Rating: PG
Author's notes: WARNING; SPOILERS FOR ALL EPISODES OF XENA. This takes place right after the last episode A Friend in Need 2. Oh and I'm sure everyone knows Jace's Spanish accent, I'm not good at trying to write it so I wrote him normal. :-\ (Sorry)
The part of Adella will be played by Julia Styles (from 10 Things I Hate About You), and the part of Jorgus will be played by Christopher Walken. :-)
I also try to keep my facts as true to history as I can, and thus the Zoroastrian religion is indeed an ancient Persian religion. (When Joxer said he was such in Kindred Spirits, I was surprised it was real. I thought it sounded made up. :-P)
I have to admit that itÕs been awhile since I watch any Xena so if I am seriously falling out of character, please let me know. Thanks. :-)

Chapter One

My story ends the way my first story began; alone and lost. So perhaps this is only the beginning of the next saga of my life. Once I was lost and I found Xena, now I am lost again and who knows who or what I will find. All I know is that today I have come full circle, and a new journey waits for me just beyond the next turn.

I headed for the land of the pharos, but somehow home called me back. When the ship stopped in Bayrut, I boarded the Voyager, bound for Greece. I can't say why I decided to go back to a place that held nothing for me any longer. There is nothing and no one there... nothing but memories of Xena and I'm not too sure I can handle that... not yet. However, what ever I am feeling now is irrelevant as we are should be docking in the morning...

Joxer the Mighty stared across the sleazy tavern and saw the messenger walk in. The atmosphere of Meg's Tavern was rowdy this warm April night. A haze of smoke hung in the air, mingling with the stench of ale, unwashed bodies, and the rank smell of the lamb stew that had simmered too long over the kitchen fire. Joxer could hear the roar of men cheering as darts thudded home on the board on the far wall. The sounds of a group of sailors bickering loudly over their game of dice. And the lusty laughs of lap straddling wenches at work around the semi-crowded room.

But Joxer's attention stayed on the man, wearing simple brown clothes and carrying a bag of scrolls slung over his shoulder. When he came close, Joxer raised a hand, "Hey there!" He called, now lowering that hand to grab a dinar from the pouch hanging on his belt.Ê

Noticing Joxer, the man nodded and walked over, exchanging coin for scroll. "Bad news this week." The man commented solemnly before headed off to someone else.

Joxer raised a brow, took another sip of his ale and set it down. Unrolling the scroll, he felt like his heart suddenly stopped beating. In big bold writing, just under the 'Athenian Post' header, read XENA DEAD FOR GOOD. After a moment, he knew his heart was still going because of the pain it brought with every beat. No, not Xena. It was simply unreal. With a deep frown, he read the article. It spoke of Xena in Japan and of how Xena had to be dead to put thousands of souls at peace.

He continued on to the next article titled; THE GIRL WITH THE CHAKRAM HEADS FOR HOME. "Gabrielle, the side kick of the late Warrior Princess, now carries the chakram and continues the fight against evil alone. Rumor has it that she began heading for Egypt but is now coming back to Greece. Gabrielle is currently traveling on The Voyager; the ship will be docking in the town of Piraeus next Tuesday."

Just then, two arms slid around his waist from behind and soft lips kissed his neck. "Can someone come out to play?" A husky voice asked, and Meg dropped her hand into his lap as her teeth nipped his earlobe.

"Not right-" His protest was stopped with a kiss as he turned his head to look at her, and she captured his lips with hers. Her skilled hand that had somehow undid his pants just enough to get inside and her caresses made his body forget anything other then the pleasure she gave. "Meg!" He gasped out when her mouth left his to trail kisses and make her way south.

She gave a wicked laugh and continued; she knew he didn't like things of a sexual nature to be public display, which only made her want to do it more. "Oh don't be so uptight." She murmured between kisses.

His mind still reeled at the news of Xena, even though his body, especially that part of his body, cared only for Meg's hands and mouth. "Meg!" He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away, the need she created in him protested greatly at the lost contact, but he couldn't do this. Not now, Piraeus was roughly seven miles from here, he would have to leave now to get there by Tuesday, which was tomorrow and it was already late into the night. "I can't Meg... I have to go." He redid his pants and stood up.

Meg stood as well; clearly not happy with his rejection if the pouty face was any indication. "Well you sure can ruin a good time." She complained.

"I'm sorry." He said simply as he pulled his pointy hat on. He put the scroll in her hand before walking away. She unrolled it and stood there stunned...

The blond bard woke to the brilliant sun shining in her face. With effort, she sat up on the hard bed and rubbed her eyes. Suddenly she realized that all the familiar noises weren't there. The captain's calling, the young cabin boys rambling on to each other, the creaking of people walking about on deck. Scooting off the bed to her feet, she walked over to the round window on the other side of her cabin in three strides.

"I'm here." She said to herself. Greece, she thought, wondering how being home made her feel. She shrugged, I won't think about that now. Instead, she began to gather her things.

"Excuse me." The tall, slender man gave a sigh of exasperation, "Hello? Can I get though? I'm a friend of Gabrielle's." That got a few chuckles of disbelief, to which he only rolled his eyes. He was quite used to it after all. Not many understood why great warriors would willingly befriend him. In all truth, he himself did not fully know, but he didn't question it much and appreciated it even more. And today was a good time for friendship. Gabrielle was sure to need a friend as much as a fish needed water. Just learning of the Warrior Princess' death himself, he figured he could use one too.

"Is it true?" He heard someone say, "Is Xena really dead?"

"I'm afraid so." Answered a familiar voice.

The man knew her too well, he could hear easily the pain that she tried to hide. Why couldn't people just leave her alone? He tried again to push past some of the people in the small crowd, but they wouldn't budge, too enthralled with knowing of Xena's death. A blunt question about why Gabrielle had let Xena die made him cringe. He jumped up and down, trying to locate her as she tried to patiently explain that she had no choice. It's complicated, she was saying now. Wanting to interrupt the prying questions of the unsympathetic group he called out to her, "Gabrielle!"

The bard searched the faces before her. That voice, it sounded like... She shook herself mentally, oh boy Gabrielle, she thought sardonically, imagining you hear people that are-

Abruptly she dropped her bag and stumbled back. "By the gods!" She whispered, a hand shot up to cover her mouth as she saw the pale face of a man that was supposed to be dead.

With a concerned look the ship captain, who was standing nearby, came to her aid, "You okay? You look like you saw a ghost."

She shook her head in disbelief, "I...I did...I am..." She squinted her green eyes at the lanky man in tin and stepped forward. "Joxer? Is it really you?"

"Um, who else would I be?" He chuckled softly though his look called her crazy. He gave her a half bow, then tipping his hat and smiled, "Joxer the Mighty at your service." He declared, making his voice an octave deeper then normal.

Gabrielle shook her head again, "But you're..."

"Handsome?" He grinned, "Charming?" He hooked a thumb in his shirt and stood straighter.

She came forward until she stood only a foot away; tentatively reaching out a hand and touching his chest. "No." She murmured with a look of astonishment, "You're... alive."

Joxer gave her an odd look that seconds later melted into a cocky smile, "Well a fearless warrior like me should have died a thousand times over." He said with much bravado, "But I am Joxer the Mi-"

He couldn't finish as she was suddenly hugging him tightly, "It's really you!" She laughed. "I don't know how, but I'm glad your back."

He smiled brightly; enjoying the feel of her in his arms. So much so that he didn't care what delusions brought her there. So he played along, "Me too!"

She stepped back just enough to looked him over, "And young too!" She exclaimed.

A dark brow shot up, "Okay." He frowned at her, "Have you been drinking sea water?" He chuckled; amused with himself. Then, he picked up the bag she had dropped. "Come on." He told her with a smile. "There's a tavern just over there." He pointed, "After some rest I bet you'll be as good as new!"

At least I'm not completely alone now, she thought as she nodded and followed him into the dockside town.

Later that day, the two old friends sat in silence as they ate their lunch in a small restaurant near the market. "What about Virgil?" Gabrielle asked suddenly.

Joxer met her curious gaze, shrugged and picked up another piece of fried lamb with his fork, "I dunno. Who's he?" He asked taking the bite.

"Your son."

Joxer choked on his food. After a moment, he managed to swallow the salty morsel and take a breath before staring in bewilderment at the bard. "My... son?"

Gabrielle nodded, "Yeah, the last time I saw you... alive... You had a son, he was a bard... named Virgil." She told him.

His skeptical look returned, "This that 'old me' you were talking about earlier?" He asked with a roll of his eyes. She replied with a nod. After a moment, he hid a grin and continued casually. "So ah... who's the Mom?" He wiggled his brows at her and bit into another piece of meat.

Gabrielle smirked now, "Meg."

Joxer choked again.

She held the urge to laugh, "And he was only one of the kids. There were a few others as I recall."

He let it sink in, "Wait a minute. Meg can't have kids, I should know... I mean, so I heard."

She shrugged, "I don't know. But you did have kids together." There was a long silence. She watched him, concentrating a little too hard on eating his food. This was too much, she thought, Xena gone and Joxer here. Who'd have ever thought things would end up like this? She mused.

"So what about you?"

She rose a brow, "What?"

"Well, where were you during all this? Where you... ah... married or?"

She shook her head, "What happened the last time you saw me?"

He thought a moment, "It was that day I got poisoned, we had to go to the mandrake tree and everyone was after Xena and... hey, where is Eve anyway?"

Gabrielle shrugged. "Probably with the Elisions... if she's still around at all." She frowned in concentration.ÊÊÊÊ

"What?"

She looked up at him, "I don't know Joxer. I'm not sure what's going on." Her eyes suddenly widen, "I bet it has something to do with the loom!" She stood abruptly. "Let's go."

"But you haven't even eaten yet." He pointed out.

She glanced down at the meager meal. Even if she had been hungry, it was easy to see why the greasy food wasn't appealing. But in truth, she simply didn't have much of an appetite these days.

"And where are we going anyway?" He wanted to know.

"The Fates. If anyone has the answers, they do."

Joxer the mighty walked along the edge of a dirt road, casually running his hand along the thick green bushes that lined the forest to the left of him. The golden haired bard walked beside him, seemingly to be lost in thought.

"So... what are you thinking about?" Joxer asked. Her gaze was focused on the ground. "Gabby?" She bit her lip; he wondered momentarily what she was thinking so hard about. "Your not listening at all are you?" He asked then. There was only the sound of the wind and a few birds chirping in the distance. He gave a small huff, and made a face. He hated silence.

Just then, someone whispered, it came from the right, perhaps a few yards into the woods. Joxer listened closely, but couldn't make out all that the people were saying. He watched as Gabrielle perked beside him. "Figures." He grouched, rolling his eyes.

She put up a hand, "Shhh!" She hissed urgently and cocked her head to one side, listening carefully. There were no more sounds.

"You can hear someone whisper but you can't hear me?" He asked, not even trying to hide his annoyance.

Gabrielle sighed, "I'm sorry Joxer, I just have a lot on my mind, okay?" She ran a hand through her short blond hair.

He nodded, "You thinking about Xena?" He asked quietly.

She gave him a sideways glance and smiled a little at his perception, "Yeah." She gave a short laugh, "I'm kinda wondering what I'm gonna do now... now that it's only me." Joxer's gaze fell to the ground, "I mean... other then you... of course." She assured.

He glanced at her and nodded, though he knew she didn't mean it. "You still gonna fight, and travel, and all?"

"Yeah," She answered, somewhat unsure. "I guess so. People are in need of a girl with a chakram." She gave a small smile as she patted the round piece of metal on her hip.

"Ever thought of settling down?" He asked, his gaze remained on the ground, though he caught a glimpse of her surprise out of the corner of his eye.

"I..." She started, "I... well Xena and I-" She let out a breathe, "No. Not really." There was a long silence before she wondered aloud, "What would I do anyway?"

Joxer shrugged, "Maybe something with your scrolls." He offered. "Oh I know!" He exclaimed, suddenly excited, "We could open a store... in Athens! Yeah, we could call it Joxer & Gabby's Scrollmania! And we'll sell your stories... " Gabrielle opened her mouth to say something, but Joxer quickly continued, "We can sell my stories too!" He began digging in his bag until he pulled out a scroll, "Like this one I just wrote," Unrolling it he began to read it to her. "...and with the final thrust of his trusty sword, he saved the world and his true love. The bard, Gaaaa-" He shoot a look to Gabrielle as he stumbled over the name, "Ga-lavinia," He spit out, "threw her arms around the fearless warrior and passionately kissed the man known as Jo...J... Jordous the... Strong!"

Gabrielle gave him a look, "The bard Galavinia and Jordous the Strong?"

Joxer looked else where, "Yeah, that's what I said isn't it?"

She snatched the scroll from him, "The bard, Gabrielle threw her arms... yadda, yadda ... Joxer the Mighty. With strong arms he pulled her warm body close so that he could feel the rise and fall of her perfect breasts as she panted with desire for him..." She shoved the scroll back into Joxer's hands, raising a brow at him that only deepen the his red on his face. With a shake of her head, she walked faster, leaving him behind. A small grin touched her lips.

Gabrielle put a hand to her forehead as she looked to the sky. They got a late start traveling today, the sun would be setting soon and they were only half way to the Fates. "Let's find a place to set up camp." She sighed, not bothering to look back at her companion.

"Okay, sounds goo-ow!" Joxer yelped, bending over to grab his booted foot.

Gabrielle glanced back, "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine... just a b-" He looked up but she was already walking off. Joxer rolled his eyes, and then looked to the bottle he stubbed his toe on. Picking up the oval shaped glass that was about four inches tall, he looked at it with interest. The bottle had a pink tint and tiny roses etched carefully into it. On the top, it had a little pink puff used to spray out the perfume it held inside. Curiously, he held the container to his nose and sniffed, noting that it smelled like roses.

Looking up, he found Gabrielle gone. He shrugged and slipped the dainty, though oddly heavy, vial into his bag and headed off into the woods.

The silence was getting unnerving. He watched her poke at the fire with a stick. I should say something, he sighed; I wonder what she's thinking.

He's quiet tonight, she thought. I wonder what he's thinking.

...But what do I tell her? How can I help? He asked himself silently, Her best friend's dead... how can that be made better? He glanced quickly to Gabrielle then went back to staring at the fire. Xena's dead. Suddenly emptiness consumed him at the thought, and he swallowed hard.

"Joxer?" Gabrielle scooted closer. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked gently.

He rubbed his face absently, "I was just thinking..." He started, "I don't know... " His voice was tight with emotion. "I thought... 'Xena's dead.' " He looked at the bard helplessly, "She's dead."

Gabrielle looked at her friend; his eyes were glistened with unleashed tears. She shook her head; of course, he cared about her. He'd been Xena's friend too and it finally sunk in for him. "Joxer." She whispered sympathetically. She had forgotten he'd told her that he just found out about Xena's death. She had known for months.

"It just hit me... you know?" He almost choked on the words. With a deep breath, he pushed himself to his feet and walked off into the woods, shaking his head and muttering something.

Gabrielle sighed and spoke to the fire, "Yeah, I know."

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