Lilith and Alexia were required to stay in the infirmary for the next few days so Cheiron could monitor their progress. Hercules visited them often while they were bedridden. He felt somewhat responsible for them getting hurt, but thankful that they were going to be all right. Alexia didn't probe Hercules further on the matter they had discussed that night; she was waiting for the right time to ask him. When the girls were feeling better they were allowed to be up on their feet again. It was on night immediately following her recovery that Alexia discovered the mysterious ways of her friend.

---

The moon loomed above the earth, illuminating the sky with its eerie glow. Out on a hill Hercules stood with his face looking up into the heavens, observing the shining orb and the twinkling stars beside it. He was so enraptured in his thoughts that he was surprised when he felt a hand placed on his shoulder. He turned around to see the smiling face of Alexia.

"Hi," she greeted.

"Hey," he returned, irritated that she had disturbed him.

"Oh, did I bother you?" Alexia asked after hearing the tone of his voice.

Hercules looked over at her and realized that she hadn't meant to interrupt his moment alone. "Not really. I was just thinking."

Alexia nodded. "I see." They stood quietly for a while, both gazing at the stars overhead. At some point, Alexia broke the ice and said, "You never completely answered my question the other night."

A confused expression crossed his face. "What do you mean?"

"Why do you always risk your life to save others? Why don't you care about what could happen to you?"

Hercules sighed. He had hoped that she wouldn't bring it up again, but now that she'd asked, he would have to give her an honest answer. He didn't exactly know how to explain himself, so he figured it'd be best to start from the beginning.

"There are gods, among other people, who want to get rid of me because Zeus is my father. Since most of them can't hurt me directly, they go after my family and friends instead. Because of me, people that I care about have been hurt. I feel that I owe it to them to help because it's often my fault in the first place. I've been really fortunate because those people have stuck by me and have saved my life in return. Yet I still wish more than anything that I could change things. Sometimes I even wish that I was never born so my loved ones wouldn't have to suffer on my account."

Alexia was silent for a long time as she looked at her friend sympathetically. When she spoke again, she told him, "You can't change your past, and you have no control over what others do. But if things were any different, you wouldn't be who you are now. You may have the strength of a god, but you also have the compassion of a human heart. That's what makes you such a great person, and that's why you're going to be a great hero someday."

Hercules thought about it. "So what you're trying to say is that the things that have happened in my life are for the better because they've made me who I am."

"Absolutely," Alexia agreed, "and like you said before, your friends will always have your back in return for everything you've done for them."

"Including you?" Hercules asked.

"Including me. I'll be there for you if you ever need anything. After all, that's what friends are for, right?"

Hercules smiled. "Yeah, but I don't think you'll have to save me from the jaws of death anytime soon. I mean, I can handle things myself."

Alexia laughed. "Oh, of course you can, Mr. Tough Guy," she said sarcastically.

"What, you think I can't?"

"Well maybe you think you can..." she goaded him on. The two continued to joke with each other as they walked back to the academy, the light of the moon guiding their way.