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Wrong Path, Remembered

Now tell me Leia, Where is the Rebel Disclaimer?

8

"You don't have any idea where Hercules went?" Gabrielle asked.

Iolaus shrugged, shaking his head in concern. Gabrielle frowned and looked to Xena only to see concern in her eyes as well.

Xena turned away from both of them, looking off into the distance, before answering. "I think I've got a pretty good idea."

Following Xena's hunch, Xena wasted no time as she and Gabrielle mounted the Argo, and Joxer doubled up with Iolaus on his horse. They were soon headed north to the one place Xena thought Hercules might go in light of all the recent events.

8

Sometime later at a burnt out hovel northeast of Arcadia

Hercules was on his knees before the graves of his wife and children. He wasn't speaking or weeping, but merely thinking about everything that had occurred: from the death of his wife and children, to his actions immediately following, to more recent events. He was thinking about being a father again, thinking about his stepmother Hera and if she would make history repeat itself.

He could never forgive or forget what Hera did to him two years ago. The way she personally struck down his family with a fireball. Nor could he forgive Zeus, his own father, who sat on his throne and did nothing. The thoughts saddened him. He greatly missed his family and would have traded anything to get them back, but he had learned that no amount of bartering, begging, or false hopes could return them to him. He knew he couldn't change the past, so he would have to concentrate on the here and now. He was going to be a father again. Even if it wasn't by his choice, it was going to happen, and that thought terrified him

Hercules did not want Gabrielle or their child to die because of him. He didn't think he could bear the pain again. If he had a choice he would not have put Gabrielle into this situation. He was so lost in his own thoughts that the sudden feel of a hand on his shoulder made him jump.

He turned to meet the warm green eyes of Gabrielle, noticing that Xena stood not far from her. Hercules' defenses suddenly broke as his eyes started to water. "I'm so sorry."

Gabrielle gently squeezed his shoulder in support. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Hercules. You did nothing wrong."

Hercules fought back the tears as he reached up, covering her small hand with his own.

"I was thinking about my children," Hercules commented. "Now that I'm going to be a father again, it brings back memories. It's like I still haven't truly buried my other children."

Gabrielle squatted beside him as Hercules ran his finger through the dirt of his daughters' grave.

Hercules couldn't help it as tears welled up in his eyes. "Ilea… Ilea was a little sweet heart. Nicest little girl you would have ever seen. I can still remember holding her after she was born. I had been with them for thirty minutes. Then someone charged in asking for my help. Something about a landslide and I was out the door leaving my wife and new daughter.

"My two boys, Clonis and Aeson. How much would I give to roughhouse with them again. The older one wanted to be just like me, A hero. Deianeira, told me that when I was gone he would act out my adventures.

"My other son, he was a smart one. We had to watch him, he was always into stuff. But he was a good kid too. He had a heart of gold, just like Iolaus. I would love to have them back, more than anything."

Hercules lowered his head. The memories brining fresh pain, to that moment right after he lost them. He had told Iolaus, "Fireball, Hera sent a fireball. There's nothing left of my family except the scorched earth they were sleeping on, nothing."

Gabrielle fought back her own tears as she watched a single, lonely tear streak down Hercules' cheek and land on Ilea's grave. "I'm sorry, and I know you can never replace your first family, but you can still be a part of this child's life. I know this can't take away your pain, but she will need a father."

Hercules turned his head towards Gabrielle. "She?"

Gabrielle nodded. "I can tell how much you cared for Ilea, the way that you talked about her. This baby will need a father who can love her the same way. I'm sure she'll love to hear him tell stories about her older sister, and her brothers."

His eyes were still moist as the corner of his mouth turned up into a smile. "They would like that, I think." After a moment, Hercules reached down and touched the dirt on little Ilea's grave one last time. He stood and offered a hand to Gabrielle, helping her to her feet. Gabrielle couldn't help but notice that Hercules snuck a glance at her abdomen as Xena joined back up with them. The three then left the grave site, and joined up with the waiting Joxer and Iolaus.

It wasn't much later when the group decided to set up a new campfire, not far from the gravesite.

Hercules was sitting by himself at the campfire, staring into the flames, seemingly lost in thought. After watching him for a few minutes, Gabrielle decided to join him. As she sat down, she said, "Hey."

"Hey," Hercules returned.

Gabrielle paused for a moment watching as Hercules continued to stare into the flames. Finally she asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

There was another stretch of silence between them, as Gabrielle also got lost in the flames. When she looked back up she noticed that Hercules was looking at her belly. Gabrielle was about to say something but then Hercules asked, "Can I touch it?"

Gabrielle surprised by the question, answered, "You can't feel anything yet."

"I know. I just want to touch it."

"Alright," Gabrielle gave her permission as Hercules scooted closer to her. He moved his hand in her direction, it trembled just a bit. He cautiously placed it on her lower abdomen, around the belt of her skirt.

Gabrielle put her own hand on top of Hercules', before looking back up and catching his sky blue eyes. "I want you to be a part of your daughter's life."

Hercules suddenly gulped, the thoughts of being a father again threating to overwhelm his emotions. "How can you be so sure it's a girl?" he asked as he slowly removed his hand as he waited for Gabrielle to answer.

"I've seen it. The fates showed me. Ares was trying to convince me to stay with him in return he would protect the child."

Hercules' eye twitched as he said, "From Hera."

Gabrielle nodded yes, not wanting to mention Hera's name out loud.

Hercules sighed once. Finally he said, "You need to get some sleep. In the morning we all need to talk and determine what we need to do."

"Alright," Gabrielle agreed.

88

AN: Wrong Path was the title of the first regular episode of Hercules, in that episode, his children were killed by Hera.