FADE IN

The crowd is dispersing and the chairs are being taken away. Autolycus is standing in front of Xena and Gabrielle. Darion is standing with Gabrielle.

AUTOLYCUS (angry):
     I can't believe I was going let my daughter marry that--

GABRIELLE (puts her hand on Autolycus' shoulder):
     Calm down, Autolycus. Laertes just needs figure things out first. It doesn't mean that he loves your daughter any less. The wedding isn't canceled, just postponed.

AUTOLYCUS (snorts):
     And that's supposed to make me feel better? What makes you think he does love Anticlea, hmm? If he was going to marry this other woman--

GABRIELLE:
     It'll be okay. Don't be too hard on Laertes. At least not until we know the whole story. Why don't you take your daughter inside?

Autolycus nods and walks over to the arch where Anticlea is standing, looking off into the distance. He puts his hand on her shoulder and she turns to him, tears in his eyes. She breaks down, bringing her face to his chest. He gently wraps his arm around her.

AUTOLYCUS (awkwardly):
     It's going be okay.

ANTICLEA:
     But he loves someone else!

AUTOLYCUS (trying to be comforting despite his own ambivalence):
     We don't know that. Let's just...get out of here and go to your quarters. You need some rest.

Anticlea sniffles and nods. They start to walk away. Then Anticlea stops, visibly angry.

ANTICLEA (with a bitter chuckle):
     And I was so worried about having the perfect wedding... She (pointing an accusing finger at Aphrodite) ruined everything! Who invited her?

Her father gently lowers her hand and steers her along.

AUTOLYCUS (fading out as they walk away):
     Actually, gods don't really need invitations--they just pop in whenever they want. But now that you mention it...she is family...

Xena and Gabrielle look after them with obvious sympathy.

Aphrodite looks over at the lake where Alesia is sitting at the water's edge, throwing stones into the water, her hand rested on her chin.

APHRODITE:
     Alesia's totally torn up about all of this. But she loves him.

Xena and Gabrielle turn towards Aphrodite, their reverie lost.

XENA (sarcastically):
     So you're just helping out this girl out of the goodness of your heart?

APHRODITE:
     Hey, Warrior Babe, chill. I'm still her fairy godsmother, after all.

GABRIELLE (stunned):
     You mean--that's Princess Alesia of Cyra?

XENA (recognition visibly coming over her):
     Of course. Queen Alesia now.

APHRODITE (squeals):
     Would you believe it? My little pookie, all grown up and having boy problems. (She shakes her head, then suddenly beams at Gabrielle) Speaking of which-- (she points to Gabrielle's belly) congratulations! And where is the lucky daddy? I thought he'd--

GABRIELLE (blushes):
     Aphrodite--it's, um--complicated.

APHRODITE (deflated):
     Oh. (brightens up) Hey, that sounds like something I could fix if--

GABRIELLE (shakes her head):
     I don't need anything fixed, Aphrodite. Thanks. (quickly) Let's talk about Alesia. You meddled in her life once before. What are you playing at now?

APHRODITE (haughtily):
     Well, like I said--she's having boy issues. And unlike some people--she didn't have a problem admitting she could use some help from the love goddess. She totally came to me!

XENA (suspiciously):
     And would that, by any chance, have anything to do with...worshippers?

APHRODITE:
     Well all right. She did promise to make me the patron goddess of Cyra and to build me a totally rocking new temple. I mean, do you even know how long it's been since anyone has built me a new temple? (pouts)

GABRIELLE:
     So you get some more worshippers, and to Tartarus with Laertes and with Anticlea, or what they want!?

APHRODITE:
     That is so totally not true! Laertes doesn't even know what he wants. I'm so not trying to hurt anybody!

GABRIELLE:
     Yeah, well tell that to Anticlea.

XENA:
     Aphrodite--if you really want to be Alesia's friend, you should know by now to let her work it out for herself. (glancing towards the direction that Laertes went) Laertes will have to decide for himself. If you do any prodding--

APHRODITE:
     As if! I delivered Alesia--the rest is up to the kids. (as an afterthought) She'll get her happy ending.

Aphrodite disappears with a bright grin and a wave.

XENA (turning to Gabrielle):
     She did the right thing last time, Gabrielle. Aphrodite cares about Alesia...in her own way.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     Well, this time it's already cost a wedding. Did you see Anticlea? She's heartbroken. And I thought Aphrodite had learned some lessons.

XENA:
     Well, give her a chance. Maybe she has.

GABRIELLE:
     Why don't you go check on Alesia? Once upon a time, I seem to remember that you were her fairy godsmother as well.

DARION:
     You were a fairy godsmother? Wow, I got to hear this. Can I come with you? I promise I'll be quiet. (to Gabrielle) Can I?

GABRIELLE:
     Sure. (to Xena) Go on. I'll talk to Laertes.

XENA (to Darion, a little dubiously):
     Okay, come along.

She and Darion walk off, their voices fading.

DARION:
     So, there's not going to be a party?

XENA (not too confident):
     Maybe later.

Gabrielle looks after Xena as she and Darion approach Alesia, then walks off.

CUT TO

Another portion of the garden, with many gorgeous rosebushes and statues. Laertes sits along on a bench, lost in thought. Gabrielle approaches.

GABRIELLE:
     Laertes? (Laertes looks up as Gabrielle sits down next to him) Bet you didn't expect your wedding day to be like this, huh?

LAERTES:
     I--I never thought I would see Alesia again...especially not now... Twelve years ago we were going to be married on the eve of the summer solstice.

GABRIELLE:
     So what happened?

LAERTES:
     The night before our wedding she...disappeared. I went to her room so that we could go to the ceremonial ritual to cleanse our bodies before our wedding day...but she wasn't there. I asked her servants where she'd gone and they told me she had packed up and left hours before. I was crushed.

GABRIELLE:
     Maybe she just got cold feet.

LAERTES:
     Obviously ice cold because I never saw her again after that.

GABRIELLE (determined):
     I'm sure there was a good reason.

LAERTES:
     Maybe. (sighs) We had so many plans for after we got married. We wanted to see the world. She was always talking about Xena, and you, and all your adventures that she'd heard about. She loved stories. And she had such spirit. That was one of the things I loved most about her.

GABRIELLE:
     Do you still love her?

LAERTES (wavering):
     I love Anticlea.

GABRIELLE (gently):
     How do you feel about Alesia, then?

Laertes looks down.

LAERTES:
     I...I don't know what to do.

GABRIELLE:
     You have to go with your heart.

LAERTES:
     Except I don't know what my heart is telling me!

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     It's a mess, isn't it.

DISSOLVE TO

Aphrodite stands in front of a large mirror, staring absently at her reflection. She fixes one of her straps and sighs loudly.

APHRODITE:
     This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

Aphrodite's mirror image suddenly moves, placing its hands on its hips and looking put out, while Aphrodite still looks confused.

APHRODITE'S IMAGE:
     Oh, 'cause crashing a wedding is so totally cool?

APHRODITE:
     I just wanted Alesia to be happy!

APHRODITE'S IMAGE:
     Makes sense. She's probably the closest you have to a friend anymore. Gabby's pretty pissed at you. Keep this up and you'll lose both of 'em.

APHRODITE (flustered):
     She's not--Alesia worships me. I'm trying to stay on top of this whole not-dying thing.

APHRODITE'S IMAGE:
     You want to keep Alesia happy, no matter the cost?

APHRODITE:
     Well, duh. She gets the boy. I get the worshippers. The world gets a love goddess, and it's totally cake.

APHRODITE'S IMAGE:
     Shut it, babe. What kind of Goddess of Love sacrifices other people's hearts? You're being totally selfish.

APHRODITE (irritated, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting at her mirror image):
     I'm, like, not sacrificing anybody. Laertes has feelings for Alesia. He totally admitted to them.

APHRODITE'S IMAGE (with a little shrug):
     And Anticlea?

APHRODITE (looking troubled):
     Hey! Everybody's picking on me, and I'm only trying to help. Doing the love thing. You know, my job!?

APHRODITE'S IMAGE:
     Face it babe. You're not helping Alesia--she's a complete wreck. You're totally out for yourself.

APHRODITE:
     No fair! I--I...like Alesia. She's still a cute kid.

Aphrodite's image doesn't respond.

APHRODITE:
     Fine, be like that.

She waves a hand and the mirror fades back into just Aphrodite's reflection--minus the commentary. But the reflection looks troubled, and so does Aphrodite. She seems to be contemplating the situation. Instead of slipping back into her perky self, she flashes out of the lavish room, still looking morose.

The camera pans in for one more shot of the still mirror and then:

DISSOLVES TO

Xena, Darion and Alesia are wandering the wedding grounds, taking in the beautiful sights and looking far too serious for the setting.

ALESIA (sighs):
     This certainly is a beautiful place for a wedding--reminds me of when I was to be married here.

XENA (uncomfortable):
     Alesia, that was...a long time ago, wasn't it?

ALESIA (with a short laugh):
     And you want to know why now? Why would I come back to a man I left at the altar? What brought on my change of heart? Well, let me tell you, then. I was young and foolish when I was with Laertes. We'd known each other for most of our lives. I loved him...I've always loved him. But I was convinced that there was something more to life than being the princess and marrying the prince. (she looks wistful) I wanted a happily ever after that kicked ass, like the ones you showed me.

DARION (interrupting approvingly):
     Xena kicks the best ass.

XENA (suppressing a smile):
     Darion! I thought you were going to be quiet.

DARION:
     Sorry. It's true, though!

ALESIA (smiles, in spite of herself):
     Yes, it is.

XENA (trying to get back to the point):
     What happened after you left Laertes?

ALESIA:
     I traveled. I wanted to see the world--or at least Greece. I'd read and listened to all these wonderful stories, and I was so sheltered from all of that. I figured that, if I married Laertes, I'd never get my chance to explore. So I went to find myself. Then I heard that my father was dying, so I went back to Cyra and became queen. I thought I had a good life. But I never stopped wondering if I had made a terrible mistake leaving Laertes. He never tried to get in touch, and I figured he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. Then I heard of his impending marriage. Believe me, it wasn't jealousy... (with a meaningful look at Xena) I had already learned my lesson about that, as a child. But I knew it was now or never, and I didn't want to face a lifetime of regrets. So...I went to find her.

XENA (sarcastically):
     Aphrodite.

ALESIA:
     That's right. I went to one of her temples. I was on my knees, praying, and she appeared, told me to get up, and talked to me about everything that was wrong. Aphrodite helped me decide to come back. I don't know if Laertes still wants me, but he deserves the chance to choose.

XENA (deep in thought):
     You're not giving him much time. Laertes obviously cares for you--but he loves Anticlea. This was her wedding.

ALESIA (somewhat regretfully):
     I know. But what if, somewhere deep down, Laertes does still love me? Then he'll only hurt Anticlea by marrying her.

Xena gives her a thoughtful look.

CUT TO

Laertes and Gabrielle on the bench.

LAERTES:
     How am I supposed to follow my heart if my heart doesn't know what it wants? (glances guiltily at Gabrielle) Sorry. I know I've said that before.

GABRIELLE (smiles wistfully):
     Only about a dozen times.

LAERTES:
     I love Anticlea. She's brave and stubborn and bright and kind. (chuckles) Plus, having her around is pretty good theft insurance.

Gabrielle chuckles and shakes her head.

LAERTES (staring into the distance):
     But Alesia was my life for so many years! When she left, I didn't know what to do with myself. It was easier when I could distract myself with my father's obsessions, but now...

He gets up and begins to pace frantically.

LAERTES:
     I have to know why she did it. Why she left. Did she get amnesia? Was she captured by one of those giants that she was always rambling on about? I need to know what took her so long to come back. I mean, by the gods--I thought maybe some dragon ate her, or worse--

GABRIELLE (grins unhappily):
     Worse?

LAERTES (sits down again):
     I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. So now she's back, and--I just want to know.

FEMALE VOICE (off-camera):
     Maybe I should start at the beginning, then. When I was a little girl, listening to fairytales from the Warrior Princess and all her friends.

The camera follows Laertes' eyes as he looks up to see Alesia standing in front of him.

LAERTES:
     Alesia...

GABRIELLE (looks from Alesia to Laertes):
     I--I'm sure you--have a lot of catching up to do.

She gets up and walks away. Laertes and Alesia stare at each other as we:

FADE OUT

END OF ACT TWO