He had kind of guessed what was going on when he saw Hercules appear some moments before his sister's dark head had made it's way cautiously above deck. He'd had to hide his grin as he watched how easily she'd managed to slip past hunting Amazons and head for the stern before disappearing over the side and lowering herself down to the cabin, sending him a sly wink as she did so.

Shaking his head he had to stifle the urge to laugh out loud, happy with the knowledge that his sister was once more fit and well. He spent some more time watching the Amazon's increasingly frantic searching, before deciding to head to the mess for the chance of grabbing a drink, and maybe passing some time with Autolycus, who he'd seen heading in that direction some time before.

The thief hadn't looked particularly happy, and he wondered if he might be able to cheer him up a little. He liked the King of Thieves, surprisingly enough, seeing through the egotistical bluster to the warm hearted, generous person beneath, - Just like Xena had, - he thought, wondering just what his sister's feelings towards the thief were .. it wasn't easy to tell such things with Xena.

He knew that she loved Hercules .. - But I don't think she's in love with him, - he mused. Her feelings for Autolycus were far more ambiguous. He suspected that there was some deep connection between the two, - But I'm sure that she hasn't realised that she cares for him as much as I think she does. She tends to keep him almost at arm’s length. With most men she's one of the boys, but Autolycus seems to have her a little off balance. - He wiggled his eyebrows, while grinning speculatively, - Well, well, well! I just wonder. -

Pushing himself off the rail he'd been leaning on, he whistled tunelessly as he made his way towards the bow and down the companionway there to get to the mess deck. As he reached for the door he could hear heated words coming from within and recognised the voices of Hercules and Autolycus.

He lifted the latch and pushed against the wood only to be met by stubborn resistance. Putting his shoulder against the door he shoved hard, but couldn't get any movement. He heard some crashes and more yelling and quickly decided that he needed someone capable of dealing with the situation. Someone who both men would listen to and who could force an entry through the door with a minimum of fuss. - I need Xena! - he decided and set off on a steaming run to fetch his sister.

Avoiding the startled enquiries of Amazons he shoved past none too gently, the raven haired man ploughed his way into the infirmary and catching his sister's eye immediately announced, "Xena! You better come quick. I think Hercules is going to kill Autolycus!"

The reaction was immediate as Xena bolted off the bed and was out of the door before anyone else could blink. Toris turned and followed her, closely pursued by Gabrielle and Ephiny. They rushed back through the length of the ship reaching the corridor to the mess room just in time to hear the splintering crash of the door and Xena's voice as she demanded, "WHAT IN THE BLAZING DEPTHS OF TARTARUS IS GOING ON HERE?!"

Hercules and Autolycus stared dumb struck at the object of their desires. To say that she struck an imposing figure, standing in the battered remains of the doorway, glowering darkly at them, was not putting to fine a point on it.

"Um, hi Xe...na," slurred Autolycus before keeling over and passing out across the table that continued to hold him up, his withdrawal from the proceedings the result of the combination of drink and Hercules' fist.

"Uh ... Hi," ventured the demi-god stepping guiltily away from the table and putting his hands behind his back, looking something akin to a schoolboy caught in the act.

Xena gave him a dour look as she observed the scene of an obvious fight. She sniffed ostentatiously and raised a disapproving eyebrow, "Have you been drinking?" she growled, not making any motion to move farther into the room.

"No!" answered Hercules hurriedly, wanting to make it clear he was not guilty of that offense. "Autolycus has been and he's a little .. drunk."

"Uh huh," nodded the warrior sceptically. "That why he's passed out?" she asked, knowing the answer to that already having seen the big man throw the punch just as the door burst open.

Hercules looked down at his feet, "Um, no ... not exactly."

Xena looked intently at her friend, "Want to tell me what happened here?" She remained in the doorway, the demi-god guessed to prevent anyone else from entering the room. He could hear several voices outside in the passageway and guessed that a lot of people had been assaulted by a case of overwhelming curiosity.

"Not particularly," he answered eventually.

The Warrior Princess looked over her shoulder, "Get everyone out of here Eph, would ya?"

He could hear Ephiny chivvying her Amazons away from the scene while Xena continued to look assessingly at him, "Alright, show's over. Back off all of you. C'mon, you've all got stuff you should be doing; now get out of here."

As Ephiny cleared people out of the companionway, the raven haired warrior finally allowed Gabrielle to squeeze past her, and the little bard immediately made her way over to where Autolycus lay sprawled. She tried to push behind the table, but it was heavy and not easy for her to move, especially with the thief's weight added to the mass.

"Um, Hercules?" she asked. "Would you mind?" she made a few pulling motions.

"Oh! Sorry Gabrielle ... here," he said as he pulled the table forward with impressive ease. Of course this also released Autolycus from his pinned position and the King of Thieves slipped bonelessly to the wooden plank floor with an audible, "THUMP!" Hercules looked a little sheepish as he said, "Sorry."

Xena moved away from the door and was followed into the room by Toris, Ephiny and a worried looking Iolaus who had been drawn by the activity taking place. "What's going on, Herc?" he asked, concern evident in his voice and eyes as he surveyed the damaged mess.

"Just a slight disagreement, Iolaus .. nothing to worry about. It'll be fine when Autolycus sleeps it off," answered the demi-god grimly.

"Slight disagreement?" questioned the blonde sidekick as he looked again at the devastation done to the mess room again. "Buddy, I hate to tell you this, but it sure looks like more than a slight disagreement went on here."

"Drop it, alright Iolaus," Hercules warned him.

"Hercules ..." tried the small man again only to be cut off by his friend.

"I said drop it. It's no one's business except mine and Autolycus'. If he wants to talk about it he can tell you when he wakes up," growled the demi-god. "Now, if no one has any objections ... I need some fresh air." He brushed past them having no intention of discussing what happened with any of them .. least of all Xena.

"Herc .." Iolaus made as if to follow his friend, but Xena's strong hand stopped him.

"Let him cool off a bit, Iolaus. He'll talk to you later if he needs to," She cast a look after the retreating hero, "He needs some time to himself just now."

The blonde stared searchingly into the strong face of the Warrior Princess for a tense moment before nodding his agreement. He gave a concerned sigh and asked, "You want me and Toris to take him down to the infirmary?" he nodded in the direction of Autolycus.

Xena looked over at Gabrielle and quirked an eyebrow, "He'll have a bruised jaw and a whale of a hangover, but I should think he'll be fine otherwise," the bard answered the silent question.

Turning to Iolaus, the warrior shook her head and told him, "You and Toris take off. I can manage him from here." She watched as the blonde man headed for the door with her brother at his shoulder, "Iolaus," she called, stopping him just before he left. When he turned to face her she said, "Keep an eye on Herc ... but don't push him. He might be a little low for a couple of days."

She saw him bob his head in acknowledgement as her mind chirped up, - A little low! That's an understatement. He really didn't take it well when I told him I wouldn't join with him. I love him .. I always will. But he's not the man I want to settle down and raise a family with. - She shook her head at the thought. Her gaze wandered over to where the thief lay and she had to suppress a smile of amused affection. - What did you say to rile ol' Herc up like that, Autolycus? Even drunk I thought you had more sense of self preservation than that! - she smirked.

"Alright Gabrielle, stand aside. I'll take him down so that Sheraya and Patroclese can check him out," she told the bard as she moved across and lifted him easily from the deck.

The honey blonde gave her a vexed look. "You don't have to strain yourself Xena. I'm sure Eph and I could manage him."

The warrior gave her friend a version of 'the look' and told her flatly, "Get off it Gabrielle! I'm fine. And I'll take care of Autolycus .. okay?"

"Suit yourself," shrugged the bard, as she noted the way that Xena seemed to be checking out the thief's injuries with a concerned glance. She and the Regent followed the Warrior Princess back to the other end of the ship, both certain that more seemed to be going on than met the eye.

"Ooooooo! Hephy! You are like way cool!" cooed Aphrodite leaning into her spouse and warming his toes with a tingling kiss that promised him the earth, the stars and Zeus' thunderbolts all rolled into one explosive package.

They were in the God of the Forge's abode deep within the bowels of Vulcan Mountain. The cavern, that had once been a plain, but functional, sleeping apartment, now showed extensive signs of the Goddess of Love's touches; starting with the luxuriously appointed, lace surrounded four poster bed, continuing through the erotic scenes that were depicted on the wall hangings and scattered rugs, and included the heavily stuffed, comfortable looking lounging couches that occupied a lot of floor space.

When he was finally certain that he could feel the solid ground of their cavern love nest beneath his feet, a stunning smile lit up his normally grim features and he told her with all his love pouring into his words, "'Dite, I would move Olympus to give you whatever you desired. I would break my back toiling over my forge to create for you anything that your heart desired ..."

"Mmmm, Hephster! Might have to hold you to that," she chuckled listening as he continued with his declaration of undying love.

"... I know that I'm not the most handsome, or most athletic ..."

"Don't sell yourself short, lover," she grinned happily at her man as he slid his muscular arms around her.

He looked at her with puppy dog eyes that really dug into her heart and soul, "Cut me some slack here, 'Dite," he chided, planting a tender kiss on her nose, "I'm not good at this love stuff .. but I'm trying to tell you something here."

She grinned at him and pulled him into a deep hug, kissing him with enough passion that almost all thought picked up and left them for a few moments, "You know for a novice, Heph, you're doing real well!" she told him with affectionate pride.

"Hmmm!" he coughed, trying to remember what he was saying, "Gods, but I'm lucky," he told her with enough raging emotion to make her hair curl.

The blonde goddess shivered knowing full well that they were both going to be very lucky once she got back from her errand, "Just keep that thought warm, Hephy. We'll work on it real soon," she told him.

"Okay, okay .. let me finish what I was saying," he told her.

"You go guy!" she grinned at him.

"Right, where was I?" he muttered, "Olympus .. back break .. handsome .. athletic ... oh yeah. Hmm!" he cleared his throat again, " ... even though I'm crippled and an outcast from the family, I feel like I'm the luckiest god alive, because I have your love."

"Awwww! You're so sweet," she smiled pinching his cheek in delight.

"Now I know I've told you that you can ask me for anything .. and I'd willingly give you anything I have or can make."

"I know .. and I like so love you for that," Aphrodite hugged him.

"But just what in Zeus' name do you want some of my tools for?" he asked with total incomprehension.

She gave him a peck on the cheek and then explained, "Well you see, I kind of want to lend them to Herc for a few moments. He can use them to get those way uncool collars off the warrior babe and her bardy friend, ya know?"

Hephestus nodded at last understanding the request that had so puzzled him. "You're right. The combination of my tools and Hercules' strength should be more than enough to break open those collars ... but you won't be gone long, will you?" he asked with a note of pleading in his voice.

A flash of blue and silver announced the arrival of Ares before he growled, "She won't be going at all."

"Ares!" snapped Hephestus angrily. "What do you want here? Those weapons you ordered won't be ready for another moon, as agreed .. and I don't believe I ever issued you an invitation to pop into our home unannounced."

"Save it hop-a-long," sneered the God of War, "I've got business with the ditsy blonde, not you."

"Damn you Ares!"

"I've got nothing to say to you, Ares," Aphrodite told him cooly, moving to get between him and a very annoyed Hephestus. Her man was strong and powerful, but he was hampered by his lame leg and Ares would beat him to a pulp in a fight.

"Ah well that's where you're wrong sis. See you're about to interfere with Xena .. again. And well, as I see it, my Warrior Princess could do with a healthy dose of humility at the moment, and that slave collar serves to remind her that she's not as invincible as she thinks she is. In fact over time, it might just serve to remind her that without me she's just another fighter who can be taken down .. get my meaning?" he raised an eyebrow at her to emphasise the point. "So the collar stays on."

"What?" screeched Aphrodite incredulously, her fists coming to rest on her hips. "In your dreams leather boy!"

Ares looked at her calmly and smirked smugly, "Do I need to remind you about a certain bet made over a certain fight?" he asked her.

Aphrodite shuffled her feet a little, knowing all too well he was referring to the bet with Hermes on the Xena and Hercules fight, "Ummmm," she hedged.

"I'm sure you know that Hermes, being the joker he is, would be likely to exact his own brand of retribution?"

"Okay, okay! So no giving Hephy's tools to the Hercster! I got it!" sulked the blonde goddess.

"Not good enough, sis!" grinned Ares. "I know you too well. I want your godly oath that you will not give those tools to Hercules, Xena, or anyone else aboard that ship!" He thought for a moment before adding, "Or anyone in Amphipolis either .. or I let Hermes know you were betting on a rigged fight."

"Oh! That is so not fair!" screeched the goddess stamping her foot.

"That goes for Hephestus too .. no getting him to deliver them either .. or any of our family," he added.

"You are so mean!" she told him unhappily.

"Do we have a deal?" he demanded.

"You give your godly oath never to mention that bet again?" she sulked.

"You have my oath as God of War," agreed Ares satisfied with the deal.

"Then you have my oath as Goddess of Love," she answered grumpily.

"I'm glad we have that settled. See ya in a moon for those weapons, Hephestus," the darkly handsome god grinned as he left the cavern in a flash of blue and silver.

"Oh Hephy!" wailed Aphrodite as she turned into her spouse's firm embrace and sobbed on his shoulder, "Ares is so uncool!"

"Don't worry sweetheart. Hercules and the Warrior Princess are sure to work out a way to get rid of those things eventually," he told her, hugging her gently.

"But it's so not right! I had everything planned," she pouted. Then a smile suddenly lit her sullen features. "Hephy? did Ares say anything about a mortal taking your tools to Hercules?" she asked.

"Umm, no. He said that we couldn't give them to anyone on the ship or in Amphipolis or get any of the family to take them .. but he didn't say anything about other mortals."

"That's what I thought!" she grinned.

"'Dite? Just what are you up to?" questioned Hephaestus carefully.

"No time to explain now .. gotta bail!" she told him. "Later!" and she disappeared in a cloud of pink and silver shimmers.