After stopping for the night to camp out, Jett and the others found themselves making good time back to Eleutherae when they were attacked by several villagers armed with anything from pitchforks to large sticks.

"Son of a bacchae!" Meg yelled as a large stone whizzed past her ear. To her shock, it was a young girl that threw it and she managed to duck just in time before she was hit squarely in the face with another rock.

"DIE, SCUM! DEATH TO YOU ALL!" one of the men shouted, raising his pitchfork as he ran straight towards Jett, who leapt off Red Fox and drew his sword.

"Jett! No! These are innocent people! Don't harm them!" Jezda cried out.

"Mother, I don't have time to debate with you!" Jett replied as he used the back of his weapon to bring the man down. "I'm kind of busy right now!"

Gaston quickly jumped down from the wagon, drawing his small dagger. "Do not fear, my son! I will help you."

"GET BACK IN THE WAGON AND KEEP AN EYE ON MY MOTHER, YOU MORON! AND I'M NOT YOUR SON!" Jett yelled as he punched another man out. "Meg, get everybody out of here!"

"Like Tartarus I will!" Meg hollered as she jumped off her mare, her ice-blue eyes flashing in anger as a woman came running over, pitchfork in hand. She let out a yell and grabbed the pitchfork from the woman, who, once disarmed, ran off in the other direction.

"Gods damn it, Meg! Leave here! AAAAIIIIOOOOOWWWWWW!" Jett looked down and saw that a boy was biting him in the leg. "Get off me!" he growled, grabbing the boy by his shirt and lifting him up by it. "Go away before I bite you!" he snarled, lunging his head forward and snapping his teeth together for emphasis before dropping the boy onto the ground.

The terrified boy ran off into the forest, screaming.

Jett whirled around and delivered a kick to another villager's midsection, knocking him over. He saw from the corner of his eye that some of the girls in the wagons were defending themselves by hitting at the attacking villagers with sacks of flour or anything else they could get their hands on.

As Jett found himself being overwhelmed by the other villagers, Meg leapt onto Red Fox. "YIYIYIYIYIYIYI!" Her eyes were wild as she rode straight into the crowd, making them scatter before they were trampled by the horse's hooves. She reached out and Jett grabbed her hand. He scrambled onto Red Fox and had him turn to face the small band of wagons.

"YAH!" he hollered, making Red Fox go into a gallop and the two rode up next to Meg's mare. She slid over onto her horse and they wheeled around just as the villagers went to attack again.

Suddenly, there was a small but spectacular explosion a short distance away from the villagers, who stopped in their tracks and began coughing at the black smoke and the sulfurous smell that followed it. Frightened by the noise, Red Fox and Meg's mare both reared, but the two riders managed to stay on their mounts.

Jett whirled around to see that Gaston was standing on the wagon's seat, holding a flint and what appeared to be a tiny rocket in his hand. His lips were pulled back in a grimace and his nostrils flared as he glared at the would-be attackers. "I have more of these," he said, holding the small but potentially deadly weapon before him. "Now I suggest that you let us through without any more trouble."

The villagers, already frightened by the first explosion, and many of them looking rather bewildered, left the clearing without further incident. Gaston puffed his chest and winked at Jett. "We did it, my boy!" he crowed.

Jett's eyes narrowed as he glared at the older man. "If you pull another foolish stunt like that again, old man, I'll..." he hesitated for a moment. "And I'm not your boy!" he finished, turning Red Fox around and taking the lead, Meg riding up next to him. "Let's go, ladies. We've only got a short distance before we arrive in Eleutherae."

Gaston sighed as Jett took the lead, his posture stiff and straight in the saddle. "Ma chérie, did I do something wrong?"

Jezda shook her head. "It's nothing, Gaston. You just hurt his pride."

Gaston looked at her for a moment then shook his head. "Then I've wronged him. A man's pride is something you don't want to hurt. I must make it up to him, chérie."

"Non, mon amour. It's okay. Jett is upset with me for not telling him and his brothers about us," she murmured.

"Yes, I know that he is - and rightfully so," Gaston concurred, still gazing at Jett thoughtfully. "You must talk to them and tell them everything. It's not right to dismiss their feelings like that."

Jezda nodded, leaning over to kiss her fiancé on the cheek. "I will, Gaston - just as soon as we are all together," she promised.

Adora sat quietly on a large rock outside her home as she stared down the road, lost in thought.

"What are you looking at?"

Adora closed her eyes and sighed in frustration. "Andy, will you please go away? I want to be left alone for a little while, okay?"

"I just want to see what you're looking at."

"I'm not looking at anything. I'm just sitting here."

Andy climbed up on the rock and sat down beside her. "Okay. I'll help you not look for anything," he said with a grin.

Adora shook her head. "Whatever," she murmured.

"Dorie?"

Adora closed her eyes again, trying not to lose her temper. "What is it, Andy?"

"Do you think my dad is okay?"

Adora's eyebrow rose as she turned to look at the little boy. "What are you asking me that for?"

"Because you and your dad have a connection and I thought maybe you have a connection with my dad too."

Adora lost what little control she had on her temper and exploded. "Well, I don't! I can't tell you that your father is dead or alive! For all I know, he probably is dead! Now will you leave me alone?" she yelled.

Andy's bottom lip trembled at Adora's shouting and tears streamed down his cheeks as he scrambled down the rock and ran up the stairs. "Mama! Mama! Adora said Daddy was dead! Mama!" he blubbered.

Melody, Xena, and Gabrielle ran over, Melody taking her son in her arms as they exited the house and surrounded the visibly upset girl.

"Shhh, shhh, honey. It's okay," Melody crooned before turning her attention to Adora. "Why did you say that horrible thing to my son?" she demanded, stroking Andy's hair as he silently wept.

Adora blinked away the frustrated tears that were stinging her eyes and swallowed back the lump in her throat. "I just wanted to be left alone for a while. Uncle Jace, Eve, and Uncle Pierre mean well but I needed some time for myself. I kept asking Andy to leave, but he kept pestering me..." she began

"And that gave you the right to tell him his father was dead?" Melody sharply interrupted Adora's explanation. "I don't care who you are or what you have to do with what is going on here, but you will not speak to my son that way! Do I make myself clear?"

Gabrielle suddenly turned on Melody, her own temper flaring. "I'll talk to Adora. You stay out of this, Melody! She's my daughter, not yours!"

Melody glared down at the shorter woman haughtily. "That demon spawn is not your daughter! She's the daughter of a God and Joxer and we'd all be better off if she'd just go away!" she spat.

Adora's face turned chalk-white at Melody's words.

Gabrielle's eyes widened in shock then in anger. Her hands briefly went of their own accord towards her sais, but she forced herself to straighten up. "You take that back! She is not!" she snarled, storming over to the taller woman.

"I won't! Just as soon as Jett gets back, we're leaving!"

"No one is going anywhere! Will you two knock it off? We don't need to be at each other's throats at a time like this," Xena said, her eyes darting back and forth.

Both women turned around to stare at Xena, who returned their combined gaze with a raised eyebrow. Melody shook her head as her anger faded away. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I didn't mean what I said. I'm just worried about Jett." She turned to her pale-faced niece, who stared back at her with wide brown eyes. "I really didn't," she softly added in.

"I know, Melody. Let me handle talking to Dorie about this, okay?" Gabrielle murmured.

"Talk to Dorie about what, Gabrielle? What was all the shouting about?"

The others turned to Joxer, who walked down the stairs to join the others. Gabrielle immediately went over to him and hugged him fiercely. "Are you okay?"

Joxer closed his eyes as he returned the hug. "I'm fine," he said reassuringly, taking advantage of the situation to kiss her briefly before breaking the embrace. "Now, what do you need to talk to Adora about?"

"She told Andy that Jett was dead."

Joxer turned to gaze at Adora, who was very quiet. "Is this true, Adora?"

Adora nodded, unable to say anything. Her eyes seemed to gaze straight through Joxer and right into Melody's eyes. Melody looked visibly uncomfortable at the girl's stare but didn't drop her gaze.

"Why would you say such a thing?" Joxer asked calmly.

Adora averted her eyes away then and pushed the hair away from her face. "I... I... I just wanted to be left alone for a little while and Andy wouldn't even after I had asked him to. I guess I lost my temper when he kept asking me questions," she mumbled.

"I see." Joxer gazed at his daughter, not saying anything else. He didn't need to.

Adora walked over to Andy and Melody. Without a word, Melody gently placed her son on the ground and Adora knelt down beside the boy. "I'm sorry that I told you that your dad was dead," she whispered.

Andy looked up at her. "Does that mean Daddy's okay?"

Adora reached out and wiped Andy's tears away with a sigh. "Look, Andy. I really don't know, butÉ" She thought for a moment before she carefully put her hand over his heart. "Well, I think that if he really was gone, you'd know it."

"How, Dorie?"

"Your heart would tell you. Does it hurt?"

Andy stared at her, frowning. "My heart?"

Adora nodded. "Yeah. Your heart."

"No."

Adora smiled. "Then that's a good sign."

Andy reached out and quickly hugged Adora. "Thanks, Dorie."

"You're welcome, squirt."

Andy giggled at the nickname and they all turned around when they heard the sound of horses and wagons approaching from behind. "DADDY! DADDY!" he cried, his eyes shining at the sight of Jett leading the wagons as they turned the corner. He ran over to the group as they drew to a halt.

Jett quickly dismounted from Red Fox and swept his son up into his arms, hugging him to his chest. "Have you been a good boy while I was gone?"

"Oh yes, Daddy! I've been real good." Andy laughed as Jett ruffled his hair before setting him down on the ground and taking Melody in his arms for a kiss.

"I've missed you," Jett murmured as he hugged her to him closely.

"I've missed you too."

"Well... At least everyone's safe for now," Meg remarked as she dismounted her horse, ignoring Gabrielle's hard stare. "Say, Xena. Where do you want me and my girls to set up?" Before Xena could reply, Jezda suddenly reached up and grabbed Meg by her ear. "Hey! Let go, you old cow!" she yelled.

"Mom, stop that! What's the matter with you?" Joxer gasped.

"You will not be 'setting up' here! You are here as guests!" Jezda snapped, giving Meg's ear a good twist before she let go.

Meg pulled away from the older woman, straightened up and walked over to Autolycus, who had just come back from gathering additional supplies. "Hey, Meg! Glad to see that you and your girls made it," he greeted her with a wink.

"Good to see you too, Mr. Stinky," Meg replied with a grin.

Autolycus rolled his eyes as Cyrene stepped forward. "Come with me, Meg," she said kindly, rewarding Jezda with a glare. "I'll help you and your girls get settled in."

Meg smiled at Cyrene gratefully. "Thanks." She then turned to Jett and gave him a good poke in the chest. "It's a good thing I'm a lady, or I'd put a halter on your mother! She better not touch me like that again or I won't be responsible for my actions!"

Jezda only gave Meg a look as she, Cyrene, Autolycus, and the rest of the girls departed then turned to Joxer, who was frowning at her and the oddly dressed little man that joined her. "I need to talk to you and your brothers. Would you please go get Jace?" she requested.

"Mom, is there something wrong? Are you ill?" Joxer asked.

Jezda smiled and shook her head. "No, little one. I just need to tell you something. Please get your brother."

Joxer stared at Jett, hoping for an answer from him, but all Jett said was, "You better go get Jace. You two are just gonna love this one!"

Joxer's eyebrow rose, but he turned around and headed over to Jace and Pierre's home.

"Uh, Jazz. Could you tell me where I can stable Pedro?"

Jett bristled at Gaston's question. "First of all, the name is Jett, not Jazz, you little shi..." He stopped when Melody glared at him.

"I'll show you, sir! My name's Andy."

Gaston turned around to look at the boy. "Andy? And who might you be?"

"He's my dad," Andy replied, pointing up at Jett, who scowled ferociously at the little man.

Gaston's blue eyes twinkled. "Oh! Well, then. I will soon be your grandfather," he explained.

Xena, Gabrielle, and Adora exchanged glances at Gaston's words, suddenly understanding the reason why Jett was so angry. Without a word, Gabrielle and Xena left to join Hercules and Iolaus, who were on the other side of town setting up a roadblock while Adora went to find Eve.

"Wow!" Andy exclaimed, his dark eyes wide with wonder.

"Will you stop saying that, you twerp? There's no way on this earth that you'll ever be my father!"

Joxer and Jace came back, overhearing what Jett and Gaston said.

"Our father? What are you talking about? Mom, what's going on?" Joxer asked.

"Honey, I promised to help Nikolas. I'll see you later," Melody said, realizing that Jezda and her sons needed to speak privately. "Andy, let's go stable the nice man's burro, okay?"

"Okay! Bye!" Andy waved to the others before putting his hand in his mother's and trotting off with Pedro in tow.

Jett nodded, watching Melody and Andy take Pedro's lead and walk towards the town stables before turning around to face the rest of his family and Gaston.

"Please, my sons. Let's sit down," Jezda said, indicating the carved marble benches that were nearby. After they were seated, she said, "This is Gaston and he's the man I'm going to marry. I love him and he loves me. We met over three months ago."

"So, I'm asking you again, Mother. When were you going to bother with telling us?" Jett ground out through clenched teeth.

"Jett, I was going to tell all of you. I honestly never meant for the three of you to find out like this, but things just kept getting in the way," Jezda murmured.

"Like what, Mother? The entire Athenian army? You didn't even have the decency to bother sending a message telling us that you were seeing this crackpot!"

Jezda rose to her feet then. "I will not put up with you talking to me like this, Jett! I'm your mother and you will speak to me with respect!"

"Like the so-called respect you gave us?" Jett's voice was a deadly-soft rasp.

"Do you love my mother?" Jace broke in before a full-fledged argument broke out between the two.

"With all my heart," Gaston responded with a nod.

Jace nodded and watched as Jezda re-seated herself. "Mother, does he make you happy?"

"Yes, he does."

"Then that's good enough for me," Jace said.

"How can you accept him just like that?" Jett asked incredulously. "For all you know about him, he could be a complete nutcase!"

Jace turned to face Jett. "Our so-called father was never a real one to either Joxer or me. He may have had a part in bringing us into the world and you might even think that he was a father to you in his own way, but he was never one for the two of us. I will probably never call Gaston my father, but I will welcome him as a part of this family."

"Well, I won't!" Jett growled as he rose to his feet, turned on his heel and quickly walked away from the group.

"JETT!" Jezda called out to her oldest son but he acted as if he didn't hear her and kept on walking. She covered her forehead with her hand before turning to her youngest son, who had been silent throughout the conversation. "Joxer?"

Joxer slowly rose to his feet and looked down at his mother with a very hurt expression on his face. "Why didn't you let us know, Mom? Did you think that we wouldn't understand?" he asked before he too turned around and walked away, breaking into a run to catch up with Jett, who was already halfway across the village square.

Jace rose to his feet, watching his brothers before turning around to face the older couple. "Just give them both time to take everything in, Mother," he said, his eyes shifting to meet Gaston's. "I'm sorry that Jett was so rude to you," he added in before he inclined his head forward and walked over to his home.

Jezda's shoulders slumped as she blinked back the tears that suddenly stung her eyes. Jett was furious at her, and Joxer was hurt because she hadn't told them about Gaston - and they had every right to feel the way they did. "I'm so sorry, mon amour. I thought that..."

"Don't be so sad, ma chérie. Jazz will learn to accept me," Gaston said as he put his arm around Jezda's shoulders and squeezed her to him.

"Gaston?"

"Oui, ma chérie?"

"His name is Jett."

"Right."

Jett stalked away from his mother and brothers, his mind whirling. One of his neighbors saw him and she opened her mouth to greet him but when she saw the look on his face, she turned around and ran off in the direction she had come from. He heard someone running behind him but he didn't look to see who it was.

"Jett..."

"Look, Jox! I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"Okay."

Jett glanced over at Joxer when he heard the sadness in his brother's voice. He sighed when he saw the equally sad expression that went along with the voice. "I just don't get it, Jox. I really don't," he mumbled, feeling himself beginning to calm down a little. "This just isn't like her to be so... So..."

"Spontaneous?" Joxer supplied, his eyes rising up to meet Jett's.

"Exactly!" Jett answered with a fierce nod.

Joxer's lips pursed up in thought as he considered his next words. "Well, love can make you do crazy things sometimes," he said finally. "I should know."

Jett rolled his eyes at his brother's observation and shook his head. The two walked in silence for a couple of minutes before he asked, "So, what do you think of...?"

"Gaston?"

"Yeah."

Joxer's eyebrows rose. "Well... He seems okay, but a little, uh, flaky."

"Phht! Oh yeah, he's flaky, all right! Flaky like a croissant!" Jett exclaimed with an indignant snort, making Joxer chuckle. "That damned crackpot nearly got us all killed before we got here."

"What are you talking about?"

"Just south of here, we got attacked by a bunch of villagers. In the middle of the fighting, there was this explosion..." Jett began.

Joxer's eyes widened. "Wait a minute! An explosion?" He came to a halt and grabbed Jett's shoulders. "What kind of an explosion?"

Jett glared, and realizing what he was doing, Joxer dropped his hands. "It was loud. There was thick black smoke everywhere and it stank like no tomorrow!" he said. "I turned around and that kook had..." He stopped talking and stared at Joxer, who was grinning widely. "What's the matter with you? Gabrielle hasn't bought any nutbread recently, has she?"

"Black powder!"

"Huh?"

"Black powder!" Joxer repeated. "Remember Gabrielle telling about when Xena, she, and I went to Chin when Xena was pregnant with Evie - and I discovered how to make the black powder?"

Jett nodded and then his own lips lifted up in a small grin. "Yeah..." He clapped Joxer on the back, almost knocking him over. "You can't fight worth a tinker's damn, but you sure can blow stuff up, Bro - including yourself!"

Joxer made a face. "Har de har har! Very funny, Jett! I'm gonna tell Xena what I want to do. See you later."

Jett watched Joxer run off before he turned around and walked away in the opposite direction, smiling slightly.

Adora walked into a clearing just outside the village, trying to keep her composure. She kept hearing Melody saying that she was 'demon spawn' over and over in her mind and that she should leave because she kept everyone in danger. "Maybe I should leave!" she yelled in sheer frustration.

"Leave? Why would you want to leave here, child?"

Adora turned around to see an old woman sitting by a hut. She frowned because she didn't remember anybody living there before. "Who are you?" she asked.

The stranger smiled warmly. "My name doesn't matter, child. I'm just an old woman. But why are you leaving?"

"Because I'm not wanted here," Adora mumbled, turning away to hide the sudden tears that stung her eyes.

"Oh child, you're so wrong. From what I can see, you're most welcome here."

Adora rolled her eyes. "Not by my aunt."

"Yes, child - even by her. She was just upset."

"Then you heard her? Oh yeah, I guess that you did. I'm sure that everyone that was within twelve leagues of here heard what she said."

"Yes. I heard what she said but it'll be all right." The old woman reached into her bag and took out a golden pin that had a large sapphire stone in the middle of it. "Here. I want you to have this. It will protect you."

Adora took the pin and stared at it. "It's beautiful..." She raised her head and gazed at the old woman sharply. "Who are you?" she whispered.

The woman smiled slightly. "Me? I'm just an old woman that wants to help. Now I must leave."

The woman got up and walked away into the forest. Adora watched her leave, frowning in puzzlement until the old woman seemed to vanish into the trees without a trace. She gazed down at the pin for a few moments before she went off to find Eve.

Once she was sure that Adora could not see her, the old woman's body shimmered with a golden light and she transformed into her true form. Brigandu sighed as she watched her granddaughter leave. "I did all I could to help, my child. The rest is up to you."

"So you say... Mother..."

Brigandu's eyes widened in shock as she slowly turned around to face Teutales. "My son," she began, but he held up his hand to silence her.

"Did you think I wasn't aware of what you've been trying to do all this time?" he asked mockingly, his lips curling up into a smile. "I know that you tricked the acolyte years ago into thinking that the vessel she chose for me to bring my child into the world was the correct one - and yes, I even went along with your game after a while - in my own fashion." The smile widened and then hardened into a sneer. "But no more, Mother. The girl is mine..."

"Adora is not just yours! She is..."

"Also the child of a softhearted mortal that I can easily dispose of, if I wish," Teutales interrupted.

Brigandu shook her head wearily. "Your arrogance will be your downfall, my son," she murmured as she turned away from him. "Do not dismiss the mortal named Joxer so easily."

"Perhaps I shouldn't," Teutales grudgingly admitted after a few moments of silent contemplation. "But your fondness for the mortals will be your downfall, Mother." He looked up at the sky and smiled. "War is coming. I can feel it in the air - and what a beautiful thing it'll be..." He exhaled blissfully, closing his eyes before disappearing into the ether.

Brigandu stared at the spot that her son had been standing in for a long time lost in deep thought before she left the clearing in a golden flash of light.

Adora found Eve sitting on the ground, writing. "Eve... The weirdest thing just happened..."

Eve looked up from her scroll, the quill she held between her fingers poised in midair. "Dorie, are you all right?" she asked softly.

Adora nodded and smiled slightly, knowing the reason why Eve asked her that. "Yeah, I'm going to be okay. Thanks." The smile quickly turned to a frown as she stared down at her hand.

Eve re-capped her ink bottle and rose to her feet, absentmindedly rolling up her scroll. "What are you looking at?"

"This." Adora showed Eve the pin.

Eve blinked in surprise. "It's beautiful, Dorie... But where did you get that? Did you find it somewhere?"

Adora shook her head. "No. That's what's so weird... I took a walk to think and I came upon this old woman in that clearing just outside of town. She gave it to me - said it would protect me." She saw the concerned look on Eve's face and rolled her eyes. "Evie, I'm not stupid, for crying out loud! You know that I wouldn't take something like this normally, but for some strange reason it felt right that I should." She shook her head. "I really can't explain it."

Eve put her hand on Adora's shoulder. "I know you're not stupid, Dorie. I didn't mean to make you feel like that, but maybe Mom should take a look at that pin - just to be on the safe side."

Adora nodded in agreement. "I guess you're right. Okay. Let's go."

"So, what do you think, Xena?"

Xena smiled. "I think it's a good idea, Joxer, because it'll give us a clear advantage over anybody who tries to attack. Do you think you can get all the ingredients you need - and the quantity you want to make?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'll need to stop by the apothecary first - and I'll probably need some help with assembling the rockets, too."

Xena nodded. "Okay, then. Get started on them - and, Joxer?"

"Yeah, Xena?"

"Be careful."

"I will," Joxer said with a smile, leaning down to give Gabrielle a quick kiss and waving to Hercules and Iolaus before turning around and running back to Nikolas' to get the last ingredient he needed. After that, he headed to Gabrielle's store so he could work without interruption. He climbed up the stairs and his eyes widened in surprise when he found his mother and Gaston waiting inside the shop. "Um... Hello."

They both turned around. "Hello, Joxer. Are you okay?" Jezda murmured. "I didn't..." She fell silent as she gazed at her youngest son with a troubled expression on her face.

Joxer was silent for a moment before he replied, "I'm still a little bothered that you didn't tell us, Mom, but right now I need to put that aside. There's too much work to do." Joxer then turned to Gaston, thoughtfully gazing at him for a little while before speaking again. "Jett told me about you having rockets that contained Chin powder inside them. Where did you get them from?"

Gaston looked relieved that Joxer wasn't angrily confronting him over that. "Well... There was a peddler that had recently been in Chin." He reached inside the pouch that he was carrying and handed the last small rocket he had to Joxer. "He said that these were good to have in case I ever got attacked on the road."

Joxer studied the tiny weapon intently. "You have no idea," he murmured. He looked up and gazed at Gaston in silence for a few minutes, making the older man feel nervous.

Jezda gazed at her youngest son worriedly, wondering what he was going to do or say.

Finally, Joxer spoke. "Listen, I know how to make the powder, but I need to make quite a few large rockets - and putting them together takes time." His dark eyes softened. "I'd like you to help me."

Gaston turned and smiled at Jezda, relieved. "At last, I am needed."

"Then you'll help?"

Gaston turned around, still beaming as he looked up at Joxer, who was gazing down at him curiously. "Oui! But of course! Lead on, mon ami!"

Joxer nodded and indicated the back room. "Good. Follow me, please."

Jezda smiled as she watched the two go out back. Perhaps things were going to be all right after all, she thought as the smile faded from her lips and was replaced with a troubled expression. That was, if they survived and if Jett was willing to give Gaston a chance... She sighed then and went to go find Cyrene.

"Just tell me why you accepted him without questioning his motives, Jace."

Jace looked at his brother. "Did you come here to get me on your side? I won't lie to you and say that I wasn't surprised because I was, believe me. But like I said before: if he makes Mother happy, I have nothing against them being together." He continued gazing at his older brother before he asked in a thoughtful voice, "Jett, why does this bother you so much?"

Jett stalked back and forth inside the dance studio like a wolf on the prowl. "Because he's from Gaul. He could be a spy - and we know nothing about him."

Jace considered Jett's words carefully. "That's a good point, but then again, Mother and Pierre are also from Gaul. Do you believe that they're spies too?"

"No, of course not," Jett sighed as he came to a halt in the middle of the studio and crossed his arms over his chest.

Jace walked over to Jett, placed his arm around his brother's shoulders and gazed at him. When Jett didn't try to push him away, he smiled. "Jett... Try giving Gaston a chance. No one said that you have to call him Father. Even I won't do that." He lowered his voice then. "Father's been dead and buried for over four years now. Don't you want Mother to have an opportunity to be happy with somebody she really loves?" he asked, his accent disappearing.

Jett scowled and Jace wondered if he was pushing his luck, but he returned the gaze calmly. "You know that I do," Jett muttered.

"Then just give him a chance, huh?"

"I'll try..." Jett turned away from Jace's stare and exhaled harshly. "But he's such a damned flake!"

"In this world, being a flake sometimes comes in handy."

"Jace?"

"Yeah?"

"You're a little flaky yourself," Jett murmured with a lopsided grin as he glanced at Jace.

Jace returned the lopsided grin, giving Jett's shoulders a little squeeze at the same time. "Yes, I know - and I'm proud of it."

Continue >>>