Chapter One

"Uh-huh…" Hercules muttered for the hundredth time as he eyed the various items displayed on the various booths throughout the market. Cheiron had given the cadets a break from training and so, he and Iolaus had decided to go to the market. Hercules had gone to pick out a gift for his mother, her birthday was coming up soon, and Iolaus…well…Iolaus had gone to pick out girls he liked who he swore liked him as well…right…

"…and I woke up with this weird goop all over me and then the feathers…." Iolaus continued. He had been talking nonstop the better part of the trip and naturally, Hercules had blocked out half of what he was saying. He had no idea what Iolaus was going on about now, but he was sure, he didn't want to know.

He pretty much just humored him, agreeing where it seemed right, nodding here and there, and saying uh huh as if he were following along. He had perfected this trick years ago…when Iolaus first discovered that the female race was not cursed by the gods to kill males…who knew a bad experience with Amazons would scare the child for years?

He laughed to himself as he looked out at the people of the market as well. Just then two small children dashed by him, a small blonde boy and girl. The boy was being chased by the young girl, he was waving what appeared to be a doll in his hand. Hercules could only assume that the boy had stolen the toy and the girl wanted it back. He laughed again, the two children reminding him of something he couldn't quite remember.

"…she's coming back, I swear, I got a letter from her and everything…you remember her don't you Herc?" Iolaus asked. That particular phrase gripped his attention.

"Huh?" He asked, staring at Iolaus dumbstruck, "Who?"

Iolaus rolled his eyes; sometimes Herc could be so forgetful. "Callie…" he started, "My cousin…"

Hercules stared at him for a moment before realization dawned on him, "Oh! Callie! Wasn't she the one who poured honey on you and covered you in feathers?" Iolaus stared at him. 'Darn,' Hercules thought, 'That's what he was talking about before.'

But luckily Iolaus started to laugh, "Yup, that's her."

Hercules joined in somewhat awkwardly, still thankful that Iolaus hadn't realized that he hadn't been paying attention to anything he'd said. "Yeah…you couldn't get the feathers out of your hair for a week."

"Yeah…" Iolaus trailed, laughing slightly, "You know, she had the biggest crush on you…"

"What?" Hercules asked staring at him. He was sure that Iolaus was joking…he had to be…Callie never even hinted that she like Hercules. It was she that had cut his hair when he'd slept and pulled chairs away from him as he moved to sit down. No…Callie certainly didn't like him like that.

"Yup, it's true," he stated, "Major crush."

"No," Hercules said, shaking his head, "No, she didn't."

"Yes," Iolaus said, slowly, "Yes she did."

"No, she didn't."

Yes, she did."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

Did too. Did too. Did too. Ha! Beat that!" Iolaus shouted, laughing.

Hercules merely shook his head at his friend's antics and began looking around at the various booths again…when something caught his eye. There was a woman walking among the people, dressed in a long traveler's cape, the hood down allowing Hercules to see her long curly blonde hair…the same curls and color as…Iolaus…

"Iolaus…" Hercules started, trying to get his friends attention, which was currently focused on a fruit stall. "Iolaus…" he nudged him, but still his gaze didn't drift from the food. "Iolaus!" he shouted in his ear, finally getting his attention.

"What?!" Iolaus said turning to face his friend only to have Hercules point somewhere in the market. Iolaus rolled his eyes as he followed Herc's finger…his eyes widening as he saw just what…who…he was pointing to. It looked like her, but it couldn't be her. "Callie?" he whispered to himself.