said you should leave now." Joxer laughed and Gabrielle decided that was enough. Iolaus was going to kill him.

"All right, Joxer. You proved your strength, now go…." she said, quickly moving to the two men. Iolaus and Joxer didn’t turn to look at her.

"It’s good advice." Iolaus said and let him go, walking slightly away. Joxer smiled, grabbed Gabrielle, who let out a small scream. He kissed her hard and quick and then headed for the open window. He jumped. Both Iolaus and Gabrielle ran to he window and saw him land on the ground with a….

"Owww!" He got up slowly and shook his head clear. What was I thinking? He said and looked up at the third story window he had just jumped from. He should have twisted his ankle and done much worse, but he was fine. That made him happy for a moment, until he saw Iolaus’s face, staring down at him.

"What?!" He yelled up at them. That was it, Iolaus got up on the window ledge to jump.

"No," Gabrielle yelled, pulling him back. "Just let him go." She said, looking at him. Iolaus looked down at Joxer once more and then walked away from the window.

"Gabby, I jumped, did you see that?" Joxer yelled, proud of himself.

"Yeah, Joxer," Gabrielle yelled back annoyed at him. "I hope it knocked some sense into you," she said under her breath and walked over to Iolaus. Joxer shrugged his shoulders at her and turned away.

"Hey, I’m better than I thought," he smiled to himself and walked back inside the inn and to the tavern. That deserved a drink, he thought to himself.

"All right, Ares, you had your fun," Aphrodite said, looking over at her brother. She was mad, Joxer wasn’t a bad guy. She had fun with him, making him a warrior and all with that bell thing. He hadn’t ever done anything to her brother, so why was he picking on the poor dud now. And with Iolaus no less, that was her babe to play with. Iolaus and her go way back and even though she hated that little good girl, Gabrielle, she thought it was kind of sweet when they found out they loved each other. Cupid had told her they were soul mates and meant for each other. So if she had to lose ‘curly’ she wasn’t a bad second choice in Aphrodite's eyes. But this was too much, this time, Ares has gone too far. "Look, bro I understand you’ve got this need to have Xena as your babe and all, but chill out all ready. They don’t have anything to do with it." She moved around Ares’s temple, grimacing at the horrible decorating.

"It’s not your problem who I want you to play with or did you forget what I have?" Ares smiled at her and instantly her face changed to a pout and flash of anger. "Or should I say who? Now, we wouldn’t want anything to happen to that sweet son of yours, would we?"

"Take a pill," she said, turning away from him. "Leave my son, alone. Cupid is my problem child, dysfunctional features and all. So back off him all ready or I’m gonna get really mad."

"Don’t worry, just do what I say about Joxer and…" a disgusted expression came across his face, "your sweetie boy there and I promise nothing will happen to Cupid in Tartarus."

"You know you may act like ten foot wave, but wait until Herc finds out what you did, you’re just be a puddle," she smiled back at him, mischievely.

"Who’s gonna tell him," he said, moving towards her, "sis." He looked down at her and they stared at each other for a long moment.

"Ooooh!" She said, bursting into a pink god-light and disappearing.

"Yea," Ares said, smiling. "Don’t stray too far."

"Look Joxer, I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you’re not…." Iolaus said, clearly angered. He was standing across from Joxer outside the Inn. This conversation was starting to annoy Iolaus, ever since this morning, Joxer had acted as if nothing happened yesterday. Iolaus was all for forgiving a lapse of judgement, but to claim he didn’t even know what he did to get both him and Gabby upset was a whole other story. Of course, Iolaus didn’t bring up the other issue bothering him. When Joxer asked him how Gabrielle was this morning, Iolaus hadn’t exactly told the truth. Gabrielle was anything but ‘fine’ as he had said. She hardly slept last night between the tormenting dreams and staring blankly ahead of her, Iolaus was getting worried and he had all ready wondered if the gods were involved in this bizarre behavior of his wife. This thought about the gods wasn’t given to Joxer though, a fact that maybe would explain his strange behavior, Iolaus was too upset by Gabby’s condition to think that way right now. Given a few moments of silence, he might have thought about it, but it was clear Iolaus received less sleep than even Gabrielle, who was pleasantly eating breakfast inside at the Inn.

Although, Gabrielle seemed fine this morning and back to her ‘usual positive self’, she wasn’t fooling her husband and she knew it. Since they had encountered Joxer this morning, Gabby had been overly nice trying to make up for his strange behavior yesterday. She had told Iolaus she felt sorry for Joxer. After all, he had cared about her and it must be hard to see her in the arms of another man. Iolaus understood that all too well, he had been on the receiving side of that torment before, but that didn’t stop him from blowing up at Joxer in the Inn when they had tried to discuss the subject and hopefully, resolve it. Iolaus could forgive and forget as good as anyone, sometimes better, but to ignore what happened and going so far as to denying it ever happened was too much for Iolaus’s all ready worked-over emotions. That conversation and subsequent conclusion sent Iolaus outside with Joxer following trying to find out what was wrong. So, here they were outside in the streets of Thebes, when Hercules saw approached them.

"Hi," Hercules said, patting Iolaus on the back. "We need to talk." He looked over at Joxer. "All of us. Where’s Gabrielle?"

"Inside." Iolaus said, quickly focusing his attentions on Hercules. Finally, he could focus on someone else’s problems. "What’s going on?"

"Ares," Hercules said, matter-of-factly to both of them. He looked from Joxer to Iolaus and instantly he felt a tension between them. Hercules didn’t want to ask why, he figured the pretty red-head sitting at one of the Inn’s tables eating had something to do with it. Hercules didn’t miss much in the way of people’s feelings. It something he was usually pretty good with and even if he couldn’t read Joxer, he could see it all in his best friend’s face. He knew that ‘Iolaus look’ all too well. He wanted to question him when he decided against it, Iolaus would only think he was telling him what to do. He respected him too much for that and he needed all their help if they were going to help Xena.

"Hercules," Gabrielle said, smiling and looking up at him as the group approached her table. She glanced at Iolaus and then focused back on Hercules, it was obvious on her husband’s face nothing was resolved between him and Joxer. "Where’s Xena?" Her face suddenly showed all the worry she had been trying to keep hidden since yesterday.

"I met up with her just outside the city’s gates, she attacked me when I wouldn’t leave." Everyone sat down at the table as they listened to Hercules recount what happened with Xena. "She took off on Argo. I don’t know where she headed, but I think I know why Xena hit you yesterday, Gabrielle." He looked directly at her. Her eyes expressing sadness and curiosity about his statement. "Xena is trying to send us all away….to protect us. Ares has her."

"So, we have to help her and get her away from Ares," Gabrielle said, quickly, standing up ready to battle with gods. Hercules stood up and took her hand, pulling her slightly back to her seat.

"No, Gabrielle, you’re not going anywhere. I think Xena knows what she’s doing." Hercules said, causing the other three to focus all attention on him again.

"But you just said that Ares has Xena under his control," Iolaus said.

"I think it’s an act. All of it. She didn’t plan on us appearing in Thebes and that surprised her and comforted her at the same time." Hercules looked at Iolaus now. "Think about it, Iolaus, she had compassion in her eyes when Gabrielle questioned her. She wanted to tell her something, but couldn’t. I also think Xena expected to see both of you," he said indicating to Iolaus and Gabrielle that he meant them, "in Cornith."

"She’s going to Cornith?" Iolaus said.

"I’m not certain, but I think Ares is using the two of you against Xena and that is why she’s obeying him…right now." Hercules stood up. "So you both have to stay here. I’m going to Cornith. I know she doesn’t want my help, but she’s been the first to help me, especially when I don’t want it." He smiled quickly.

"No," Gabrielle said standing up. "If you are going to find Xena, I am going, too. She’s my best friend, Hercules." She said, trying to make him understand. "She’ll need my help."

"I understand that you want to help Xena," Iolaus said, taking her hand. She turned to him. "But Herc is right, we don’t know how far Ares will go. You’d be putting Xena and yourself in danger, I can’t allow that," he added with a finality that instantly set Gabrielle in the wrong state of mind. She let go of his hand and moved a step away.

"I don’t care what happens to me. That’s my friend…and you can’t stop me from going," she paused slightly, showing how difficult fighting with Iolaus was. She turned away quickly not looking into his eyes.

"Gabrielle, I think Iolaus is right." Hercules said, causing her to shoot deadly eyes at him. Hercules tried to reason with her. "You’d be walking into a trap and I can’t allow it either."

"So, what am I supposed to do? Wait for you to return and do nothing to help her." Gabrielle shook her head.

"Xena would never want to put you in danger, Gabrielle. You know that. That’s why she hit you yesterday. It would stop you from going after her." Hercules moved a step closer to her and gave her a slight smile. "She knew you would want to help her. She had to stop you from thinking she was the same friend you knew. She had no choice. Now, the best thing you can do is wait. If I or Xena needs your help, I’ll come back and get you, I promise." He smiled at her now trying to make her understand. "The safest place for you to be is here with Iolaus and Joxer. They can protect you if Ares does have a plan." Gabrielle listened to Hercules’s words and she knew in her heart he was right about everything, but it didn’t help her from feeling like a small child being told what to do by an older brother. It made her furious, she would do as he said, but she didn’t have to like it.

"You’re right," she said sadness apparent in her voice. Iolaus touched her hand, slightly. She looked at him and silently they apologized to each other.

"All right, so what are you going to do?" Iolaus asked Hercules as he moved pass Gabrielle.

"I’m going to talk to my brother." He said with conviction and headed out of the Inn.

"What are we supposed to wait around for the God of War to attack us?" Joxer said, annoyed at the fact he had to wait for anything at all. Gabrielle and Iolaus shot him a look that annoyed Joxer further. He shrugged his shoulders and sat down.

"Are you trying to threaten me, Ares?" Artemis said, clearly annoyed at Ares’s attitude. She was dressed in her hunter’s green tunic, carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows on her back. Athena stood to the opposite side of Artemis, peering at Ares from her glasses perched on the end of her nose. Her dress wasn’t cut low like Artemis but rather a more prudent style suited to her title as the Goddess of Wisdom. A long dress draped to the floor, she held a book in one hand, apparently something she had been reading when she was interrupted b her brother. "I don’t particularly care about that vain sister of mine. Aphrodite gets what she deserved, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to help you carry out this plan against the warrior woman, Xena." Artemis shifted her weight onto the other side and looked at Ares defiantly.

"I have to agree with her," she shot a look to Artemis, saying she hated to agree with her sister on any matter, but unfortunately she had to this time. "What do I care about this woman?"

"You should both care. It will affect you greatly if you disobey," he moved closer to Artemis smiling and then stopped inbetween the two women. "First an army has been sent to take care of your little Amazons," he said to Artemis, smiling wickedly at her.

"You wouldn’t dare," she spat back at him.

"Oh, wouldn’t I? After all, I only ask for one Amazon Princess in exchange for the entire race of them. A fair deal, I think." Ares turned his eyes to Athena. "And you, dear sister, will see the destruction of your beloved Athens." He smiled at Athena as she instantly took a step towards him. "Or I could just kill that lover of yours." He shot her another smile.

"Ares, you can’t do that. Father would…"

"Father does not care what I do as long as it deosn’t hurt his precious little son Hercules." Ares turned away and sat on his throne. "Now, all I ask from the two of you is to cause some distractions for that…annoying little sidekick of Hercules, while I destroy Xena’s closest friend."

"Why not just kill her?" Athena said, annoyed now that she had to take orders from her brother.

"Because driving her mad is so much more appealing for Xena to come home to," Ares smiled at his own plan. "Besides it helps keep the game going. And I just love a good game."

"You’re asking me to seduce a hunter so you can send his wife, an Amazon Princess mad? You’re asking a lot Ares." Artemis said, walking up to him. Ares stood up and held her chin tightly.

"I’m sure you’re up to the task, dear. Besides, I want more than a seduction, don’t I?"

"Look, if you’re so hot about getting a warrior child for you to teach. Why not wait until Gabrielle has her child and take it?" Athena said, calmly looking over at her sister. She knew she was the only one who was aware of Gabrielle’s ensuring pregnancy. She saw surprise flash in both her brother’s and sister’s eyes.

Ares recovered quickly. "Because I don’t want another annoying warrior from their union. I have had enough of a problem with those two all ready, don’t you think? If you’re speaking the truth, Athena then that’s your job. Take care of the little problem. If he is allowed to be born, I will hold you personally responsible and your precious Athens." Ares smiled back at his sister, showing her he didn’t intend on negotiating this deal any further.

"What do I get, Ares?" Athena said, moving a step closer to him. Her brother never bothered her before with these little schemes of his. She was starting to become concerned, they had heard about Cupid, Psyche and their little baby, Bliss in Tartarus and she knew what Ares was capable of. Could this Xena be worth that much to him? Athena thought. Maybe there was a way out of this if only she could convince her sisters of it.

"You, my dear sister," Ares said, closing in on her, "get to keep Athens as I have said. I promise no harm shall come to your city. And you," Ares turned toward Artemis, "get your Amazons." He turned back to his throne and put up his hands. "See, everyone is happy." He sat down, both goddesses looked at each other for a moment.

"Very well, Ares," Artemis said, disappearing in a green god-light.

"Do not betray my confidence, brother." Athena warned him before disappearing in her yellow god-light.

"I wouldn’t think of it, my dear sisters," Ares said to himself and smiled.

"Ares!" Hercules yelled standing in his temple looking at the throne. Ares smile faded as he disappeared and re-appeared in front of Hercules.

"What!" Ares said, sitting on his throne, throughly annoyed now. "I am busy Hercules. I am the God of War, you know." Ares stood up, walking past Hercules brushing him off. Hercules caught his arm, causing Ares to shoot him a disapproving look. Hercules ignored it.

"What are you doing, Ares?"

"What are you talking about now?" Ares said, trying to look innocent. It didn’t work. It never did with his half-brother. Hercules stared him down for a moment, before Ares pulled his arm away and shook his head. "I suggest you go back to helping those peasants you love so much." While you still have the chance, he thought to himself. A small smile escaped his lips.

"You listen to me, Ares. Whatever you threatened Xena with to make her turn away from her friends won’t work." He advanced on Ares, a move only Hercules even had the guts to do. No one, even his own sisters, would dare advance upon the God of War. Ares had respect for his half-brother, he couldn’t deny that. If only he could have seen things his way, they would have made a great team. But, circumstances are they are, Hercules had come between Ares and his conquests more than once and personally, Ares was getting sick and tired of this particular relative. Respect or not, it was time to end Hercules. Left alone, Xena, Hercules and their two annoying sidekicks could turn his own warriors against him. Ares had seen it happen more than once and that was unacceptable to the God of War. What would the world be like without him? Without war? They’d be bored, Ares thought. Pathetic, peaceful people with no real cause to fight for or against. No, that was no going to happen, not while he had something to say about it. He looked at Hercules, smiling.

"Give it up, brother. You’re no match for me," he walked past Hercules, whispering, "when I get going." He sat down on his throne again, contented that the conversation was over.

"I’m warning you, Ares, whatever you think you’ll accomplish with this little game," Hercules started. Ares interrupted him with laughter.

"Come now, Herc," he said in a mocking tone. "What are you, your little friend, that joke warrior and the bard with a stick going to do about it?" He paused for a moment. "Huh?"

Hercules walked up to Ares, defiantely. "I’m going to be everywhere." He said, causing Ares to stop smiling and stare him down for a moment. Fine, you want a war, Hercules, you got it, Ares said to himself and disappeared in his god-light, leaving Hercules alone in the cold temple.

Hercules took a deep breath and walked out of the temple with a new sense of dread in his heart. He knew Ares all too well and he knew he had just upped the stakes for all of them. He had to get to Xena before Ares did. He wasn’t sure of the game Ares was playing but he was certain it was all about Xena. His brother had an unhealthy obsession for her.

Xena stopped just outside of Cornith for the night. The loneliness was starting to creep in again, she could always feel it. This feeling wasn’t new to Xena, she had felt it for years before she had found Gabrielle. Hercules cured it once and she believed Gabrielle cured it for good, staying with her all those years. Xena knew it would have to end eventually, she hadn’t fooled herself in believing Gabrielle would be with her forever. However, she had to admit she was surprised when Gabrielle had announced Iolaus and her were getting married. She wasn’t blind, Xena had seen the attraction Gabrielle and Iolaus had for each other and despite missing Gabby terribly she did want her to be happy. That was one of her wish’s for the sweet bard that had changed her. Iolaus was a good man, she had said when Gabrielle told her she loved him while they were in Potedia after Dahok was defeated. It wasn’t a forced statement to make her friend feel better, Xena believed in Iolaus. He had forgiven her for her deception years earlier and even counted Xena among his friends, that always meant a lot to the Warrior Princess. Iolaus was a good man and he deserved to be happy as well, but what about her? Was she ever going to find that kind of happiness. She had it once, but it seemed so long ago now, didn’t it? Hercules was her strength sometimes, her friend, what she aspired to become, but was there more. Of course, there was, she told herself, sitting in front of the fire. You love him, Xena. You should have taken him up on his offer of travelling with you, but no, you had to be independent, strong-willed, show him that you could go it alone. She shook her head. Foolish. That’s what you are, Xena. You should have stayed in Cornith with your friends and then gone with Hercules, he could have helped stop this mess before it started. If Hercules had been with me, would Ares had even tried…she thought about that last question quite a few times since Ares had first come to her that night, a month ago. She threw another stick on the fire, trying to focus on her own plan. It had to work, she told herself. You only get so many chances to be forgiven, even if they are your friends.

Xena shivered for a moment and knew that Ares was watching him, she could always feel him near. It didn’t matter, he couldn’t control her thoughts. At least something was still hers. She laid down on the cold ground and closed her eyes. Gabrielle, she thought as she saw the face of her friend before her. She thought about Gabrielle and Iolaus’s wedding, Cornith, Amphilos, her mother…and Hercules her last thought as she drifted off to sleep. She didn’t see the fur blanket appear over her or see the God of War, sitting next to her.

"It’s just you and me, Xena…," Ares spoke softly next to her, touching her raven hair, "finally." He smiled, silently disappearing into the night.

Iolaus waited patiently a step away in the early morning light as Gabrielle spent her second trip to the woods to throw up today. It had started right after she had woken up. He had said, good morning and she had run out of the small room, downstairs and out the door, disappearing into a patch of bushes not far away. Then acting as if she was fine, they had both re-entered the tavern and she declared she was hungry. So they ordered breakfast and Iolaus watched her eat more than even him and that in itself was quite an accomplish for the little bard, even Joxer had commented on it. Iolaus and Joxer listened to Gabrielle tell another tale of Xena and her adventures, Iolaus thought that was a good sign. If Gabrielle was telling stories she was getting better and it stopped them all from thinking about Hercules and Xena for the moment. Then, suddenly, Gabrielle looked at Iolaus in mid-sentence, excusing herself she ran out of the tavern again. Iolaus and Joxer followed her this time, only to find her back in the bushes, depositing her entire breakfast.

"Are you all right, honey?" Iolaus said, from the short distance away from her. She came out of the bushes, her face a bit paler than last time. She leaned on a nearby tree for support. Iolaus went to her.

"I guess I can’t eat like you," she said, half-smiling up at him. He smiled back at her in sympathy.

"Maybe, it’s Ares," Joxer said, causing Gabrielle and Iolaus to look at him.

Iolaus was about to agree with Joxer when the wife of Inn Keeper came towards them, carrying a few pieces of bread.

"Here, eat some bread," she said to Gabrielle holding the bread out for her. Gabrielle took it looking at Iolaus. He shrugged his shoulders. "It’ll help keep the sickness away," she smiled at the bard, knowingly. "How long?" She asked Gabrielle.

"Since this morning?" Gabrielle answered, assuming she was asking about not being able to keep her stomach in check. The woman laughed outloud. Joxer and Iolaus exchanged a confused look.

"No, my dear," she leaned into Gabrielle, smiling. "How long before the child is born?" That caused Gabrielle to gasp and look at Iolaus, he was just as taken back by the women’s words. Slowly a grin came across his face as the reality of her statement sunk in. He was going to be a father. The women looked from Iolaus to Joxer and back to Gabrielle, realizing what she had done. "I’m sorry, I thought you knew." She smiled at Gabrielle and pointed to the bread, "eat some when you feel sick. Trust me, I’ve had seven children and it works every time. Come on, I’ll cook you some soup." She took Gabrielle’s hand for a moment and patted it. "You need to fatten up, girl if you’re going have a baby." She walked past Joxer and back to the inn, mumbling.

Iolaus and Gabrielle stood next to each other looking at the woman as she walked away. Suddenly, Gabrielle felt herself being picked up and twirled around. She laughed quickly as Iolaus put her back on the ground.

"A baby! Gab, we’re going to have a baby," he said, excitedly. Gabrielle smiled at him. It made her happy to see him so pleased about it. Gabrielle had different thoughts, but for the time being she would try to be happy with her husband. After all, it was their baby and she shouldn’t be anything but happy. "Honey, aren’t you glad?" She should have known better than try to hide anything from him. He knew her too well. She smiled and touched his face.

"Of course, I am," she said, all of her hidden emotions showing in her eyes. He stopped smiling and looked at her. Joxer decided it was time for him to go back to the inn, the scene was becoming uncomfortable for him. He started to say something, but decided against it. He turned and walked away, heading back towards the tavern…and a drink, he said to himself as an afterthought. Gabrielle was going to have a baby. Joxer had never really thought about it before. Of course, they would have children, Joxer thought. They were married.

"Gabrielle…" he said trying to understand the expression in her face. It was a sadness combined with…Was that fear? Iolaus thought. What was she afraid of? And then, it hit him and he could have honestly cut himself with his own dagger for being so foolish. When he looked back at her, his own expression reflected the understanding in his eyes. He hugged her tight to him and softly stroked her hair. "Oh, sweetheart, I’m sorry. I just didn’t think…Oh, Gabby," he tried to sooth her as he talked. "We’re going to get through this. Just tell me what you want," he slowly pulled her away to look into her eyes. She was crying now. He hated when a woman cried, never could stand the sight of it, but Gabrielle, his sweet, beautiful, kind Gabrielle crying, it was too much for Iolaus’s heart. He pulled her to him again, holding her against him so close as if his own will would make her sadness cease.

"I’m so sorry, Iolaus," he heard her say almost in a whisper. Her face pressed against his chest. "I’m so sorry…"

"Shh," he said, slightly rocking her in his arms. "There is nothing to be sorry about." She broke from his embrace for a moment. His arm was still around her waist and they gazed at each other. There were tears streaming down her cheeks now. Iolaus’s eyes also filled with tears as he gently caressed her cheek. It couldn’t let her go through this alone.

"I can’t….", she shook her head at him, looking down. "I just can’t." She broke completely from his arms and ran away into the nearby wood. Iolaus looked after her for a moment, waiting to give her the space she needed, but it was still too dangerous for her to be out here alone.

"Gabrielle," he shouted as he followed her into the woods. "Gabrielle!" He yelled as he ran for a few minutes more and then stopped as a burst of green god-light appeared in right of him.

"Artemis!" Iolaus said, shocked as the complete form of the beautiful hunter-goddess materialized before him.

"Hi, Iolaus," she said, smiling sweetly at him. "How’s life been for my favorite hunter?"

She leaned against a tree, one foot on the trunk.

"Artemis, I’m busy," he said, running past her.

"She’ll be fine," Artemis said, turning and walking up to him. He stopped and turned to her with anger.

"Are you here for some reason?" He asked quickly as his eyes scanned across the woods, looking for Gabrielle.

Artemis walked up to him, slowly tracing her hand along his face and down to his chest. He pushed her hand off him.

"I’d have thought this was more Aphrodite’s style," he said. "I always thought you had more sense." Iolaus could tell that annoyed Artemis. She prided herself on being more than just a petty goddess.

"I’m here to help you…and your little Amazon princess," she said, smiling again, trying to ignore his eyes. Iolaus could tell something was very wrong.

"Why would we need your help, Artemis? Unless you intend to stop Ares," he said, pausing for a moment. "I didn’t think so." He turned and walked away. Artemis followed him again. The fact that a goddess was pursuing him would have caused Iolaus concern, but right now all he wanted to do was find Gabrielle. He didn’t have time to think about why Artemis was here or why she was following him.

"Come on, Iolaus. Have I ever done anything to hurt you or Gabrielle?" He stopped again and turned to face her once more, taking a deep breath. She stood a few inches from his face causing them to almost hit into each other when he had turned. Iolaus took a step back, thinking about what she said. He had to admit, she was one of the better goddesses, if there was such a thing. She was the protector of hunters, Iolaus thought, still remembering the first time he had met her on the beach. That stupid beauty contest set by Aphrodite, Iolaus thought with a tinge of anger and a bit amused by the whole thing. Artemis had seemed harmless to him then, and, Iolaus said to himself, she was the protector of the Amazons as well, so maybe she was here to help. He figured he could allow her a minute, but that was all. He wanted to find Gabrielle.

"Ok, Artemis, tell me why you’re here. I’m listening."

She smiled and touched his face, gently, before he stopped her again.

"I heard about Gabrielle’s condition." She said, keeping her back to him. She laughed slightly, "I always thought you two were meant for one another," she turned back to face him. She could tell Iolaus was getting impatient. It was now or never, she thought to herself. "A hunter and a Amazon Princess about to have a child, what more could I have wished for?" She moved in closer and took his hand. "That’s why it upsets me so much for what I’m about to do." She sighed and before Iolaus could stop her, they had both disappeared from the woods. "Sorry, Gabrielle," Artemis’s voice could be heard echoing through the woods.

Gabrielle looked up from where she had been sitting and crying. She heard the goddess’s voice clearly, but she neither knew who spoke or could possibly understand what Artemis had meant by the apology. That would come much later for Gabrielle.

Hercules found Xena the next morning as she headed into the Village of Cornith. He had actually found her the night before but waited at a safe distance until morning. He needed time to think first. He watched her now.

"You can come out, Hercules," Xena said, annoyed as she stopped at a hill overlooking the village. She knew someone had been there, she just wasn’t certain who until a few minutes ago.

"Never could fool you," Hercules said, stepping forward with a smile on his face. She turned to face him, anger flashed in her eyes again.

"I told you to stay away from me. What, can’t take no for an answer?" She said, trying to look into his eyes. If she avoided them, Hercules would know what she was trying to do. She almost laughed to herself. He probably all ready does, she thought.

"I don’t listen well when it comes to a friend in trouble," Hercules said, moving closer to her. She stood her ground. "Xena, stop this game. I can help you if you’ll let me." Xena laughed out loud. Hercules didn’t wait for insulting comment he knew would follow that laugh, he grabbed her arm pulling her into him. "Stop fighting this alone. Whatever Ares said, you can’t trust him. You know that…and whatever you think you can’t fight him…not alone…not like this." He stared at her with a intensity only Xena could withstand. Most mortals would have broken by now. After all, he was the son of Zeus and when he wanted to, he could show the attributes that were obviously inherited by the King of Gods.

"You don’t know what I’m capable of, now that I’m away from you and that little girl," she pulled away from his hold and stared back at him with her own intensity, one that frightened mere mortal men. "To think I let you and then her convince me fighting for good was worth it. What did it ever get you? Two dead wives and dead children," Xena spat, this time she did avert his eyes. It was too much and she wished she could take it back as soon as she had said it, but it was too late.

"I don’t know what Ares said to you, but regardless of what you think or say, I know you Xena, and you would never hurt Gabrielle…or me, intentionally." Hercules moved a step towards her. Xena knew she was trapped. "Unless someone had their hold on you. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you intend to just leave everything you worked so hard for in these past years and go back to your old life." He grabbed her shoulders, quickly, surprising Xena for a moment. "Tell me, Xena." He shook her, "tell me the truth."

"Will you leave if I tell you the truth?" Xena said, calmly, trying to ignore the desperation in his eyes. For a long moment, they both stared at each other. Finally, Xena took a breath, still looking in Hercules’s eyes. "Yes, I intend to return to my old life, Hercules." He let go of her. "I’ve been a fool to believe in you and Gabrielle. Helping people only gets you killed…or worse. People leave no matter what, Hercules. You should know that all too well." She started to turn away, but looked back at Hercules with sadness in her eyes, "not all of us can ask Hades for a favor to bring back our dead," she turned and walked over the hill towards the village. The words she had spoke were cutting to Hercules, but despite their meaning, he smiled to himself. They were a little too cutting and gave Hercules the answer he was looking for. He knew Ares was threatening one or more of them and Xena had her own ideas about stopping him. That part wasn’t hard, but Ares was after Gabrielle specifically. Why now? Hercules said to himself. He could have killed her a million times before. Especially after she was married. But now, she and Iolaus were out of the hero business, so to speak, so why is Ares so intent on killing Gabrielle now. And he really wanted to kill her, couldn’t he? Of course, Hercules thought, it so much more amusing for Ares to put Xena through the torture of it all first. Whatever Xena was trying to do, she had to know Ares would only kill her after all of this was over. He can never be trusted. Hercules tried to believe that was what this was all about, true Ares style, but something told him there was still something he was missing.

"Xena!" Hercules called. Xena didn’t turn around. Ok, we are gong to do this the hard way, Hercules said to himself. He charged down the hill with lighting speed, knocking Xena over before she could even feel him coming. She went down. Hercules stood over her. "Now, can we talk?"

She started to reach for her sword, he stepped on her hand as he came down to reach the hilt. She closed her eyes for a moment and decided this fight was be useless and she wasn’t really in the mood.

"I should have known it wouldn’t work," she said in a defeated voice. Hercules stared at her now.

"What?"

"Can I get up now?" She said, smiling at him. Hercules knew that smile. She was the Xena he had come to know. He took her hand and pulled her up. "Thanks," she said, looking down slightly. "All right, you win." She looked back up at him. "I can’t fight you," Xena smiled again.

"I don’t know," Hercules said, rubbing his head where she had hit him the day before, "you can hit really hard." He smiled and took her hand, leading them both down the hill and into Cornith, his home village.

"Gabrielle," Joxer said as he saw Gabrielle enter the tavern. He could see she had been crying and was trying to hide it. She smiled weakly at Joxer and then her eyes scanned the room quickly. Joxer smiled at her, he knew who she was looking for.

"I haven’t seen him. I thought he was with you." Joxer said, escorting her to a chair. She stopped as they reached the table. "Are you hungry?" She looked up at him, quickly. "I’m sorry. Maybe just something to drink," he said.

"Yes, that would be nice. Thanks, Joxer," she said, touching his arm. Joxer went to the bar, smiling. He heard some commotion toward the entrance of the tavern. When he looked, he couldn’t believe his own eyes. His mouth dropped open. Gabrielle’s reaction was slightly different.

Iolaus stood kissing a beautiful woman dressed in a hunter’s outfit. They were laughing and he looked transfixed only on her. Joxer started to walk up to him, but Gabrielle was all ready watching and she approached them first, pushing her husband forcibly back out the door.

She wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words, so she slapped him hard across the face. Iolaus shook his head and looked with confusing eyes into the eyes of his wife, who was visibly upset. "What in Tartarus are you doing, Iolaus?" Gabrielle yelled at him.

"Honey," Iolaus started.

"Oh no, don’t you ‘honey’ me?" She said, shaking her head. "I can’t believe you." She turned away, walking a few steps towards the woods. Iolaus could hear her talking to herself, he followed her to where she stood now, cursing him. "We’re meant to be together, soul mates he said," she laughed to herself. "No one could ever take us away from each other." She turned to face him, "yea, right."

"Gabrielle," he touched her shoulder, she pulled away.

"Oh no you don’t. You can’t sweet-talk your way out of this one, Iolaus." She spat back at him.

"Gabrielle," Iolaus said, more forcefully. Now he was getting angry. "What are you talking about? I went to find you and…" he started to think, but couldn’t remember what happened. "Artemis..," he said barely above a whisper. She looked at him now with anger flashing in her green eyes.

"So you expect me to believe that the goddess Artemis was that woman you were all over a minute ago. Oh that’s good," she said, putting her hands up in the air. "Of course," she started babbling again, "you’re a hunter and why not, she’s the goddess of hunters. So why not seduce you…" she stopped and turned back to him.

"Look, Gabrielle, I don’t know what happened, but I never was all over her," he looked away trying hard to remember the last hour, he couldn’t. He turned back to Gabrielle, pleading in his eyes. "Gabby, I love you. I wouldn’t ever…I couldn’t. Look, I don’t know what you thought you saw, but I was looking for you in the woods and…"

"And you just ran into Artemis, the goddess, right and she put some kind of spell over you so that you would love her and forget about me, right?"

"No!" He was getting frustrated. "I think she told me she was going to help us fight Ares." He heard Gabrielle laugh.

"Well, she’s been a lot of help," Gabrielle said and walked away. Iolaus started to follow her and was stopped by Joxer standing a few feet away. He approached Iolaus with a serious expression on his face.

"Let her go," he said. Iolaus shook his head.

"Joxer, get out of my way," Iolaus tried to be calm. Joxer took a step back and drew his sword. Iolaus shook his head.

"Joxer, she’s my wife. I’m going to talk with him about this. Whatever this is, now please, don’t make this hard." Iolaus said, calmly. Joxer stood his ground. Iolaus started to go around him, he blocked his way. When he tried to stop Iolaus a second time, Iolaus shook his head and kicked out Joxer’s legs causing him to fall.

"I’m sorry, Joxer, but you wouldn’t listen," Iolaus said, walking back to the tavern. Joxer recovered and ran toward Iolaus, giving a little warrior cry and leaping toward him. Iolaus moved slightly to the right, Joxer fell face first in the dirt. "I appreciate your protection of Gabrielle, Joxer, but I’m going to see her." Joxer stood up and threw a punch, Iolaus caught his hand, flipping him. Joxer landed on his back. Joxer got up quickly, faster than Iolaus thought and started to throw another punch at Iolaus. This time, Iolaus kicked him in the stomach. It wasn’t a hard kick, he didn’t want to hurt Joxer, but he was going to speak with Gabrielle and Joxer the Mighty wasn’t stopping him. Joxer went down and fortunately he stayed down this time, holding his stomach. Iolaus looked back once to make sure he was all right and walked into the inn and upstairs to see Gabrielle.

"Oh, sweetie pie," Joxer heard a familiar female voice say. He looked around. "Let me help you," Joxer felt himself get picked up and pulled into the woods a few feet away. Suddenly, Joxer saw the familiar pink god-light materialize into the shape of Aphrodite in her goddess of love splendor. Joxer smiled at her.

"Aphrodite," he said, almost panting as he looked at her. She was beautiful, every inch and with the outfit she wore, there wasn’t many of those inches left to the imagination.

"Hi, sweetie. Remember me?" She cooed. Slowly, she moved closer to him, touching his face and slowly caressing him as she moved to his chest. "So how has my favorite warrior been?" She said, teasing.

"Aphrodite…" he said, again in shock.

"Yea, we all ready did that, honey. Look, I need your help, warrior boy." Aphrodite moved away slightly to make certain he focused on what she was about to say. "Don’t you think it was horrible the way that man treats his little wife?"

"What?" Joxer said, trying to clear his head. Aphrodite was almost annoyed, she calmed herself and smiled back at him.

"You know, Iolaus messing around with the bodacious babe in green right in front of the wife. Unbelievable, what is marriage coming to, these days?" She laughed. "Well, anyway, I think it’s time for you to make your move, loverboy."

"My move? What move?" Joxer said, still smiling stupidly at her.

"You know," she moved into him and whispered in his ear. "Get the girl."

Joxer instantly felt like he could take on the world.

"I’ll give you a little help this time," she leaned over and kissed him. He was smiling when she ended the kiss his eyes still closed. She shook her head and clapped her hands in front of his face. Joxer snapped out of it and looked at her with his best warrior expression.

"I won’t fail you, oh sweet goddess," Joxer said, bowing before Aphrodite. She waved sweetly at him as he turned and walked back to the inn and his mission.

Aphrodite’s smile turned into a pout on her beautiful face.

"Creating mischief as usual," Athena’s voice came from behind Aphrodite. She turned quickly to look at her sister.

"I have my duties to fulfill," Aphrodite said, casually as she started to dematerialize. She hated Atena, always did. She was pretentious and always acting as if she knew everything, it bothered Aphrodite. Oh, she knew that she had more going for her than Athena, looks-wise, but the fact that Athena often referred to her as the ‘airhead sister’ upset Aphrodite. Sure, she was a blond when it came to the mortals that what they expected beauty with no brains, but it seemed only Hercules knew better. None of brothers or sisters bothered to look any deeper when it came to her.

"Wait," Athena said, quickly. Stopping Aphrodite in mid-materializing. She came back to the world, glaring at Athena now.

"What?"

"Has Ares sent Cupid free from Tartarus yet?" Athena asked, surprising Aphrodite. What was she doing here? Was she here to gloat or something?

"How do you know about that?" Aphrodite tried to act stupid, but she was too concerned for her son right now. Oh, sure he was a pain half the time, shooting those gooey arrows at mortals, but Cupid was her problem not Ares and it bothered her that her brother would hurt Cupid and that little baby of his. It more than bothered the Goddess of Love, it downright made her angry…and that was a hard task even for an immortal.

"I think Ares is using all of us," Athena stated, causing Aphrodite to laugh.

"Of course he is, Athena. Hello, even I know that." Aphrodite shook her head.

"Well, I think we need to meet." Athena looked at her sister, trying to judge if she could be trusted with anything.

"Who’s we?"

"You, me and Artemis." Athena stayed focused on Aphrodite. "There might be a way to get Cupid back." She added hoping that would change her mind.

"No way, you can just count me out of your little plan, Athena. I’m not stupid." Athena smiled at her. "You go up against Ares and he’ll toast Athens and there’s no way I’m working with Artemis. Her and her Amazons and hunters." Aphrodite smiled now. "Hey, if she cared so much about hunters and those amazon freaks why is she helping to destroy the little princess and curly. Looks to me like you two are the ones who have the problem." Aphrodite laughed and poofed into a pink god-light, leaving Athena alone in the woods.

"Didn’t think you would help," Athena said, walking towards the inn. "Air head," she added shaking her head.

Athena walked up to the Inn’s Entrance. Suddenly, she looked up at the sound of a breaking window. A chair came falling down right towards her. She side-stepped it and looked up again.

"I assume that’s your warrior with the major jealousy rage," Athena said, mocking Aphrodite’s tone.

"Look, Joxer, stop this. I thought we talked about this," Iolaus said, quickly dodging Joxer’s attempts at killing him. He had never seen Joxer fight like this. He was starting to worry Iolaus. It would have to hurt him back soon.

"Joxer, stop it!" Gabrielle yelled from the back of the room. Two chairs and a table have all ready been used to smash Iolaus’s head with. Luckily he was able to avoid them, but Joxer kept coming at him. "I told you the goddess Artemis did it, not Iolaus. She seduced him somehow." Gabrielle kept trying to reason with Joxer, but there didn’t seem to be any point to it. A few minutes earlier, Joxer had burst into their room when they were kissing. Iolaus had explained he didn’t remember anything after seeing Artemis in the woods and Gabrielle believed him. Why not? She had thought. She had run-ins with the gods before and knew their power over mortals and besides, after she calmed down, she realized Iolaus would never do something like that. She was embarrassed about her reaction enough, when Joxer decided to defend her honor to what he called ‘a untrusting, brutal husband.’ That made Iolaus as well as Gabrielle angry.

"That’s a good story. Did you make that up before or after you decided to leave sweet Gabrielle," Joxer spat at Iolaus. "You make me sick. You had her, she loved you and you couldn’t resist the charms of another beautiful woman, could you?" While he talked Joxer was swinging his sword toward Iolaus.

"Look, Joxer," he grabbed the sword after two more swings and turned it in his hand, causing Joxer to cry out. "I told you that is enough." The sword dropped out of Joxer’s hand, Iolaus let it go and Joxer looked at his hurt hand for a moment before yelling a warrior cry and kicking Iolaus hard in the stomach. Gabrielle rushed to his side, but he was all ready getting up. Joxer pulled Gabrielle’s hand and ran toward the door. Iolaus followed but was met with a sword at his neck.

"Now, I’m going to take Gabrielle to a place where she won’t be hurt by your lying words, traitor!" He yelled and backed out of the door. Unfortunately, he backed out so far, he hit the beam behind him and was knocked out for a second. Iolaus took Gabrielle’s hand and put her behind him.

"Where…Where am I?" Joxer mumbled, looking at Iolaus, who was slowly coming into focus.

"I’ll take this," Iolaus said, grabbing Joxer’s sword. "Thanks." He picked Joxer up by the shirt and dragged him into the room, shutting the door behind him. He sat Joxer on the bed while Gabrielle and Iolaus stood across from him, anger on their faces.

"What happened?" Joxer said, looking from Gabrielle to Iolaus and realizing something wasn’t right? Were they still fighting? Maybe he should leave. He started to stand up, but felt Iolaus push him back down, hard. "Ok, I’ll stay."

"What is going on with you?" Gabrielle finally said. "This is way beyond a crush."

"A…what?"

"You attacked Iolaus, trying to use his head for breaking furniture. Now tell us what’s going on?" Gabrielle looked straight at Joxer.

"I don’t know. Honestly, I…Aphrodite," Joxer said, dream-like. "She kissed me and then…"

"Then you tried to take my head off." Iolaus shook his head. "They are all involved. Ares, Artemis, Aphrodite. Why? What do they want?" Iolaus looked at Gabrielle for a moment. Both of them looked down at her stomach. Then Iolaus shook his head. "No, that’s foolish. We would they want to kill our baby."

"Because Ares wants Xena and you three out of the picture," Athena said, walking into the small room.

"Who?" Gabrielle and Joxer said together.

"Athena," Iolaus answered. They looked at him.

"Wow, you do hang out with the gods," Joxer said looking at Iolaus.

"What do you want now?" Iolaus was getting frustrated. "Look, Athena. Aphrodite all ready went through the jealousy thing with Joxer it didn’t work. Artemis tried seduction with me, that didn’t work either. Now what…" Iolaus just barely got the words out of his mouth, when he realized what she had been sent to do. He jumped in front of Gabrielle as the fireball from her hand, hit him in the stomach. Gabrielle screamed as Iolaus dropped to the floor.

"No! No!" Gabrielle said, holding Iolaus in her arms as he looked at her.

"All right, that’s it," Artemis said, materializing in front of Joxer. "You’ve gone too far, Athena."

"Hey, you know that was just heartless you…" Aphrodite materialized, looking at Athena.

They advanced upon her for a few steps.

"Hey, it’s no different than what you two were doing." Athena said in her defense. "Ares wanted the child dead. I was doing what I was told to do. So were both of you."

They stopped and looked at each other for a moment and then turned back to Athena.

"She’s right," Artemis said, annoyed. "But I didn’t kill anyone."

"Neither did I," Aphrodite chimed in. At least she wasn’t at fault.

"No, but you nearly got Iolaus killed with Joxer," Athena said, adding reasoning into the conversation now. "And you," she said turning on Artemis. "Protector of Hunters, goddess of the Amazons. What would the mortals think about what you did today?"

Aphrodite and Artemis looked at each other again and then all three goddess with an unspoken communication nodded their heads to each other.

"No, no please, you can’t die," Gabrielle was rocking Iolaus back and forth as the tears streamed down her face. Joxer was the only one to see the three goddesses turn and face Iolaus on the ground. They each raised a hand and a flash of brilliant light filled the room.

"Gabrielle," Iolaus said, softly opening his eyes.

"Thank the gods," Gabrielle whispered as she hugged Iolaus, kissing his face. Joxer smiled and turned back to the goddesses.

"You’re welcome," the three said in unison, looking at each other.

"Good job, sisters," Artemis said and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Iolaus got up, feeling strangely well again. "What about the baby?"

"We got bigger fish to fry," Aphrodite said, laughing to herself. Athena and Artemis looked at her, shaking their heads. Aphrodite turned to Gabrielle. "Learned that from your Xena. You mortals use the strangest phrases." She de-materialized before them.

"Look who’s talking," Athena said, smiling at Gabrielle. Artemis turned back to face Iolaus and Gabrielle.

"Don’t worry, Iolaus," Artemis said coming up to both of them. "I’ll make certain that child lives," she patted Gabrielle’s stomach. "Never had an Amazon and a hunter marry before." She smiled at Gabrielle. "This could be good…I look forward to seeing the little one." She smiled once more at Iolaus. "By the way, loved the wedding." She smiled at Gabrielle and was gone in a puff of green god-light.

"She was at our wedding?" Gabrielle said, shocked. She looked over at Iolaus. He shrugged his shoulders at her and smiled.

"Wow! Three goddesses in the same room." Joxer was staring into space. "One more beautiful than the next."

"Yea," Iolaus said, quickly. "Well, we better go find Hercules. This is getting more and more complicated," Iolaus took Gabrielle’s hand and walked to the door. "And it sounds like those three just declared their own war on Ares." Iolaus opened the door as a woman almost fell into him. She recovered quickly, looked at Iolaus and smiled.

"Iolaus!" She squealed, throwing her arms around him. Gabrielle looked at her husband.

"A friend of yours," she said, smiling through gritted teeth. The woman stopped her embrace and stood up, looking from Iolaus to Gabrielle, who was staring at her now.

The woman wore a combination skirt/pants/shirt/dress thing that Gabrielle couldn’t quite understand. It had chains which were covered by fabric around the stomach, but from there the outfit just got confusing as to where one piece stopped and the other started…and then there was her hair. It was pulled up on the side with small sections sticking outward from her head in a sort-of trumpet look. That was best that Gabrielle could make out. Gabby smiled at the woman staring at her now.

"I’m so sorry, I couldn’t make it to the wedding. But you know, I had to defend this man who had stolen a pig from…" She looked back at Iolaus.

"Dercy," Iolaus said, quickly interrupting her story. "This is Gabrielle. Gabby, this is Dercy the one I told you about." Dercy looked back at Gabby and smiled, the nicest, sweetest smile Gabrielle had ever seen. Instantly, she liked this woman.

"Gabrielle, hi." Dercy reached out and shook Gabby’s hand and then she laughed, quickly and hugged Gabby, taking her by surprise. "So you’re the one that finally got Iolaus to settle down. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh you must be the lawyer who saved Iolaus from being killed for Autolycus’s crime in Syria, right?" Gabrielle suddenly remembered the story Iolaus had told about how he and Dercy had met. She had found the whole thing amusing and tucked it away in the back of her mind to be utilized for story material sometime. Now that Dercy was standing in front of them, it felt strange to Gabby like she knew her all ready.

Dercy looked at Iolaus quickly and then turned back to Gabrielle. "Right. So, Iolaus told you about what happened," she reached out and took Gabrielle’s hand. "I am sorry I couldn’t make it for the wedding, I did try."

"Dercy, it’s all right." Iolaus said, smiling at her. "So what are doing in Thebes?"

"Why don’t we go downstairs and have something to eat. I’m starving." Gabrielle said, causing Iolaus to look at her. "I’m sure I’ll be fine. Besides, now that I throw up everything any way, I can eat whatever I want," she laughed trying to make a joke. Iolaus didn’t think it was funny.

"Oh my," Dercy put her hands to her mouth for a second and then gave a sly look to Iolaus, before turning back to Gabrielle. "You’re going to have a baby." Gabrielle smiled and nodded slightly. "That is wonderful." She hugged her again and then touched Iolaus’s hands. "Congratulations, Iolaus. Just think another great warrior for the world." Gabrielle smiled.

"Thanks, Dercy," Iolaus said, sincerely. "Joxer," Iolaus turned back to Joxer, who was now standing and staring over at Dercy. "Come on." Joxer didn’t move. "Joxer," Iolaus took a step towards him, which cleared the path for Dercy to see him. Instantly, she was staring back at Joxer. Gabrielle looked from Dercy to Joxer and put her head down smiling. Perfect, she said to herself.

"Another goddess," Joxer said, still staring at Dercy. Iolaus smiled at him.

"Ah, no," Iolaus said, snapping Joxer back into reality. Iolaus turned back to Dercy. "Dercy, this is Joxer." Joxer walked gallantly towards her, taking her hand in his and leaning down.

"A pleasure, my lady," Joxer said in a warrior voice that impressed even Iolaus. He kissed Dercy’s hand and smiled at her. "Joxer the Mighty, at your service, Dercy."

Dercy smiled back at him and Gabrielle could see her cheeks flush. Gabrielle and Iolaus looked at each other, thinking the same thought. Before Gabby and Iolaus knew what was happening, Joxer and Dercy were walking out of the room and downstairs, deep in conversation. They followed the pair, walking to the stairs, when Joxer laughed loudly. Gabrielle shook her head.

"Well, I guess Joxer found a friend," Gabrielle said and started down the stairs. Iolaus caught her hand, spinning her around to face him.

"You know, you had me worried up there," he said in a low voice, reaching out his hand and touching her hair that hung at the shoulder. "I didn’t think you were going to believe me about Artemis."

"You worried?! I thought you died," she said seriously and then hit him on the arm. "Don’t you ever die on me again, Iolaus," she said, looking at him with worry in her eyes.

He touched her face gently and reached around the back of the neck, pulling her softly to him. He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Don’t you worry about that, Gabby, you’re stuck with me now." He smiled and caressed her cheek for a moment.

"Good," she declared and kissed him back. They both turned when they heard Joxer and Dercy laughing again. Gabrielle took Iolaus’s hand and smiled at him. They walked down the stairs to join them.

"Hey listen, all I’m saying is you are making a big mistake," Autoytulcus said to the men in front of him. His hands were up in the air as he continued to make excuses. "I didn’t take the treasure. I was holding it, that’s all, see…" he pulled out a small box and showed it to the men. "King Iphicles gave it to me for a friend. So this is all a simple error on your part." Autolytulcus smiled at them. The men looked at each other for a moment. "Well, gotta go, guys. It’s been fun." The men looked back at him and he knew he wasn’t getting out of this easy. The first man smiled and threw a punch, Autolycus ducked. A few more punches were blocked by the King of Thieves, but the other two joined in. "Hey," Autolycus said as they all attacked him. Two held the King of Thieves as the third starting using his stomach for a punching bag.

Suddenly, a familiar shining object passed between Autolycus and the man beating him. The man backed up quickly, cut by the deadly chockrum. Autolycus smiled as he followed the weapon with his eyes back to the steady hand of Xena standing across the room. Hercules stood behind her, smiling.

The men, instantly knowing they wouldn’t win this fight today, scattered out of the small alleyway.

"Well, hey, Xena, nice to see you." Autolycus smiled and approached the two friends. "Hercules, imagine meeting you here." Xena smiled now at Autolycus.

"Keeping yourself out of trouble, I see," Xena said, still smiling.

"You know me, Xena, can’t help doing a good deed," Autolycus took the small box out of his shirt and looked at it. "Especially a good deed that pays." He opened the box to reveal a beautiful green jewel inside.

"That’s Iphicles," Hercules said, looking at the precious emerald. "Jason gave it to him when Iphicles agreed to be his successor on the throne." Hercules looked at Autolycus. Autolycus gave Hercules a second take as his expression changed to concern.

"Hey, I didn’t steal it. Iphicles asked me to hold it," Xena and Hercules exchanged a look. "Honestly, you don’t think I would steal from your own brother, Hercules. That hurts," Autolycus said, shaking his head. He closed the box and put it back in its hiding place. Hercules and Xena still stared at the King of Thieves. "Hey, ask Iphicles if you don’t believe me." He smiled his trade smile that often melted women’s hearts and gave him his popularity among most commoners in the village from Athens to Thebes. "Well, I hate to be rude, but I’ve got a job to do." This time he looked seriously at Xena, nodding his head. "Besides, I have to get this," he patted the place where the box was, "to the right person." He bowed in front of the Warrior Princess and the Son of Zeus, smiled, laughed and with a flick of his rope which was thrown and twisted around a building above them, he flew into the air landing on the roof. "Goodbye, good heroes," he smiled once more and lined his finger along the end of his moustache before disappearing off the roof.

"What was that all about, Xena?" Hercules said, making certain she knew he saw the look exchanged between her and the King of Thieves. Xena looked at him with innocence.

"What?"

"I think it’s time you told me what we are doing in Cornith," Hercules said, taking her arm gently. "And this place looks like a good place to talk." He headed into a nearby tavern. They walked to the door as a man was being thrown out. He landed at their feet.

"And stay out!" A man, they both presumed to be the owner yelled at the doorway. The man, got up and looked up at Xena and Hercules, assuming they were here to hurt him. He gasped and ran for dear life away from them and into the streets of Cornith.

"We need to keep a low profile," Xena said, quietly to Hercules. "It’s important."

Hercules nodded at her as they walked inside.

"Hercules!" The man who was the owner yelled, causing everyone in the tavern to look at Hercules and Xena at the doorway.

"Hercules!" Another man called from the end of the bar. Everyone cheered. Xena looked at him. "Hey, Hercules’s is back!"

"Good. I’m glad you’re not too popular," she said, walking to a table. Hercules followed.

"It’s my home village," Hercules said as he sat down and people started to fawn all over her.

"Hercules," the owner said, smiling as he approached. "It’s good to see you."

Hercules smiled at the man. "Hi Greggen. It’s nice to be home," he said, shaking his hand.

"So, what can I get for you and…" he looked at Xena. "Xena? It’s a pleasure, ma’am." Greggen said, sincerely. Xena smiled, quickly at him. Xena could feel eyes from everywhere on them.

"Just something to drink," Xena said, trying to ignore all the staring.

"Right away, anything for the two greatest heroes in Greece," he smiled and walked away from them, shouting orders at his staff.

"Sorry," Hercules said, shrugging his shoulders. "It happens sometimes."

"It’s nice to be appreciated," Xena answered back. "Unfortunately, it doesn’t help us for you and me to recognized everywhere right now."

"So tell me what’s going on? I think I know why you had to do what you did in Thebes," Hercules said, his expression turning serious. Greggen placed the drink in front of them on the table with two plates of food.

"On the house for the both of you," Greggen said, smiling at them. After a moment, he walked away again.

Xena turned back to Hercules. "Is Gabrielle…" she started and stopped looking down at the food in front of her.

"She’s upset, but I think she’ll be all right. Iolaus will help." Hercules said, trying to comfort her.

"Right, Iolaus," she sounded deep in thought.

"Xena, what’s going on with you and Ares?" Hercules took her hand causing the Warrior Princess to look into his eyes. "Tell me."

"I can’t. Not now." Xena said, letting go of his hand. "I’m sorry." Hercules looked at her for a moment and then nodded, understanding.

"All right, but I’m not leaving." Hercules was greeted with a warm smile from Xena.

"That’s fine with me," she said, lowering her voice. "I might find a use for a hero." She said, seductively. Hercules smiled back, looking down at his food. Xena knew she had embarrassed him. She reached over the table and took his hand in hers. "Thank you, Hercules." Hercules looked back at her and smiled.

"Tell me what you want me to do?"

"We wait now," Xena said, looking at him seriously. "It will be soon enough, believe me."

"Hercules," Greggen said walking back up to them. "Why don’t you come home more often."

Hercules smiled at the old man, "I was here for the wedding, not long ago."

"We all miss you. We thought since Iolaus was here now. We would see you more often."

Hercules expressed changed, Xena looked at him now. He didn’t realize how lonely he must be without Iolaus. The same feelings she had when Gabrielle left. Oh, Hercules, I’m so sorry she said to herself. I never thought…

"Yea," Hercules said, deep in thought.

"I’m sorry to say Iolaus and Gabrielle left Cornith a few days ago. Something about one of his wife’s relatives being sick or something." Greggen said.

"I know. Thanks, Greggen." Greggen nodded and looked at Xena quickly. Suddenly, Greggen laughed.

"That girl can tell a story. She talks about you a lot, actually," he said towards Xena. "You must have had some amazing adventures. It’s like she was there, but all of us don’t really believe that little pretty little thing could ride with Xena."

"Believe it. Gabrielle’s much more than just a bard, she’s an Amazon Princess." Xena said, quickly. Hercules smiled. "If she said it happened then it did. She never lies."

"I didn’t mean any offense by it," Greggen said, quickly, smiling. "Everyone loves her, especially my customers. I wish she would work for me as a bard here, but she’s very dedicated to Iolaus. Quite the perfect wife, if I do say so. Never seen Iolaus as happy as he’s been since he married her." He shot a smile at Hercules. Hercules nodded, giving a smile back. He knew exactly what Greggen was talking about. Iolaus was happy and for Hercules that was all that mattered.

Sure, he missed Iolaus terribly. They had always been together since they were children. It was strange not being able to show up at his house and ask him to come on an adventure or two with him. But Hercules was the first person to be completely happy for his friend when he announced his marriage. He knew how much he loved Gabrielle, Hercules smiled to himself. Everyone knew who much they loved each other, that was obvious from their first meeting saving Prometheus years ago. Hercules had a feeling while they were in Potedia for that month after the Dahok situation, that he would be returning to his adventures alone. Gabrielle was a special woman in Hercules’s eyes. She made his best friend happier than even Hercules had seen him before and maybe for once, everything will work out, he told himself.

"Gabrielle’s a special person," Xena said, glad the people here appreciated her friend.

"That she is," Greggen agreed. "Well, don’t be such a stranger," he added, patting Hercules on the shoulder. He nodded at Xena and walked away.

"Well, I guess Gabrielle’s made an impression on these people," Xena said, smiling slightly.

Hercules took her hand. "I know you miss her, but she’s happy Xena. If you could have seen the way Iolaus took care of her after…" Hercules trailed off. He could have hit himself, it didn’t mean it the way he said it and the look on Xena’s face broke his heart.

"I hit her," Xena said, letting go of his hand. "I had to, Hercules. It was the only way."

"I’m not so sure about that," Hercules said. Xena looked up at him quickly.

"She would have just followed me…like you did. I can’t put here in danger." She thought for a moment. "It’s best that Iolaus is with her now. He’ll protect her. He will make certain she doesn’t come after me after the way I treated her. I’m just sorry I had to do it in the first place. I never meant to hurt Gabrielle and considering the history I’ve had with Iolaus he probably just assumed…"

"Iolaus respects you. That was in the past, Xena. He’s your friend. I should know," Hercules and Xena stared at each other for a moment.

"I know," Xena said, putting her head down. She wanted to believe him, but she had terrible dealing with all of this from the wedding to Ares to having Hercules beside her now. She wanted to tell him everything, but she knew she couldn’t. It would be clear enough soon and he would just try to stop her.

"Xena," Hercules said looking at her with sympathy in his eyes, "I know you want Gabrielle to be happy, but you don’t seem happy for them."

"It’s not that. I’m just worried about her, that’s all." Xena said. It wasn’t exactly a lie, but she was worried for more reasons than Hercules could understand right now. She smiled, weakly at him. She knew he wasn’t convinced, but he would respect her decision to end the conversation.

"Well, since it’s getting late and Iolaus and Gabrielle’s place is vacant right now. What do you say we stay there for the night?" Xena still deep in her own thoughts, nodded at him.

"Come on, bro. It’s easy, you let Cupid, Psyche and Bliss go and then we won’t hurt you," Aphrodite said, standing a step in front of her two sisters, Athena and Artemis. They were all staring at Hades now, who was watching them closely and secretly wondering what they were all up to. He had been patient listening to their story of Ares’s cruel tactics he placed on all of them. He had to admit he didn’t agree with his brother, but he had something at stake as well and that mattered too much to Hades right now.

"I’m sorry, I can’t. Not yet." Hades said and turned to go back to his domain in the Underworld.

"Why?" Artemis finally said. "You know this is wrong. He can’t hold one of our own captive."

"You just have to be patient," Hades said to the three goddesses. "Don’t worry, I put them in a safe place in Tartarus and I promise nothing will happen to them." He put up his hand. "I’m sorry that’s the best I can do."

Athena studied her brother for a moment and then took a step towards him. "Persephone is with her mother, Demeter now, isn’t she?" Athena said.

"Yes, it’s their time," he said apparently upset. All three sisters saw the love and anger flash through their brother’s eyes.

"Did Ares threaten her?" Athena said.

Hades turned on them. "He wouldn’t dare!" He said with anger in his usually calm voice. "He knows better than to threaten me."

"Than what?" Aphrodite said, getting annoyed now. They had spilled their guts about their respective threats what was with him.

Hades turned away, taking a deep breath and then turned back to them. "It’s our baby."

"Persephone’s pregnant?" Artemis said, surprised.

"Yes. And Demeter all ready said the baby is not to live in the Underworld. I assured her Persephone and the baby will be safe in The Elysian Fields. But that woman just won’t listen to reason. She’s impossible. If it wasn’t for Hercules in the first place, I wouldn’t have Persephone for the six months I do." Hades progressively got more upset as he told his sisters this story. "Persephone’s due any day now and if Demeter has her way, she’ll keep the baby forever. I’ll never see my own child." He turned away slightly before his next statement. "Ares promised me he’d get Persephone and the baby back. I can’t go against Demeter myself you know this. I tried. If I take Persephone and the baby again, she’ll break our bargain and cause suffering on the mortals. So you see, I don’t have a choice until after my child is born. Maybe I can appeal to Zeus then." Hades looked at Aphrodite. "I’m sorry, but I won’t lose my son, Aphrodite."

"And what about mine, huh? Cupid is in that terrible place with all those dead people. What about him or his baby? Come on, Hades, give it up. Ares isn’t about to help you with your own son. Wake up! All he cares about is that warrior woman, Xena."

"She’s right," Athena said, looking over at Artemis, who looked shocked that anyone would agree with their air-head sister, especially Athena. She shrugged her shoulders and turned to Hades. "I promise you if you help us, we will get your son for you and bring him and Persephone back."

"And what can the three of you do that I can’t?" he said, looking at them all now. They all turned to each other. He had a point, Hades was more powerful than they were and he was worried, what could they do. "Thanks for the sentiment, sisters but my best chance of seeing my son and wife again is with Ares. He’s the only one who could do help right now."

"Think again, brother," Aphrodite said, quickly. She flashed him a smile. "I know who could help you and all of us at the same time." They all looked at her now, awaiting her answer. "Hercules. He’s always been Dad’s favorite."

That stopped everyone where they were standing. Yes! They all said in their heads and secretly wondered if there wasn’t more than air going through that sister’s head sometimes.

"Air head," Aphrodite said, mocking Athena and Artemis and feeling very good about herself at that moment. Even Dad would be proud of her, she thought. "Of course, we’ll all have to help him this time." She said, looking at each of them. They nodded in agreement. Besides, if it works, they will all get what they want and maybe their father will respect them finally, especially if they help his favorite son. It was a good idea, even if it was Aphrodite’s.

Hades turned to his sisters and smiled. "I think it’s time the three of you took a trip to my world."

"So, Dercy, have you ever heard of me?" Joxer asked, acting suave towards the girl who sat next to him now. For the past hour, Gabrielle and Iolaus tried to ignore the pair across from them. It wasn’t intentional, it’s just they couldn’t stand the staring that seemed to continue on forever before one of them would utter a word. A few times, Iolaus or Gabrielle had to cough or clear their throat just to make certain they were still coherent. Iolaus was finding it more amusing than Gabby from the look of her face now. She was getting annoyed with their constant infatuation with each other. Gabby wouldn’t begrudge any one, especially a friend like Joxer, the opportunity to fall in love and find someone true, but she had to admit she wished she could just have them kiss and get it over with. It was becoming tedious to sit and watch it.

She looked at Iolaus who looked back at her. Did I ever do that with you? She thought to herself. I may have stared at him. She shook her head. Yea, I probably did. What am I saying I still do.

"You’re staring, honey," Iolaus said, softly leaning to her. Not that Joxer or Dercy would have heard him, they were too engrossed in their own conversation or staring contest, Iolaus couldn’t be sure which. Gabby snapped out of her thoughts and looked down embarrassed she had been caught in the act.

"Sorry," she said, shyly.

He smiled and took her hand laying on the table. "It’s fine. I’m glad you still like to look at me," he kissed her hand, gently, sending shivers down her spine. Oh yea, I still like looking at you, that won’t ever change, Iolaus, she said to herself. Iolaus leaned in further touching his forehead against hers gently. Gabrielle had come to know what that meant. It was his way of saying he loved her without speaking the words. That motion alone made Gabrielle feel more loved than any words he could speak. They stayed like that for a moment, enraptured by their own love.

"We need to talk," Iolaus said, moving away and turning to Joxer and Dercy who stopped in mid-motion of almost kissing. Or at least that what it looked like to Iolaus. Suddenly he felt bad about breaking the moment, but they were staring at him now, including Gabrielle who had been pulled out of her moment as well. "I’m going to try to find Hercules and Xena. She’s probably going to Athens, I would assume. If Ares wants a battle started and he had Athena on the run then that’s probably a good start," he said changing the tone at the table.

"Yea…" he said, distantly and then realized what Iolaus was saying. They are going on a mission. "Yea, you’re right. We should leave today." Joxer looked over at Dercy. "I’m sorry, duty calls."

"I’m all done here. My client is headed for the dungeon and then a beheading tomorrow. I’m not certain I would like to stick around for that," Dercy replied, smiling quickly. Joxer smiled back at her. Joxer had never been more impressed with a woman, he thought now as he stared at this beautiful girl who was a Syrian Princess and a laywer. Who defended the innoncent and the weak, just like him and all of them. It was perfect, that’s why chimed in quickly with agreement on Dercy leaving with them. Where would I find another woman like her, and it looks like she wants me. I can’t disappoint the Princess, Joxer said to herself.

"Good plan, we can take Princess Dercy. Who knows maybe we’ll need a lawyer," Joxer smiled and instantly Dercy sighed.

"I think, Dercy it might be better for you to return to Syria for now. It’s dangerous," Iolaus said trying to be nice. It was one thing for him, another for Joxer but Dercy wasn’t a warrior and he was not about to put another life in danger. Gabrielle’s, their child’s, Hercules’s, Joxer’s and his own were about all Iolaus could handle right now.

"Iolaus is right, Dercy," Gabrielle said, looking at her. "Our fight may be with the gods."

"The gods," Dercy waved her hand and laughed at Gabrielle. They all looked at her, seriously. "The gods," she said, almost whispering. "You are going up against the gods," she turned toward Joxer. He nodded at her.

"And you," Iolaus started turning towards Gabrielle. He wanted to do this when they were alone, but there wasn’t time. He took a breath and continued. "Gabrielle, I think the best thing to do is have Joxer take you back to Cornith. You’ll be safer there than with us."

"What!" Gabrielle said loudly causing a few heads in the tavern to turn to her. She stood up looking shocked at Iolaus now. Here we go, Iolaus said to himself. He stood up facing her. He took her hand and she pulled away from him.

"Gabby, you’re carrying our child. I’m not putting you or the baby in danger." Iolaus said, trying to reason with the Amazon Princess. Surely, she would agree with that, Iolaus thought. He thought wrong.

"This whole thing is about our baby and Xena. Those are good enough reasons for me to be with you." She took a step towards him. "I can take care of myself, Iolaus." Her voice held an accusing tone. One Iolaus didn’t like. I know that, he said to himself.

Gabrielle watched Iolaus’s face grow serious and she knew she just made her nice, gentle, kind husband very, very mad. She almost backed down when she stopped herself and instead, stood firm, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Gabrielle," he said in a commanding tone she had never heard before. She almost regreted starting this with him. "First of all, you know that has nothing to do with what I said. I can’t protect you out there if I need to help Hercules and Xena." Gabrielle started to interrupt, but Iolaus took a step towards her, her breath caught in her throat. "I promised to love and honor you and to protect you," Iolaus pointed his finger at her. "and Gabrielle I am going to protect you if it kills me. I’m not putting you or our baby in unnecessary danger. Now, we are going to Cornith." He finished, keeping his eye contact with her.

"Ok, Iolaus," Gabrielle said, taken back by his little speech.

"Good," Iolaus nodded at her and turned away walking out of the tavern.

Gabrielle, Joxer and Dercy followed him with their eyes. Gabrielle was impressed to say the least at Iolaus’s resolve. She didn’t agree with him, of course, but he was good and she could respect that. Besides the fact that his tone, look and need to protect her made her feel excited in a way that gave Gabrielle an impressive he was holding out on her, especially at night. She smiled to herself and then another thought entered her mind. I’ll get Iolaus to listen to me yet, after all, I have three days before we reach Cornith. She turned to Joxer and Dercy. They were still staring after Iolaus. Dercy was smiling.

"Wow!" She finally said and broke out of her spell, looking directly at Gabrielle.

"Yea. Iolaus can be persuasive when he wants to be," Gabrielle said, trying to act unimpressed.

"You know, I can stay with you in Cornith, Gabrielle," Dercy said, smiling at Gabby. She smiled slightly back. Oh great, that will give Iolaus exactly what he wants. "He’s right, you shouldn’t be alone. Besides we can get to know each other." This time, Gabrielle smiled at her, sincerely. She was sweet, Gabrielle thought. Besides, if Dercy went to Cornith then they could leave her and Joxer at their place, while they went to Athens. And from the look of it, Joxer and Dercy could use some time alone. It was kind of sweet how much she liked Joxer. Gabrielle thought it was nice that someone so sweet and kind fell for Joxer. Joxer deserved it.

"Thanks, Dercy," she said and headed out to start working on Iolaus. I just had to make him understand, she thought. It shouldn’t be too hard. Although as she approached him, Gabrielle was having her doubts about her powers of persuasion.

"Joxer," Dercy said as soon as Gabrielle had stepped out of the tavern. "I need to stop by the Town Hall to sign some papers for my client. Do you want to come?" Dercy smiled at him.

Joxer looked confused at her for a moment. "Dercy, why are they beheading your …client?"

"Oh," she held up her hands as if it didn’t really matter. "The poor man. He was accused of murdering his wife’s brother. I had a great defense. The fact that he had been drinking quite heavily the night before and therefore, he could not possibly remember the events. Meanwhile, he had told me that another enemy of his brother-in-law was the one who committed the murder. So I sent out to find this person. He ended up being a priest with the Hestian Temple. Well, it’s kind of hard to prove a Hestian priest as a murderer, but I tried, but there was no evidence, nothing to make the charge stick. So, in the end, they did what every court does, make an innocent pay for the crime. So, Paulos will be killed in the morning. It’s a shame really." Dercy shook her head. She leaned towards Joxer, "you want to know the real problem." Joxer nodded his head. "I could have saved my client, I could see the judge was turning to my favor, but then his own wife accuses him of the murder and how he’s said on several occasions that he wanted her brother dead. That hurt my defense agruement a lot."

"I can imagine," Joxer said, fascinated by this woman and her story.

"Then I find out that Paulos’s wife was carrying on with another man in the village and they were trying to get rid of the husband, but he fleed and when we went to approach Paulos’s wife with the information she had left also. So, we lost the case. I wish we had found his wife or her lover, either would have saved him."

"How can be so calm about an innocent man dying?" Joxer asked, truly amazed at how she removed her emotions from the story.

"Oh, I feel bad, but in Syria, where I’m from. My father, the king ruled by tradition only when it came to the law no crime went unpunished in Syria. Unfortunately, innoncent man were often executed for the ‘greater good.’ So, I guess I just got used to it. If there can be such a thing." Dercy smiled, "Father’s changed a lot since Iolaus and Hercules came to our kingdom. Iolaus was the one who told my father to…" Dercy stopped in mid-sentence. When her father asked Iolaus for his final words before his death for a crime he didn’t commit. Iolaus had said he was innocent and that the king should treat his daughter better. That was the first step on the road to understanding for Dercy and her father. It meant a lot to Dercy. But she thought against reciting that to Joxer. "Well, Iolaus’s mis-judgement on my father’s account made him reconsider his own laws. So we changed them. It’s really progressive." She said, smiling at the thought of her kingdom. "I hope you can see Syria one day."

"That would be nice," Joxer answered, smiling at her.

"So, are you coming, Joxer?" Dercy looked at him with innocent eyes, awaiting his answer.

"Yea," Joxer said, quickly, taking her hand. "Let’s go." Joxer and Dercy smiling, walked out of the tavern.

Xena and Hercules arrived at Iolaus’s and Gabrielle’s humble home late in the evening. Hercules thought he should visit Iolaus’s mother and let her know where Gabby and him were and that they should be home soon. He figured Iolaus would leave Thebes after he hadn’t returned. Mostly, Xena and Hercules tried to keep a low profile in town staying away from the village square and the busy marketplace. They hunted in the woods, catching a rabbit for supper.

Now, holding their dead prey, they walked up the stone path towards the house. Hercules was impressed. The improvements Iolaus had made to the house and land was impressive, especially in Hercules’s eyes. Too often, Iolaus complained about hard labor, but to Hercules it looked like he had changed about that over the past few months. He made a stone path leading to the house. As they grew closer, Hercules could see where the soil had been cultivated and seeds planted. Not to mention the repairs he had made on the house itself. It looked good and Hercules was very proud of his friend adjusting to married life. It seemed to suit him.

Xena’s eyes kept straying to the flowers planted all up the pathway and around the house itself. Gabrielle, she thought as a smile formed on her lips. She had seen the place when she came with Gabrielle on her wedding day, but it had changed a lot even in that short time. Iolaus kept himself busy, she thought as she saw the same repairs Hercules was looking at.

"Guess he keeps busy," Xena said outloud, looking at Hercules.

"Yea," Hercules answered back.

They walked up to the door and both heroes stopped staring at the door. It felt strange all of a sudden, to be there without their friends. Hercules was the first to break out of his thoughts and open the door, holding it for Xena, who stepped through.

"Wow, they have been busy," Xena remarked as she stepped into the living room.

"Gabrielle’s a good influence on him. Never seen the place so…clean," he said, smiling. He wasn’t kidding. Everything seemed to have its place in the house even the fireplace and cooking area had been cleaned. Pots neatly hanging on the mantle and a wash basin to the right of the fireplace itself. "Well, what do you say we eat?" Hercules asked, holding up the rabbit. Xena nodded. They both walked to the fireplace to prepare dinner.

"I never thought I’d see the day," Xena commented after Hercules placed the rabbit on the skewer over the fire. They had both sat down.

"Yea," Hercules said. She looked over at him. He looked good in the firelight. She smiled to herself. He always looked good.

"I thought they might be…" she stopped and realized that was a foolish statement.

"Restless," Hercules finished her thought. "Yea, me too." He said it quietly, but Xena knew he shared her small disappoint in that statement. He looked at her suddenly. "I didn’t mean that he wouldn’t be…."

"I know. I didn’t either. We just miss them, that’s all." Xena smiled at him. Hercules smiled back. Their eyes met each others and they held the stare for a long moment. Slowly, Hercules moved his head towards her and she did the same. Their eyes closed and Xena felt his lips press against hers. His arms around her waist and they moved closer, the kiss deepening. Both of them hadn’t realized how much they missed each other as well.

The rabbit was long forgotten as they relived their passion from years ago. Each kiss, each touch held a deep meaning for them. Xena forgot about Ares and her plan for the night as Hercules covered her with gentle caresses.

A few hours later, Hercules woke up quickly and looked over to where Xena was lying next to him on the couch. Xena was gone and from the look of her armor still lying on the floor, she left in a hurry. Hercules got up, putting on his clothes and walked to the door, stepping outside into the early morning light.

"I told you I would bring Hercules to you," Hercules heard Xena’s voice clearly. It sounded to be around the side of the house. Hercules took a few steps towards the sound. He stopped half in shock as he saw Ares and Xena together a few feet away. He hid behind the corner of the house and listened.

"Good job, Xena," Ares said, seductively. "I knew you would do the right thing." Hercules could hear gloating in Ares’s voice. "Now, all you have to do is go to Athens alone, meet up with your army and start the beginning of a new world." Ares moved closer to the Warrior Princess. "I knew you couldn’t refuse my offer, Xena," he leaned down to kiss her. She backed away suddenly, turning her back to him.

"How can I resist, Ares?" Her voice became low and seductive. Ares loved that voice. "After all," she turned to him. "You have all the cards this time, don’t you?"

Ares smiled, "and I will use whatever I have to. That I promise, Xena. This time I win." He leaned down and kissed her on the neck, sending a shiver up her spine. She held his throat pulling his head back to meet her eyes.

"You just remember why I’m doing this," Xena said, showing Ares who was really in control. He laughed and she felt her hand grow hot, she let him go as he pulled her in to him holding her around the waist.

"It’s such a shame you have these feelings toward those pathetic mortals," he leaned down to her. "But it does help me in my plans." He laughed, letting her go. "By the way, Xena, I thought you should know the stakes have been raised. I give you three days to take Athens."

"Three days? I can’t possibly…" Xena started, Ares dismissed her with his hand.

"You see, that little blond bard has caused another problem for me. One that will remedied soon."

"You so much as touch Gabrielle and I will kill you myself." Xena said with determination and threat in his voice. Ares laughed again.

"Don’t push me, Xena. I want Athens in ruins and I want you to do it. Otherwise, I will do what I promised." He circled her, "no more Gabrielle or her annoying husband…oh, I intend to kill their little brat, too."

"Gabrielle’s preganant?" Xena said, half in thought.

"Yes. And that, my dear, is not negoitable in our terms."

"You stay away from Gabrielle!" Xena yelled and lunged toward him. He fell backwards from her unexpected attack, but recovered quickly. Ares threw her across the backyard of the house, laughing.

"Come, Xena, don’t you want to save your strength for Athens." Ares came up to her, lying on the ground. She got up just as Ares kicked her down again. "It pains me to fight you. I thought you understood the plan. You agreed to it."

"It’s different now," Xena said, trying to hide the pain in her voice.

"She killed your child once, what’s wrong with repaying her the favor?" Ares said, as Xena got up to face him. In a matter of seconds, Ares held her by the back of the neck. "You wanted her to die then, didn’t you? I saw it, Xena, all of it. You dragged her across the countryside by her feet while you rode atop that horse. I was proud of you. You never needed that blond bitch." He let go of her. "So I’ll take care of the kid and you do your job."

Xena tried to ignore what Ares was saying. Gabrielle and her had stopped that hate a long time ago while they were in Illusia. Xena didn’t want to relieve that experience. Even now, she could still see Gabrielle’s battered body as she held her above her head to throw her over that cliff. She would have killed Gabrielle that day….that always scared Xena and Ares knew it.

"I’ll ride to Athens, Ares," she said, softly.

"That’s a good warrior," Ares said, smiling. He brushed off his clothes.

"I’ve had just about enough of your little games, Ares," Hercules said rounding the corner and confronting the god of war. Ares and Xena turned toward him. "Xena, get out of here. This is our fight."

"Well, well, Dad’s favorite son come to destroy my plans…again," Ares shook his head and threw a lighting flash at Hercules who was thrown across the front yard. Ares advanced upon his half-brother. "Not this time, brother." He threw another hit this time Hercules went down in pain. He tried to stand up but he couldn’t find the strength.

Ares attacked again, drawing his sword. He held it over Hercules’s head and after a long silence the blade came crashing down through Hercules’s chest. Ares heard Xena scream no as they both stood over Hercules’s lifeless body.

"Well, I’m done here," he said, smiling and disappearing a puff of smoke.

"No!" Xena screamed as she fell over him. "No, it can’t be…" the tears came in a wave of emotion for this man who lie dead before her. She never thought Ares would kill him. Zeus, she thought quickly, why didn’t he stop Ares? She sobbed over Hercules holding him to her.

After a moment, Xena felt a hand on her. She looked up to Hercules’s face. His eyes were open and he moved his hands to where the sword still lay in his chest.

"I might need some help with this," he said, through hard breaths. Xena stood up quickly and pulled with all her might. The sword slid out, Hercules yelled in pain. The wound was bad, but not fatal. Xena looked at the son of Zeus in astonishment.

"I thought you…" She stammered.

"Me, too," he said, looking down at the wound. The blood had stopped but there was a gaping rip in his stomach. "I suppose one question has been answered," he said half-joking and half-serious.

"You’re immortal." Xena answered in shock.

"Guess so," Hercules stood up and wavered a bit. Xena rushed to his side, helping him back into the house. "Xena," he said as they stepped through the door. "We need to talk about this plan with Ares. I don’t think it’s working out well." Hercules smiled at her. She returned the smile and led him in the house to tend to both of their wounds.

"So what do you think we should name her?" Gabrielle said, sitting on the bed in the inn. Iolaus was packing up some of their belongings.

"Him," he said, smiling at her over his shoulder.

"You would say that," Gabrielle had been trying to work into the conversation since last night about how important it was for her and Iolaus to be together fighting back to back. Unfortunately, her husband knew her too well. Last night, she had tried being nice, understanding and then went in for her last attempt: seduction, something Iolaus particullary liked. This caused a bit of a problem for Gabrielle’s plan. Instead of her seducing him, Iolaus had turned the tables on her and she had lost. Well, not really, she thought as she stared at him now, last night was wonderful. However, caught up in him, made her task of getting him to agree with her more difficult. She smiled, oh, but he was so great last night and…she snapped herself out of those thoughts and went back to the matter at hand. She looked down at the bed, maybe if she just didn’t look at him it would be easier.

"Gabby, I know what you’re trying to do and," he walked to the bed and sat down across from her, taking her hand. She looked at him. So much for trying to stay focused, she thought. "If you weren’t carrying our child, you know I would want you with me. I would never stop you from doing what you think is right."

"Then why are stopping me now? I know I should be there…for Xena." Gabrielle said, looking deep into his blue eyes. This time he looked away.

"I can’t fight with you," he let go of her hand. "I just want this child so much." He stood up, sorrow rang in his voice. Gabrielle watched him walk to the window. His head was down and suddenly, Gabrielle felt guilt wash over her. How could I have been so stupid? She said to herself.

"Oh Iolaus, I am so sorry," she said, coming up to him. She touched his back and laid her head against it. "I am being selfish. Of course, you want what’s best." She encircled her arms around him. "I want to have your baby and I want him or her to be safe also. I’ll stay in Cornith, I promise." Iolaus smiled and touched her hand, turning around to face her. He kissed her gently on the lips.

"Thank you, my love." Iolaus said, brushing a piece of hair away from her face. Gabrielle smiled.

"Come on," Joxer said, opening the door. "Geez, we’ll never get to Cornith." Dercy stood behind him, holding his hand.

Iolaus broke from his embrace and walked to Joxer, "Joxer, you take good care of Gabrielle. I’m counting on you to get her home safely."

"I promise I will," Joxer said seriously. Iolaus nodded, smiled at him and they exchanged a warrior’s shake.

Gabrielle looked at Iolaus, who was staring back at her now. Joxer quietly shut the door.

He figured they needed an extra moment alone.

They went to each other, Iolaus encircled her in an embrace that warmed Gabrielle’s heart. Her head lay against his chest, while he stroked her hair.

"I always hated saying goodbye to you," Iolaus said, softly.

"I know," Gabrielle answered back and looked up at him. "You take care of yourself…and don’t even think about getting killed. I will be so mad at you," Iolaus laughed at her and then they embraced kissing passionately. After a few moments, Gabrielle looked up and touched his face, gently. "I love you," she said, smiling at him.

"I love you, too. Don’t worry, you’re not getting rid of me that easy. I’ll be back. I promise you." He hugged her one last time. She broke the embrace and took the bag with supplies in it at the door for her. Iolaus watched her as she opened the door and stepped outside, closing it behind her. "Take care of her, Joxer." Iolaus said to himself and gathered his own things to head towards Athens.

Gabrielle walked along the road quietly as Dercy and Joxer talked non-stop since they had all left the tavern and Thebes behind. She had been busy wrapped up in her own thoughts. She was worried about Iolaus and hoped that Hercules would be in Athens when he got there. The thought of Iolaus going up against Xena sent chills down her. She had seen Xena’s face and she knew what she was capable of. For that matter, so did Iolaus, she thought.

Dercy stopped talking for a moment and looked over at Gabrielle. Her head was down and she had been awful quiet this morning. She glanced at Joxer, who shrugged his shoulders.

"Gabrielle," Dercy said, walking up to her. Gabrielle broke out of her thoughts and looked at her. "I want to hear the story of how you and Iolaus met." She said, smiling. Gabrielle could have hugged this woman. One thing, she could always do to get her mind off things that worried her was to tell a story. She smiled at Dercy and began telling the most wonderful story of her life.

"It all started about five years ago, when Xena and I were searching for Prometheus. You see, Hera had put Prometheus in chains. Without his powers, mankind had no ability to heal themselves from wounds or cuts. It was horrible. All over the countryside, people were dying from the loss of blood that could not be stopped no matter what any healer tried." Joxer came up to the two women, he always loved Gabrielle’s stories and this one sounded good. "You see, Hercules and Iolaus were also searching for Prometheus to stop what had happened…." Gabrielle continued as her enraptured audience listened anticipating an epic tale of adventure, glory and romance. They weren’t disappointed.

Xena and Hercules had tended to their wounds inside Iolaus and Gabrielle’s house. Xena wasn’t too surprised that Hercules’s wound was all ready healing itself. So, she thought as she sat next to him on the couch next to the fire, he was immortal. Well, what did you expect Xena? She started to touch his face when Hercules turned quickly grabbing her outstretched hand and pulling her off the couch. In a moment they were both outside and running. As they looked back, the house they were just sitting in went up in flames. Xena and Hercules took cover next to the barn. They watched as Iolaus’s family home was burned completely in a matter of minutes. Even if they had tried to fetch water there was no saving the structure. This was an act of the gods and Hercules knew exactly which one. As the flames and smoke still came from the house, Hercules stepped out from behind the barn, Xena followed.

"Ares!" He cried into the sky. The answer was clear as the barn they used a moment ago for protection burned like ciders in a matter of seconds. Another flame set the fields on fire, burning all the crops, seeds or anything still alive within the ground. Hercules knelt down, pounding his fists on the earth in front of the house. Suddenly, Xena was pulling him up and down the path leading to the house. He looked back for a moment, stopping her. She yanked on his arm.

"Time to go," she said as she pulled him. He saw the flame hit the ground and follow down the path leading to the road and towards them. He followed Xena quickly. They hit the road and stopped for a moment, looking back. The flame ceased at the end of the path and then silence filled the skies.

"That was a warning," Xena said next to Hercules. He looked at her.

"No, Xena. Ares just declared war." Hercules started to run as Xena signaled for Argo. The horse ran to her. She was silently happy she hadn’t put Argo in the barn for the night, but rather let him free to graze on the open pasture.

"Where are we going?" Xena said, taking Argo’s reins and running to catch up with Hercules.

"We have to find Iolaus and Gabrielle. No doubt Ares is heading right for them."

"I doubt that the god of war is heading anywhere," Autolycus said, coming out of the bushes at the side of the road. "Without this, I mean," he jumped in front of Hercules, dangling a sword from his hands.

"You got it," Xena said approaching him.

"Of course, I got it. What else do you expect when you work with the King of Thieves," Xena smiled as Autolycus lined his moustache with his finger and smiled back.

"You stole Ares’s Sword?" Hercules said, half-impressed with Autolycus.

"I sent Autolycus a message while I was in Thebes," Xena explained. "I asked him to steal the sword of Ares."

"It wasn’t an easy task, mind you," Xena threw him a ruby the size of a rock. He caught it throwing Xena Ares’s sword. "But I have to admit it was worth it to see this little baby again." He admired the ruby and looked at Hercules. "Hey, listen I have every right to demand a price for risking my life over that thing," he said, referencing to the sword.

"When did you take the sword?" Hercules asked, approaching Autolycus.

"About an hour ago. It took a while to find this place."

Hercules turned away, Xena followed him.

"It wasn’t Ares who destroyed the house and barn," Xena said, looking at Hercules.

"What are two talking about?" Autolycus said, trying to listen in on the conversation. They ignored him.

"We have to get back to Thebes and warn them," Hercules said, turning and running down the road toward Thebes quickly.

"Warn who?" Autolycus said. Xena looked over at him for a moment, then mounted Argo and took off after Hercules.

"Well. That’s Autolycus for getting the sword of Ares’s, but you know me and Herc we’ve got things to do. See you around, buddy," Autolycus looked after them for a moment and shook his head. "You’re welcome, Xena," he mocked. Then he looked at the ruby in his hand again and smiled. "Well, it wasn’t a complete waste of a day, now was it, little friend." He kissed the ruby, put it in his shirt and smiled, taking off in a different direction.

"That’s a great story, Gabrielle," Dercy said, sincerely. They had been walking for hours but none of them noticed. They had all been too intent on listening to Gabrielle’s tale. Dercy was crying a bit.

"Are you all right?" Joxer said to her. She nodded.

"It was so beautiful, sacrificing your own life for another’s, saving Prometheus and mankind," she said through tears, "what a wonderful story."

"Thank you," Gabrielle said, smiling. It was a nice story and it made her forget for a moment about the dangers that could await Iolaus in Athens.

"You are a wonderful story teller," Dercy said, holding her hand. "You should be a bard."

"That’s what Iolaus says," Gabrielle smiled. "I love telling stories and whenever I get the chance I go to the tavern in Cornith and tell a tale or two of the adventures with Xena, but I wouldn’t give up my life with Iolaus for anything. I like what we do. It’s exciting," Gabrielle and Dercy smiled at each other, knowingly. Dercy understood what Gabrielle was trying to say. She loved her husband and wouldn’t want to be away from him, even if they both had to give up things. Dercy knew how much Iolaus liked his adventuring life with Hercules, she didn’t need to be an oracle to see he was just as happy in the arms of this woman standing next to her. It amazed Dercy how much love could change someone’s life. She looked over at Joxer.

"What about you, Joxer?" She said, causing Joxer to look at her quickly. "Would you ever give up your adventuring ways like Iolaus did?" Gabrielle smiled, Dercy had a double meaning in that statement, but she knew Joxer didn’t hear it.

"Why would I give all this up?" He said, laughing a bit and shaking his head.

Dercy moved closer to him, "maybe if someone loved you," she smiled at him. He looked down at her and then quickly moved away.

"That’s foolish. I’m Joxer the Mighty."

Suddenly, Joxer’s words were deafened by the sound of running and a horse galloping. Dercy and Gabrielle stood to the side of the road. Joxer was still talking, when the women quickly pulled him to them.

"What?" Joxer said, looking at them.

Hercules came into view first, then Xena riding Argo. They ran past them until all three came out of the bushes, calling to them. Xena stopped first and turned back. She whistled and Hercules looked back at her. He stopped and turned back to the group.

"Xena," Gabrielle said and suddenly a wave of nasuea overtook her, she ran into the bushes.

"Well, there’s a greeting," Xena said, smiling.

"Xena, I warn you if you’ve come to hurt Gabrielle, I will…" Joxer stood ready to face Xena. She smiled at him, she admired his courage even when he didn’t have a chance in Tarturus against her.

"Don’t worry, Joxer. I’m not here to hurt anyone."

"Actually," Hercules said, approaching them. "We came to find you." Hercules looked around for a moment.

Gabrielle came out of the bushes and looked from Hercules to Xena.

"Are you all right?" Xena asked, getting off her horse. Gabrielle looked at her, trying to figure out if she was dangerous still. "It’s all right, Gabrielle, I’m fine." There was a tense moment and then Gabrielle smiled and embraced Xena.

"I’m sorry about what I did back in Thebes," she said. Gabrielle smiled at her and shook her head.

"There’s nothing to forgive."

"Where’s Iolaus?" Hercules asked, looking at Gabrielle now.

Gabrielle’s face turned serious, "he went to Athens to look for you two. He sent us to Cornith to be safe."

Hercules and Xena exchanged a look.

"It’s not safe in Cornith," Xena said. They hadn’t thought about how to tell Gabrielle or Iolaus about their house or barn or fields before now. "Gabrielle, I’m sorry but someone destroyed your house."

"And the barn and burned the crops," Hercules said, taking her hand. "It’s my fault I think the gods are angry with me. I just don’t know who yet."

Gabrielle looked from Hercules to Xena as the reality of what they said sunk in. "Gone…all of it." She said, barely above a whisper.

Xena nodded. "I’m so sorry," she looked at her. Xena’s blue eyes showing the compassion Gabrielle had come to see so often. Gabrielle turned away. "Everything we built, our dreams…gone." She walked away from the group. Xena started to follow when she turned around suddenly. "Iolaus," she said with panic in her voice, "we have to go to Athens and find Iolaus. He may be in danger now."

"Gabrielle, we’ll find him. But I think Joxer should take you to Treacle, just to be safe now," Xena tried to sound convincing, but Gabrielle wasn’t going to hear of it.

"No, I’m going. I agreed to stay in Cornith. I promised Iolaus I would, but now that I can’t stay there. I’m going with you." Gabrielle’s confidence rang in her voice and Xena knew this fight was over.

"Gabrielle, it’s easy if we go." Hercules said trying a last attempt to get her to safety.

"No, Hercules. I know he’s your best friend, but he’s my husband and I’m not going to sit and wait for you to return with his body. I’m going. Like it or not," she said and walked past Xena and Hercules down the road.

"I guess she’s going." Hercules said looking at Xena.

Xena smiled, "she has a point."

Joxer and Dercy looked at each other.

"I’m going to take Dercy to Treacle, I think she’ll be safer there," Joxer said turning back to Hercules. He nodded.

"It was nice meeting you, Gabrielle," Dercy said, shaking her hand. "I hope we see each other again soon." She smiled at her. Gabby smiled back.

"It was nice meeting you as well," Gabrielle said and she leaned closer to her. "Take care of Joxer." Dercy smiled and nodded at her.

After Joxer and Dercy said their good-byes to the group, Hercules, Xena and Gabby started toward Athens to find Iolaus and, they hoped, no gods.

Iolaus sat by the small fire he had made in the middle of the woods about a two day’s journey from Athens. He hadn’t been alone in quite some time now, between the adventures with Hercules and more recently his marriage to Gabrielle. It felt strange to Iolaus as he watched the flames in the fire before him. He knew this would be hard for him…for both of them, but he had to leave her behind. He didn’t have a choice. This was the reasoning he had used with Gabrielle and he wasn’t sure if it was to convince her or him at the time. He laid down on the ground and shivered quickly as a cold breeze blew past him. He folded his arms to keep out the chill and closed his eyes. He pictured Gabrielle’s face. Her sweet smile, her warm arms, her gentle touch. Within minutes, Iolaus was deep in sleep and a dream it didn’t want to wake from yet.

"Shut up, you idiot, he’ll wake up," a man said in a low, but raspy voice obviously he was trying to whisper, but Iolaus had heard the group enter his small camp a minute ago and he secretly wondered how they stole from anyone with the amount of noise they were making. He had the sachel he had been carrying open and the men, Iolaus could count four that he knew of now, dumped it on the ground searching for money. Slowly, he felt one man crept up to him.

"He’s got it on his belt here," the man said.

"Shut up!" The man who had warned him last time answered back. "Let’s just take it and go."

Iolaus slowly reached out his hand for the sword lying next to him, he could still feel his dagger tucked into his belt as well, just a few details this little group of thieves obviously missed. He felt the man reach for his pouch. In an instant, Iolaus’s hand grabbed the man’s and he opened his eyes, startling his attacker.

"You shouldn’t disturb a man’s sleep, especially when I was having such a good dream," Iolaus said and flipped the man over landing him on his back. Iolaus grabbed his sword and stood up quickly. It was still dark, but the early morning light was starting to creep into the woods. The other three thieves now alert and ready, attacked Iolaus from all sides. Two he took out with a kick to the shin and a punch to the jaw. The third caught him with a right hook. Iolaus recovered standing in front of the four men, who had all recovered, if not wavered a bit on their feet. One man pulled a dagger and laughed at Iolaus.

"Just give up the money, you’ll live longer," he said, looking at Iolaus waving the dagger towards him.

"Look, guys I think you should find a less violent profession," Iolaus said, jumping back as the dagger swung near his chest.

"Oh, we got ourselves a real jester here, boys," the man who looked to be the leader of the group said, smiling.

Iolaus didn’t like that remark, reminding him too much of an experience he’d rather not ever relive. Iolaus attacked with all the moves he had learned so well over his years with Hercules and earlier with his Centaur trainer. The thieves didn’t stand a chance as Iolaus took each of them down one by one. From forward punches to low kicks, some in a three kick rythum not giving his assailants time to recover, to jumping through their legs and ‘faking’ them out to his whereabouts. This move alone caused one to get so dizzy he fell to the ground on his own. The group was battered to say the least by the time Iolaus threw his last punch on their leader. He went down and the battle ended.

"Come on, we can rob someone else easier," the leader said as the men, moaning got up and crawled away.

Iolaus waited until they were out of sight and his own adrenaline calmed down before taking a look at his own injuries. Not bad, he thought to himself. For a farmer, he smiled and looked up into the sun streaming through the trees now. He gathered up his belongings now all over the campfire and started out of the woods and towards Athens.

"We should continue," Gabrielle said, looking at Hercules. "Iolaus is at least two days ahead of us."

"It won’t do any of us any good if we don’t eat," Hercules said. Holding out the cooked piece of rabbit from the fire for Gabrielle.

"I’m not hungry," Gabrielle said, looking away and walking a short distance from Hercules and Xena.

Xena walked up behind Hercules, grabbing the piece of meat he had in his hand for Gabrielle. "Thanks," she smiled and sat next to him.

"Gabrielle should eat," Hercules said. "In her condition." He turned toward Xena. "Has she said anything to you…about the baby?" Hercules asked, cautiously.

"No," Xena answered back. Hercules knew that bothered her. "It’s not like Gabrielle," she started to say more. Then she smiled at Hercules, "she’s just worried about Iolaus." She said, dismissing the real reason. If truth be told, Xena was worried more about Gabrielle. They had barely talked on the trip all day and now Gabrielle had seemed more to keep to herself than speak to Xena or Hercules. That was very unlike her young friend and it concerned Xena more than she let on.

"Why don’t you talk with her?" Hercules said, not looking at her. He knew Xena better than she would like to admit at times. Xena looked over at him.

"She’ll talk when she’s ready. It’s best to leave Gabrielle to her own thoughts, sometimes." Xena took another piece of the meat and ate it. "If she doesn’t eat by tomorrow, I’ll talk to her," Xena reassured Hercules. He acknowledged her answer with a nod. Xena looked over to Gabrielle, she hadn’t noticed her clothes before now. The simple blue dress, her hair was still pulled up on the sides as usual, but not seeing her in her normal Amazon-style attire made Xena look twice.

This was a different woman who stood there now than the one Xena had traveled with. She was a wife and soon, she would be a mother. Xena almost smiled at that thought. Gabrielle being a mother made the most sense to her, she always pictured her as a mother. Even with Hope and the terrible tragedies that took place after, Gabrielle was a perfect mother, loving, gentle and kind. And despite the world that seemed to be against them at every turn with Hope, Gabrielle still tried to do what was best for her and the entire world. It was too much for a young idealistic girl, Xena had thought at the time, but to see her now, she had to admit Gabrielle had the strength of the gods and she hoped she would be a part of this new life of her friend’s. If only things could have worked out better, Xena thought. If I had the chance, I would have made things better for you, she said silently to her best friend.

The morning light shone as Iolaus walked into Athens. The bustling city was up early with peddlers on the road leading into the main city all ready out with wares and a good sales pitch for the unsuspecting traveler. Iolaus walked past most of them with a smile or a laugh as the skilled merchants told him their trinkets and baubles would be just right for that special woman in his life. A few suggested their fine swords would be just right for his next battle, and some suggested a gift for his mother or father or sister or any relative they could think of.

Iolaus continued into the main city of Athens. In the center of the crowded city a larger-than-life statue of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and protector of this fair city, stood. Smaller less impressive statues of Athena were scattered about the city as Iolaus walked to a tavern set away from the people still filling in the square itself. He sighed as he stepped through the doors and into the tavern. He looked around at the small tavern, almost out of place in this big city.

"What’ll it be, stranger," the man behind the bar said as Iolaus approached him.

"Um, beer," Iolaus said, placing a few dinars on the table. The man smiled, handed over a mug and took the money. "Thanks," Iolaus added, taking a sip. He was pleasantly surprised. "This is good," he said.

"Of course it is," the man answered back, staring at Iolaus strangely. Iolaus nodded and smiled at him.

"You’re not from around here," the man said, striking up a conversation.

"Nope," Iolaus answered and took another sip. "I’m just meeting a few friends here in Athens."

The man laughed at him, "yea, that’s what Tracus said," the man cocked his head to the side pointing out another man sitting in a chair at the far end of the bar. He was obviously Tracus and it was obviously Tracus had more than enough of his share of ale. Tracus waved over to Iolaus. Iolaus nodded his head and turned back to the bartender. "Tracus came here, oh about five years ago. He was looking for some friends, too." The man shook his head, "never did find them," he leaned down on the bar looking at Iolaus, "but he just keeps looking."

"Could be today, Malose," Tracus said from the end of the bar. Malose smiled at him.

"Could be," he shook his head at Iolaus. "See," he added and walked to Tracus refilling his mug.

"Nice place," Iolaus said to himself, finishing up the last of the beer in his mug.

"I can help you," a man said, catching Iolaus’s attention. He turned in the direction of the man’s voice. "I can help you find your friends," the man was a little taller than Iolaus, but he was hidden in shadows against the wall. Slowly the man came towards him.

"No thanks," Iolaus said turning back to the bar.

The man stood next to Iolaus now. "Athens is a big city, hard to find friends who may be lost," the man said. Iolaus turned to him. He was missing a tooth in the front, Iolaus saw when he smiled. He was wearing a merchant’s attire, not flashy, but plain, very plain. Black clothes, black hair. It’s no wonder he blended into the walls.

"I can find them," Iolaus said. "They sort of stand out in a crowd." Iolaus turned to leave, when the man touched his hand. Cold hands, Iolaus thought quickly and moved away.

"It is a dangerous place now. The gods have cursed Athens," he said in a low tone.

Iolaus turned back to the man for a moment, "cursed Athens?" Iolaus asked, looking at him.

"Yea, they say Ares is going to send Xena with a unstoppable army and destroy Athens," the man leaned closer to Iolaus. "If you want to find your friends alive, you should let me help you, before the army comes."

Iolaus slowly smiled at the man, "good try. I’ll find them myself, thanks," he said and leave the tavern.

"Suit yourself," the man said, slowly changing back to the form of Ares. "You never were very smart, Iolaus" Ares added, smiling and dematerializing.

Gabrielle stood at the edge of the riverbank while they had all stopped to rest. For the past few minutes, she had been throwing stones across the water, watching them skip a few times and slide underneath the water, disappearing.

Xena and Hercules sat a few feet away from her. Xena hadn’t taken her eyes off Gabrielle for the latter portion of the trip today. She was worried about her friend. It wasn’t like her to be so quiet and even her morning sickness which came upon her quite a few times today didn’t prompt conversation with her or Hercules. Xena was still secretly wondering why she wasn’t confiding in her about her expectant motherhood. She thought Gabrielle would be happy about it.

"It’s time, Xena," Hercules said, looking at her. Xena turned and looked at him. Hercules eyes glanced over at Gabrielle and then back to Xena. Xena stared back at Gabby. "I can try to talk with her if you would like," Hercules offered. Xena shook her head and stood up.

"Thanks, but I need to," she answered over her shoulder. Hercules nodded and Xena approached Gabrielle.

She sat down next to her on the log. "Hey, Gabrielle, what’chya doing?" Xena asked, trying to be casual.

"I know why you’re here," Gabrielle said in a somewhat sad voice. "You think something’s wrong with me, upsetting me, but you can’t figure out what."

"Well, I just.." Xena started, Gabrielle cut her words off, continuing.

"You can’t understand why I won’t talk to you or Hercules and you want to know why I’m not confiding in you about the baby I carry." Gabrielle didn’t look at Xena, she stared straight ahead. Xena watched her for a moment.

"Gabrielle, I just want to make sure you’re all right. I am worried about you," Xena touched Gabrielle’s hand, she moved it away. Xena looked down, feeling completely shut out of her best friend’s life…and heart. It was a pain, Xena never wanted to feel again. "Gabrielle, please…talk to me," she pleaded.

This time, Gabrielle turned to face Xena, "no, I am going to Athens to make sure Iolaus is safe, then we are going home."

"Gabrielle, your house and…"

"We rebuild somehow. People will help," she stood up facing the lake. "There are a lot of nice people in Cornith. Friends," she nodded her head as she spoke as if convincing herself of her own words. She turned back to Xena, "Iolaus and I can do it ourselves."

"I know you can," Xena said, sharing her friend’s confidence in herself and her husband. There wasn’t ever a doubt in Xena’s mind that Iolaus and Gabrielle couldn’t rebuild their home and their farm, but that wasn’t what Gabrielle was telling her. She was telling Xena to stay out of their life and that hurt deeper than any wound she had received in battle.

"Gabrielle," Xena stood up, standing next to her friend. Gabrielle turned back to the lake. Xena reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, she decided against it, turning to face her. "I never meant to cause anyone harm, I was trying to save you, you have to believe me."

"I believe you, Xena," she said, turning to her. "Truly. I meant what I said. There is nothing to forgive. I’m not upset with you about Thebes. I just need to think, that’s all." Gabrielle reached out and touched her hand, Xena smiled inside. That was a good sign, she thought. "How do I make you understand?" She asked, sighing and sitting back on the log. Xena followed her.

"I want to understand, Gabrielle," Xena said, sitting down.

"I know," she smiled weakly at her friend. "It’s different now for me. I thought I would never want to stop going on adventures, traveling the world. I thought I would be by your side until I died someday." Gabrielle looked down for a moment, "you see, Xena after I fell in love with Iolaus and we got married, I still thought I would yearn for adventure, excitement and in a way, I guess we both did. But then we started planting and working the farm, I know this sounds silly to you, but we were good at it. Better than that, Iolaus was wonderful," she stared out thinking her own thoughts for a moment, "it was such a feeling of peace and contentment. Something I hadn’t truly felt before…for more than a brief moment maybe while it was quiet and I would write my scrolls, but not like it was on that farm…in our house." Xena listened closely to her words now. "Xena, I loved the years we spent together, I cherish them." She took her hand, "but now I love my life with Iolaus and I cherish that. I love being a wife and I want to be a mother." She laughed a bit to herself, "I know he wants children."

"Gabrielle, no one is asking you to give up your life. I’m glad you’re happy. You should be happy," Xena said. "I never wanted you to be anything but happy."

"There was something I never told you, Xena," Gabrielle said, darkness entering her eyes for a moment. "I was scared, Xena. Sometimes I was terrified, I learned to control most of my fears, but ever since that night…with Dahak," she paused.

"Gabrielle, don’t…"

"I have to. You have to understand. Ever since Dahak, I changed. I wasn’t that same girl from Potedia anymore and I never felt that as strong as I did when I returned there the last time." Gabrielle’s eyes filled with tears for a moment, she held them back and took a deep breath. "I feel like I belong now, to someone to something." She stood up again, "and Xena," she said, looking down at her, "I’m not walking back into that fear. I can’t." She walked away, leaving Xena with her own thoughts.

"You ok?" Hercules said, coming up behind Xena. She turned to him.

"Yea," she said, getting up and walking around the log to face him. "I’m fine," she smiled at him, "I think Gabrielle’s going to be fine, too." Hercules smiled at her and touched her hand.

"I’m glad to hear that. Iolaus wouldn’t be very happy with us, if we brought back his wife upset." Hercules said, jokingly. "Then on the other hand, he’ll just blame you, anyway." Xena looked shocked at him and hit him on the arm. He took her hand and kissed it gently, causing shivers to go up her spine. She smiled at him. "What do you say, after we take care of Ares and bring Iolaus and Gabrielle home, we find some time to spend together," Xena smiled at him and moved towards him. Hercules responded, leaning his head down. They kissed gently, allowing those hidden feelings they both had come to the surface again. After a moment, they pulled back from each other.

"I think we could arrange that," she said, giving him a sideways smile and walking back to Argo and Gabrielle. Hercules smiled after her for a moment, before following her.

Iolaus sat on a hill overlooking the enormous city of Athens. He had spent the whole day searching for Hercules with no luck. Now, his feet were killing him and he was tired of asking everyone if they had saw the Son of Zeus. He was beginning to believe Malose from the tavern, maybe it wouldn’t be so easier to find someone in this place. He leaned back on the grassy hill, his hands over his hand and looked up at the stars. Thoughts of Gabrielle came to him again, she loved to stare up at the stars in the moonlight. How beautiful she looked in the moonlight, Iolaus said to himself, recalling the memory. He smiled and closed his eyes. A small breeze passed over him, causing him to open his eyes again.

"Hi, loverboy," Artemis said, standing over him and looking down. She smiled and Iolaus quickly moved backwards out from underneath her. He stood up.

"Back off, Artemis," he said, standing his ground. "Changed your mind again, have you?" Iolaus asked, staying focused on her. He was going to be on guard this time.

"You know you are incredibly sexy under the moonlight," Artemis said, smiling and advancing towards him.

"It’s not going to work," Iolaus said, trying to sound convincing. "Whatever you have planned." Iolaus was backing up a few steps. Artemis laughed.

"I was just giving you a compliment," she stopped and sat down on the hill with her back to him. "We need to talk," she said patting the ground next to her. She waited, Iolaus didn’t move. "Come on, Iolaus," she turned toward him, "you know you’re my favorite hunter," she said, seductively. Iolaus didn’t move. "All right, have it your way," she turned back to overlook the city. "Beautiful isn’t it?"

"What?" Iolaus asked still looking at her.

"Athens. I must admit my sister’s got some taste. I hate cities myself, too many people, too many merchants, but from up here at nightime, it’s beautiful." Iolaus turned his head slightly, trying to figure out what she was doing. It had to be a trick, he thought.

"No tricks, just a talk," Artemis answered his thoughts. Iolaus shook his head and sat down next to her. "That’s better. Now, listen I can’t tell you everything in case Ares is listening, but Hercules isn’t here in Athens." Artemis looked at Iolaus. "Not yet. Him, Xena and your little Amazon Princess are on their way to meet up with you."

"What? They brought Gabrielle here?" Iolaus stood up. "I shouldn’t have trusted Joxer to bring her back," Iolaus started pacing , "and Hercules what is he thinking? Bringing her here…in her condition."

"Hey, she’s pregnant, curly, she’s not dead," Aphrodite said, appearing in her familiar pink god-light. Iolaus stopped pacing staring at the Goddess of Love. She shook her hand, "men."

"Great," he said, shaking his head and walking away.

"I am supposed to talk with Iolaus, Aprohodite," Artemis said, standing up facing her sister.

"Yea, well, you take too long and big brother’s watching, all right," Artemis huffed as Aphrodite smiled at Iolaus. "Come on, sweetie, we got some talking to do." She reached out and took Iolaus’s hand. In a moment, they disappeared. Artemis shook her head and disappeared in her green light.

"Aphrodite, what are you doing?" Iolaus said, standing in her temple now. They had just appeared her a moment earlier.

"Look, curly, it’s simple. We are against Ares and now we need Hercules’s help," Aphrodite walked past Iolaus, "but you know Hercules he’s going to think we’re being selfish or have some other reasons for waiting to stop Ares and he won’t be a part of it. So," she turned back to Iolaus, who was facing her now.

"So, you want me to talk with Hercules when he comes to Athens," Iolaus said, finishing her sentence.

"You got it, sweet cheeks," Aphrodite said, squealing in delight. "Everything settled. See I can be useful. I don’t know what is wrong with those two out-of-touch sister of mine." She turned to Iolaus and smiled. "Thanks, curly. I always liked you." She winked at him and began to disappear.

"Aphrodite, wait." Iolaus said. She came back looking at him.

"I’m real busy, all right. What?"

"Why? Hercules will want to know why you are stopping Ares. And to tell you the truth, so do I."

"It’s complicated," Aphrodite walked away. Iolaus knew that reaction.

"What’s going on, Aprodite?" Iolaus said, following her.

She turned back to face him with a pout on her face, "he’s being a big, mean jerk. He’s taken Cupid, Psyche and that little baby to Tartarus and locked them up there."

"Why don’t you just ask Hades to let them go," Iolaus said, looking at her.

"AS IF…" she looked down, defeated. "I tried. He can’t because Ares knows Persephone is pregnant and her hag of a mother, Demeter will take the baby unless Ares stops it. You see."

"And Artemis and Athena?" Iolaus said.

"Oh, well you know Athena when someone threatens her little city and Artemis well, she loves those annoying, masculine Amazons. No offense about your little wife being one and all." Aphrodite moved closer to him. "Personally, Gabrielle never did strike me as the Amazon type. You know, an Amazon bard, how stupid would that look." She laughed at her own joke. "Ok, now you know. I gotta go, curly. Later." She disappeared.

"Well, that clears things up. Not too big of a problem," Iolaus said and started to walk out of the temple. He turned back, quickly.

"Sorry, sweetie, I forgot," he heard Aprhodite say and suddenly he appeared back on top of the hill.

"Thanks," he said, shaking his head at her.

"No prob…" Aphrodite’s voice trailed through the night sky. Iolaus couldn’t help but smile.

Iolaus stayed awake until the morning light streamed through the city of Athens. He had been thinking about Gabrielle, their child, Xena, Herc and even Ares. Aphrodite had explained the situation and Iolaus knew the stakes were high but now as he walked into the City of Athens once more, he had no idea of what to do. If only Herc were here, Iolaus thought to himself as he watched the city come alive with merchants. Iolaus thought about his encounter with the two goddesses last night and decided where he would get help. He looked to his right and saw Athena’s temple he smiled to himself. Athena, at least could be reasoned with, Iolaus said to himself as he headed inside the temple doors.

Hercules and Xena were ahead of the small bard who absently trailed before them. She picked a flower along the road and smelled it. Xena looked back at her and secretly wished she hadn’t made that deal with Ares, that she hadn’t left Gabrielle at the wedding, that she had told Gabrielle how important she was in her life and to live without her these past months was the hardest thing she had ever done. But Xena dismissed those thoughts and decided to focus on the present which for her right now was the powerful half-god that walked beside her.

"Hercules, I have a question for you," Xena said, half-smiling at him.

"What would that be?" Hercules said, looking over at her.

"After we reach Athens…" she paused for a moment it was unlike Xena to reveal her emotions or to talk about the future. She never thought about the future, just the present. It was her unspoken code. That way if she died in a battle there would be no regrets, but over the years she had realized regrets were enviable. She had regrets when Solien died, when she betrayed Hercules with Iolaus, when she was betrayed by Caesar, when she left Gabrielle. Regrets were just a part of life, she accepted that fact now. And now was the time not to make another one, not when she had the choice. Hercules was looking at her now, slowing down his pace a bit to listen.

"Xena…" He said, softly. She looked up at him. Her mind refocusing on the conversation they were having.

"Sorry," her eyes lowered for a moment before she continued. "Hercules, if we survive this, I want to take you up on your offer." Hercules stopped walking and looked at her intently. "If you still want to ride together." She said, quickly.

"I think that would be nice," he said, smiling at her. She smiled back. Both heroes continued walking, eyes focused ahead each of them thinking about what that meant. Hercules made the move, reaching over and taking her hand in his. She smiled to herself accepting his affection, but kept focused on the road.

"Hey, big bro…" Aphrodite said as she materialized in front of the trio. They all stopped walking as Gabrielle caught up with Xena and Hercules. They stood staring at the Goddess of Love in front of them. "Hi, Xena. I have always loved the leather you wear." She said, smiling. "Hi, sweetie. How’s the kid?" She said, looking towards Gabrielle’s stomach.

"Fine," Gabrielle said, stepping up to stand next to Xena.

"That’s good, sweetie wouldn’t want anything to happen to that baby." She tilted her head with another trade ‘Aphrodite Smile’.

"Aphrodite, what is this about?" Hercules said, looking disapprovingly at his little sister.

"Chill, Herc," she said, smiling at Hercules for a moment before turning back to Gabrielle. "Your babe Iolaus is awfully lonely these days. It so sad."

"Did you do something to Iolaus?" Gabrielle said, cautionly. She knew she couldn’t hode the fear in her voice.

"Don’t worry, sweetie. Curly and I are good friends, but that’s all." She said the last part with slight disappointment. "I got my own babes, but he misses his little wife. I just thought if I could help. After all, I am the Goddess of Love," she took a pose in front of the three.

"What are you here for?" Xena said, getting to the point.

"Xena, always the sensible one. All right, I am to bring the three of you to Athens."

She sat down on a rock by the roadside and struck a pose looking over to the three.

"That is where we are going, Aphrodite." Hercules said.

"I know, Herc, but it’ll take you forever what with Gabrielle’s condition. No offense sweetie, but you just aren’t that same perky, positive, self these days are you?" She looked over at Gabrielle. Gabby walked up to her, awaiting her next statement. Aphrodite smiled. "You’ve got the worst case of the blues, I’ve ever seen, girl. You need to lighten up. Motherhood isn’t so bad. Annoying at times, frustrating at other, but all in all it’s a cool experience. Take it from me." Aphrodite smiled at Gabrielle and for a moment, Gabrielle forgot she was the Goddess of Love and saw her as a person. "Hey, listen," she said, jumping off the rock and looking back to Hercules and Xena. "I’ve got an idea. Since you have to get Athens before…anyway, I’ll take you there."

"Before what, Aphrodite?" Hercules said knowing there was more to this than some strange sense of sisterly love and compassion.

"Before our brother has a field day with Athen’s."

"But I never built an army. Ares doesn’t have my loyalty." Xena said with conviction. Hercules was proud of his friend as he looked over the woman he had come to know so well.

"Yea, well, you know Ares. Always has to win, he’s just a big bully. But unfortunately, he is a bully with a lot of power. So, you have to get to Athena’s." She looked to Hercules now. "Got it, big brother."

"Why are you helping, Aphrodite? What’s in it for you?" Hercules said, doubting she would help without an up-side for her.

"I am hurt, Hercules. Athena is our sister and she needs our help." Aphrodite said innocently, lowering her eyes.

"All right have it your way, sis, but if you’re leading us into trouble…"

"Oh come on, Herc, you know me better than that." Aphrodite smiled at Hercules and within a moment, they all appeared outside the Athens city walls. "Now, do your stuff, big brother," she said from behind Hercules. Hercules turned around to face her. "Go kick some butt."

"I think , maybe we should look around first," Hercules said. Aphrodite pouted for a moment and then stepped in front of Hercules to stand next to Gabrielle.

"Hey listen, Gabrielle and I will find curly and you and Xena can look for Ares," she took Gabrielle’s hand and started walking towards the city quickly.

"Do you get the feeling she doesn’t want to see Ares?" Xena said, sarcastically looking over them.

"Yea, but I think we have to find my other sister first," Hercules said, "and then find your army."

"Hercules," Xena caught his arm as he started to walk away. "I’ll find the army. I think I know where to look."

"No," Hercules put his hand over hers. "We do this together. No more deals with Ares." He added with conviction in his voice. Xena looked at him for a moment and smiled. Hercules took her hand and together they walked into Athens.

"You want to play hardball. That’s fine with me, Hercules." Ares said as he threw another chair across his temple floor. "You take Xena, now you want to help those sisters of mine." Another piece of furniture went flying across the room. "That’s just fine." He stood in the center of room…and slowly a smile came across his face. "It’s wartime, brother."

"Athena…." Iolaus said again, for the fourth time since he had stepped into the temple. He had tried breaking something to get her attention, it didn’t work. He had tried bringing a gift of flowers. Which was the best he could do at the time and now he just kept calling her name. Maybe she would get annoyed…

Very distinctive laughing was heard from behind Iolaus. Iolaus turned towards the sound and saw the Goddess of Love and…

"Gabrielle…" he said, running towards her. He picked her up in his arms and twirled her around as they kissed. Aphrodite watched the lovers, almost absently, but after a moment a smile came across her face. It was kinda sweet, she thought.

"Iolaus, I’m sorry I didn’t stay in Cornith, but something terrible happened," Gabrielle started.

"Are you all right?" Iolaus said, looking intently at her. Aphrodite stayed focused on Gabrielle for a moment. The face that lit up the room when she saw her husband had turned and a darkness overcame her, sad eyes looked back at her love now.

"I’m sorry, Iolaus," she looked down and immediately Iolaus’s eyes held the same sadness. He pulled her in, cradling her against his chest and stroking her hair softly.

"It’s all right, honey," he said soothing. Aphrodite had moved to Athena’s temple chair, kicked off the books there and sat down. She burst out in laughter. Iolaus and Gabrielle turned to her.

"Listen sweetie, you need to work on your communication skills," she said to Gabrielle. "He thinks you lost the kid."

"Aphrodite, I have had…" Iolaus started.

"Chill, Curly. Nothing’s happened to your child…not yet. Your house was destroyed, that’s all."

"What?" Iolaus said turning back to Gabrielle.

"I’m so sorry? But Xena and Hercules told me about it when I met them on the road into Cornith."

Now, Iolaus laughed. Aphrodite smiled to herself. Gabrielle looked confused. Was he delirious now?

"Gabrielle I thought….don’t worry about the house. Are you all right?" He asked, his face turning serious again.

"Yea, she’s fine, loverboy," Aphrodite answered. "But listen we have to find Athena and Artemis before Hercules and Xena find Ares. Got it?" Aphrodite jumped up from her chair and walked towards one of the books she had thrown on the floor. "And you’re going about this entirely wrong. If you want to find Athena you just need to appeal to her sense of intelligence." Aphrodite said as she ripped a book out of the book. "She’s brainy, not beautiful like myself, so all she cares about," she ripped another page, "is these stupid books." She smiled and ripped another page.

"All right," They heard Athena say as she materialized in front of them. She whipped the book out of Aphrodite’s hand. "I hate you."

"Likewise, sis." Aphrodite smiled at Athena and turned toward Iolaus and Gabrielle. "We have all come to visit."

"Did you bring him?"

"Duh!" Aphrodite said turning back toward her sister. Athena sighed and started placing the books back on the table next to the chair. Gabrielle quickly started helping her. Aphrodite pulled her away. "Oh forget it, good doer, let her pick them up."

"Aphrodite…" Athena started to chastise her. Aphrodite turned to her with an innocent look. "Why do I bother?"

"I don’t know," Aphrodite answered sitting back on the chair. "This temple is like ‘death warmed over’ Athena what’s with you? It’s blah."

"I like it this way." Athena said, cleaning up the rest of the books and looking at her sister. "Where’s Artemis?"

"Right here," she said, appearing next to Iolaus. "Ok, so are we ready to bring down Ares?"

"Shhh!" Athena and Aphrodite said together looking at Artemis.

To Be Continued...

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