Part 10:
Aer was hiding behind a tree as she watched Eve and Adora coming down the road towards school. 'Hmm,' she thought to herself. I've got to get Xena's spawn away from Adora so I can work on her. It shouldn't be too hard.' Aer waved her hand and a blue streak shot from her fingertips. "No one said I couldn't use my powers as long as the mortals don't see me," she said with a maniacal giggle.
Suddenly a branch caught Eve's skirt and ripped a big hole in it. "Oh no! That's my favorite skirt! Mom pricked her fingers so much making it for me and now it's ruined!"
Adora looked the ruined skirt over and shook her head. "Yeah, it sure is."
Eve groaned. "Great! Now I've got to go back and change into something else. I'll be late for class!"
"I'll go with you, Eve."
"Thanks for the offer, Dorie, but you've already got detention, and it would be dumb for both of us to be late. You go on ahead."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'll catch up with you in school."
"Okay then. See you in school."
Eve nodded as she ran back down the road. Aer watched as Adora turned around and headed back towards school. She waited until Adora was by the tree and then popped out in front of her.
"Hey!" Aer stepping out from behind the tree startled Adora and she dropped the small bag she used to carry her scrolls and they scattered all over the ground.
Aer bent down to help Adora pick up her things. "Sorry. Did I scare you?"
"Yeah...Uh no, not at all. Thanks for your help." Adora turned around and started walking again towards school.
Aer had to walk quickly to keep up with her. "Why is she walking so fast?" she asked herself. "Hey, slow down!" she called out, raising her voice.
Adora stopped and looked at Aer. "I'm going to be late. If you want to walk with me, then you better walk faster." She then turned and hurried down the road again.
"I'll make you walk faster, you half-breed!" Aer mumbled as she raised her hand.
Aer then heard a voice in her head. "Don't! Remember, you're supposed to be a student!"
Aer shook her head. "Stay out of my head, Abnoba! I hate this! I really do."
Adora turned around and looked at Aer, having heard the 'I hate this' comment that the disguised Goddess had uttered aloud. "Hey, it's not that bad. I know it may be hard for a new student and I'm sorry I'm walking too fast for you. Come on. You shouldn't hate school. It's got its good points."
Aer's eyebrow rose as she stared at Adora. "Oh yeah? Name one."
Adora smiled at the challenge. "Boys. I've got a boyfriend, but a girl as pretty as you should have no trouble getting a guy. "
Aer returned the smile. "Thanks. So… Uh… I guess I better introduce myself. My name is Dinah."
"Dinah? That's an unusual name."
"And you are?"
"Oh. My name's Adora."
Aer's gray eyes sparkled with mischief. "Adora? And you think that Dinah's unusual! What kind of a name is Adora?" she scoffed.
Adora's eyes narrowed dangerously. "My dad named me that and I won't let you say anything bad about my dad," she said softly.
Aer put up her hands. "Hey, hold it! I meant no harm! I'm sorry."
Adora calmed down. "Well, all right then, but just watch it. Come on. I think the bell just rang!"
"Andy, eat your porridge."
"But Mom, I hate it and Dad doesn't have to eat it!" Andy protested.
Jett looked at his son. "Who said I don't?" He leaned across the table. "Between you and me, boy, I wouldn't give it to the birds," he confided with a wink, making Andy giggle.
Melody placed her hands on her hips as she scowled at her husband and son. "Oh! So my cooking's not good enough for you! Then why don't you cook your own breakfast?"
Jett got up and placed his arms around his wife. "I'm sorry, Melody. I love your cooking."
Melody stood still as Jett's strong arms circled around her. "I don't believe one word you're saying, Jett. You better finish up your breakfast because Gabrielle told me when she brought Andy home that your brothers are coming over."
Jett let go of his wife and scowled. "Oh great! Jace is probably piss..." Melody gazed at him sternly, her blue eyes darting in their son's direction and he amended his words as he sat back down. "Uh, I mean that he's upset because Autolycus and I threw him into the town fountain," he said as he plunged his spoon into the porridge and raised it towards his lips.
"And why shouldn't he be mad? You had no right to embarrass him that way! The poor man," Melody said, shaking her head.
Jett's jaw dropped open, his spoon still held in mid-air. "Poor man? Come ON, Mel! Jace was bossing us around. He deserved that dunking!"
"Jett, I love you, but you're impossible sometimes. Just tell Jace you're sorry and everything will be fine. Andy and I are going to the marketplace." She leaned down and gave her husband a kiss. "Be nice, all right?" She then turned to Andy, who had just finished up his breakfast. "Are you ready, Andy?"
"Yes, Mom." He got up, walked up to Jett and held out his hand. "Bye, Dad. See you when we get back. Be nice to Uncle Jace."
Jett nodded as he took his son's hand in his then leaned down to give him a hug. "I'll try."
Melody looked at him. "Don't try. See that you do."
Jett watched as they left and finished the last of his breakfast. He then drummed his fingers on the table as he waited for his brothers to show up. When a knock on his door came, he called out wearily, "Come on in, you two."
The door opened to admit a widely grinning Autolycus. "Well, there's only one of me. Too bad. Actually, the world would be a much better place if there were two of me," he chuckled as he walked inside.
Jett leaned back in his chair. "Autolycus, what are you doing here?"
Autolycus looked put out at the ex-assassin's question. "Now, is that any way to talk to your best friend?"
Jett put a hand against his forehead. "How much?"
"Hey! What makes you think that I need money? That has never been my problem, may I remind you!" Autolycus took a seat across the table.
Jett crossed his arms over his chest. "Whenever you call me your best friend, you want something. If it's not money, then what?"
Autolycus took out a small pouch from his vest. "Can you hide this for me? I don't want Xena to see it."
Jett looked at the small black pouch that Autolycus held in his hand and sighed. "Going back to your old ways?" he asked, his left eyebrow rising.
"Hey, it's not like I've killed people," the handsome thief said and Jett growled low in his throat. "Nothing personal." Jett stared at Autolycus, who cleared his throat after a few very uncomfortable moments of silence. "I just couldn't resist this little bauble, for old times' sake. But if the others find out, I'll either be kicked out of this little community or hauled off to jail."
"Why don't you just return it, then?"
Autolycus opened the pouch and took out his prize. Jett saw that it was a large ruby double the size of a dinar with hints of blue fire when the thief held it up to the light. "Would you take this little beauty back?"
"If it meant staying here or hitting the road again with an eye always over my shoulder? Yes, I'd take it back," Jett responded. Suddenly there was another knock on the door and the two men rose to their feet. "Come on in," Jett said.
Joxer came inside pulling a very reluctant Jace by the arm. "Come on, Jace!" he exclaimed, holding onto Jace's arm for dear life.
"No! No! No! That man is in there! I heard his voice."
Joxer rolled his eyes and sighed as he gave a mighty tug and Jace unceremoniously stumbled into the middle of the room. "What is your problem with him, Jace?" he asked in an exasperated voice as the middle triplet composed himself by brushing his hands over his outfit.
Autolycus stepped towards the door. "I was just leaving, Jace. See you later, Jett. Good to see you, Joxer."
Jace glared as the thief departed. "Vermin!" he hissed, watching Autolycus walk outside. He suddenly turned sharply towards Jett, fire in his dark eyes. "I demand an apology and I want it right now!" he exclaimed, stamping his booted foot on the floor for good measure.
Jett stared at Jace for a long time before he spoke. "You're out of your mind! There's no way I'm apologizing to you when you acted like a fool! And another thing, you overgrown baby, Autolycus is my friend and I'm getting sick and tired of you badmouthing him! Gods, Andy acts more grown up than you do!"
Jace was stunned at his brother's outburst. "T-T-T-hat's not an apology!" he stammered.
Jett looked at Joxer. "Give our brother a dinar," he commanded.
Joxer rolled his eyes and mentally started counting for the screaming that was sure to follow. He didn't have to wait long. On cue, Jace screeched in outrage, "YOU BRUTE! THAT OUTFIT COST A LOT MORE THAN ONE DINAR!" He cried out wordlessly as he then took an awkward swing at Jett, who easily stepped aside. Jace would have landed on his face, but Joxer caught him before he fell.
"Will you two knock it off? Jett, just say you're sorry."
"No way, Jox! I'm not telling this two year old brat that I'm sorry!"
"You embarrassed me in front of the entire town!" Jace cried.
"And you are too bossy," Jett replied coldly.
"And you both are being silly. Jace, tell Jett you're sorry for being bossy, and Jett; tell Jace you're sorry for tossing him into the fountain."
Both of Joxer's brothers stared at him. "Since when did you become the oldest?" Jett asked.
"Yeah! Since when you can tell us what to do?" Jace chimed in.
Joxer's dark eyes narrowed in a rare display of anger at his siblings. "Since I'm the only one that's acting like a grownup. Ever since we've been kids, I've always had to be a referee for you two and frankly I'm getting tired of it! Now kiss and make up or else!"
"Or else what, little bro?" Jett asked, the expression on his face silently reminding Joxer that he was the oldest.
"I don't know what, but when I do think of something, watch out. I'm going to go help Gabrielle get ready for Xena's return, and when I get back you two better be making up." Joxer then turned and walked away, Jett and Jace watching him leave.
"Hmm. Seems like Jox is getting a backbone," Jett finally said with a grin, breaking the silence between the two of them.
"Nope," said Jace. "Jox married a backbone." Jett turned to him and they both started laughing, but Jace grew thoughtful and stopped his laughter first. "Actually, that's not true or fair to say. He's always had one. He's just more forceful with voicing his feelings instead of simply allowing everyone to step all over him these days… Look, Jett. I'm sorry that I got bossy."
"Yeah, and I'm sorry I threw you into the fountain, Jace. But tell me: what's your beef with Autolycus that makes you hate him so much?"
Jace lowered his head. "I don't hate him really."
"Oh? You could've fooled me," Jett said, gazing at Jace with a raised eyebrow.
It was a long time before Jace spoke, and when he did it was in a very soft voice. "I'm jealous of him. We've just become brothers again - you, me, and Joxer, and it seems like Autolycus takes up all of your time," he admitted, still not raising his head.
Jett blinked, surprised at Jace's admission. "What about Pierre?"
"I'm married to him. That's different. But whenever we're going to do things as brothers, Autolycus wants to do it too and he takes up all of your time," Jace said. "Sounds pretty silly, doesn't it?" he murmured sadly, turning away from his older brother.
Jett placed his arm around his brother's shoulder. "Jace, I wish you wouldn't feel that way. You're my brother and I care for you. You and Jox will always be my brothers. You don't have to be jealous of Autolycus. Okay?"
Jace slowly nodded. "Okay."
"Good. Now what was I supposed to do before you and Jox came?"
Jace's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Help me rehearse!"
Jett frowned. "Somehow, I don't think it was that."
"Please!"
Jett shook his head. "Lead the way, brother, but I better not have to sing or dance."
