Part Six:

When they rode in Adora slowed Blue down, quickly dismounted him and

ran over to Eve. "Oh Eve, you should've been there! Papa was attacked by

a monster and he was

being beaten..." She stopped for a moment to catch her breath. "Papa

would've been killed if Hercules hadn't come along. Oh Eve, he's the

bravest man I've ever met!"

Adora's words struck Joxer straight through the heart. Deep down

inside, he knew she just had a crush, but it hurt because for the first time

in her life he was not her hero. He

slowly took the horses by their reins. "I'm going to take care of the

horses. I'll be back soon," he said softly.

Xena looked at him, frowning slightly. "Joxer, Adora should take care

of Blue herself. He's her responsibility."

"It's okay, Xena. We don't know how long Hercules will be here and I

think she wants to be with him," he replied.

Before anyone could say anything else, Joxer took the horses and left.

Xena raised her eyebrow at Gabrielle, who was watching Joxer walking

away. Then, she turned to Adora

who was now sitting down beside Hercules and leaning close to him like

she had Joxer.

Gabrielle could tell by the look in her eyes that Adora had a crush on

Hercules, but she also could tell by the look in Joxer's eyes that he

was crushed. She turned to her friends

and said, "I think I will go and see if Joxer needs help."

"Maybe you should and take Adora with you," Xena agreed.

"Xena, I think I need to help Joxer alone. I can handle this. Okay?"

The Warrior Princess looked at Adora once more then back at Gabrielle.

"Okay, but I hope you know what you're doing."

Gabrielle frowned. "Yeah. Well, thanks for the vote of confidence,

Xena!"

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I didn't mean it like that."

Gabrielle nodded. "I know you didn't. I'll be back in a while." With

those words, she turned around and headed off in the direction that Joxer

had walked in.

*****

When Gabrielle found Joxer a short time later, he was currying his

horse, Cupid. Gabrielle walked over to him, smiling. "Hi. Do you need some

help?"

"You know, I'm sick and tired of people coming to my rescue! No! I

don't need help! Just go away!"

Gabrielle held up her hands. "Whoa, Joxer! Calm down! Hey, where did

that come from?"

Joxer lowered his head, unable to look at his lover. He spoke in a

small, tearful voice. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I didn't mean to snap at you."

Gabrielle nodded. "It's okay, Joxer. Adora is just having her first

crush. I bet it'll be over before you know it."

"Gabrielle, you weren't there. I didn't even try to fight. I thought I

could talk my way out of it. Adora was right. I would've been killed if

Hercules hadn't come along when he did.

I may as well face it, Gabrielle. I'm nothing but a coward."

Gabrielle's jaw actually dropped open, she was so stung by his words.

"Joxer, you're not a coward! You're one of the bravest men I've ever

met. You face danger even when the

odds are totally against you."

"Yeah, but you know what, Gabrielle? The odds are **always** against me

and now my own daughter sees me as a coward."

Gabrielle put her hands on Joxer's shoulders and stared into his face.

"Joxer, that is simply not true. Adora loves you."

"You mean she **used** to," Joxer replied bitterly.

Gabrielle's eyes flashed angrily. "Joxer, you've changed a lot since

Adora was born, but right now I'm seeing the old Joxer and I don't like

it, not one bit! Adora is six years old

and she's got a crush, nothing more. She loves **you**."

Joxer looked at her and sighed deeply. "I love her so much, Gabrielle.

What can I do to win her trust again?"

Gabrielle slipped her arms around his waist and kissed him gently on

the lips. She brushed a lock of hair away from his eyes and smiled.

"Joxer, I don't think you ever lost

it. Just be patient, because crushes never last long. Trust me on this.

C'mon, I'll help you. You finish up Cupid and I'll do Blue."

Joxer nodded and they had the horses taken care of shortly afterwards.

When they returned to camp, they saw their friends gathered around the

fire. Joxer noticed that both

Eve and Adora were sitting next to Hercules one on each side holding

onto each word he said. "Hi guys, we're back," he said.

Adora suddenly jumped up, ran up to Joxer and grabbed his hand, taking

him over to Hercules. "Papa! Come on, you've got to hear this! It's so

exciting!" she bubbled. Joxer

sat down with her as she placed both her hands on Joxer and Hercules.

"Now I am beside both my favorite men."

Hercules rolled his eyes and Joxer nodded. "So Hercules, Dorie sure is

excited. So, what's up and where's Iolaus?"

"Iolaus is with his mother getting ready for his wedding."

"His wedding? Iolaus is getting married?" asked Gabrielle as she sat

down next to Joxer.

"Well, like I was telling everyone here, he's already married, but his

mother wants him to be married in Aphrodite's temple."

"I don't understand. If he's married, why do it again?" Gabrielle asked

curiously.

"Well Gabrielle, Iolaus and I traveled to the New World."

'The New World?"

"Oh yes, Aunt Gabrielle! It sounds so wonderful. I think we should go

there too!" Eve exclaimed, her blue eyes shining with excitement.

"Uh huh, Eve, and right now. I bet I can get us there!" said Adora as

she stood up.

"Adora, sit down now!" Joxer exclaimed sternly.

"But Papa?"

"I said - sit down. You're not sending us anywhere!"

Adora sat down. Hercules stared at her then at Joxer. "She can send us

to the New World," he said dryly. "Am I missing something here?"

"I don't know if she can or not, but she's not going to."

"But *why*, Papa?"

"Because I'm your father, and I said no!"

"Yes Papa," Adora sighed.

Joxer looked at his daughter and placed his arm around her. "Adora, we

don't know much

about the New World and I want you to be safe."

Adora leaned against Hercules' arm. "Don't worry, Papa. With Hercules

here, I'll be safe."

Joxer nodded but said nothing. He simply stared into the fire. Eve

looked over at him and felt terrible at the way her best friend was

treating her father - and her 'Uncle'. "Mom, I

think we need some more wood. Adora and I can go get some," she said as

she rose to her feet.

"Okay Eve. Thank you and don't be long," Xena said. "Remember, you're

still on punishment."

Eve nodded. "Okay, Mom. Come on, Adora. I'll need some help carrying

it."

Adora got up and followed her. When Eve was sure the adults were not

looking, she turned and shoved Adora, knocking her to the ground. Adora

sat there for a moment,

surprised at her best friend's actions. "Hey! What did you do that

for?"

"Because you deserved it," Eve growled.

"Why? What did I do?"

"For starters, how about the way you're acting around Uncle Hercules?"

"You're just jealous!"

Eve laughed. "I've got no reason to be jealous. We're only kids and

Uncle Hercules likes you as a niece, nothing more. "

Adora jumped up. "That's not true. He loves me!"

"Adora..." Eve rolled her eyes. "Yes, he loves you, but not the way you

want him to. You're only six! He must be at least forty! By the time

you'll catch up to him, he'll really

be old! Yuck!" Eve stuck her tongue out and shuddered.

"I can always make myself his age!"

Eve crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you really want to do that?"

Adora stood up, thinking hard. "No. I guess I don't," she said finally.

Eve placed her arm around Adora's shoulders. "Adora, you need to be

with Uncle Joxer. He's really hurting."

"Why is Papa hurting?"

"Because you paid more attention to Uncle Hercules."

Adora nodded and sighed. "Oh, I really didn't mean to make Papa sad!

I'll talk to him."

"And you do understand that Uncle Hercules is too old for you?"

"Yeah, I understand. Thanks, Eve."

"Anytime," Eve said with a grin. "C'mon. We better get that firewood,

or we'll be in more trouble than we already are!"

After gathering some firewood, the girls returned to the camp. Adora

stared at Hercules after she put the firewood she had in her arms down.

She suddenly knew why she had

powers. She waved her hands at Hercules and a bright light filled the

camp and when it was gone, the group saw that Hercules was changed into

a child about eight years old.