A/N: Another thanks to my unofficial beta, JenesisX. If you haven't already heard of her and like Final Fantasy 7, I'd recommend reading her stuff. Its brill! I would also recommend SilvermoonlighGJ for more Xena related fics. They're both good friends on here and have helped me out alot :D Anyway - Happy Reading folks!

"Hadrian? What are you doing here?"

Without a word, Hadrian brushed passed her and into the room. He looked around and saw Lila sitting on the chair in front of Gabrielle's mirror and turned with his hands together. Gabrielle noted as she looked at him that he seemed a little…nervous. As he looked at her, his eyes would keep turning away constantly as if he couldn't look her in the eye. She felt a strange stirring in her stomach when she closed the door and waited for him to speak.

Hadrian wasn't like many of the other playwrights that she'd met over the years. He had once been someone she had admired and revered as a hero. She had read many of his stories and watched the plays he had produced. They had been what had made her so excited when he had asked her to become his apprentice. But she hadn't known the greedy and controlling man he could become. It was hidden so well beneath his handsome and charming exterior.

As always, he wore a colourful velvet chlamys with green trim that always seemed to light up his lime green eyes. Under the chlamys he wore a brown tunic and same colour leggings to emphasize his riches. He had always been a man of substance, taking pride in his outward appearance, but he seemed to have become almost obsessive about it in the last couple of years. When she first met him he'd had a beard and his brown hair had been long, tied in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. But now his hair had been styled short and fell in curls around his face to frame his bright eyes and his beard was non-existent.

He clenched his jaw as she scrutinized him. "Gabrielle?"

His deep, regretful tone set her heart racing and she stood straight, her eyes flicking immediately to his. "Yes?" she said cautiously.

He took a deep breath as he started walking around the room. "We've been together for eight years now. We have done so much together, created so many wonderful plays that people rich and poor have enjoyed. But there comes a time where the student must go out on their own and become the teacher." He lowered his head slightly and looked over his shoulder at her. "I think it is your time, Gabrielle."

There it was. "You want me to leave? Hadrian, it's my play's debut tonight!" she said, her voice rising as she pointed towards the door. "How can I possibly leave?"

Lila rose to her feet, almost glaring as she too looked at the man. "Gabrielle's right."

Hadrian sighed but seemed unfazed that both women were standing against him. He turned fully so he faced them, his smile rueful. But Gabrielle felt the heated anger rising in her chest. He looked anything but regretful. "I'm sorry girls, but it's not just for your sake, but for the sake of the people."

Gabrielle blinked. "What do you mean?"

"They hated the play. I saw you leave earlier and it seems it was most fortunate of you to have done so to spare yourself from the animosity the play incited. We have both known for a while now Gabrielle that your skills haven't exactly been…" he rolled his hand as he tried to think. "Well, they haven't been up to par. But people don't like a woman that creates magic and things they don't understand. They aren't ready for such otherworldly stories. Your wild plays have created cause for concern among the writing community. They feel that maybe a woman such as you is not ready."

"B-but I've been writing for over a decade-" she protested.

"Yes, and I have been there for most of the time, reining you in when I felt your plays were becoming too much. If I hadn't I suspect the community would have disbarred you long before. You have me to thank for them not doing so." He paused for a moment as though he was expecting her to thanks him, but when she didn't he sighed and turned to begin walking again.

Gabrielle resisted the urge to grind her teeth. It would not serve her well to lose her temper. Lila's hand on her arm kept her grounded. Instead, she took a deep breath and continued to look at him as he inspected her room.

"So, Hadrian, the reason you are here? The real reason?"

Hadrian dropped the brush he was holding and smiled sadly at her, though she knew it was fake. "Quite simple, Gabrielle. Our time together has come to an end. It has been a pleasure being your mentor, but I feel it is time for you to move on. As do many of the people back in the theatre. Although I suspect most have probably left already."

His voice was so smooth she could have sworn he did sound sorry. But the slime that oozed from his tone set her teeth on edge. She looked up into his eyes and searched for the brilliant and caring man he had once been. Where had the noble and humble playwright gone? Stolen away she guessed and replaced by the greedy, self-righteous and pompous man that stood before her. During the time when she had first become his apprentice and she had not yet hurtled to fame the way she had, she had cared-even loved him as a father. He had been there for her and had been her rock. But the waves of riches and fame that had crashed against them eroded him until he and their friendship had finally crumbled into a pathetic little pile of dust. She didn't need to be told that the man that stood there wasn't the same man that had taken her under his wing with care and consideration all those years ago.

Gabrielle pulled away from the comforting touch of her sister and stepped forward, her voice dangerously low. "So that's it? After almost a decade, you are just going to abandon me because you feel I'm not worthy anymore? That is basically what you're saying, is it not?"

"Gabrielle, don't confuse healthy advice for abandonment. You know I care for you," he said, resting a hand on her shoulder.

His hand felt cold on her bare shoulder and she flinched away from him, leaving his hand to drop. She frowned. "Then why? So suddenly as well. Don't think I haven't noticed you speaking with the other playwrights. I know you're looking for my replacement already!"

He seemed to stumble then but recollected himself and stood tall, walking over to stand at her balcony. "The meetings I have are nothing to do with you, Gabrielle. They are my business."

"When they concern me they are made my business!" she retorted.

Suddenly, Hadrian glared at her and she almost wilted under the power his gaze held. But she held fast and stood her ground, returning the look with as much force as she could muster. When neither of them looked away, she noticed a small smile lift the corner of his mouth. He stepped back and crossed his hands behind him.

He finally looked away, a thoughtful expression on his face as he gazed up at the night sky from her balcony. "I'm glad you have grown strong, Gabrielle. Your thick skin will serve you well when you leave to pursue other jobs in theatres." He looked over at her for a second and she could have sworn she saw a hint of something in his eyes. Regret? Sadness? Whatever it had been, it disappeared as soon as it came.

"You are…unbelievable," she muttered.

She heard him chuckle and her frown deepened. "Dear Gabrielle, how can you say I am unbelievable, when you are just as unbelievable yourself? You write of love and truth as though you have experienced them, but the people see right through your stories. They are a hollow shell of what could have been but were never to be." He scratched his chin as he thought. "I often wondered why you remained so aloof when it came to the prospect of choosing a mate, but it seems that you may have no heart to give to a man or woman. You have changed so much from the bright young girl that I met that day in the academy, but it appears there is nothing left of her. I admired that you were able to focus on your career, but you missed out on life as a result."

Gabrielle felt her knees begin to shake beneath her. Felt her breathing quicken and become shallow. His words cut her deeply, but not because they were intentionally callous. But because they reflected the thoughts she herself had. Was it true? Was she so unlovable, so incapable of loving because she had closed herself off to advances in the past and instead concentrated on her career? She admitted that as she had grown and delved deeper into the life of a playwright, she had not found the time or the right person for her to focus her attentions on. It was true that love had eluded her and she had grown bitter and sceptical of it, but it didn't stop her from writing of it in hopes of one day that she would experience the magic her parents had once shared.

She shook her head. "No, I'm not heartless. Unlike you!" she glared at him, feeling her hands turn into fists as anger surged through her. She pointed accusingly at him. "You claim to care for me, but all you have done for the past couple of years is take everything from me!"

Hadrian turned to glare at her, his green eyes flashing in the restricted light. "How dare you! I gave you everything! I gave you a home; I gave you chances that you otherwise wouldn't have received anywhere else. For gods' sake, if it wasn't for me you wouldn't even be here in the first place!"

"I admit that, but you have stolen everything that made me-me! I don't even know who I am anymore. My stories aren't even my own because you hover and tell me to change everything. Doing that is the same as telling me to stop being me and everything that I am! I have no identity anymore."

"All the more reason for you to go and discover who you really are, Gabrielle. Find yourself in the other theatres. See if they can harness your wild imagination, for I'll have none of it," he dismissed with a wave of his hand and a tone that made the conversation final. He moved passed them to the door and held it open, looking back over his shoulder at them. He seemed to pause for a while, unsure of what to say until he muttered a quiet and absolute, "Goodbye."

As soon as the door closed behind him, Gabrielle sank to her knees. Lila rushed over, crouching beside her. Taking her sister in her arms, she rocked them both as Gabrielle cried.

"I knew, Lila. I knew it was going to happen. I should have left sooner. My stories…my career…"

"Shh, it's okay," Lila soothed.

They stayed there on the floor for a while until Gabrielle cried herself out, and when she stopped feeling sorry for herself, she rose to her feet and started pacing as she had done before Hadrian had entered. Lila watched her with growing concern as she passed her over and over where she'd moved to sit at the table.

"Gabrielle? What are you going to do?"

Gabrielle paused in her pacing and looked over at her sister, a sudden idea forcing a smile onto her tear streaked face. "I will leave. Tonight. I am going to leave like I always knew I should have."

"But your play-"

"Forget it. You heard what Hadrian said. The people hated it. It's as good as done. I felt in my heart that I shouldn't have given him the scroll, and look at what it's done. I gave in to his demands and it has cost me my fans and integrity. No more!" Gabrielle said abruptly, making her sister jump. "I will go to discover myself, but it won't be in the theatres."

Lila's face was a question mark. "What do you mean? If you don't look for work in the theatres, then where will you go?"

"Anywhere!" Gabrielle said hysterically, her tone cheerful and sounding happier than it had in ages. Releasing the guilt she felt from her shoddy plays and thinking about exploring made a weight lift from her shoulders, made her feel a lot lighter. She felt she could breathe again. "It doesn't matter where, just as long as it isn't here or in any theatre. Remember what Hadrian said? I haven't experienced life. That's what I want…to experience life and all its splendour."

Lila sighed and lifted to her feet. "You mustn't listen to Hadrian. He is wrong about you, Gabrielle. You still have a lot to offer this world. Your stories are amazing!"

But Gabrielle wasn't listening. She was already looking around her room, planning what to do. She spotted her trunk and went over to it. She was suprised to find that when she lifted the lid it was empty. The leather trunk was deep and wide, providing her with more than enough space to pack what she needed. She could hear her sister's voice nattering and questioning, but she was too busy to focus on what she was saying. She was too occupied collecting things that would be necessary for travelling with. After packing her clothes, her eyes fell on the small bag she kept safely tucked away. It was the small satchel she used to keep her scrolls in when she was just a young bard, before she'd entered the academy.

She bit her lip, wondering whether or not she should take it along with her. But when she thought of what she might out there, the prospect of it made her tingle with an excitement she hadn't felt in years. The idea of going out, leaving this drab place to write something new made her heart quicken. She added them to the trunk.

"Are you even listening to me?"

When Gabrielle turned, Lila gasped. "What? What is it?"

"Nothing, it's just…" Lila dropped her protests and smiled at her sister, raising a hand to gently cup her cheek. "You smiled. I haven't seen you smile since before mother and father died."

Her smile stretched as Gabrielle looked at her sister almost pleadingly. She grabbed her hand. "Please, Lila, I want this. I need this. Will you come with me? There is no place for us here. Not anymore."

Lila seemed to ponder the idea for a moment, worrying her lip. She seemed willing to object to the idea of leaving, but after looking into Gabrielle's eyes and seeing the beseeching look in them, she sighed and crumbled. "Fine. But you better find what you're looking for," she warned good-naturedly.

Gabrielle chuckled as she walked over to her balcony and looked out at the city plunged in darkness. She closed her eyes as she breathed in the cool night air, and exhaled; her breath forming into a small fog before her. She watched it float up towards the sky, toward the crescent still hanging there in the beautiful starry sky. "It shouldn't be hard to find my heart and soul. They're out there somewhere."

As usual, any reviews/comments are appreciated and welcome, as is any feedback you may have. I love hearing back from my readers :) Gabrielle has finally decided to put her foot down and leave, which means she's going to be one step closer to Xena. And speaking of Xena, stay tuned to meet a grown up, wolfy Xena next chapter D - Thanks for reading!