Xena and Gabrielle stared in amazement at the outburst from Joxer, who'd just left them, when Aphrodite shimmered in front of them.

"Hiya girls, how's it going with my Boy and you two?" A look at their shocked faces told its own story. "Alrighty, that was nothing to do with Studmuffin, that was all Mr. God of War, Oooh-I-gotta-wear-slinky-leather messing about with him, but everything's hunky-dory now. Later," and she vanished, just as Joxer ran back to Xena and Gabrielle.

"Oh Gods, I don't know what came over me, can you find it in your hearts to forgive me?" Joxer's eyes were downcast, his face distraught at the thought of upsetting his best friends.

"Weeelll, I don't know about that, I mean those things you just said were really upsetting to me, I don't know if I can forgive something like that too quickly," Xena gave him the 'look' and he quailed back, not seeing the twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

Gabrielle tried to look stern too, but couldn't manage the same effect and she laughed out loud, "Xena, don't tease him! Joxer come here, of course we forgive you. We knew it wasn't like you to talk like that, your friend Aphrodite just dropped by to tell us Ares was behind it." She looked at the other two, then asked, "Group hug?" and they stood there together, best friends again, embraced solidly together, as though keeping all the troubles of the world away, at least for these moments together. They released each other and collected all their equipment, all the prisoners, and Elena re-joined them back to the village, travelling back on the other horse Xena had borrowed from the village.

The journey back to the village was a nervous one, even though it was only a short journey, for while they were travelling, there was always the possibility of an ambush, so all four of them remained watchful as the prisoners were harried along until they reached they reached the comparative safety of the village. The militia commander of the village was reluctant to rise from his bed, until he was informed about just who the enemy leader was. He stirred the village garrison into action, look-outs were posted and the prisoners were secured in a barred cellar in the ruins of a great house, near the marketplace.

The militia commander was a nervous man, never having faced any foes in battle or otherwise, but some of the militia had fought as mercenaries in the recent Roman wars, so Xena organised the militia into sections under those with battle experience, and reorganised the village into a mini-fortress; while the militia commander made arrangements for a healing centre to be based there, as well as all the women, children and those too old to fight to be sent into the temple of Zeus, which was the largest building in the village, for safety.

The commander had queried this decision, in fear of incurring the wrath of Zeus for the use of his temple in this way, but Xena had calmed his apprehension, saying, "Surely Zeus will look kindly upon using his temple as protection against those who would mean harm and if we take casualties, and I pray to the Gods we don't, can you think of a better place for a man to die than in the presence of the Father of the Gods?"

The outer buildings of the village were quickly abandoned as indefensible, there being too few numbers to defend all the buildings in the village.Having prevented at least an immediate storming of the village, Joxer, Xena and Gabrielle decided to take turns to keep watch. Whilst Xena was keeping an eye out for Callisto and her villainous cohorts, Elena was setting up her things in the Temple and called Gabrielle over to her, asking her when she took over from Xena on watch.

"An hour's time - why?" she asked.

"Would you mind if I looked you over? I understand that you've been through quite an ordeal," the healer replied.

Initially reluctant, Gabrielle relented and sat down in a chair, whilst Elena looked her over. After a careful examination, she made up an ointment and smoothed it over her bruises, bumps, cuts and grazes. She fetched a bowl, filled it with water and some liquid and settled it on a table next to where Gabrielle was sitting. She soaked a cloth in the solution and carefully dabbed where Callisto's knife had slashed at her head. Gabrielle flinched in anticipation of the pain, but there was none. Instead, there was a soothing and cooling sensation, as the liquid eased over her head and was gently rubbed into her hair and scalp. Joxer walked into the temple a short while later and saw Elena soaking Gabrielle's head with a cloth.

"Hallo, Gabby, Elena. Whatcha doing?" he said, going over to the two women.

"Hello Joxer. I'm just helping out Gabrielle with all the hurts she received," said the healer, raising her head to speak to him. "Actually, now you're here, can you help me out here please?"

"Sure, what can I help you with?" he said, eagerly.

"Well, you were telling me back in Aphrodite's Temple how good you were at styling and cutting hair, so if you could help Gabrielle by doing something good with her hairŠ"

Joxer and Gabrielle both blanched, he at the thought of being close to and in contact with her, she at the thought of him being let loose on her hair. Elena saw both their expressions of dismay and took command of the situation, speaking sharply to them both.

"Gabrielle, do you want your hair staying like it is, shabby, unkempt and messy?"

"Well, no but-"

"Joxer, you said you can cut and style hair, so you can cut Gabrielle's hair, can't you?"

"Well, yes but-"

"Good, I'm glad to hear you're both agreed on that," she said briskly. "So, Joxer what do you need?"

He told her what he wanted and she went away to gather what he needed. Joxer and Gabrielle looked at each other for a moment and they burst out laughing.

"Well, that's us told! I didn't know you could cut hair, where did you learn that?" Gabrielle asked him.

"You know my brother Jett of course, but I also have another brother, Jase, who taught me this when we were younger," he said, colouring up at the mention of his elder brother's name.

Gabrielle looked surprised at the news that he had another brother. "So how come you've never mentioned Jase before? It's as though you don't acknowledge his existence."

Joxer looked embarrassed. "Well, we don't like to talk about him too much outside of the family. He's, well, sort of a little odd," and he clammed up about him, refusing to say anything more about his mysterious elder brother.

Elena returned at that moment with a few men to help her, along with all the things Joxer had asked for. She busied herself around the temple, quartering off an area away from the people of the village, and preparing her healing equipment in case of any casualties. Meanwhile, after a nervous start, but with Gabrielle encouraging him, Joxer was attempting to repair the damage Callisto had done to her hair, with a comb and using one of his Sai to cut her hair.

After he'd cut what hair he wanted off, he combined the comb with an iron to shape it. He looked worried and full of trepidation as he found a handmirror for the bard, so she could examine his handiwork to look at her new hairstyle.

"Um, Gabby, if you don't like it, I can try something else until your hair grows back..." his voice tailed off, as he awaited her reaction.

She smiled at him, as she angled the mirror around her head, looking at what he'd done. "Joxer, do you have another mirror, so I can look at the back as well?"

He dashed off to find another mirror and brought it back to her. "So what's the verdict?" he asked her.

She stood up from the chair and placed her hands in his. "Well, as a swordsman and a poet, you just can't cut it." His face fell, but rose again at her next words. "But," she continued, " as a hairdresser, a warrior using those funny-looking knives, a runner, a fast-talker, and a lutist, you excel most people I know."

"You like your hair?" Joxer said delightedly. "Well, I always I knew I'd be good at something," he said modestly.

"Anyway, you were asking me earlier about how I'd changed? Well, it started when I awoke in Aphrodite's Temple, after you and Xena took me there to get healed from my injuriesŠŠ.." and he told her most of what had occurred since his encounter with the Love Goddess. "I'm not quite the formidable warrior, but at least I can look after myself which means you won't have to watch my back all the time now."

Gabrielle nodded in agreement; she'd been impressed by the way he'd been able to outsprint the chasing pack of Callisto's men from the attempted ambush, the way he'd manipulated Callisto into fighting him and how he'd almost defeated her. But there was one burning question yet unanswered that she had to ask for her own peace of mind, if nothing else.

"Joxer, why did you go through all that for me?"

He looked at her solemnly. "You and Xena are my best friends, and I've tried to be there for you for when you needed a friend, as much as you've been there for me when I've needed a friend."

She hesitated, thinking of the ramifications from what she was about to say. "You're sure there isn't another reason?"

"Such as?" He was stonewalling her, but his blushing gave him away.

She noticed and went for it. "I've heard a rumour you're in love with me."

"I haven't heard that rumour," he said, averting his eyes.

"Oh, so it's not true then?" she said, giving him a very piercing stare.

He caught her gaze and tried a different tack. "Well, erm, you know love's an overrated word; you could say you like someone a lot or you're very fond of a friend, but that wouldn't mean you were in love with someone, more like totally best friends for ever."

She looked unconvinced, so he plucked up the courage and finally spoke the words that had haunted his thoughts for what seemed like eons and that he'd never dared say to her before. "I l-l-l-love you, I'd do anything for you, Gabby. I've accepted that you'll probably never feel the same way about me, so I'm just here for you if you ever need a friend to talk to or turn to." <> His eyes looked sadder and darker than ever as he studied the floor, trying not to look at her. She was surprised to hear the words, even though she'd been expecting to hear his admission anyway. A silence descended, then he left the Temple, saying he had to go and see Xena for a moment. Gabrielle sat back in the chair, thinking what to do next.

Well, she'd got him to say how he felt - what was she going to do about it?

She wouldn't get much help from anyone else on this matter, only conflicting advice. This was definitely something she had to decide for herself, one way or another. It was true what he said, about her not feeling the same way about him, the way he felt about her, at least not at the moment. But on the other hand, she wasn't getting any younger and maybe in time she could reciprocate his love.

After all, did she really want to travel forever, clobbering villains and righting wrongs, as opposed to settling down somewhere with someone who loved her? But would she become restless, staying put, no more adventures, no more meetings with friends? She screamed out with exasperation, this wasn't getting her anywhere. No answers, only more questions. Perhaps she needed another's perspective after all, to help her see more clearly how to proceed.

Elena heard her cry out and went to her. "Gabrielle, what's the matter? I heard you call out."

"Elena, sit down a minute, I need to talk to you about something," Gabrielle said calmly, despite her mind being in turmoil.

"Okay," said Elena, bringing a stool across to where Gabrielle was and sitting down, "What's on your mind?"

Gabrielle took a deep breath and opened up to the healer. "I don't know if you've noticed or not, but there's something between Joxer and me."

"Mmm, I picked some of that up when he was recuperating in the Temple," Elena said thoughtfully. "The looks he gave you when you came round to see him and when he was awake, he was always talking about you."

Gabrielle looked surprised and wondered to herself if she was the only one who never saw these signs of his affection. She continued, "He's just told me that he loves me and I don't know what to do. It's something I vaguely suspected was on his mind, but I never thought it was anything more than a temporary infatuation. I've never thought of him as any more than just a friend, but I'm unsure how to react now."

"So how do you feel about him?" asked Elena.

"Before, he was a friend I didn't take much notice of, he got on my nerves and I was always treating him badly," Gabrielle replied.

"And now?" queried Elena. "Now, I just don't know," said Gabrielle in consternation. "I've never really looked at him that closely, but now I think about him, he does have some good points. He's always trying to do something nice for me and Xena, he's courageous, he doesn't let setbacks affect him and he's quite good-looking."

"Well, what about taking it one day at a time?" Elena suggested. "If you learn to reciprocate Joxer's feelings for you, then all well and good, but if not, well, at least you'll still have him as a friend."

Gabrielle stood up, having decided in her own mind what she was going to do. "Thanks Elena, I know what I'm going to do now."

"Glad to help," Elena said as Gabrielle left the Temple.

Her mind was elsewhere as she descended the steps of the Temple, looking for Joxer. What was it that the poet wrote? - Ah yes - "How happy could I be with either, where other dear charm her away." How very true, and yet so hard.

As Joxer trudged towards the Market square in the middle of the village, he reflected upon the events that had finally come to fruition in the Temple just now. How ironic after all this time, that it was Gabrielle raise the subject of his unrequited love for her. Admittedly, that was after much prompting on her part that he'd gone against his better judgement and told her of his true feelings for her. As he came round a corner, he almost bumped into a group of the village militia in discussion with Xena. She started when she saw him, then told the militia to wait for her by the tavern.

"Joxer, a word," and she motioned him into an empty house. She followed him and pointed at a stool by the kitchen table. "Sit, " she said grimly, in a voice that didn't invite debate about the matter. He sat down and looked warily at the imposing figure towering above him, her piercing blue eyes as cold as ice.

"So Joxer, mind telling me what's been going on with you and Aphrodite?"

He looked up at her determinedly. "Xena, I'd never do anything to hurt or upset Gabrielle and you know that Aphrodite's never got on with Gabrielle. Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore, so there's an end to it.."

"What do you mean?" Xena asked

"I've always hoped someday she might return my feelings, but deep down inside I guess I knew how she really felt about me," Joxer said dolefully. "I've just been talking to Gabrielle in the Temple and she got me to tell her that I love her. She'll find some way of letting me down gently and we three will stay as close friends but nothing more. But better this than What if? eating away at me."

He looked up at Xena, his face shrouded in concern. "I hope you know that if either you or Gabrielle ever need someone, I'll be there for you both, no matter what."

"I know Joxer," Xena said softly, resting her hand on his shoulder comfortingly. There was a long pause, then Xena broke the silence. "Ok, why don't we go outside and you can show me how good your new weapons are," and they exchanged weapons.

"Come on Joxer, let's go up to the marketsquare where there's more light," she said and they strode towards the now empty market square, save for a few empty stalls and some discarded vegetables and fruit. The light was much better here and there was plenty of space, too. Xena tried a few somersaults and flips with the Sai in the palms of her hands, neatly separating a torch from its bracket, sending it tumbling to the ground where it smouldered for a while before Joxer extinguished it..

"So Joxer, what was with the suicidal attack on Callisto?" Xena asked him, "You're never going to defeat her, only me or Hercules could do that."

"There's been a change of plan, "said Joxer evenly. " Ares released Callisto to kill me and Gabrielle to turn you over to your darkside, so you'd become the Destroyer of Nations again. Once me and Gabrielle are gone, there'd only be Hercules and Iolaus to stop you and Ares would find some way of killing them too. However, not only did Aphrodite give me the skill to use these blades, but according to Hades, I'm the only one who can kill Callisto as an Immortal."

There was a pause whilst Xena took all this in, then looked in amazement at Joxer. "Would you do it - really do it - kill Callisto if it came down to it?" she asked him in all seriousness.

"I don't know Xena," he admitted, " I guess only if you or Gabby were in danger and there was no other way out, then I would."

Xena nodded impassively, then walked over to where he was standing and passed back his Sai. "So if you're going to take on Callisto, you need some improvement in your skills. Let's see what you've got - attack me."

They charged each other, and at the point of contact , all three weapons clanged together, the speed of his attack driving her back momentarily and carrying him straight though her, causing him to stumble and drop to the floor.

"Hmm, not bad, but you'll have to do better than that to defeat her. How for instance, would you cope with...." and she suddenly flipped over his head with her customary warcry, landing behind him and her sword pointing at his back as he got up from the floor.

"Point taken Xena, so how do I deal with it?" Joxer asked her.

"Well, you're not agile enough to meet her in the air, so...," and she scanned the market area, then focused on something. "Aha, that might do," and she picked up a cabbage and some rope that was by a stall and tied them together, attaching the rope securely to the now empty bracket that was holding the torch previously. She jumped back down after setting the rope swinging and put her sword back in its sheath.

"Joxer, like I said, you're not agile enough to meet her in the air, so the only alternative is to stop her jumping over you at all, or at least make her think twice about it, " explained Xena, "I'll show you what I mean," and she ran towards the swinging rope, leaping upwards and drawing out her sword in mid-air, slicing the cabbage cleanly in two, one of the two halves falling to the ground with a 'crump'. "Now you try."

He stood directly underneath the still-swinging cabbage and made ready for a standing leap.

"No, no, no! That's not what I meant at all," Xena yelled in frustration. "You won't have time for that in a pitched battle - by the time you crouch down, then leap in the air, she'll be past you and ready to kill you in a trice. Do it like I did; take a run at it, leap in the air and attack the target."

He nodded in agreement, and she set the rope swinging again with a tap from her sword. Joxer stepped back a few yards, then ran at speed taking a giant leap skywards, his impetus from his speed carrying onward and upward and he slashed at the vegetable with both Sai. He missed with one completely, but the other went straight through the rope and the cabbage, the leaves falling in a gentle shower, unlike Joxer who collapsed in a heap on the floor, landing awkwardly.

"I'll have to practise at that," he said as he climbed back to his feet.

"That's for sure," Xena muttered under her breath. "If you're going to land like that, you may as well get some groundwork skills in as well. Okay, push me over," she said, standing right in front of him.

"Huh?" said Joxer baffled.

"Push me over, go on shove me hard," she said raising her voice to grab his attention.

"Alright," he said and he gave her a good hard push, so that she overbalanced and fell backwards. Instead of falling on her back however, she went into a backward roll combination, ending up ten yards further back from where he'd pushed her over. She ran back to him and stood with her back to him. "Okay, push me over again" Xena said calmly and he obliged, and she fell into a forward roll combination this time, ending up about the same distance away as last time.

"So Xena, I don't mean to be dense, but what's the idea behind this exercise?" Joxer asked her, his brows furrowed in bemusement.

"Look Joxer, you're just not cut out to be one of life's acrobats, so you have to do the best with what skills you have," Xena explained. "You hit that forward or backward roll everytime you fall and you won't hurt yourself so much next time. Also, that roll can stop you being skewered by a sword or a spear as well." She passed him her sword and stood a yard away from where he was. "Right Joxer, strike downwards with my sword as soon as I fall backwards, and do it with the point, not the edge. Remember, the point always beats the edge in a fight," she advised him. She fell backwards and he struck down at the same time, but by the time the sword hit the turf, she was five yards away.

"But that's not the way you or Callisto fall - what about the acrobatics you usually do?" asked Joxer uncertainly.

"Joxer, remember what I just said?" Xena said with a patience she didn't feel. "Callisto and I are very, very good, so we can do that, but you can't, because you're not agile enough. So you start off with this," and she demonstrated the fall and roll technique again. "Then after a lot of practise, you can do this," and she did the same fall and roll, but a lot faster, so that instead of the gradual roll she'd been doing up to now, she was doing it about three times as fast and stopping about twenty yards away. "And finally, if you're very, very good, you can do this," and she fell backwards into a combination of springs, flips and somersaulting , and cartwheeled back towards him for effect.

"I've got it now Xena," Joxer said with understanding dawning on his face. He sheathed his Sai in his wrist scabbards and did some forward and backward rolls, familiarising himself with the fall and roll technique. After a few minutes, he still wasn't brilliant, but at least he was competent at it. He scrambled to his feet after another fall and roll and brushed off all the dirt and cabbage leaves that had somehow managed to become attached to his trousers, waistcoat and shirt.

"Well, you're better anyway," Xena said grudgingly. "Now I'll attack you through the air, let's see what you've learnt."

She grasped her sword from the turf, wiping it clean and sheathing it again, and took ten lengthy strides back, then turned and flew at him, trying to get behind him. As soon as Xena turned and ran at him, he counter-charged her at full speed, his legs almost a blur, and he jumped skywards, his legs climbing the air to try and reach her. Remembering what Xena had said about the point and the edge, he didn't try to slash or cut at her, he pushed his arms up at full stretch, piercing her boots just as she was just passing out of range. The Sai worked themselves free, ripping through the leather, Joxer still holding onto them grimly and fell into an very rough forward fall and roll.

"By the Gods, I think you've got it at last," Xena said with a silent sigh of relief. "Even if it has cost me a pair of boots," she added with a baleful look at Joxer as he got to his feet. He gulped when he saw the state of her boots, wondering how he'd missed her legs and feet and just relieved he had. "But better the price of a pair of boots than the price of a funeral," she continued meaningfully.

"Oh," said Joxer thoughtfully.

"Do you mind if we swap weapons?" Xena asked him, " I want to see how yours handle in a fight," and she exchanged her sword for his Sai. He staggered under the weight of it, surprised by the difference between his old short sword and Xena's sword. He thought quickly as he saw her run towards him, forced his legs together, then rammed the sword into the ground and pivoted them around into Xena's gut as she was about to spring into him, sending her flying back into the scrub. She couldn't have looked more surprised as she flew backwards, but she quickly righted herself and walked back to where was standing.

"Hey, I'm alright," Xena said, reading his look of concern and shock, "I've had plenty worse hits than that. But where in Tartarus did you come up with that move?"

"I realised that I could hardly even lift the sword, never mind even fight with it, so I just relied on instinct," Joxer said honestly.

"I'm impressed, you not only thought on your feet, but you used the sword to the best advantage." said Xena with more than a touch of admiration in her voice.

Joxer looked even more shocked; Xena was praising him?

"There's hope for you yet," she said with a smile, and she promptly swept his feet away from under him. Despite the unexpected attack, he still remembered to fall and roll backwards, and she helped him to his feet. She nodded approvingly and he passed her sword back after wiping it clean.

"Guess I should always be prepared for the unexpected, huh?" he said philosophically.

"It helps," Xena said with a laugh. "Remember, keep your weapons clean and practise, practise, practise! That way you'll stay alive a lot longer."

She passed back his Sai and he sheathed them both. He made a mental note that kicking Xena in the gut and almost crippling her feet was not something to be done more than once if he wanted a long life. As they walked back towards the Temple, he noticed how quiet the houses were, then he saw a glint of metal from one of the houses and he whipped round to focus on it. Xena gripped his shoulders and forced him back towards the Temple.

"Don't look around, just ignore it completely," she said urgently. "Every house by the Temple and Marketsquare are full of militiamen armed with bows, spears and javelins. Just keep walking towards the Temple and stay with Gabrielle ."

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