Chapter Five

Adora studied her father carefully. "Papa? Is there any way we could find out?"

Joxer thought for a moment then said, "There may be one way, but I'm not sure I want to do it. "

"Why?"

"Because it could be dangerous and I don't want anything happening to you."

"Oh Papa, please don't be afraid that something will happen to me."

Joxer smiled at his daughter. "Dorie, that 's like asking me not to get up in the morning."

"I love you, Papa. But I have to know why my powers are back."

Joxer was glad to see that they had reached town. "Dorie, we'll talk about this back at the camp. Let's just get what we need and head back, okay?"

Adora nodded but deep down inside she still wondered. Everything was fine until they went to the peddler selling fruits and vegetables. Joxer was carefully looking over the fruit knowing how fussy Gabrielle was about it. He picked up a bunch of grapes and studied them.

"Hey! If you ain't buying, don't touch!"

Joxer looked at the big mountain-like man and gulped nervously. Adora watched the man too, eyes narrowing. "I was just seeing if they were fresh," Joxer said.

The mountain-like man's face suddenly turned a crimson color and he grabbed Joxer by his tunic and lifted him off the ground so that his feet were dangling several inches in the air. "Listen here, Runt! My fruits and vegetables are always fresh and how dare you say they aren't!"

"I didn't! I just said I was seeing if they were fresh. You see; my friend is fussy..."

The vendor was getting angrier by the moment. "Well, your friend should've come himself. I'll show him how fresh my fruits are! But since he ain't here, I guess I'll have to show you instead!"

"You put my Papa down right now!"

The man turned, still holding Joxer and stared down at Adora. He suddenly began to laugh. "Listen, little girl, I ain't got time for you! I'll deal with your papa here then take care of you."

Adora stared at him. "You, sir, are no vendor and you need to taught a lesson."

"No, Adora! I'll handle this!" Joxer's voice was sharp and Adora was stunned.

"But Papa! He could hurt you."

"Could? Oh, you bet I'm going to hurt him!" the vendor sneered.

Joxer just looked at her. "Adora, go back to the horses and wait for me."

"But Papa..."

"Adora! I told you to leave."

Adora stared at the vendor and her father. She didn't know what to do, but she decided to listen against her better judgment and she walked away. Joxer then looked at the vendor and sighed. "Okay, get it over with."

"Oh, you are so going to feel pain, Runt!" the vendor grinned.

Joxer closed his eyes, knowing what was coming when he heard a loud sigh, followed by a familiar voice. "Haven't you ever heard that the customer is always right?"

Joxer opened his eyes as the vendor turned around and faced the voice's owner. He grinned wildly as he tossed Joxer to the ground several feet away from the stand. "As I live and breathe, if it's not the great Hercules! Come on and show me what you've got!" He let out a yell and charged the demigod, fists flying.

"Wonderful," Hercules muttered as he blocked the vendor's first punch.

Adora ran over to her father. "Papa, are you hurt?"

Joxer slowly sat up and looked at his daughter, blinking several times before his dark eyes came into focus. "I'm okay, Dorie - thanks to Hercules."

Adora stood and watched the stranger who Joxer called Hercules fighting the man who was going to hurt her father and she smiled. "Papa, is he married?"

"Huh? Who?" Joxer asked, frowning in puzzlement.

"Hercules."

"Uh, not that I know of."

"Good." Adora's smile grew wider.

"Why did you want to know that?"

"Oh Papa, I think I'm in love!"

Joxer did a double take as he looked at his daughter. He was about to say something when the vendor went flying in the air and landed a few inches from him. Adora's eyes seemed to glow as she looked at the man on the ground. "You tried to hurt my father and you are going to be so very sorry," she said.

Joxer suddenly pulled her away. " Adora! No! "

Adora stared at her father, a bit confused and surprised, but obeyed him without question. She watched as Hercules walked over to the fallen man and pulled the vendor to his feet. "Now, my friend, I think you have a customer."

The vendor stared at Hercules, his face stone white. He gulped loudly. Hercules raised his eyebrows and folded his arms over his chest. "Yes, sir." He turned to Joxer. "Sir, please help yourself! Uh, no charge!"

Joxer nodded and helped himself to some of the fruit and vegetables then reached into his money pouch and offered the man three dinars. "No one is going to say that Joxer the Mighty doesn't earn his keep."

The vendor looked at Hercules to see if it was okay to take the money. Hercules nodded and the man took it. "Please come again, sir. Always good to do business with you."

Joxer quietly picked up his stuff and with Adora headed for the horses. Hercules looked a little surprised that the younger man didn't say anything to him. "Hey, Joxer! Wait up! Xena said you were here so I came to meet you."

Joxer turned around sharply to face Hercules, wanting so badly to say: Well gee, thanks for saving my butt and making me look like a fool in front of my daughter, but instead he smiled weakly at the demigod and replied, "Sorry, Hercules. I was just in a hurry and thanks."

Hercules returned the smile. "It was nothing Joxer, but I'm sure you could've handled him without my help."

Adora looked at Hercules and then back at her father. "He didn't even want to fight!"

Joxer looked at her. He didn't know what to say. Hercules noticed how uncomfortable he was and decided to help. "Now, who is this lovely young lady?"

Adora giggled at being called a lovely young lady. "My name is Adora, Hercules."

Hercules' blue eyes twinkled. "It's nice to meet you, Adora. You have a very lovely name. You know, sometimes fighting isn't the answer and I'm sure your father was trying to protect you."

"Yeah, but you fought!"

"I know, but sometimes there's no choice. But, as you can see, I didn't hurt the man."

Adora looked at her father. "Papa, I'm sorry I thought you were being a coward."

The word coward stung Joxer like a bee but he only smiled at her. For the first time in Adora's life he didn't know what to say to her. He just looked at Hercules. Hercules could see the sadness in Joxer's dark eyes and silently sighed as Joxer turned away. The demigod then turned to look down at Adora and smiled, deciding to change the subject. "Well, let's head back to Xena and Gabrielle. I've got news to tell all of you."

Adora smiled at him. "You can ride with me, Hercules."

"Thanks Adora, but I prefer to walk."

As the three headed back to the camp where Xena, Gabrielle and Eve were waiting, Joxer couldn't help thinking that there was going to be trouble ahead.

Chapter Six

When they rode in Adora slowed Blue down, quickly dismounted him and ran over to Eve. "Oh Eve, you should've been there! Papa was attacked by a monster and he was being beaten..." She stopped for a moment to catch her breath. "Papa would've been killed if Hercules hadn't come along. Oh Eve, he's the bravest man I've ever met!"

Adora's words struck Joxer straight through the heart. Deep down inside, he knew she just had a crush, but it hurt because for the first time in her life he was not her hero. He slowly took the horses by their reins. "I'm going to take care of the horses. I'll be back soon," he said softly.

Xena looked at him, frowning slightly. "Joxer, Adora should take care of Blue herself. He's her responsibility."

"It's okay, Xena. We don't know how long Hercules will be here and I think she wants to be with him," he replied.

Before anyone could say anything else, Joxer took the horses and left. Xena raised her eyebrow at Gabrielle, who was watching Joxer walking away. Then, she turned to Adora who was now sitting down beside Hercules and leaning close to him like she had Joxer.

Gabrielle could tell by the look in her eyes that Adora had a crush on Hercules, but she also could tell by the look in Joxer's eyes that he was crushed. She turned to her friends and said, "I think I will go and see if Joxer needs help."

"Maybe you should and take Adora with you," Xena agreed.

"Xena, I think I need to help Joxer alone. I can handle this. Okay?"

The Warrior Princess looked at Adora once more then back at Gabrielle. "Okay, but I hope you know what you're doing."

Gabrielle frowned. "Yeah. Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, Xena!"

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I didn't mean it like that."

Gabrielle nodded. "I know you didn't. I'll be back in a while." With those words, she turned around and headed off in the direction that Joxer had walked in.

When Gabrielle found Joxer a short time later, he was currying his horse, Cupid. Gabrielle walked over to him, smiling. "Hi. Do you need some help?"

"You know, I'm sick an tired of people coming to my rescue! No! I don't need help! Just go away!"

Gabrielle held up her hands. "Whoa, Joxer! Calm down! Hey, where did that come from?"

Joxer lowered his head, unable to look at his lover. He spoke in a small, tearful voice. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I didn't mean to snap at you."

Gabrielle nodded. "It's okay, Joxer. Adora is just having her first crush. I bet it'll be over before you know it."

"Gabrielle, you weren't there. I didn't even try to fight. I thought I could talk my way out of it. Adora was right. I would've been killed if Hercules hadn't come along when he did. I may as well face it, Gabrielle. I'm nothing but a coward."

Gabrielle's jaw actually dropped open, she was so stung by his words. "Joxer, you're not a coward! You're one of the bravest men I've ever met. You face danger even when the odds are totally against you."

"Yeah, but you know what, Gabrielle? The odds are always against me and now my own daughter sees me as a coward."

Gabrielle put her hands on Joxer's shoulders and stared into his face. "Joxer, that is simply not true. Adora loves you."

"You mean she used to," Joxer replied bitterly.

Gabrielle's eyes flashed angrily. "Joxer, you've changed a lot since Adora was born, but right now I'm seeing the old Joxer and I don't like it, not one bit! Adora is six years old and she's got a crush, nothing more. She loves you."

Joxer looked at her and sighed deeply. "I love her so much, Gabrielle. What can I do to win her trust again?"

Gabrielle slipped her arms around his waist and kissed him gently on the lips. She brushed a lock of hair away from his eyes and smiled. "Joxer, I don't think you ever lost it. Just be patient, because crushes never last long. Trust me on this. C'mon, I'll help you. You finish up Cupid and I'll do Blue."

Joxer nodded and they had the horses taken care of shortly afterwards. When they returned to camp, they saw their friends gathered around the fire. Joxer noticed that both Eve and Adora were sitting next to Hercules one on each side holding onto each word he said. "Hi guys, we're back," he said.

Adora suddenly jumped up, ran up to Joxer and grabbed his hand, taking him over to Hercules. "Papa! Come on, you've got to hear this! It's so exciting!" she bubbled. Joxer sat down with her as she placed both her hands on Joxer and Hercules. "Now I am beside both my favorite men."

Hercules rolled his eyes and Joxer nodded. "So Hercules, Dorie sure is excited. So, what's up and where's Iolaus?"

"Iolaus is with his mother getting ready for his wedding."

"His wedding? Iolaus is getting married?" asked Gabrielle as she sat down next to Joxer.

"Well, like I was telling everyone here, he's already married, but his mother wants him to be married in Aphrodite's temple."

"I don't understand. If he's married, why do it again?" Gabrielle asked curiously.

"Well Gabrielle, Iolaus and I traveled to the New World."

"The New World?"

"Oh yes, Aunt Gabrielle! It sounds so wonderful. I think we should go there too!" Eve exclaimed, her blue eyes shining with excitement.

"Uh huh, Eve, and right now. I bet I can get us there!" said Adora as she stood up.

"Adora, sit down now!" Joxer exclaimed sternly.

"But Papa?"

"I said - sit down. You're not sending us anywhere!"

Adora sat down. Hercules stared at her then at Joxer. "She can send us to the New World," he said dryly. "Am I missing something here?"

"I don't know if she can or not, but she's not going to."

"But why, Papa?"

"Because I'm your father, and I said no!"

"Yes Papa," Adora sighed.

Joxer looked at his daughter and placed his arm around her. "Adora, we don't know much about the New World and I want you to be safe."

Adora leaned against Hercules' arm. "Don't worry, Papa. With Hercules here, I'll be safe."

Joxer nodded but said nothing. He simply stared into the fire. Eve looked over at him and felt terrible at the way her best friend was treating her father - and her 'Uncle'. "Mom, I think we need some more wood. Adora and I can go get some," she said as she rose to her feet.

"Okay Eve. Thank you and don't be long," Xena said. "Remember, you're still on punishment."

Eve nodded. "Okay, Mom. Come on, Adora. I'll need some help carrying it."

Adora got up and followed her. When Eve was sure the adults were not looking, she turned and shoved Adora, knocking her to the ground. Adora sat there for a moment, surprised at her best friend's actions. "Hey! What did you do that for?"

"Because you deserved it," Eve growled.

"Why? What did I do?"

"For starters, how about the way you're acting around Uncle Hercules?"

"You're just jealous!"

Eve laughed. "I've got no reason to be jealous. We're only kids and Uncle Hercules likes you as a niece, nothing more. "

Adora jumped up. "That's not true. He loves me!"

"Adora..." Eve rolled her eyes. "Yes, he loves you, but not the way you want him to. You're only six! He must be at least forty! By the time you'll catch up to him, he'll really be old! Yuck!" Eve stuck her tongue out and shuddered.

"I can always make myself his age!"

Eve crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you really want to do that?"

Adora stood up, thinking hard. "No. I guess I don't," she said finally.

Eve placed her arm around Adora's shoulders. "Adora, you need to be with Uncle Joxer. He's really hurting."

"Why is Papa hurting?"

"Because you paid more attention to Uncle Hercules."

Adora nodded and sighed. "Oh, I really didn't mean to make Papa sad! I'll talk to him."

"And you do understand that Uncle Hercules is too old for you?"

"Yeah, I understand. Thanks, Eve."

"Anytime," Eve said with a grin. "C'mon. We better get that firewood, or we'll be in more trouble than we already are!"

After gathering some firewood, the girls returned to the camp. Adora stared at Hercules after she put the firewood she had in her arms down. She suddenly knew why she had powers. She waved her hands at Hercules and a bright light filled the camp and when it was gone, the group saw that Hercules was changed into a child about eight years old.

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