Joxer rose early. He couldn't really sleep - Xena and Gabby had promised to meet him at the inn in the next town today. He knew they wouldn't be there until the afternoon, but he wanted to get there early, just because. He began strapping on his ungainly armor and packing up his campsite, thinking about the day to come...

The three bandits were on their way to meet the rest of their crew. They were in sort of a hurry, but when they spied the occupied campsite up ahead, they conferred, and agreed. The boss wouldn't mind if they came back with a little more loot - this shouldn't take long. They approached quietly, swords drawn and ready. Still, they were surprised when the warrior stepped out of the shadows with sword poised, and spoke.

"Can I help you with anything?"

Their leader stepped forward, and replied confidently, "You can give us everything you have, and we'll be on our way. Otherwise..." He raised his sword menacingly.

"Oh, I don't think so," the warrior replied.

As she struck the first blow, Xena called out "Gabrielle!"

Joxer packed his few things with care. He wondered if he should buy a present on his way through town for Gabrielle. He knew that whatever he bought her, she either wouldn't like it or she would laugh at it. He thought sadly of the beautiful necklace he had sold his scabbard to buy. Why did he keep trying, anyway? He supposed it was because of the few scraps she threw to him every once in a while - like the fact that she had invited him to join her and Xena today at the inn. Sure, it would only be a little wine, a meal, but it was special, because she had asked him to be there.

Xena and Gabrielle fought like a well-oiled machine, but these guys were nothing special. They had taken on much worse. Two were already out cold, and the leader looked as if he was trying to figure out how to get away. The bard swept her staff under his feet, and Xena dove down on him. She thought about using the neck pinch, but he looked scared enough to give her the information she wanted without it.

"So where," she began, "did all this loot come from?"

"Uh-uh-uh, Prince Darlus' summer castle," the ruffian responded, giving only brief thought to not answering or lying. He quickly discarded both options as too dangerous. "We heard a report that he would be gone to the next kingdom for a hunt, so we broke in and took them. We were going to take them to our boss."

"Who is...?" Xena growled.

"Tildus," the man replied. "His cave is about two miles south of here."

"South," thought Gabrielle, "sounds like the wrong direction for us today, but I can't quite remember why."

Joxer trudged north, whistling, although not very happily, his own personal song. Why was he feeling so bad right now? The day had started out so hopefully. He had run into Xena and Gabby yesterday, and his own true love had extended the invitation for today, since she knew they were traveling in the same direction. In fact, he would have camped with them last night, except he had had business in the last town, and they had to stop and have Argo's teeth looked at by a old horse doctor they knew in the woods today. But he knew they were somewhere else on this same trail.

As they left the trail, and moved quietly through the woods, Gabrielle again tried to figure out what she was supposed to be doing today. Well, whatever it was, it would surely keep until they had taken out this gang and returned the prince's jewels. It wasn't a matter of life or death.

Joxer wandered through the stalls in the market place, wondering if he really ought to even be here. Xena and Gabby seemed to do just fine without him, and certainly didn't much care if he lived or died. Well, okay, they had nursed him back to health after he was so badly beaten by those casino thugs, so he supposed they at least cared if he stayed alive. But he doubted if he crossed their minds much when he wasn't around...

Xena had set her trap carefully, and they had captured the rest of the bandits without much strain. The bard was sitting in the cave, going through the loot. That was a really nice scabbard there, she thought. It reminded her of the one Joxer used to carry... Joxer! That nagging thought that she had been worrying all morning stirred again. This had something to do with him, she felt sure...

Joxer felt sure that the two women would be here soon after lunch. He bought a few apples in the marketplace (Argo seemed to enjoy those - at least one of that group would be happy to see him!), and a loaf of bread. He sat awkwardly by the well in the center of town, and pulling out his knife, began peeling one of the apples and slicing the bread for his lunch. He could see the inn from here, in case they arrived earlier - as if there were any chance of that! But he was sure they wouldn't forget.

"What were we supposed to do today that I feel like we've forgotten?" Gabrielle asked Xena as they left Prince Darlus' compound. "Something has been bothering me since we got up this morning, and I can't remember what it is." The sun was well past noon, and the two were satisfied that they had done their best with re-distributing the gang's spoils.

Xena untied her horse from the tree outside the castle walls, and thought deeply. "I know!" she said suddenly, "We were supposed to go see that old man who's so good with horses about Argo's teeth!"

"Yeah, that must be it," said Gabrielle, although she wasn't really convinced.

Joxer still wasn't convinced that they weren't coming. Sure it was almost dark, and they had said they would be here after lunch - it was still after lunch, wasn't it? He ordered an amphora of wine and three glasses. Maybe they could all have dinner together anyway. He poured himself a glass of wine and looked expectantly towards the door.

As they walked out the door and unhitched Argo, Gabrielle shook her head. That hadn't been it, she was sure. They turned north, and Xena commented, "I hope we make town tonight. It's still quite a ways, but I sure would like to sleep in that little inn there?"

"Town? Inn? Xena, that's it!" the bard almost shouted. "I promised Joxer we would meet him after lunch today at that little inn!"

"By the gods, Gabrielle, it's been dark for quite a while already. Do you suppose he's still there?"

"I don't know, but we owe it to him to at least go and find out... don't we?" the bard replied uncertainly.

"Oh, well" Joxer mumbled drunkenly to himself, "at least I know for certain what they really think of me." The amphora of wine was empty, in spite of the two unused glasses, and he had never gotten around to ordering dinner. His dark eyes brimmed with tears, but he refused to let them fall. He laid his head down on his arms, and with a slight shimmer, sleep overtook him.

"There you go, my little studmuffin," Aphrodite cooed, as she sparkled into existence beside him. "At least your dreams will be cool. You know, you have got it bad, boy. And she really isn't much help, is she? And I guess I haven't been either - once you kissed her under my spell, and then she kissed you under Cupid's, but all those things did was make her close her heart even harder. Man, have I ever blown it with this one!" A single tear slipped down Aphrodite's beautiful cheek, and landed on the table beside Joxer's hand. It hardened and crystallized in an instant. The goddess sighed and shimmered out of sight.

"There he is! " Xena called to Gabrielle, catching sight of him as soon as they entered the room. His sleeping form and the empty container told the whole story.

The bard looked at him sadly - without his stupid helmet, his face relaxed in sleep, he looked just like a sweet little boy. "We let him down, Xena. He trusted us, and we let him down."

Just then, Joxer mumbled, "Gabby!" and shifted slightly. Something sparkled beneath his hand, and Gabrielle reached over and picked it up.

"Xena, look at this," she called to the Warrior Princess. "What is it?"

She handed the stone to Xena, who turned it over several times, then held it up to the light. "I'm no jeweler, Gabrielle, but this sure looks like a diamond. They're very rare - and very expensive. "

"Oh, wait, I've heard a story about them - aren't they supposed to be the jewels that fall from Aphrodite's eyes when she cries over a tragic love? Isn't that why they are used to pledge eternal devotion - to remind couples of the goddess' sadness if their love should fail?" Gabrielle looked at the sleeping man curiously. "Where could he have gotten that?"

"I'm not sure," Xena replied, "but I suspect it's for you. And I guarantee that stone cost him everything."

"Everything," the bard muttered, as she sunk down to sit beside the sleeping figure. "Xena, go ahead and get a room. I think I need to stay here for a while." She took his limp hand in hers, and laid her head down on the table beside him. She wanted to be here when he woke up.

Author's Notes:
This story was inspired by the song "Build Me Up, Buttercup." This is not a deep-thinking, contemplate your navel kind of song - it's beach music. I grew up in the South, so I grew up with beach music. Think two kegs into a fraternity party kind of song. Anyway, the story that evolved from that song ended up as my least humorous, most (as 'Dite would say) "bummer" piece so far. Who knew? And if you're looking for the diamond myth in Bullfinches, don't. It suited my purposes, so I made it up.

Please take the time to write to Lori at lwbush@charter.net and let her know how you liked the story!

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Aphrodite, and all other characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 1999 by Lori Bush and is her sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.