Disclaimer: In chapter 1.

Author's Notes: So today I did something amazing, for me at least. I baked a cake! I don't bake, ever. I thought mum might appreciate a bit of personal effort for her birthday tomorrow. In saying that, I dedicate this chapter to mum and all the hours we spent together watching Murder She Wrote. Between work, work, uni and life, I plan to have an update for you at least once a week. Probably on Sundays (AEST). Thank you to everyone reading, reviewing, favouriting and following "Hero".

It seemed like an eternity of sitting on the bed for Regina. That time was spent pretending not to be watching Emma by making an attempt to groom herself while watching Emma, who eventually slumped beside the door and rested her head against the wall to continue staking-out their neighbour's room. She jumped when Emma scrambled to her feet.

Emma opened the door wider and leant out. A moment later Xena, Gabrielle and a… clown?... entered the room. "The girlfriend's in there. She wasn't happy to find us searching her room."

"You did what?" Xena demanded, trying her best to keep her voice low.

Regina stood and took a position next to Emma. "We searched her room. The victim, Mannius, was staying in there with her. She didn't seem overly concerned with where he was."

"You're lucky you she didn't try and kill you."

"Are you saying she did it?" Emma asked.

"We don't know yet," Gabrielle clarified. "But we believe they are thieves."

"They are." Xena's tone left no room for argument. "The stableboy told us they were here to harvest the town."

Regina nodded in agreement. Emma looked between her and Xena, "I don't get it."

Regina used half her willpower not to roll her eyes, and the other half not to make a snide remark about the Saviour and her less than average combined family IQ. "It's a term used by some nomadic thieves, especially ones who try to pass themselves off as higher class citizens."

"How do you know?"

Always with the questions… Regina internally growled. "I caught many thieves during my reign. They were quite talkative with the right motivation."

Emma stared, torn between a vision of Regina torturing thugs and Regina motivating her with other means. She didn't know which to be more concerned about.

"If they robbed people maybe someone wanted revenge?" Gabrielle suggested.

"Yeah," Joxer agreed. "I'd be pretty mad is someone stole my stuff. I'd track them down."

"We need more information, and standing around here speculating isn't accomplishing anything." Regina reminded everyone. "I advise we split up. Miss Swan and I can enquire around town to see if Bonny and Clyde here have made any enemies."

Emma smirked at Regina's reference.

"No, Gabrielle and I have more knowledge of the town, and I've already got a few places in mind to where they might have started their cons. You two stay at the tavern and question people here, find out whatever you can about Mannius and Nastaja." Before Regina could argue, Xena continued. "Hey Joxer, why don't you stay with Emma and Regina? I'm sure they'd love to learn from an expert like you." Xena smiled sweetly.

Emma shot her a horrified look. "That's not necessary, really."

"Sure it is," Xena grinned. "Perhaps it might get you two to agree on something."

Regina glared. She didn't know this Joxer, but if Emma didn't want him tagging along she was sure she'd loathe him even more than the Saviour herself. Except you don't loathe the Saviour, you l….. "Fine. You can come. But don't take all day." She walked around Xena with a glare and out the door.

"I thought we weren't interfering."

"You aren't interfering. I was just giving them a chance to find some common ground." Xena picked her way back through the marketplace. "Besides, did you really to put up with Joxer trying to solve the murder?"

"Good point." Gabrielle agreed quickly. As an afterthought, "I hope they don't kill him. At least not on his birthday…"

Xena chuckled. She spotted the merchant she wanted and her usual serious face returned.

"So, Meg, how long had you known the victim?" Joxer asked with a superior expression.

Although Emma had explained what they already knew on their way down, Joxer had insisted on questioning the woman himself. He said something about building a rapport, but Regina zoned out and instead observed the way Emma's shoulders tensed up with each passing moment. It intrigued her how the blonde could be so clumsy but also be graceful at the same time.

"2 days."

"What time did they arrive?"

"Sundown."

"Here we go again…" Regina muttered and rolled her eyes.

Emma hid her smirk. She didn't want to encourage Regina too much.

"How long were they staying?" Joxer charged on.

"Don't know."

"What did you talk to them about?"

"Price."

"Come on!" Emma growled. "Meg, did you see the guy talking to anyone other than his girlfriend?"

"Yes." At Regina's murderous look Meg continued, "The baker's wife."

"What's her name and where can we find her?" Emma ignored Joxer's whine about butting in.

"Helena. She delivers bread around the village."

"Thank you," Emma smiled quickly before she strode towards the door. Regina followed and nearly walked into her once they were outside. "That was worse than sitting through those damn council meetings."

Regina smirked, "I'm glad to know that listening to me share important information about the town ranks higher for you than listening to irrelevant questions."

Emma grinned, "Not by much."

Regina raised an eyebrow and was about to remark back when Joxer stumbled into her back. She fell forward and into strong arms before she had a chance to register what had happened. After a stunned pause Regina righted herself and stepped a few paces away from Emma and Joxer, then made a show of brushing down the front of her clothes, as if some invisible dirt had settled on them. Joxer's apology was lost in a gulp of fear at Regina's menacing glare.

Emma recovered from her unexpected and conflicting emotions enough to state, "Let's go find the baker's wife."

"He bought a pendant."

"Did he say for whom?" Xena questioned the metal smith gently.

"A woman named Helena. Even had me inscribe it," the man explained with a gestured towards his equipment.

"And he picked it up yesterday?" Gabrielle asked.

He nodded.

Xena had a hunch, "Do you know anyone named Helena?"

"The only Helena around these parts is old Barold's wife, the baker. I just assumed it was for the woman who he met outside of the shop."

"What did she look like?"

"Plain… certainly by Grecian standards. She didn't look too happy either," the man recalled.

"Thank you for your time," Gabrielle smiled. She followed Xena out into the marketplace and noticed the contemplative look on her friend's face.

"Let's go find the baker's wife," Xena said with determination.