Reluctantly, Iolaus did join Hercules on his journey to reunite with their old friends. Hercules tried to look after Iolaus, but couldn’t help being excited about seeing Xena again after so long. What would happen now? Would there be a chance of something again, or was she right when she said they were long past the time when they could have been together? He tried to keep his thoughts to himself, but knew he couldn’t contain them completely.

Iolaus was traveling in silence. Herc knew Iolaus was brooding, and he desperately tried to pull his friend out of it, but was failing miserably. At the first village they stopped in they found a message waiting for them from the Warrior Princess herself. She was journeying with Gabrielle towards Corinth, hoping to find them. Hercules sent a reply that he and Iolaus would meet them in Argos.

It was the night before they were to reach Argos that Iolaus got another anxiety attack. He had gotten too old, too fat, too wrinkled, he decided. Although he’d admittedly put on a few pounds in recent years, Hercules would never think him fat, and said so. It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t go. Couldn’t go.

“She looks the same as she did when we last met?" he whined. "Every bit as beautiful and young and full of life as I remember? What if I see her and fall for her again? I could never be more than a friend now. She’d never feel the same-”

“Wait, give Gabrielle some credit,” Herc interrupted. She’s probably the least judgmental person either of us has ever met.”

“Well… okay, say for the sake of argument she did feel the same. What then? Ask her to give up her youth and life with Xena so she can look after an alcoholic that once was a fighter for justice?” After he’d said that Hercules knew there was nothing more to do that night. In the end all he could do was ask Iolaus to sleep on it, and then decide in the morning.

Iolaus was ten times worse in the morning. His mind was made up. He absolutely wouldn’t go under any circumstances. Herc would have to make his excuses.

“What excuses? They’ve been gone for 25 years, they’re expecting to see you!”