Author's Notes: Thanks to Sandy for the beta and for writing the scenes with Aphrodite in them.
Timeline: AU Sixth Season, 2nd year of Jett's parole from Maramis Prison. Takes place approximately one month after the events chronicled in "Up, Up, and Away"

The blonde bard paced back and forth while her companion watched her. "I can't believe you let him go off by himself!"

"Gabrielle, calm down! I'm not in charge of him. Joxer's not the one on parole here. He said he had things to do, and so he left."

The green eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What kind of things?"

"I don't know. I didn't think about using the pinch to find out."

Gabrielle whirled around at Xena's reply. "Well, maybe you should have! There's no telling what kind of trouble he's going to get himself into."

Jett lay on the ground chewing on a blade of grass. "Jox did all right for himself before we all started to travel together. Maybe he just needed a break. It not like he won't come back," he pointed out.

Gabrielle looked at Jett. "Oh, stay out of this! I didn't ask you."

Jett raised his hand in protest. "Hey, don't bite my head off! Jox probably was short on dinars and went to earn more."

"How? His fighting skills are better than they used to be, but they're still lousy!"

"I guess the same way he always does - and who says that you need to fight to earn money?"

Gabrielle clenched her hands together to form fists. "So help me, if he's gambling after what happened last time, I'll kill him!"

"You mean when those men beat him up?"

Xena looked at Jett but was not surprised he knew about the attack on Joxer. "Yeah, that's what she meant. I suppose you found out in prison."

Jett nodded but gave no more information. Xena turned back to her friend. "Gabrielle, Joxer promised that he would never gamble again and I believe him. So let's go to town and see how he gets his money if it bothers you so much."

"You'd know if he wanted you to know. He would have told you already. Jox doesn't have much. He's got a very dysfunctional family - me included - and friends that aren't what they seem to be," Jett said.

Gabrielle's head shot up at his last words. "Are you saying we're not Joxer's friends?"

"I'm talking about other people. Look, what I'm trying to make clear is that you don't need to know how Jox is making his money as long as no one gets hurt." Jett got off the ground and walked away.

Xena was already climbing onto Argo. "Okay. Let's go meet up with Joxer."

Gabrielle nodded as she mounted Amber. Once Jett was settled on Thunder, they were on their way into town.

Joxer had just finished his last song and was taking a break. He slowly took a drink of his ale when he felt a rough hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see two guards staring at him. "Uh, can I help you?" he asked nervously.

"The king wishes to see you, musician."

"You must have me mistaken for someone else. I'm a warrior, not a musician," Joxer said and turned back around to take another drink from his mug of ale.

One of the guards roughly pulled him off the stool. "You don't and won't keep the king waiting. Now, musician!"

Joxer pulled himself from the guard's grip and dusted himself off. "Okay! Fine! I'll go with you."

As the guards led Joxer out, his friends rode in at the same time. Xena, seeing her friend being taken away by two very large guards, threw her chakram at one of the guards. It hit him on the breastplate, knocking him to the ground and stunning him. The other guard grabbed Joxer before he could get away. "I don't want to hurt him! The king wishes to see him."

"Why?" Xena asked, her ice-blue eyes blazing with fury as she put her weapon away.

"I don't know. He just said bring the musician."

"Fine! Let's see what the king wants already," Xena growled.

"What about the other guard?" Gabrielle asked.

"He'll be all right. I wasn't aiming to kill."

The guard then went over and helped the other guard, who was moaning softly, to his feet. "This way to the king," he said, making a motion down the main road.

Gabrielle went over to Joxer, fuming. "What did you manage to get yourself into this time? I swear, Joxer!" she shouted.

"Gabrielle, I have no idea why the king wants to see me. I didn't do anything!"

"You must've done something to get yourself in this mess!"

Joxer narrowed his eyes. "I didn't do anything except play my lute and sing in the tavern!" he snapped.

"If you sung your song, that's probably it."

"Gabrielle?" Xena interrupted.

"What?"

"Shut up and lay off Joxer. We have enough to worry about!"

Gabrielle's eyes narrowed in anger but she said no more as they all were taken before the king. To their complete surprise, the king was a little and rather jolly-looking roly-poly man. He had black hair, black eyes and wore an outfit made of gold silk. The guards bowed before him respectfully. Xena just stared at him in astonishment for a few moments until she found her voice. She opened her mouth to speak when the king ran over to Joxer and shook his hand profusely.

Joxer's eyes opened wide and his jaw fell open in surprise as the king began pleading with him, all the while shaking his hand so hard that he wondered if the king was going to shake his arm off. "You're the musician I heard in town today! Your playing rivals the Gods themselves. You must help me, oh great musician! My daughter Meliai is prisoner of the God Apollo. He said that if anyone can play his harp, he'll let her go! Please, all the other musicians have failed!"

Joxer finally managed to find his voice and began to say something but Jett stopped him before he could utter a sound. "Look, I know what that harp does to a man if he plays the wrong note. Even though Jox is good, he's not that good!"

Joxer's eyes glittered at the backhanded insult. "Hey! I can do this! I can play that harp."

Xena stepped in before an argument started up between the brothers. "Joxer, Jett's right. If you play one note wrong, you'll be encased in ice forever."

Joxer turned in her direction. "Xena, all my life I've wanted to be a hero and now's my chance. At least let me try. You would, no matter what the consequences were to yourself."

"But Joxer...!"

Joxer raised his hand before Gabrielle could say anything else. His posture straightened to full height as he gazed at the three standing around him. He sighed heavily, shaking his head. Then, in a very soft voice he said, "You all say that you believe in me, but when it comes down to the wire, you treat me like a child and tell me that I all I do is get in trouble and mess up." He swallowed hard and whispered, "You have no faith in me."

Gabrielle moved her foot, making a circle on the floor, and Jett just stared at his feet, neither one of them saying anything.

Xena sighed as she looked at the warrior wannabe. "Joxer, it's not that we have no faith in you... It's..."

"Well, what is it?" Joxer pressed.

"This is just beyond your skills."

Joxer glared at her, feeling a rare momentary surge of white-hot anger run through him and he felt his cheeks flushing as blood rushed to his face. "Fine! Thank you very much, Xena! You've just proved my point! I don't have to listen to you! You're not my boss!" he yelled, jabbing his finger in her direction. Xena stared at Joxer, surprised at his angry outburst, as he turned back to the king. "I'll do it for you, Your Majesty. I'll play Apollo's harp and rescue your daughter," he said in a much calmer yet determined voice.

Gabrielle suddenly grabbed Joxer's arm, the anger from earlier long gone. Concern shone in her eyes instead as she said quietly, "Joxer, please don't do this. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

Joxer hesitantly reached out and touched her softly on the cheek with a finger, staring into her emerald-green eyes. "Then for the first time since we've met, please have faith in me," he said quietly.

Gabrielle slowly nodded. "I'll try, but I'm coming with you."

Joxer wanted to reach out and take Gabrielle into his arms, but thought better of it, so he just nodded. "Xena, are you and Jett coming too?"

Xena and Jett exchanged glances before she turned her attention back to him. Her ice-blue eyes sparkled with worry, but she nodded slowly. "I'm not crazy about this, Joxer. You're putting yourself into danger, but yes, we're coming," she answered slowly.

"It's something that you do every day, Xena, so let me do this." Joxer paused for a moment. "Music is something that I know."

The king told Joxer everything he needed to know. Joxer thanked him, bowed his head in a gesture of respect and left. Xena, Jett, and Gabrielle followed behind him a short distance away.

As they walked from the palace and back to their horses, Gabrielle felt a strange longing in the pit of her stomach. She had suddenly wanted Joxer to take her in his arms while they were in the palace. She frowned as she thought about her clumsy but good friend. Traveling with Joxer lately had been making her feel strange at the oddest times - and it was simple things that he did or said that would set those feelings off. They weren't bad feelings, but made her feel good inside. They made her feel like when...

Perdicas... Oh Gods... Gabrielle's eyes widened in sudden realization. She then knew what those feelings meant all too well and it scared her. Was it possible that after all this time?

Gabrielle watched Joxer as he carefully mounted Speckle, who waited patiently as his master settled into the saddle. He's come such a long way from when we first met. I just hope that he can do this, she thought to herself. She maneuvered Amber forward so that she was riding next to Xena.

Xena turned in the bard's direction and saw that her face was very pale. "What is it, Gabrielle? Are you all right?" she asked with concern in her voice.

Gabrielle stared bleakly at Xena, her green eyes dark with worry. "Xena, I'm really scared for Joxer. You have to stop him from going through with this! Try to talk him out of it, hit him over the head with something! Anything..." she said desperately.

The Warrior Princess smiled warmly at her friend. "Gabrielle, if I could stop him I would. But if I did that, Joxer would never forgive any of us. You know that."

"But at least he'd be alive," Gabrielle replied softly.

Xena nodded and sighed sadly as they rode on to Apollo's temple.

Jett rode quietly beside his brother. Joxer glanced over in his direction. "If you're going to say something, then say it, but I'm not backing out."

Jett turned his head to face his brother. "I'm proud of you, Jox, and I believe that Father would be too," he said in a low voice.

Joxer gave his brother a goofy grin in thanks but said nothing else. They arrived at Apollo's temple some time later, where they were greeted by one of his followers as they entered the main altar room. "Why are you here?" the man demanded in a harsh voice.

Xena stepped forward. "My friend here - " indicating Joxer, " - is here to play Apollo's harp and rescue the Princess Meliai."

The follower looked at Joxer and sniffed. "Ah, another fool trying to be a hero." The man rolled his eyes and sighed. "Please come with me." He led them down a long corridor that took them to a large chamber. In the chamber stood crystal statues of young men, each holding an instrument. "These are the ones who failed. Do you still wish to try?"

Joxer approached one of the frozen men, touched him, and then backed away. "I thought you said encased in ice! These guys have been turned into crystal!"

Xena rolled her eyes. "Well, I guess that it's different now." She gazed at the transformed men curiously. "But why are they each holding a different instrument?"

"Because the great God Apollo does have feelings and gave them their own instrument before the spell finished its work. If you still want to do this, then come with me." The follower pointed at Joxer. "You only, musician. Your friends must remain here."

"I'm going with Joxer!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

The follower's eyebrow rose at Gabrielle's words. "Do as you wish, but if he fails, you also will be turned into crystal," he warned.

Joxer stepped in front of Gabrielle. "If you are coming, then let's go." He turned to the follower. "Okay. We're ready."

Xena and Jett both walked over to Joxer. "We're coming too, Joxer - just in case," said Xena. Joxer only nodded as they walked behind the follower, who led them to another chamber. The man opened the door and Joxer walked in, but before anyone else could follow him, he quickly closed and sealed the door shut.

"Joxer! Open this door now!" screamed Gabrielle.

"I'm sorry, but I can't put you guys into any danger!" Joxer's voice was muffled behind the door.

"Joxer, please let us in!"

"No, Xena. I feel that I can do this, but if by chance I fail, it'll only be me as a statue, not any of you!"

"JOX, OPEN THIS DOOR NOW BEFORE I BREAK YOU IN HALF!"

"I love you too, Jett. Xena, please take care of Gabrielle."

Gabrielle continued pounding on the door. "Joxer! Let us in!"

Xena gently pushed Gabrielle aside. "Joxer, you said that we had no faith in you. Well, it seems to me that you have no faith in us either, or you'd let us in to at least support you."

Suddenly the door opened and Joxer stood in the doorway, gazing at them. Gabrielle rushed inside and struck Joxer hard on the chest with her fist.

The warrior wannabe yelped and bent forward a little, rubbing where the angry bard had hit him. "Gabrielle, that hurt!" he whimpered.

"If you ever do something like that again, so help me, Joxer...!"

"I'm sorry, okay? Jeez! I wish you'd make up your mind! First it seems like you like me, then you act like you can't stand me!"

Gabrielle sighed. "Joxer... Look, I'm very fond of you, but I hate it when you do certain things."

"Yeah? Well, I kind of hate it when mortals come into the main chambers of my temple without being invited. So, what's up?" a handsome, tanned, and arrogant-looking young man with blond hair asked. He was dressed in gold pants and a vest. A gold necklace that had a large sun pendant attached to it was around his neck. He gazed at the mortals with contempt in his eyes as he sprawled on his throne.

Xena automatically placed her hand on her chakram. Apollo stood up from his throne. "Oh no, missy! I'll have none of that." He pointed his finger at the chakram and it turned into a snake. Xena moved her hand away, but the snake was too quick and bit her. She managed to get it off her and threw it across the floor where it landed and became her chakram again. Apollo looked at Gabrielle, who was looking at Xena's hand. "You, girl! Go pick up that weapon."

Gabrielle ignored him as she continued looking at Xena. "I'm okay, Gabrielle. Go get my chakram and hold onto it for me. I can't hold it right now. It will turn back into a snake if I touch it," Xena said, her voice sounding as if it were coming from far away.

Gabrielle grew alarmed as Xena's face became pale and her eyes unfocused. "Xena?"

"The snake was poisonous, Gabrielle, but I'll be okay." Xena suddenly sank to the ground. Joxer and Jett quickly came to their friend's side, kneeling down next to Gabrielle.

"I knew I shouldn't have opened that door," said Joxer sadly.

"Never mind! We've got to get her out of here," said Jett. Gabrielle watched as he rose to his feet after he carefully lifted Xena up in his arms. "Gabrielle, get her weapon!" Gabrielle rose to her feet, but didn't move. Jett snapped, "I said, get her weapon!"

Gabrielle rushed over, picked the chakram up and carefully attached it to her belt. She then stared at Joxer with scared green eyes.

Joxer smiled at Gabrielle sadly. "Go, Gabrielle. Help Xena," he said softly. The bard was devastated. She wanted to be with both of them. Joxer sensed that he knew how she felt. "Gabrielle, I'll be all right. Xena needs you."

Gabrielle rushed over to Joxer and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Please be careful."

"I will. Now go with Jett and help Xena," Joxer whispered.

Gabrielle ran back over and followed Jett out of the chamber with Xena. Joxer turned back to Apollo. "You didn't have to do that! Xena wouldn't have thrown it."

"I couldn't take that chance."

"Will she die?"

"I don't know."

"You're a God and it's your poison!"

The blond God rolled his eyes. "Why are you here, mortal?"

"I'm here to play your harp and rescue Princess Meliai."

I see. So, you want to play my harp, huh, mortal? You do know what happens if you fail?"

Joxer looked at the God and nodded. "Yes, I know."

Apollo left his throne and walked over to Joxer, draping his arm around Joxer's shoulders. "Hey, you're the moron Ares told me about! Jerkster, right?"

Joxer shook Apollo's arm off. "The name is Joxer and I'll play your harp. As a matter of fact, not only will I play your harp, but I'll play it better than you!"

Apollo stood there for a moment looking at the warrior wannabe and then began to laugh. "Let me get this straight! You're saying that you can play better than me with my own harp?"

"Yes. I can play better than you and I challenge you."

"Brave words, mortal." Suddenly, two harps appeared. "Both of these harps are mine. I accept your challenge, but we will play for the other Gods and they will choose the winner."

"If I win, you'll let Princess Meliai go, save Xena and free all those guys that didn't free the princess before."

"And if I win?" Like I'm NOT going to win over this mortal jerk! the God silently gloated.

Joxer swallowed hard, but his voice was steady as he replied, "I will be your loyal servant until the day I die, with no will of my own."

"You know, it might be fun to have a servant... Okay moron, you're on!" Apollo answered as he waved his hand and a moment later, Joxer found himself in a big room.

"You will remain here until I get everything ready, so if I were you, I'd do some practicing, Jerkster!" Apollo's voice said. Joxer looked around, wondering what he managed to get himself into.

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