Part Eight:

Just before sunrise, the group arrived at Erythia's home. Hearing them,

Erythia came out, smiling at the group.

"Hercules! I'm so glad that you made it back in time. Hello Xena,

Gabrielle and Joxer." She looked at the two girls. "Now, who are these sweet

young ladies?"

Both Eve and Adora giggled, then Eve curtseyed, making Xena's lips

twitch with amusement. "My name is Eve, ma'am. I am very pleased to meet

you."

"Hello, Eve. My name is Erythia and I am pleased to meet you also."

Adora followed Eve's example, to Joxer's silent amusement. "My name is

Adora. I'm very pleased to meet you."

"Hello, Adora. I'm very pleased to meet you too," Erythia replied. Both

girls beamed brightly. Erythia gazed at Gabrielle curiously. "Is Adora

your child, Gabrielle?"

Before Gabrielle could answer, Adora answered for her. "Not yet, but

she will be as soon as she stops being silly and wakes up and marries my

papa." Xena hid her mouth behind

her hand so Gabrielle could not see her smiling, but everyone saw her

face turn three shades of red and Joxer blushed furiously.

"Out of the mouths of babes," Erythia murmured. Then she turned back to

Hercules. "Hercules, Iolaus and White Dove are down at the lake."

Hercules gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks, Erythia. Come on,

everyone. You've got to meet White Dove!"

When they got down to the lake, Iolaus was lying down on the grass and

a beautiful young woman with long black hair and dark eyes was feeding

him grapes. They

approached as quietly as they could. "Hey Iolaus!" Hercules exclaimed.

Iolaus jumped up with a wide smile on his face. "Herc! You made it back

in time!"

The demigod grinned. "Didn't I tell you I would?"

"Yeah, but I didn't think you find them in time! Hi guys! Glad you

could make it."

Gabrielle went over and gave him a hug. "You getting married? There's

no way in Tartarus I'd miss that." She smiled at White Dove. "Hello,

White Dove. It's nice to meet

you."

White Dove returned the smile. She stared at Gabrielle for a moment

then turned to Iolaus and began moving her hands. Joxer whispered in

Gabrielle's ear. She looked at

him in surprise then looked back at Iolaus, who was now using his

hands. "Iolaus, Joxer just told me that she's talking to you. What she is

saying to you?" she asked curiously.

Before Iolaus could answer her, Joxer did instead, a little proud that

he knew. "Well, she asked Iolaus what you said and was he just telling

her. That's all."

Xena looked at him in surprise. "You understood that?"

Joxer nodded. "Heather, Hemes's wife, took care of us and she was deaf.

She taught me and Jace sign language so we could talk to her."

Xena nodded. "I see. What about Jett?"

"He didn't want to learn so either Jace or myself told him what he

said."

Xena smiled. "So you had a nanny."

Joxer nodded in agreement. "Heather took care of us whenever Mother

couldn't."

Xena shook her head. "Joxer, I don't really understand. Your father

treated you so badly, but Heather was your nanny? I thought she was the

cook."

Joxer looked at Xena. "She was the cook until she got too sick, but she

also helped out as a nanny too. If you don't believe me, the next time

you see my mother, ask her."

Xena put up her hands. "Okay, okay! I believe you, Joxer."

"I think that's great, Joxer, that you had someone who could teach you

a different way of communicating," said Gabrielle with a smile.

Joxer nodded. "Thanks, Gabrielle. I could teach you if you want to

learn," he offered.

"Sure. That would be great, Joxer."

Joxer then turned to Iolaus. " Iolaus, is she deaf?"

"Yes Joxer, White Dove is deaf. She was lost her hearing when she was

young. She can read lips though."

"Excuse me?" Eve asked.

Iolaus looked down at the girls and smiled. "Yes?"

"Adora and I were wondering if we could be flower girls at your

wedding."

"Hey Eve, that would be nice. I think White Dove would enjoy that."

Iolaus turned and asked her. Her eyes lit up and she smiled at the two

girls. Then she picked two flowers

and placed them in their hair.

"I think that meant yes," Adora said, smiling at Eve.

"Yahoo! She said yes! Come on, Adora! We've got to get ready!" Both

girls ran back to the house, whooping with joy. All the adults laughed.

"I think we should be heading back. Mom's making my favorite supper and

you know how she hates for us to be late," said Iolaus.

They all began to laugh again as they went to Erythia's house. When

they arrived back at the house, Eve and Adora were playing a game. Iolaus

pointed to them. "Hey Herc, look!

They're playing the game we made up when we were kids!"

Hercules smiled. "Yeah. Your mom must have shown them."

Iolaus smiled dreamily. "Yeah... Ah - to be a kid again."

Hercules looked at him with a frown. "Take my word on this, Iolaus. You

wouldn't like it. I know what I'm talking about." He lifted his head.

"Come on, you guys! I'm starving!"

Gabrielle ran up to him, Joxer right behind her. "You have my full

attention! Let's eat!"

Xena called to the girls, "Come on, you two! Supper's ready!"

Both girls ran into the house. As everyone headed in, Iolaus turned to

White Dove and signed, *I wonder what Herc meant by that?*

White Dove signed back, *Iolaus, my love, I couldn't read his lips.*

Iolaus kissed her and then signed, *He said I wouldn't love being a kid

again.*

White Dove smiled and signed back to him, *And I would not like being

married to a child.*

Iolaus hugged her as they both laughed and then they walked into his

mother's house.