Author's Note: Here's a chapter that is sure to confuse a bunch of you so...Be gentle guys! I'm fragile!

Joxer could feel the tension in the room mount. Three gods, Xena, Gabrielle, Elaine...and him! He knew that was a really bad combination.

Subtlety, of course, was not his strong suit. So even as he tried to 'make a run for it' he knew that he had failed miserably.

"Um...I guess...me and Elaine should get going...seeing as...Aphrodite's feeling better and.."

"Hold it studmuffin!" Aphrodite exclaimed with a wave of one hand followed by pink hearts that fluttered around. Suddenly Joxer found that he couldn't move. Casually the love goddess strolled over to Elaine with a little sway in her step and a scowl on her face.

Elaine's eyebrows knitted together as the goddess 'inspected' her.

Suddenly Elaine realized something. Her eyebrows going up in shock.

You're trying to read my thoughts!

Aphrodite rolled her eyes.

"It's not like I want to. But you're causing stuff to happen. I only want to see if your hearts in the right place!" Aphrodite said as she purposely looked over at Joxer as he looked down at his feet - still trying to move. Elaine of course understood.

Letting out a sigh Elaine turned from looking at Joxer to the goddess.

"Well...are you satisfied that my intentions are honorable!"

The goddess pouted.

"Yes."

Elaine smiled.

"Then I'm free to pursue a relationship with Joxer?" Elaine asked with hope in her voice.

Aphrodite gave a quick glance to Gabrielle, who's eyes were staring wide eyed with fear at the goddess - an almost begging request in them.

Aphrodite turned back and gave a glorious smile at Elaine.

"For now sweetcheeks!"

Elaine and Joxer locked eyes. Elaine gave Joxer a very sexy smile and dangerous gleam shined in her eyes, as Joxer had a blush and pursed lips to one side that some would consider to be adorable.

Gabrielle felt like she had been sucker punched.

Aphrodite approves!!!

If looks could kill Cupid would have become the only god of love.

Aphrodite glanced then at Ares who had a scowl on his face as he stared at Joxer, who was still looking over at Elaine with a blush in his cheeks. Aphrodite knew that something had happened today that had caused Ares to more than just like this Elaine girl, and if she had to disrupt two connections of love - she was going to have to step in the way of what was slowly becoming one of the biggest challenges the goddess had ever faced.

"What are all three of you doing here?" Xena asked with anger still in her voice as she tried to erase the image of Ares staring at Elaine with more than his normal 'manipulative' manner. It caused something in her to stir that she was just unwilling to define or even acknowledge. Quickly her mind focused back on the suspicion that one of these gods had impregnated her.

Cupid had been about to open his mouth and explain when Aphrodite 'accidentally' stepped on his sandal-ed foot. Cupid winced as his mother quickly did what she did best...talked.

"Oh we were just wondering where your new friend came from is all. Seeing as she's going to be part of the 'family' from here on out!"

This of course caused everyone to look at Aphrodite with shock on their faces.

"Actually... Joxer and I or going to be traveling together for awhile..." Elaine began and Aphrodite again tried to 'fix' the problem she knew she now had.

"Yeah! I think its soo cool that studmuffin has someone that can watch his back while the Gabster and Xena Warrior chick take care of kick evil bad guy butt!" Aphrodite said in her giggly smiley way. All the while hoping that Elaine would change her mind, hoping that she didn't have to get more involved that she needed to.

"I don't think that's going to happen." Elaine said quickly.

Of course, Aphrodite concluded, sometimes drastic measures needed to be taken.

"But Studmuffin's been in love with the Gabster FOREVER and I totally doubt he would leave Xena's side! He totally worships the ground they walk on!!"

Gabrielle felt herself pale as the words left Aphrodite's mouth, a quick look to Joxer and she thought that he had become a ghost as well.

If SHE knows about it...'Forever'? It can't be...

Elaine immediately turned to see Joxer had gone white as a sheet. Her mind quickly tried to find a way to save him from really horrible pain when something hit her.

Elaine started to chuckle.

"Joxer...in love with Gabrielle...that's ridiculous!"

Aphrodite's smile fell as the next words caused a wave of pure hate to emanate from the bard.

"Makes me laugh just to think about it! Right Joxer?" Elaine said as she looked over at Joxer.

Gabrielle felt like she had been slapped in the face as she heard Joxer mutter his laugh that she had never heard him do before.

"Yeah...Ha Ha." Joxer said as anger at himself replaced the sadness that had all but taken over his very being a second ago. Idiot of the world had fallen in love with someone that was under a spell...and didn't even realize that it could never be between them.

Elaine saw the change in his demeanor and quickly assessed that they needed to leave before things became really uncomfortable for him...and everyone else.

Before Elaine could say a word Joxer turned and began to walk out of the stable, quickly Elaine followed after him, not even glancing at Xena as she followed Joxer.

Xena's eyes however were on Ares. Ares eyes were on Elaine's as she followed Joxer.

Xena may not like Elaine but...Joxer she cared about. And the way that Ares was looking at Elaine made her want to rip Ares' throat out for staring at...

Xena shook her head. No!No!That is not why...

Not being able to complete her own thought, her mind was re focused as Gabrielle tried to move past her to go to Joxer. Quickly grabbing her arm Xena stopped Gabrielle.

"Gabrielle right now might not be such a good time..."

"What's the matter Gabrielle?!" Ares asked with way too much mirth in his tone, and a sickening smile on his lips. "Afraid the little whimp might actually get lucky with another woman?"

Gabrielle turned and gave Ares a look that he had never seen on the 'little girl's' face. It was a look only Xena had ever managed to pull off and actually make him think twice.

What he said next though made both Xena and Aphrodite very uncomfortable.

"Guess we better break up their little love fest then."

With that Ares shimmered out of the barn.

Oddly it was Cupid that uttered the thought that all were thinking.

"Well that can't be good!"

Author's Note: I know you hate me! But I bet you never saw that coming now did yah?! REVIEWS people! I live for them!