FADE IN

Moonlight shines off a calm water surface. The camera pulls back for a long shot of a lake with a bridge stretching to an island in the middle where a temple sits in the middle of a lush garden.

CUT TO

Inside the temple. The camera pans over pink, red and white drapes, vases with roses and other flowers, a bust of Aphrodite, and an altar with offerings of jewelry, gems, gold and silver goblets and other trinkets. Behind the altar, light shines from behind a door that is slightly ajar; faint voices can be heard.

CUT TO

A lounge-type room, also decorated with drapes and flowers. Aphrodite and Gabrielle sit on a pile of pink and red cushions with trays of fruit and pastries in front of them, holding goblets of wine. Gabrielle looks a little distracted as she sips her wine.

APHRODITE:
     Come on, Gabrielle--relax! Here (points to the pastry tray), try this one. (she looks on as Gabrielle reaches absent-mindedly for the pastry) So you're worried about Xena.

GABRIELLE (nods):
     Yeah... (She picks up the pastry and brings it to her mouth, then looks up at Aphrodite.) She's just been in such a--weird mood. She gets all irritable about little things--like who's supposed to fetch the water in the morning.

APHRODITE:
     And you think it's because of big bro?

GABRIELLE:
     Well--they... (fidgets a little) ...haven't been--alone in quite a while...

APHRODITE:
     Yeah, I can see how that would make the Warrior Babe irritable... (giggles) ...a cold swim in the lake might help. (Off Gabrielle's impatient look) Look, honey, I know how you feel. It's not fun being around people when they're having love troubles. I mean, look at Cupid--when he was having problems with Psyche, the poor kid actually turned into a green monster.

Gabrielle, who was just about to bite into the pastry, stops and gives Aphrodite a shocked look. Aphrodite smiles and pats her reassuringly on the shoulder.

APHRODITE (continues):
     Oh, don't worry--I'm not saying anything that, uh, life-changing is going to happen to Xena.

GABRIELLE (nods, absent-mindedly lowering her hand):
     Uh...thanks.

APHRODITE (sighs):
     Still--this is not good. My bro's bummed out about it too, I can tell. And you know...a grumpy Warrior Princess is bad enough...

Gabrielle finally bites into the pastry.

APHRODITE (continues):
     ...but a grumpy God of War...oooh! Trouble!

She shudders dramatically, then holds up her hands and mimics shooting fireballs by sticking out her fingers and making a "pff" sound.

Close-up on Gabrielle, who freezes with her mouth full, her face smeared with pastry creme, and the half-eaten pastry in her hand. After a moment she swallows the pastry, wipes her mouth and sighs.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe we shouldn't worry so much, Aphrodite. I mean, we're not talking about two love-struck teenagers. This is Xena and Ares. They're not going to let their let emotions get out of control.

APHRODITE:
     Right...they'll just keep those emotions all bottled up until they burst.

Gabrielle shakes her head. Aphrodite takes a sip from her goblet.

GABRIELLE:
     Well, she went out with him this evening, so things probably aren't all that bad. Maybe they'll talk things over like grown-ups.

APHRODITE (scrunches up her face):
     Talk things over? Ar and the Warrior Babe? As if!

Aphrodite giggles and takes another sip of wine.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     I wish they got a chance to walk a league in each other's boots.

APHRODITE:
     Well, they have the same taste in footwear... (giggles) Oh well. (She smiles brightly, then suddenly gets a thoughtful look)

GABRIELLE:
     What?

APHRODITE:
     Nothing. (turns to Gabrielle, smiling) Hey, didn't you want to talk about your own guy problems? Xena can take care of herself. Here. Have another pastry!

As Gabrielle reaches toward the tray of pastries, the camera pulls back for a wide shot of Gabrielle and Aphrodite sitting on the pillows talking but their voices can no longer be heard.

DISSOLVE TO

The interior of a building. The camera pans along a dark hallway lit only by distant moonlight, the walls lined with swords, shields and other weapons.

Quiet music begins to fade in--"It's Only Love" by Heather Nova. {3.14 MB} (Right-click or Ctrl-click sound icon to save file)

The camera turns a corner into a room with somewhat nicer decorations--drapes of black and red fabric, a wine-colored couch up against the wall under a window. A dim light is flickering just off camera.

DISSOLVE TO

Close up of a flickering candle. The camera moves back to show that it is sitting on an ornate oak table draped with black velvet fabric. The silver candleholder is surrounded by red rose petals.

The music swells, drowning out all other sounds. The rest of this scene plays with no audio except for the song.

I used to think that I knew what we needed
Just assumed we would always be fine

Pulling back further, we see Xena and Ares sitting at the table, each with a now-empty plate in front of them and a goblet beside it. He says something; she chuckles and smiles warmly, the firelight dancing in her eyes. He smiles back.

Ares waves his hand and a red rose materializes suddenly in Xena's cleavage. She looks startled, then smirks, takes out the rose, sniffs it and says something to Ares with a teasing but tender look. He grins with his usual bravado.

Now I don't think that we lost that feeling
But we let everything build up inside

They look at each other. After a moment, Ares reaches across the table and lays his hand on top of Xena's. She looks down at his hand, then squeezes it and looks back at him with a faint smile. They exchange a few inaudible but obviously tender words.

Ares gets up, still holding Xena's hand, and so does she. They stand facing each other; he leans in slowly but stops just short of touching her lips, waiting for her. After a moment she leans closer and kisses him, slowly and sensuously.

DISSOLVE TO

It's only love
But love should make us strong

Xena breaks the kiss, opens Ares' vest and kisses his chest; he throws his head back, gasping. She unhooks his sword belt and it drops to the floor while he removes her armor. Ares pulls Xena closer and kisses her, fiercely yet tenderly.

It's only love
But love has been hurting so long

Xena pulls away and pushes Ares back onto the couch behind him, much as in "Amphipolis Under Siege". She comes closer and stops; Ares looks at her and slowly runs his hand up her leg, making her shiver with pleasure and close her eyes.

DISSOLVE TO

What a challenge, honesty
What a struggle to learn to speak

Xena and Ares are lying together on the couch, visible only from the shoulders up but obviously naked. She is lying on top of him, facing him, stroking his hair as she talks. He smiles faintly and reaches up to kiss her briefly. When he starts to pull away, she leans down to prolong the kiss.

Who'd have thought that
Pretending was easier

DISSOLVE TO

Xena is now sitting up, putting on her arm guards, wearing her leather tunic but not her armor or gauntlets. Ares, still undressed, is sitting up behind her, caressing her shoulder. She turns to him and says something. He looks away, his expression turning grave, and then says something that makes Xena's face harden. She turns toward him abruptly. He scowls and says something else; there is a flash of anger in her face, followed by regret.

It's only love

Xena stands up and Ares stands up with her, now fully dressed. They continue to talk. They are clearly arguing now, both looking, by turns, angry, sad and uncertain.

But love

Xena starts to walk away; Ares grabs her arm and says something. She turns around.

Should make us strong

Ares talks to Xena, his expression now softer. He touches her cheek with the back of his hand. She stands silent for a moment, looking wistful, then reaches up and lays her hand over his.

It's only love

Xena says something, then takes Ares' hand and removes it from her face.

But love

Frowning, Ares asks Xena something. She shrugs, turns and walks away. Ares somberly watches her leave.

Has been hurting so long

Xena walks down the dark weapons-lined hallways, then opens the heavy door that leads outside.

DISSOLVE TO

And it's all a part of me, it tears at my heart
Only love

Xena is standing outside the temple, looking torn.

DISSOLVE TO

Inside the temple, Ares slowly walks up to the front door.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena sighs and turns toward the doors. She reaches toward the handle, then lowers her hand, turns and walks away into the forest beyond.

DISSOLVE TO

And it's all an eternity, hoping to learn
Only love

Ares turns away.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena walks through the forest.

DISSOLVE TO

There's a part of you I'm trying to reach
Still a part I don't know

Xena is sitting beside a lake, tossing stones into the water and watching the ripples form.

Xena tosses another stone into the water.

DISSOLVE TO

Ares is in his temple, sitting in a big cushioned chair. He has his hand placed on his chin and he seems to be lost in thought.

Ares stands up and waves his hand, opening up a portal in which we see a battle unfolding somewhere in the night, lit by torches and flaming arrows whizzing through the air.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena sitting by the lake, lost in thought.

And it's all a part of me, it tears at my heart
Only love

DISSOLVE TO

Ares is watching the battle. In the portal, we see a man fall, struck by a flaming arrow. Ares sighs heavily and closes the portal.

DISSOLVE TO

Xena gets up and walks off into the forest.

DISSOLVE TO

Ares looks around; the candle on the table is still burning, the rose lying beside the candle.

And it's all eternity, hoping to learn
Only love

He waves his hand. The table with everything on it shimmers out of existence, as do the two chairs.

DISSOLVE TO

Only

Xena settles down onto a soft patch of grass in the forest and closes her eyes.

DISSOLVE TO

Ares paces back and forth in his temple.

Love...

The music fades out as we see the image of a pensive Ares on his throne superimposed on that of Xena sleeping on the grass. That image lingers for a moment before we:

DISSOLVE TO

Sunrise. A close-up of Gabrielle as she opens her eyes. The camera pulls back to see her lying in a bedroll, with Argo, Klio and another horse tied to a tree behind her. She yawns.

GABRIELLE:
      Xena?

Gabrielle looks at the bedroll beside her; it's empty. She sits up. The campsite is quiet and there are two other empty bedrolls across the fire. Footsteps are heard approaching and Gabrielle turns to see Darion and Haimon walking together, smiling. Darion is carrying several fish all hanging from the same string. Gabrielle sits up and Darion runs towards her.

DARION:
     Gabrielle! Look! Haimon taught me how to fish. Look how many I caught!

He holds the fish up for display.

HAIMON (proudly):
      He caught them all by himself.

DARION:
      Well...except for this big one. (He points to the largest fish.) Haimon had to help me bring that one in.

GABRIELLE:
      That's great, Darion. (smiles and pats his shoulder) But Xena taught you how to fish months ago.

DARION:
     But Haimon taught me how to do it with a fishing pole.

HAIMON:
     You're a natural, little buddy. Next comes the best part--cleaning and cooking the fish--and I know Xena didn't teach you how to do that. Why don't you go gather up some wood for a fire?

DARION:
      Okay!

He runs off excitedly and Haimon laughs, shaking his head. He turns to Gabrielle.

HAIMON:
     You don't mind fish for breakfast? I know you like fruit in the mornings.

GABRIELLE:
     No--no. Fish is fine. (She pauses a moment.) You're wonderful with him, you know. Someday you'll make a great father.

Haimon presses his lips together and nods, looking away.

HAIMON:
      Someday...

There is a momentary silence that is a little uncomfortable for both of them.

HAIMON (clears his throat):
      So, I hear Lykia's doing well with her Amazon training.

GABRIELLE (smiles, either happy for Lykia or relieved by the change of subject, or both):
      Yes, she is. Eve says she definitely has the drive to be an Amazon--and pretty soon, she'll have the skills, too.

Gabrielle pauses and glances at Darion who can be seen in the distance walking towards them with an armload of firewood.

GABRIELLE (continues):
     I'm glad she let Darion come travel with us for a few days. (smiles happily) It's so good to spend some time with him again. (Haimon raises an eyebrow at her and she laughs nervously) And you too, of course!

Darion comes up to them and throws down the firewood.

GABRIELLE (continues):
      Why don't you two work on breakfast? I'm going to take the horses to the lake for a drink.

CUT TO

A lake. Gabrielle leads the three horses up to the water's edge and they begin to drink. Gabrielle pats Klio's side.

There is a low "whooshing" sound. Gabrielle straightens up and purses her lips as blue light flares up behind her. She sighs.

GABRIELLE:
     Ares? Xena's not here.

XENA (off-camera):
     She is now.

Gabrielle whips around as we see a close-up of her stunned face. Quick pan to Xena, the blue light still fading around her.

Her outfit is a combination of the armor she wore in "Livia" and her normal armor. Her skirt and sleeves are dark blue velvet and her armor and armbands are silver. She wears gauntlets that resemble Ares' gauntlets, but with dark blue gems instead of red.

Pan back to a speechless Gabrielle, who stumbles and lands on her backside in the water, her mouth wide open.

Pan back to Xena as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER