“storytext”> 

“Wait,
what are you talking about, Herc? Since when didn’t you take
me along on a mission?” Hercules had just broken the news to
his best friend, and the hunter wasn't taking it
lightly.

“storytext”>“It’s not a big one, and they specifically
asked for Xena and me. Gabrielle’s not going
either.”

“Yeah but
we always said – wait, she’s not?” His eyes perked
up.

“Nope.
Xena and I are gonna handle this one alone. You and Gabrielle are
on vacation, how’s that sound?”

“I think
I’ll survive," he smiled. With that the hunter turned
and went down to the house to say goodbye to Xena.

Hercules
watched him go. He hoped he was doing the right thing. In a flash
of pink Aphrodite appeared in front of the demigod.

"Good
thinking, bro," the goddess nodded. "Just let the two
little lovebirds alone, and who knows what'll
happen."

"Thanks,
that was the idea."

"Yeah. I
was watching yesterday when you and your big mouth nearly spoiled
the whole thing."

"I
wasn't going to say anything really bad, Aphrodite,it's
just that it could have been interpreted-"

"Yeah,
yeah, yeah. That'd be for the Fates to decide, and you know how
understanding they can be," she rolled her eyes.
Hercules had to admitshe was right. Any tiny slip he or Xena made
the Fates would jump on. "Anyhoos,I just thought I'd pop
in and let you know we're watching."

"Thanks
Aphrodite."

"So where
are you and Xena going, have you decided?"

"I
don't know. Away."

"You wanna
come chill with Heph and me for a couple of days?" she looked
really proud of herself for thinking of it.

"Oh,
Aphrodite, I don't know -" he loved his sister, it was
very hard not to, but staying at her house always required a lot of
patience. It was so… pink.

"Come on.
You can still see what's happening, we got front row
seats!"

Hercules
thought for a minute. This might be a good idea. He and Xena would
both be out of the way of their friends running into them, but they
could still keep an eye on them. "Actually, yeah, I think
I'd like that."

"Cool.
Grab your accessory thingys and I'll meet you guys in a few.
See ya!" she orbed out.

“storytext”>"Later," he answered, immitating his baby
sister perfectly. He went down to the house and got Xena. She gave
him an ice-cold stare when he whispered who they were staying with,
but nodded her agreement. She said a quick goodbye to Gabrielle and
followed Hercules out. Two steps outside the house, they were
zapped away.