After witnessing Gabrielle being abruptly pulled into the lake that she and Xena had been looking at while within the spirit realm, Xena dove into the water and went under as she began to frantically search for Gabrielle. The water was clear but Xena saw no signs of Gabrielle anywhere. It was as if she had completely vanished. After searching for a bit, Xena couldn't hold her breath any longer and was forced to swim back to the surface. She covered her mouth and nose as she felt a bit of water rush in from her bodies natural response to trying to take in oxygen. This might've been the spirit realm but apparently drowning there was still possible. Xena pushed herself to move faster as her lungs burned. She knew that she hadn't dove that deep but for some reason it was now taken much longer than it should have for her to return to the waters surface. She kicked and pulled herself upwards with long powerful strokes of her arms until finally Xena's head breached the waters surface and she gasped for air. Xena treeded water as she caught her breath and looked around for Gabrielle only to realize that she was no longer in the field where she had dove in after her. But not only was Xena in a different spot from where she had entered the water, she didn't see any signs of Gabrielle anywhere and became very concerned that something might've happened to her.

XENA

Gabrielle!

Meanwhile Gabrielle opened her eyes and found herself laying on the ground looking up at an open, blue sky.

GABRIELLE

What happened?

Gabrielle sat up as noticed that she wasn't at all wet from being pulled into the lake. She then looked around as she also came to realize that Xena was nowhere around.

GABRIELLE

Xena?

She stood and looked around for any signs of Xena as she called out to her again and got no response.

GABRIELLE

(Talking to herself) it's fine Gabrielle you don't need Xena or anyone for that matter to hold your hand. You can figure this out and find your way back to Xena on your own.

?

But can you really Gabrielle? Or do you need someone like Xena to come and save you once again?

Gabrielle jumped as she heard the unknown voice speak from out of nowhere. She then took a moment to calm herself as she looked around but saw no one as she spoke to what she assumed was another spirit like what she and Xena had met before.

GABRIELLE

I don't need anyone to save me.

?

Is that so?

Gabrielle scowled.

GABRIELLE

Yeah it is.

?

Hmm then why don't we see just how true that is for ourselves?

Gabrielle was shocked when a figure slowly faded into view before her. But she was even more surprised by who it was that now stood before her.

GABRIELLE

Perdicus...

At the same time Xena was still frantically looking for Gabrielle in the water but having no luck in locating her. She then halted her search when she suddenly began hearing Gabrielle's voice.

XENA

Gabrielle?

She looked around but couldn't see Gabrielle anywhere. That was when Xena spotted a portal appear back on dry land. Thinking that might lead her to wherever Gabrielle was, Xena swam back to shore. Once out of the water she moved towards the strange opening. As she came closer an image came into focus and Xena saw Gabrielle inside. For a moment Xena was unsure if she was seeing the actual Gabrielle or a vision but as she saw the scene behind her and noticed that Gabrielle appeared to be speaking to someone. Xena realized that Gabrielle must've been pulled into another area of the spirit realm.

XENA

Gabrielle.

In an effort to get to Gabrielle, Xena put her hand to the portal but found that there was an unseen barrier between them that she couldn't pass through. Xena called out to Gabrielle in the hopes that since she was able to hear and see her that Gabrielle would be able to do the same. But after several attempts at getting her attention it became apparent that being able to view what was happening on the other side the portal only worked on Xena's side. Unsure of what else she could do at the moment Xena decided to watch what ever was going to play out and hope that Gabrielle would be okay. Then Xena finally noticed that she recognized the person that Gabrielle was speaking to. Or at least who one of the spirits in that place had taken the form of.

"PERDICUS"

Hi Gabrielle.

Gabrielle had a very confused expression on her face as she looked at her former husband who had been dead for quite some time.

GABRIELLE

Perdicus? But how? You're dead. I saw Calisto kill you.

After a moment Gabrielle remembered that she and Xena had encountered a spirit that had taken the form of Xena's deceased brother Lyceus. That was when it clicked that this "Perdicus" must've also been a disguised spirit as well.

GABRIELLE

Wait no. You're just a spirit who looks like Perdicus aren't you?

"Perdicus" gave a small nod confirming that he was indeed just a spirit who had taken this form. Meanwhile outside of the portal Xena rolled her eyes.

XENA

(Thinking to herself Sarcastically) Great out of all the people who it could've looked like it just had to be him.

It wasn't that Xena didn't like Perdicus. It was just because of all of the pain that ended up surrounding him and his untimely death. Because neither Xena or Gabrielle had willing to admit their feelings for one another for a number of reasons that they later discussed once they finally had, a good man was killed. Admittedly as much as she had said that Perdicus' untimely death had been Colisto's doing, in truth Xena had always placed alot of the blame on herself. Both because her past actions had made Colisto the mad woman she was and because if she had just been honest with how she felt towards Gabrielle back then, knowing that even at that time Gabrielle had felt the same for her. Gabrielle wouldn't have ever run off to marry Perdicus in the first place. Honestly that whole ordeal had just been one colossal mess. Though Xena was greatfull that not too long after both she and Gabrielle finally confessed their love for one another and had been together ever since. But still the cost of them finally finding their way to where they were now was high. Xena pushed aside the unpleasant thoughts as she continued to watch Gabrielle speak to the spector.

GABRIELLE

Hey I ended up here after being dragged into the lake but I don't see Xena. Is she okay?

The spirit smiled.

"PERDICUS"

So you still care about Xena?

Gabrielle scowled.

GABRIELLE

Hey I know things have been tense for the last few days but I love Xena regardless. And I know she feels the same for me.

"PERDICUS"

Yes but does she believe in you?

Gabrielle looked down as she tried to hide the sadness in her eyes.

GABRIELLE

(Sad tone) I don't know. I thought she did but...

Outside the portal Xena spoke with the hope that what she said and felt would somehow reach Gabrielle.

XENA

What? Gabrielle of course I do. I thought you knew that.

Back inside the spector moved slowly around Gabrielle.

"PERDICUS"

She can't see you for who you really are can she?

GABRIELLE

(Sad tone) I'm not sure.

"PERDICUS"

But then again you should be used to that by now shouldn't you?

The area around Gabrielle suddenly shifted and changed as before she knew it she found herself standing in her family's house back in her home village of Potidaea. Gabrielle looked around the small house as a flood of memories from her childhood came back. As she looked around the front door opened and she saw the visions of her younger self walk inside followed by her younger sister Lila and their parents. Gabrielle watched as her younger self marched off to the room that she and her sister shared with a scowl on her face as her father Herodotus called after her.

HERODOTUS

(Stern tone) Hey you come back here right now young lady.

The younger Gabrielle ignored her father as she slammed the bedroom door behind her. Herodotus scowled as he began to make his towards the room only to have Hecuba grasp his arm to stop him.

HECUBA

Just let her go for now.

Herodotus looked at his wife.

HERODOTUS

(Irritated tone) But she's being so difficult.

HECUBA

Gabrielle's young, just give her some time. She'll come around.

Herodotus grumbled.

HECUBA

Now come on why don't you go relax for now and I'll get started on dinner. We can talk about this afterwards.

Reluctantly Herodotus agreed and went outside, telling Hecuba to call him when dinner was ready on his way out. After Hecuba turned to Lila.

HECUBA

Now Lila why don't you go see if you can talk to that stubborn sister of yours.

LILA

Okay mother.

The scene around Gabrielle changed as she found herself in her childhood bedroom and saw her younger self sitting on the bed with her arms wrapped around her legs as she rested her chin on her knees. There was a knock on the door and a moment later Lila peeked inside.

LILA

Gabrielle? Are you okay?

The vision of Gabrielle's past self didn't look up.

YOUNGER GABRIELLE

How could I be?

Lila walked into the room and shut the door behind her as she leaned back against it.

LILA

Come on Gabrielle don't you think you're overreacting just a little?

Finally the younger Gabrielle looked up at her sister and scowled.

YOUNGER GABRIELLE

No, I don't. I don't love him Lila. How can they really expect me to marry someone I just don't have feelings for?

LILA

But Perdicus is nice. And you've grown up together so it's not like you don't know him.

The past Gabrielle's expression changed from a scowl to sadness.

YOUNGER GABRIELLE

That's not the point Lila. If I marry him I'll just be stuck here forever.

Lila frowned.

LILA

You make it sound like living here is some kind of prison sentence or something.

The younger Gabrielle stood up from the bed. She then walked over to their bedroom window and stared outside at the hills in the far distance.

YOUNGER GABRIELLE

(Talking quietly) Because to me that's exactly what it feels like.

The spector in the form of Perdicus spoke to the actual Gabrielle as the scene around them began to fade.

"PERDICUS"

For someone who seemed so cheerful on the outside, deep down all while growing up you never felt like you belonged. Or that those around you saw the person that you felt that you actually were. Isn't that right?

Gabrielle nodded slowly as she remembered the pain of growing up in a family and village that never understood her. She knew that her family loved her but they just simply couldn't comprehend the wanderlust that had always called to her ever since she was a little girl. All of the stories she'd heard about brave heros and adventurers had always fascinated Gabrielle. The combination of the two, along with the sense that she was just simply meant for something more was what made the thought of being stuck in a small village her whole life so depressing to Gabrielle. But then the actual Gabrielle smiled as the scene changed once again and she was looking at herself and Xena sitting side by side by a campfire happily talking.

GABRIELLE

I might not have been happy back in Potidaea but then one day everything changed when I met Xena. And ever since I've never felt that lonely, empty feeling that I had before she came into my life.

Outside of the portal Xena was still watching as she for the first time she truly realized just how unhappy Gabrielle actually was before they had met and gave a sad smile.

XENA

I just wish that you never had to have felt that way at all.

Back inside of the portal the spirit that looked like Perdicus spoke.

"PERDICUS"

Yes you might not have felt alone anymore but life with Xena has had other problems hasn't it?

The area around Gabrielle and the spector grew dark as Gabrielle and Xena were about the witness a series of past events that would soon begin to change everything between them forever.

TO BE CONTINUED...