Rebel Joxer wiped the sweat off his brow, only dropping his guard for a moment. The battle was raging all around them, with the followers of Dahak pressing them close. The leader knew that he had to keep the heat off Xena and her friends, wherever they were now. He raised the hilt of his sword and brought it down with a thud on the forehead of one particularly large man, who went whirling to the ground.

His look-alike, the other Joxer, was nearby, holding out his sword for protection. He had plenty of help from the rebel fighters, who had crashed the sacrificial ceremony and were working to free those who about to be killed in the name of Dahak. The bonfire was still licking the sky with its enormous orange flames, stretching up to the funnel of dark clouds that moved directly above. It was as if the two elements were grasping for each other.

Suddenly, the two Joxers saw Althea approaching. Behind her came two men carrying a metal cage with a person inside it. Althea's entourage was cutting a path through the fighting, and they were moving toward the center of the circle. The two men began to be able to see through the cage and make out the figure inside. It was Gabrielle.

Joxer, seeing the woman he loved was in danger, ran through the skirmish toward her. He didn't know what he was going to do, but he knew that he had to save Gabrielle at all costs. The rebel leader saw him go and tried to stop him by crying out, but it was no use.

Joxer made his way through the zombie-like crowd. He was close enough to see her face clearly now through the metal cage. In the next moment, he felt the earth around him shaking, and saw that shards of blue and green light were surrounding the blonde bard-turned-goddess. "Gabrielle!" He charged forward, heedless of the danger, and deathly afraid of what was happening. In an instant, the glowing faded, and he saw Gabrielle push the metal cage away. She was free.

Just then, Althea, who had turned at the sudden shaking, screamed like a fury and lunged at Gabrielle. Joxer tried to come between the two of them, but it was too late. He watched as both of them were swept up into the swirling mass of clouds and disappeared.

Joxer felt something cold and hard hit the back of his neck just before he fell to the ground.

x x x

Callisto and Naughty Xena made their way through the woods. "Hey, why didn't ya tell me we'd be hiking? My feet are killing me!"

"Quiet, we're almost there."

"You'd better be right about this."

"Relax. I can feel its power as we speak."

They walked on for some minutes, winding through the forest until Naughty Xena was utterly lost. Finally, they came to what appeared to be an abandoned stone temple, overgrown with vines and moss.

Naughty Xena nearly tripped over an old sundial that was just slightly raised from the ground. She suddenly began to feel very frightened. Where was this wacko taking her?

They came to a circular incision in the rock. It seemed as if it were waiting for something to be placed there. Callisto motioned for Naughty Xena to come forward. She held out a shiny object for her – her own jewel-encrusted chakram. "As the true owner of the chakram, only you can use the key to open this door." Xena, following the blonde woman's indications, lifted the metal ring and fitted it into the cut-out in the stone. It fit snugly with a 'click' into the door.

"Now we may enter in safety." Callisto pointed to the entrance, which was still covered by a stone slab.

It took both of them to push aside the ancient stone door to the temple. The inside was very dimly lit through small cracks in the crumbling rock.

"After you." Naughty Xena chuckled, trying to sound calm, but not succeeding.

"It's in here. I – wait! There it is!" Callisto pointed to a faint green glow over in one corner of the temple.

"It's mine! Ha ha! Come to Mama!" Naughty Xena, prompted by a sudden surge of greed, raced incautiously through the dark, deserted temple. She reached out her hand to touch the green stone that was propped up on a musty, moth-eaten pillow. Strangely, the gem had collected no dust.

"You've got it! Yes, that's it - careful! Bring it here! We can still stop Althea!" Callisto beckoned her companion to bring the stone over to where she still stood just inside the temple door.

Naughty Xena's eyes narrowed to slits, though Callisto couldn't see them through the darkness. "Oh, I'll stop her – and everyone else!"

"No!! You don't know what you're doing! You have to give it to me, or you could ruin everything!" Callisto's eyes widened in alarm.

"Baby, you have no idea what I'm gonna do now!" Naughty Xena's eyes sparkled in the dim light. She stepped forward, placing one hand directly under the stone, and one palm on the pointed top of it.

"NOOOOO!!!" Callisto ran forward, trying to grab the gem away from her. But she didn't make it more than a few paces before she was frozen in place.

Naughty Xena was shocked for a moment at the effect of the stone on the other woman. Then she smiled to herself, patting the Chronos Stone gingerly. "Let's you and me get out of this place, whaddaya say? We've got work to do."

x x x

The swirling vortex that composed Dahak's realm was splitting apart like an old wineskin at the death of its master. The old temple walls began to shake, the cracks in the floor widening.

Xena gasped, still sooty but thankfully on her feet, as she jumped out of the way of a large crack spreading out along the floor. Soon there would be nothing but the lava pit. She looked up at Ares, eyes still questioning.

With a smirk, Ares pulled her towards the others, not letting go of her for a moment. "Let's get out of here." And, if his voice wasn't as firm as usual, Xena wasn't going to say anything.

Both of them still slightly injured, they hurried over to Gabrielle and Hercules, who were nervously dodging the pits of flame springing up, and looking a little worn themselves.

Watching the walls split apart, Hercules cried, "This place is falling to pieces!"

Without a second thought, Ares reached out his spare arm, grabbing Gabrielle's hand. He nodded at her and Gabrielle grabbed Hercules in turn, understanding.

There was a pop and flashes of light as the entire structure fell in on itself.

x x x

Ares, Xena, Gabrielle and Hercules reappeared on the ground just in time to watch flashes of light break through the funnel of dark clouds until it disappeared entirely with a wink of light and roar that seemed to echo through the quiet field.

Gabrielle took a shaky breath, looking at the others, "That was close."

But her companions were no longer staring at the blue sky where, only a moment before, nothing but fire and darkness had reigned. They were looking around them, startled.

They were in the midst of a battle, the one between Rebel Joxer's forces and Dahak's converts, the one to buy them time. And that battle was frozen in place.

Shocked, Gabrielle reached out to touch a rebel near her, just about to have his head chopped off. His body was stopped. Gently, Gabrielle pushed him out of the way of the oncoming blade, but all remained still. "What could do this?"

Hercules and Ares looked at each other darkly, "The Chronos Stone."

x x x

The naughtier Xena, still clutching the Chronos Stone in one hand and her chakram in the other, was just making her way out of the forest. Callisto had led her through such a winding and twisting path that Naughty Xena was amazed she'd managed to find her way out at all.

"Serves that bitch right," Naughty Xena smirked, remembering how the doors had slid firmly shut once she'd reclaimed her chakram off the altar.

By blind luck, Naughty Xena had managed to make her way back to the castle. It was eerily quiet. But no matter. Priding herself on a job well done and a new treasure collected, she snuck back into her own abode much the same way that she had snuck Callisto out.

The battle must be over, this Xena reasoned, hoping that Althea or the others hadn't turned her home inside out.

When she walked in, however, tiptoeing past the guardrooms, Xena found that everyone was frozen - exactly like Callisto. "Ooh," the vixen Xena purred, "This could be interesting."

Caught up in her examination of the guards - moving them into lewd positions or switching their clothes with that of the staff - Naughty Xena failed to notice the four figures moving cautiously amongst the stopped battle that had spread out below, picking their way toward the castle.

x x x

"It had to be her." Xena's eyes were narrowed, her face still smudgy and her leathers blackened.

Ares was tempted to offer to do something about Xena's charcoal, but he wasn't sure that it would be appreciated. Instead, he sighed, "Xena, I know you have many skills. But, next time, could you use one of them to give your alter-ego some common sense?"

A voice interrupted Xena's glare, "Joxer!"

Xena, Ares and Hercules, who was marching determinedly in front of them, turned at the sound of Gabrielle's voice. She was bent in front of a crudely constructed platform, over Joxer's fallen form - shielding him from an oncoming blow that would never reach its target.

"Well how 'bout that - must have mistaken him for this world's Joxer." Ares' voice was more amused than anything.

Shaking her head at him, Xena rushed over with Hercules, to help Gabrielle pull Joxer to safety - frozen weight was a lot heavier than any of them would have expected. Unfortunately, it was hard to determine where, exactly, a safe place was to be found.

With a long-suffering sigh, Ares stopped the others, who were all feeling significantly less fatigued now that they were out of Dahak's realm, and grabbed Joxer's prone body, throwing it over his good shoulder. The effects from Dahak's poison were lessening, and Ares was almost back to 100.

The others stared at him. "What?" Ares shrugged, "Not like we can leave him here. The idiot will get his head chopped off and, really, there's been enough of that today."

In mild disbelief, Hercules and Gabrielle turned to continue their journey. However, Xena flashed Ares a little smile before she followed suit - enough to convince Ares that, even if he had to drag Joxer around half this universe, it would be worth it.

Maybe not everything Dahak had said and done would turn out for the worst.

x x x

The alternate realm's Xena held the conical glowing green gem out on her flat palm. She was sitting in the throne room of the palace, now occupying the throne all by herself. She looked thoughtfully into the sparks of green-gold that seemed to be whirling inside of the stone, as if they were alive. "Such a pretty new toy for me to play with, aren't you? But its obvious you've got some kind of magical powers. Everybody else in the kingdom is frozen like ice, and I can do whatever I want . . . but I'm getting tired of having to fetch things for myself. What's the good in being a queen . . . no, empress! . . . without servants?"

In another moment, she was startled by the gleam of rust-colored sparks. She nearly dropped her new plaything as a god, clad in dark brown leather with gold details, materialized before her eyes.

Naughty Xena gulped noisily. "Uh, hello. What can I do ya for?"

The god, whose blond hair and dark eyes she took in in an instant, glowered at her. Then he unfolded the wings that were attached to his back, and she knew instantly who he was. "Cupid, God of War. You must be Xena."

"Ye-yeah, that's me." She tried to look unfazed, but didn't succeed. Geez, and here I thought I had the place to myself!

"Charmed, I'm sure." Cupid nodded at her, smiling deviously. "I see you found my jewel. I've come to ask for it back. For a handsome reward, of course."

Naughty Xena's left eyebrow raised suspiciously, but she said nothing.

"You see, I must have it back; though it's powers are quite . . . weak, it has great sentimental value for my family. So you see, I am willing to pay very well for its return."

"Gee, I dunno. I kinda had my heart set on keepin' it. It's real pretty, dontcha think?" Vixen Xena returned innocently.

"Ye-es . . . it is very beautiful. But not nearly as beautiful as you, my dear." Cupid approached the throne where Vixen Xena still sat, placing one hand on her leg. "You know, I could use someone like you in my service."

Vixen Xena twisted her neck and blinked at him coquettishly. "What'd you have in mind?"

"You give me the jewel, and you can be my high priestess."

"High priestess? Me? I think you got the wrong gal."

"Oh, I think you'd be perfect – unless you're afraid of . . . working . . . with the God of War?" Cupid's eyes challenged her to accept.

"Seems pretty powerful to me."

"Excuse me?"

"The rock. Seems pretty powerful to me. Everybody in the kingdom is frozen except me."

"What a clever woman you are." Cupid's tone dropped to a seductive whisper. "But just think how powerful it could be in the hands of a god . . . think of what we could do with it . . . together."

Naughty Xena leaned her head down to touch his. "So let me get this straight. I give you your family jewel back, and you and I can . . . rule the world together?"

"Exactly." Cupid delivered the word with relish.

"No dice," Naughty Xena said, flatly. Cupid looked momentarily deflated. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"Trust me? I'm the God of War! And I never go back on a promise . . . not to a woman like you, anyway."

"Not good enough."

"No? Then why don't we talk about it some more – over breakfast." Cupid snapped his fingers, and Xena found herself in one of the more lavish bedrooms of the castle. She realized the stone was still in her hand, and she set it on the nightstand, away from his reach. Cupid leaned in for a kiss, and she returned it forcefully.

x x x

"This place gives me the creeps." Gabrielle and the others were walking through the woods around the edge of the castle; it was beginning to get dark. "Are you sure we have to go this way?"

"Yes – whoever has the Chronos Stone may be watching from the palace, and we definitely need the element of surprise this time," Xena answered, her face grim.

After some short distance, the group approached the outer castle wall. There seemed to be no entrance this way. "Guess we'll have to try the direct approach," Ares said, swinging Joxer like a sword to indicate his idea of the "direct approach." Then he realized what he was doing. "Uh, sorry."

Xena shook her head at his antics, then replied, "No, maybe not. Most castles have a secret back entrance, you just have to know where to look."

Just then, Gabrielle, walking in front, tripped and fell face-forward. "Owww! Maybe being a goddess wasn't so bad after all," she spoke, standing up and rubbing her sore face. "At least it was padded by the moss," she finished, after gathering that nothing was actually broken.

"Wait." Xena had signaled to the others to stop, and she stood looking down at the place where Gabrielle had tripped. "I think you just found our secret entrance."

x x x

Cupid lay on his back next to Naughty Xena, who was sleeping on her side with the Chronos Stone tucked securely into her bosom. He thought about what the Fates had told him that day when Zeus had been murdered.

Atropos, apparently the most chatty one of the group, held out a thread as she spoke. "Zeus, the King of the Olympian Gods, is dead at the hands of a mortal. His death has triggered the fall of the Olympian order. The mortal who killed Zeus is the mortal who will destroy you all, yet she will come in a different form. She will conquer time and death itself will have no control over her. It is through her body that the Twilight will come to fulfillment."

"Lachesis," Cupid spoke, addressing the middle fate, letting the words drip like honey from his tongue, "what's she talking about? You know how I hate riddles. I'd rather hear the bad news from you, anyway." He caressed her cheek.

Lachesis looked up at the god of war disinterestedly, completely ignoring his touch. "The course of Fate has already been set in motion. The Twilight is upon you. Make of it what you will."

Cupid shook himself out of his reverie, glancing over at the woman who had killed his grandfather. He almost wanted to thank her for getting rid of the old codger, but knew that, if she wasn't stopped, she would be the cause of his death, as well.

Naughty Xena mumbled something in her sleep, then chewed on the end of her thumb like a child, clutching the Chronos Stone tighter.

A glint of metal reflected light from the one candle that was still lit in the dark chamber. The piece of cold steel slid out from under the satin sheets and Cupid held it up in front of his face, as if meditating on what was to come next..

x x x

"Ugh. I think I just stepped on a cockroach." Gabrielle was groping her way through the underground passage.

"I don't even wanna know what I just stepped on," Ares quipped, raising his godly eyebrow in disgust.

"Well, at least sneaking around in here is fairly easy," Hercules remarked. "We don't have to worry about castle guards and alarm bells."

"Since when has that ever bothered you?" Xena jokingly replied.

"Since he – whoooaaaa!" Ares was interrupted from his snarky comment by a body that had suddenly begun flailing wildly. Joxer had come back into motion, still attempting to dodge blows in the battle. Ares, acting on reflex, dropped the confused man on the floor with a thud.

"Ooowww!! What was that for? And where am I?" The first thing that he locked his eyes on was the image of Gabrielle, who looked honestly relieved to see her friend restored to animation.

"You're safe. Dahak is gone. We're in the palace dungeon. Xena . . . the other Xena . . . stole the Chronos Stone and stopped time, and we're going to get it back. Only . . . I guess time hasn't stopped anymore, because . . ." she looked at him pointedly.

Joxer nodded, half-comprehendingly, still very confused at his sudden change in location. "So what does that mean?"

Xena answered him, "It means we have to get the Chronos Stone and worry about running into castle guards."

x x x

Cupid stared into the shiny polished silver surface, seeing his own green eyes gazing confusedly back at him. This is the only way. She's going to be the death of us all. You have to do this.

At that moment, Vixen Xena stirred, half-waking, unsure of her whereabouts. Cupid quickly slipped the dagger into one of his gauntlets, which had been ripped off and tossed carelessly aside during the frenzy of the previous hours. There's got to be another way.

"Whatcha doin'?" the groggy brunette inquired, slightly suspicious.

"Me? Oh, just . . . watching you sleep. You mortals sleep so . . . peacefully." Cupid would not look at her face.

"You're kinda weird, you know that?"

Cupid smiled, unable to help himself, and chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose I am. But you're a little strange, yourself, you know." Now he kissed her cheek awkwardly, but somehow affectionately, and then pulled quickly away, staring back into the dark room, anywhere but on that lovely face with the wide blue eyes lashed with silky black.

"You still want this thing, I guess."

"I would like to have it back, yes. There's something I need to do." Cupid replied grimly.

"Then you're gonna have to pry it from me," Naughty Xena countered playfully, suddenly running her long red nails across his naked back, tickling his wings.

Cupid whipped around suddenly, grabbing one of her wrists in one hand and the Chronos Stone in the other. Vixen Xena kept a death-grip on her precious gem, biting and kicking at Cupid at full force. They rolled around on the bed, causing as much noise as humanly (or godly) possible. At first, they didn't notice anything; then they heard sounds coming from the hall; castle guards! Time had begun ticking away again. Their fight continued, both of them heedless to the confused cries from the guards outside.

After several minutes of this skirmish had passed, a green glow enshrouded the fighting couple, and they vanished.

x x x

Xena, Gabrielle, Ares, Hercules and Joxer made their way up out of the dungeon and into the main hall of the castle where the bedrooms were situated. They were drawn to the sound of what seemed to be two very large cats tearing each other (and the furnishings) to pieces in one of the rooms.

Hercules and Ares, going in front, knocked out the group of guards who came running at them. Gabrielle did a quick check on Joxer's wounds from the battle in the better light of the hallway. Xena did a running kick to the door and landed inside the dark room. Only the room didn't stay dark for long; a greenish glow spread into all corners and for one second she could see the alternate version of herself wrestling fiercely with someone who looked like just like Cupid, God of Love. She almost thought she had imagined it, because in another moment, they were gone and the room was black except for the light of one candle which had managed not to get knocked over in the struggle.

x x x

"Great."

Xena examined the room quickly and found some brown leather gauntlets trimmed with gold, a silver dagger, an ornate golden bow and a quiver full of arrows, all with black shafts and gold tips.

"What in Gaia's name? Xena, what was that green light? The Chronos Stone? Or another god?" Gabrielle looked worried.

Hercules and Ares walked into the room. The half-god spoke. "It was the Chronos Stone. Whoever was touching it has probably been sent back in time . . . or maybe even forward."

"Then there's nothing we can do about it." Xena looked at Ares. "Is there?"

Ares was also concerned, especially knowing that if this other Xena were to be killed, his favorite warrior princess would also be gone forever. "Maybe. I don't know. I need to think."

"We –" Xena began to say something, but was suddenly interrupted by a huge crash of lightning outside. The wind began to howl ferociously. "What I was going to say was that –" Ares, noticing something out the window, grabbed her wrist and yanked her out into the hallway, yelling for the others to follow – and fast.

Ares led them all outside, where it was clear that a storm was gathering. It almost seemed unnatural. A strange horizontal funnel of clouds was beginning to form in the big field next to where the fighting between Dahak's followers and the rebels had been taking place. The fight seemed to be over now that the people were no longer under Dahak's control, and the people were now tending to the wounded, with Rebel Joxer shouting orders, directing and organizing the work.

Ares let go of Xena's wrist and stepped over toward the swirling purple vortex. He seemed to be waiting for something . . . or someone.

A few seconds later, Hercules was running toward the vortex, a gigantic grin on his face. "How is this possible?" He approached the old man and wrapped his huge arms around him. Luckily for the old man, he was really a full god.

Ares' face didn't show surprise anymore, just curiosity. "How'd you do it, Dad? I guess you're not so easy to kill after all, huh?"

"Zeus?" Gabrielle's face registered the surprise.

Zeus gave a loud, low, bellowing laugh. "Kind of strange outfit you're wearing, isn't it, son?" He winked at Ares. "I've never seen you wear black before. But I suppose you're from that alternate dimension I've been hearing so much about. Welcome. And to answer your question, I suppose you could say it's hard to get me to stay dead." He laughed again.

The king of the gods stepped aside, and two more figures appeared in the vortex.

Cupid and the slightly more mischievous version of Xena stepped through the portal and onto the grass. They were holding hands, and she was dressed in new robes, a rich black velvet trimmed with silver.

Zeus spoke again. "I'd like you all to meet my grandson, Cupid, god of war, and my new granddaughter-in-law, Xena, the Warrior Princess."

Gabrielle and Joxer helped Hercules pick up his jaw from the ground.

x x x

"So you went back in time to save Zeus from being killed and to stop the Twilight prophecy from being fulfilled?" Gabrielle tried to sum up the fantastic story that Cupid and his new bride, Xena, had been telling them around the sumptuous feast being held in honor of the visitors from the other realm.

"That's right. We explained everything that had been happening in the future and how Xena here," he hugged his wife tightly, "managed to find the Chronos Stone –"

"– and fix my little boo-boo." Vixen Xena's eyes glittered, and she gave a wink to her new grandfather-in-law.

Zeus smiled rather awkwardly at her. "Not to worry, my dear, everything has been put to rights again. And," he said, turning to the other Xena, "we owe you and your friends here a debt of gratitude. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you."

Xena nodded and smiled in acknowledgement. "So what happens to this kingdom? Who will be their leader?" Xena asked.

Callisto, who had fortunately been able to free herself from the cave, spoke up. "I think we already have a leader among us," she said, beaming, and pointed her gaze toward Joxer, the rebel leader. "If you would be so kind as to take the job."

Joxer bowed his head graciously. "I will accept the position if the people will it."

"Well, of course they will!" Callisto replied boisterously. "They know you're their rightful king. Lead them!"

"We shall let them decide, then!" Joxer smiled, raising his cup in the air. "To a new beginning!"

"I'll drink to that," Ares said, slipping his hand into Xena's.

x x x

"So," Xena said, eyes narrowed at her look-alike, "What's with the sudden change of heart? Last I saw you, you were..." She trailed off, noticing the frantic "nix" gestures Cupid was making over his wife's head. "... were completely set on the, er, Sovereign."

"Well, he had nothing on Cupie." The answer was accompanied by an adoring glance at Cupid, who lowered his hands hurriedly and held his arms stiffly by his sides as he smiled back.

"Ahh," Xena muttered. "Would you excuse me for a moment?" She snagged Cupid's arm and dragged him out of earshot.

"Alright, what did you do?"

"I'm a god," Cupid said with a bemused smirk. "I do have certain . . . persuasive powers. It wasn't that difficult to convince her to become my wife, at least, not after I told her she'd be a goddess. Oh, and did I mention I'm incredibly handsome?" He gave Xena his most rakish look.

Xena gave him a look of mock-disgust. "You're just like Ares," she said finally.

"God of Love?" Cupid asked, giving the word the same loathing overtones as he would the word "tapeworm."

"My Ares."

Cupid gave her an amused look, and her face heated slightly when she realized what she'd just said. "Anyway," she said. "Why didn't you go back further? Stop Dahak in Britannia, right at the beginning?"

"He would have come out another way, implanted his seed in another girl."

"But not Gabrielle."

There was a pause, and Ares' voice said softly behind her, "Is that what you really want? Condemn an innocent because she's faceless?"

Xena refused to let her voice shake. "Gabrielle would say no."

Ares watched Xena silently, barely acknowledging Cupid when he slipped away.

"You know how dangerous it would be to use the Chronos Stone. Zeus has had it locked away again in a new location."

"Gods! You can really be infuriating sometimes. Why do I put up with you?"

"Because you enjoy my divine company?" He grinned under her sardonic look.

"Still, I know if I just had the chance, Gabrielle would never have to know, and . . ."

"No." He leaned forward and kissed her.

I'd take all your burdens if I could.

x x x

A comforting hand fell on his shoulder as he stared across the room, making him look up in surprise.

"When he was born, the Morae fortold of a mortal that would carry with her the love of Zeus' sons, The Darkness and The Light. Both would give her purpose, but in the end, she would shape both by turning Darkness into Light." Hera finished as she sat next to Hercules.

"So you're saying that Xena belongs to him," Hercules asked this strange version of his stepmother.

She smiled and shook her head, confusing him. "She doesn't belong to anyone. Only to herself, but what I am trying to say is that your love for her will never go unnoticed because it helped create the woman she is, just as much as Ares'. Neither of you will ever forget that and you should not mourn her because she will never be lost ."

"How do you know? He's not your Ares, and the Xena of this world is married to Cupid, your grandson, not son. In my world he'd destroy her." He finished angrily.

"They are from your reality, yet I have not seen him destroy her," Hera answered, expertly evading the first question, "in every world it will be the same, Hercules. Just look what it accomplished, you and Ares helped save the Cosmos with the love you share for a mortal."

Hercules stared speechlessly at Hera for a long moment. "You're so different," he said finally, with a bitter laugh. "Goddess of music, huh?" He sighed and gave Ares a distasteful look. "Well, I guess--"

Whatever Hercules would have said next was cut off by a thunderous explosion and the opening of a huge vortex behind him. He turned, shielding his eyes from the gale.

"Iolaus?" he yelled.

"Hey, Herc! Zeus was suddenly swearing pretty well for a dead guy, so we figured you guys fixed everything over here, and he opened up this portal for us!"

"Zeus is alive?"

"Like I said, he was threatening to do all kinds of things to Dahak."

A hand pulled Hercules to a side an instant before a branch whipped past his head and sailed into the portal.

"You'll have time to catch flies afterwards, so," Xena let go of his arm and turned to give Gabrielle a fond smile, "let's go home."

x x x

Ares landed with a grunt when the portal spat him out and winked out of existence.

"Is everyone okay?" someone asked.

There were a couple of 'yes's, a grunt, some spitting noises, and a whimper, presumably from Joxer, who had landed in severely contorted position.

After the companions had gotten to their feet and untangled Joxer, Xena looked around and frowned. "Where's Callisto?"

"She doesn't belong here, remember?" Gabrielle said gently.

"Oh," Xena said softly. "We didn't say goodbye." The familiar look of guilt was in her eyes.

"I'm sure she's happy, Xena."

"Yeah."

"Hey," Ares said. He waited until Xena looked at him, and then he grinned. "We won."

She smiled this time. "Yeah."

"Not your average, everyday apocalypse, was it?"

Xena laughed. "It turned out okay, considering."

Hercules watched, a bitter taste in his mouth. He cleared his throat and made his excuses awkwardly into the silence.

He raised a hand, and Xena stepped into his hug. "It was good to see you again."

"Maybe next time it won't take a world-threatening disaster for me to hear from you."

She laughed. "Count on it."

"You know," Hercules muttered, "I don't like him."

"I know."

"But I trust your judgment."

"Thanks."

"If he so much as twitches in an offensive way, you can call me in."

Ares snorted and received a dirty look.

"Please do, in fact."

x x x

Hercules and Iolaus walked down the road, kicking up small clouds of dust in their wake.

Hercules stretched and yawned loudly. "It's good to be home. Even the air smells better here."

"Really..."

"Shouldn't you be happy to see me after all this time or something?"

"Oh yeah. Nothing like the scent of fresh flowers by the roadside, some road kill over there--"

"Iolaus--"

"--that pile of horse dung that you're about to step into."

"Iolaus..."

"Yeah?"

"Good to see you, too."

x x x

Joxer strode jauntily away, whistling his song before he tripped over a root in the path.

Gabrielle sighed in exasperation, turning her back pointedly to Joxer's startled cry. "So," she said, a smirk working its way onto her face, "I guess I'll see you later."

Xena suddenly seemed to find a twig on the ground fascinating. "Well," she said, prodding at it with her toe, "what with preventing the end of the world as we know it, it's been a bit busy. We haven't had a chance to... talk."

"Talk. I see."

"Gabrielle..."

"No, no. I get it. You're going to," she paused, a full grin on her face now, "talk."

Gabrielle slung her bag over her shoulder and dug out a quill and a scroll. She waved casually as she turned and walked away. "I'll see you in the morning, Xena."

"So," Ares said eventually, "dinner?"

"Ares."

"Yeah?"

He looked the same as ever.

Strong. It was strangely comforting.

It felt good when he melted under her kiss. Warm.

You did good.