About three hours later, the scene was set- at least from the Love Goddess' point of view. A coy smile caressed her lips as she once again scanned the large, elegant room, silently wondering if there was anything she might have missed, making sure that even the last candlestick was in its proper place…an infinite list of things and ideas she had managed to come up with in so little time….Definitely a pro...

" ...Candles…check…Music check…..Wine supply …check…Silver goblets check….Pink plush rugs…check…." she kept muttering for the next couple of minutes, her lively sky blue gaze stopping pensively for a few moments on each particular item- in a last effort to reassure herself that she had made the right choice- just to frown lightly when those last words escaped her lips…" No….sadly, pink would be too much for Bro' – he's definitely not ready for such a special, vibrant colour – It would only distract him big time- plus pink and shallow don't really mix well- and we do want him to feel at ease here if we want this to work, don't we? " she continued- while with a wave of her delicate, ivory hand she transformed the carpet into a creamy white, fluffy fur- " That's better...!"she added proudly, a one sided conversation really, that had no audience what so ever, but she couldn't care less. She often liked to pretend that there was a large crowd of people - preferably formed out of good looking, naked men- that were just holding their breath, anxiously waiting for her every move, applauding her every decision….It sure helped a lot in the self confidence department where, believe it or not, the Love Goddess herself still had a couple of issues….

"Oh shoot! I just knew I forgot something! The roses! " she exclaimed, and the very following second, a rain of crimson petals started falling from the ceiling, filling the air with their unique, relaxing scent.

" Perfection... " she murmured, taking in a deep breath and casting one last glance at the classically romantic decorated place. " And now, for the second part of the plan…."

In less than a blink, the bubbly daughter of Zeus materialized back to Xena's chamber but as soon as she spotted Gabrielle sitting on her friend's bed, chatting carelessly about some fiction nonsense she had decided to write, her face turned unusually serious, as if the Twilight itself was about to unleash its dreadful effects on a bunch of defenseless Olympians.

"Heya there chicas!"

" Hi Dite!" they both answered, and if there was nothing but pure joy glistening in the Bard's forest green eyes, in the Warrior Princess' azure moons, she could clearly read nervousness and worry combined…..

" Haven't seen you around lately…" Gabrielle remarked, hugging the Goddess tight. "What have you been up to?"

"Oh you know…the usual….Hooking up some cute couples in Thebes, having my hair done….looking in the mirror…offering love advice to a very handsome King…."

" Handsome King huh?! Who is he?! I wanna hear all about his royal highness." the Bard chuckled, biting her lower lip, subtly suggesting Aphrodite that she was in desperate need for some manly attention and that she could sure use her divine intervention...

" Maybe another time…But now I really need a word with the Warrior Babe. I have a problem and she's the only one who can help….." she announced, winking at Xena who couldn't help wondering if the ever so observant Gabrielle would actually buy that story….

" Is there anything I can do?" the Bard naturally inquired, casting the Goddess a suspicious look that immediately confirmed Xena's hypotesis….

She really felt terrible about having to lie to her best friend about her problems with Ares, but Gabrielle was definitely the last person that she wanted to involve in something like that given how disapproving she had always been about her relationship with the War God….

"Sorry cutie pie….I wish there were…"

" Oh…ok…" the Bard replied, visibly offended by the Goddess' dismissive attitude…"I'll give you some space then…" she coldly continued, getting up and heading for the door.

"Hey Gabby…" Aphrodite added, seeing the anguish that was instantly painted on the Warrior Princess' face. " Once I finish my little chit chat with Xena, I'd like your opinion on something…"

" Sure thing, Dite…." came the considerably more animated response….

As soon as she was out the door though, the Love Goddess's mask melted, and in no time she was her old bubbly self again- this time so happy and excited that clapping her hands the moment she started talking, was unavoidable. She was obviously thrilled with her own efficiency...

" Problem solved, Babe! You can thank me later…."

" Really?!" Xena asked incredulously, her inquisitive eyes wide with surprise but as an even larger smile spread across the blonde's face, there was no room for doubts…." What happened? What did he say? How did you manage to…." she started impatiently, only to stop in mid sentence when she noticed the Goddess' unexpected hesitation….

"Well …nothing…yet…" came the slightly reluctant response that literally gave Xena the shivers.

"What do you mean? You did talk to him, didn't you?"

" Not…quite….As I said…" she explained, pausing a bit before she whispered the rest of the sentence. " I have a plan…"

" But Dite…."

"No buts…By the way, are you feeling better?" the Goddess silenced her, pointing towards her wound.

" I'm fine…When I woke up, it was almost healed. "

" Perfect….'Cause you'll need all your strength for what is about to happen…." she casually mentioned, barely stifling a laugh, but in the end, with the menacing glare that the Warrior Princess was now throwing her, it proved to be quite an easy thing to do.….

" And just what is that ?"

" You'll see in a jippy. Now come on….There's no time to waste and we've got a lot of work to do…." she bluntly let her know, casting a disgusted glance at her friend's horrible...lifeless hair…