“storytext”> 

Xena and
Gabrielle stayed only one more day at the inn before leaving.
Gabrielle really didn’t care where they went, she just wanted
to get away. So after a long goodbye with Hercules and barely a nod
from Iolaus, the two girls were off.

Xena walked
with Argo II slowly as she watched her best friend/sidekick trudge
forward determinedly. She wasn’t herself, Xena was sorry to
admit. That friendly, sunny personality seemed to have vanished
completely, and she was not well. She’ll get over it, she
knew. Sure Gabrielle cared for Iolaus, and yes she had every right
in the world to be upset, but she’s still young. She’ll
get over it. She just needed some quiet time to herself to work
things out.

So she let her
friend walk ahead as she walked much slower. Aphrodite was
apparently not going to help them. She and Hercules were both
disappointed that she hadn’t been of more use. But then
again, what had they expected? “Godesses” she
groaned.

“I heard
that,” the lady herself said as she appeared in a cloud of
pink hearts and flowers.

“storytext”>“Aphrodite,” Xena really was caught
off-guard at her appearance. “What are you doing here?”
She stole a quick peek over her shoulder to see if Gabrielle had
noticed. Nope, she was already turning around a bend in the road
and was out of sight.

“Ye of
little faith,” Aphrodite laughed with her hands on her hips.
“I told you guys I’d get back to ya.” With that
she pointed a finger straight at the warrier princess and zapped
her away. “Later!” She giggled as she
disappeared.

“storytext”> 

“Look,
Hercules, I don’t want to talk about it!” Iolaus
snapped at his friend.

“Well
Xena and I just can’t stand seeing the two of you this
miserable. If you’d only let us help you -”

“Leave me
alone. I don’t want to talk to you or Xena or anyone. I just
want to forget the whole thing!” With that the greying hunter
threw up his arms and huffed down the path into the woods alone.
Hercules was about to follow him but he stopped himself.

“Good
thinking,” a man’s voice said behind him.

“storytext”>“Cupid?” He said in surprise. It had been
awhile since he’d seen the winged love-god, but it was
definatley him, standing with his arms crossed, leaning against a
tree.

“If
you’d followed him, he’d be even madder. Better let him
have some time to himself.” He uncrossed his arms and stepped
towards the hero. “Hi Uncle Herc.”

“storytext”>“It’s good to see you,” Hercules said
honestly. "How's Psyche and the kids?"

"Oh,
they're all fine. Thanks. And you're doin okay too,
Unc?"

"No
complaints," he grinned.

“Yeah,
I’d like to take credit for the visit, but the fact is Mom
sent me.”

“Your
mother?”

“Yep.
I’m s'posed to get you and take you to meet
her.”

“Um…
Okay, where are we going?”

“What,
and spoil the surprise?” The young god teased as he zapped
his favorite uncle out of sight.