Xena and Gabrielle had been looking for Draco ever since they found out he had stolen a gem worth millions. They had found Khlara on their way and asked her for help. She gladly picked up her chakram and Bow and arrows and set off with them. Only problem was Joxer had found them along the way. All four were now sitting around a campfire talking.

"Joxer, why don't you take off that stupid helmet?" asked Khlara.

"How do I know if an arrow won't come whizzing by and try to kill me?" he asked in reply.

"Take it off Joxer." Said Xena in a particularly bad mood. She was mad because they should've ran into some of Draco's men by now. Joxer obeyed and took it off.

"My reasons are," said Khlara taking out her bow and hooking an arrow into it, "One: No one would try to shoot you," she aimed for Joxer's head, "Two: Even if they did try to kill you it would be because you opened up that pathetic mouth of yours." She aimed a little above Joxer's head, "and even if they did kill you it would be by dagger." Aimed for the side of tree. "And even then," She shot the arrow and it went right above Joxer's head taking out a guy who was near the side of the tree holding a sword, "I would've killed them by now." Said Khlara continuing.

Everyone turned except Gabrielle to look at what Khlara shot. There laid the guy with an arrow through the heart. Khlara dislodged it, cleaned the tip and put it back to where she had gotten it.

"Do you think we're being attacked?" asked Xena slowly getting her sword.

"Nah. They would've been out by now." Said Khlara.

"Excuse me? No one seems to care that that guy tried to kill me!" all most yelled Joxer.

"He was trying to kill Xena. If you hadn't taken off your helmet he wouldn't have been dead by now." Explained Khlara. It was as clear as mud.

"In other words he would've tried to kill you instead. Taken you when we wouldn't know it, cut out your heart and tell his master he had killed Xena." She explained clearer now.

"How do you know all this?" asked Gabrielle amazed.

"He wrote it down. I looked in his pocket." Said Khlara "Taking a dinar here and there isn't committing a crime unless the person is good." Khlara went back to eating what was left of her meager dinner. Joxer was still a little shook up.

 

In the morning Khlara got up and looked around. The sun was just coming up. She knew in a few minutes Xena would wake so she got out of her pack what was suppose to be her breakfast. The others would have to get their own. Khlara never liked fishing.

Xena woke up and looked at Khlara who was getting her pack from Grapes, her horse. Gabrielle slept quietly while Joxer snored loudly enough to wake up any one he dared.

"I couldn't sleep last night thanks to Jox over there." Said Khlara.

Xena nodded in understanding even though she got a good night's sleep.

"It's Joxer!" he muttered in a sleepy anger and he turned over.

"The boy's got good hearing." Said Khlara taking out breakfast.

Xena went over to Gabrielle and nudged her.

"Wake up Gabrielle." Said Xena.

Khlara shook her head and smiled. "You wanna wake some one up? Do it like this." Said Khlara. She thought she was going to burst into giggles. She walked over to Joxer while saying,

"Of course this only works on a few but I know it'll work this time." She knelt down to Joxer and whispered in his ear, "Your such a strong man. And handsome!" She licked her first three fingers and put them together as best she could. She slowly dotted them on Joxer's face. Joxer smiled in his sleep then woke up to Khlara. "What?" he asked sleepily. Khlara burst into giggles and so did Xena.

Joxer fully awoke and said angrily, "So you think that's funny huh?"

"No I think it's pathetic." Said Khlara still giggling. Just then an idea struck Joxer. He got up and walked over to Gabrielle.

Xena and Khlara stopped laughing and watched. Joxer knelt down and whispered into Gabrielle's ears, "Your awfully beautiful. I've never seen you around before." Said Joxer. Only instead of licking his fingers he actually kissed Gabrielle. Gabrielle woke up and looked at Joxer. She slapped the back of his head a couple times. "What in Hades name do you think your doing?!" yelled Gabrielle. Khlara tried to contain what giggles came to her but she couldn't hold it in so she started to laugh again. All three looked at the laughing goddess and Amazon. "You think this is funny?" asked Gabrielle not so amused.

"Yes." Answered Khlara a little more serious now. "I'm sorry. I had no idea Jox was going to do that."

"It's Joxer!" he said, "Why can't you just call me that?" he asked angrily.

"Relax Joxer. Don't worry. I can only take a joke so far and then drop it. Now let's get going. Draco is probably breaking camp by now." Said Khlara. All four ate breakfast and cleaned up to go.

 

Later Khlara stopped Grapes and turned around to see if Joxer was still following. She asked him once again to take off his helmet and he did. She took out three arrows and shot them at four men. The last one she electrocuted with lighting. "Did he die?" asked Joxer amazed.

"No. Knocked him out for a while though." Answered Khlara.

"Should I just leave my helmet off?" asked Joxer. Khlara didn't answer but turned around on her horse.

"Well?" he asked.

"Sure." She whispered.

"Something disturbing you?" asked Gabrielle turning around. The two were far behind. Xena turned around too.

"Uh No! Keep going! We'll catch up!" yelled Khlara. Xena and Gabrielle shrugged and walked on. Khlara motioned for Joxer to come up. "I swear if you tell anyone about the tone in my voice when I said sure you'll end up like that guy." Said Khlara pointing to the one she electrocuted.

"Why?" he asked.

"You may find out sooner then I want you to. Tell Xena I had some problems to take care of. I'll be with you guys in a while." Said Khlara.

Joxer ran up to tell Xena. When he looked back Khlara and Grapes were gone.

 

"Aphrodite!" yelled Khlara. "What?" she asked innocently.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Khlara.

"Fun." She said going back to her nails.

"Oh I see. You find fun in making me fall in love with a mortal." Said Khlara like it didn't matter.

"Yep." She said still paying attention to her nails.

"Well it's not funny to me!" screamed Khlara. "I could be killed for this!" Khlara stormed off. While down on Earth a horrible thunder storm was going on because of that.

"Please! Leave her alone." Said Athena begging her sister.

"It's not me that's doing it." Said Aphrodite.

"Then..." said Athena whispering.

"Khlara's doing it all by herself." Whispered the two.

 

Khlara appeared in the village and walked to the tavern where Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer were. Xena knew what had happened. Khlara walked in and to some amazingly not soaked.

"I got you a room for a couple minutes." Said Xena. Khlara walked into the room and started to scream. People looked but paid no attention. Minutes later she came out. Joxer came walking in with two women on his arms, "And that's how I defeated him that time." Said Joxer to the women.

Khlara looked up to the sky and muttered "Aphrodite". Just then the women left Joxer complaing. He looked longingly at the women, shrugged and walked to the three.

"Having fun?" asked Xena.

"No not really." Said Joxer with an amazing pang of guilt. Just then a bunch of Draco's men walked in.

"We're looking for Xena." Cried the leader.

"Here I am." Said Xena with the look of action on her face.

"Draco sent us. Come peacefully and it won't hurt a bit." Said the leader smiling.

"No." Replied Xena with the same smile. The leader attacked Xena only to be punched in the face. The other nine men attacked as well. Soon all the people except the attackers were down. Nine more men came in and started attacking the four. Draco was sending his best men in. Gabrielle was picked up by two of the men when Khlara shot her arrow and killed him before it was too late.

"Xena we have to retreat!" yelled Khlara. "We'll meet you in the morning!"

"Your giving up?!" yelled back Xena.

"Just do as I say!" yelled Khlara. Khlara grabbed Joxer's hand and they both left the tavern. Xena and Gabrielle did the same.

 

As Xena untied Argo from the water trough and Khlara did the same with Grapes, Khlara said,

"We'll split two by two. Joxer and I will camp out in the forest and head toward Draco's. You do the same only go North-east. It'll confuse them and we'll lose them. Artemis will take care of the rest." Said Khlara.

"Be careful." Said Xena.

"We will." Said Khlara. Gabrielle and Xena got on Argo and rode off. Khlara tore off some of Joxer's armor.

"Hey!" he cried.

"Grapes can't carry all that. Now hop on!" said Khlara.

Joxer did as he was told. Only he grabbed the armor and started putting it back on. Khlara shook her head and started to ride off. Half way to where she wanted to be she asked Joxer, "Your good at riding in the back. Who taught you?"

"My brother." He answered.

"Get rid of all your armor except the chest plate. It'll make everything go smoother. Not now though." Said Khlara.

 

They finally got to the spot where Khlara wanted and went deep into the woods. They we're about a minute from the water. Khlara and Joxer got off the horse.

"Set up a fire." Said Khlara. Joxer went to get wood. Khlara took off the saddle bag from Grapes and sat it down. She took out her bed roll and some flint. She took out her dinner and she got out Grapes too. She fed, watered, and brushed Grapes then laid out her bed roll. Joxer came back with the wood.

"Thanks." Khlara started building the fire. Joxer got his bedroll and laid it down across from the fire. His lyre accidentally started to fall out but he quickly put it back. Khlara cooked the meager dinner as Joxer watched on.

"Why don't you play?" asked Khlara.

"Play what?" asked Joxer.

"Your lyre. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I sing a little." She said. She handed Joxer the little dinner. A small piece of warmed dried meat and half an apple.

"Thanks." He whispered then said, "I don't play."

"Don't lie. I've heard you before." Joxer took out his lyre and strummed a few notes.

"Play something." She said as she picked up her wine skin. Joxer started to play a recognizing tune. Khlara slowly sang the words:

 

"And as I hear the voice cry out 'Save Me! Save Me!' I wish I saved that simple one....."

 

She sang until the song was done.

"That was good." Said Joxer.

"Are you good at solving problems?" asked Khlara quickly changing the subject.

"I'm not as good as Athena but I'll try." Said Joxer.

"I have this friend and she really likes this guy. Sure he is a pest but she really likes him. She doesn't know how to tell him though."

"I would just tell him."

"What if she's nervous?"

"Just remember the good points about him."

"Joxer?"

"Yeah?"

"......Nothing. Night."

Joxer went to sleep on his bedroll.

"I love you." Whispered.

 

Khlara woke up again at dawn. Luckily Joxer wasn't snoring this time. She knew in a few minutes he would be up though. It was colder than the last time and no one slept well in the cold. Khlara went down to the lake and caught a couple fish. She quickly threw a small thunder bolt at them and had them smoked. She went to Joxer's saddle bag and put them in there. She went to her saddle bag and got out her breakfast. Joxer woke up and looked at the rest of the food.

"Look in your saddle bag. Maybe something's in there." Said Khlara.

Joxer looked, found the smoked fish and started eating happily.

After they ate Khlara got up and stretched. "I'm going to go bathe in the river. No peaking!" she said as she walked down with the soap in hand.

"I have some respect you know!" he yelled. Khlara waved back. After a few minutes Xena and Gabrielle walked up.

"Where's Khlara?" asked Gabrielle.

"She went to go bathe in the river." Said Joxer pointing the way.

Gabrielle smiled and ran toward the river. "Gabrielle wait!" yelled Xena but she was all ready half way gone. "I might as well go too." Thought Xena and walked off. Joxer looked at the ashes of the fire and got up.

 

Gabrielle and Xena found Khlara splashing in the water. "Come on in! It's warm!" yelled Khlara. Gabrielle stripped and jumped in.

"Come on Xena!" yelled the two girls. Xena smiled and did the same. After playing for some time Xena thought she felt some one coming.

"Don't worry. Draco's men will never know we're here." Said Khlara. Just then a dark figure rose out of the water and tapped Khlara on the shoulder. Gabrielle looked on. Xena was all ready swimming on over when who ever it was spit out some water onto Khlara's face. The wind blew a little just enough for the light to shine on who ever it was. And there he swam smiling.

"Joxer!" yelled Khlara a bit angrily yet with a smile. Gabrielle and Xena weren't so amused. Xena was about ready to swim over there to kill him, when Khlara held her back. "Can I speak with you in private?" asked Khlara motioning over to some rocks. Xena nodded.

 

"Xena, Draco has my golden arrow that's why I went with you on this quest. He also has the gem."

"Is this all?" asked Xena still mad from Joxer's little joke.

"No. I'm in love with Joxer." Said Khlara looking down at the water.

"Does he know?" asked Xena with mixed emotions.

"No."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"When I'm ready. Let's go back and swim O.K.?" Xena knew well enough not to argue so they went back.

Khlara grabbed her soap and started to swim over to the water fall. "Be back in a bit!" she yelled. Joxer was no where to be found.

 

Khlara soaped up on the side of the water fall. "Hi." Said Joxer from the other side.

"Joxer, I hope you know......" but Joxer interrupted.

"I know. Just thought that maybe you would wanna talk or let me borrow your soap after your done." Khlara secretly smiled.

Khlara started to walk out. Joxer was about to cover his eyes when he saw she was wearing a swimming suit. Khlara threw the soap at Joxer who catched it and went inside the water fall. Khlara's eyes were closed when he went.

"Who taught you to swim?" asked Joxer and Khlara at the same time.

"My brother." They both said again at the same time. They both secretly smiled.

"Joxer?"

"Yeah?"

"I've been meaning to tell you something."

"What?"

"I.....LoveYou." said Khlara. Joxer started to walk under the waterfall but Khlara closed her eyes once more.

"I am wearing something." He said. Khlara looked but he was all ready under the water.

"Do you really?" he asked.

"Yes." Said Khlara. The two were close now.

"Why?" he asked.

"Well damn the gods you had to be born cute!" said Khlara.

"So was that morning joke real?" he asked.

"No."

"Didn't think so." The two were much closer now.

"Khlara?"

"Yeah?"

Joxer slowly kissed her on the lips. "I love you too." He whispered. Khlara answered back with a kiss and the two just kissed.

Gabrielle saw this and said, "Xena! Look!" Gabrielle was amazed. Xena just smiled.

"You knew about this?" cried Gabrielle.

"A little."

Gabrielle splashed Xena and the two went into a splashing fight.

 

After kissing for a passionate fifteen minutes in the water near the fall, Khlara let up on the kiss. She looked deep into Joxer's bright eyes. She saw love on his face. Khlara turned to see Gabrielle and Xena in their splashing fight and swam over there to play too. Joxer followed and soon all four were splashing each other to death.

 

Later after they had swim to the fullest, Gabrielle, Xena, and Khlara were laying on the bank nude. Joxer was much more further down and in the woods so as not to notice the girls. Soon there was a nice long warm breeze.

"Khlara?" asked Gabrielle.

"Yeah?"

"What's the breeze for?"

"We'll have to be going soon. It'll dry us off faster." She answered. In a couple minutes they were dry. The girls got dressed and Khlara yelled to Joxer that it was O.K. to come over now. Usually he would've been there within a minute but after five minutes he still hadn't come. Xena heard a swift movement within the forest and she got out her sword. Khlara readied her Bow and arrow and Gabrielle positioned her staff. The movement came from all over. All three circled around, but the movement was faster. Then a little bunny hopped out of a bush.

"How cute!" exclaimed Khlara. Gabrielle and Xena walked over.

"No rabbit could run that fast." Said Xena still cautioned.

Suddenly Joxer jumped down from a tree and said, "Hi guys." All three turned around. Xena was really mad this time and started walking towards Joxer.

"Xena! Relax! It was just a joke." Said Khlara but Xena paid no attention. Khlara jumped off the side of a tree and landed in front of Xena before she got to Joxer.

"Leave him alone." Challenged Khlara. She dared to do the impossible. Gabrielle looked on knowing that this wasn't needed. Especially for Joxer! Joxer stood there too knowing if the two fought he would fight them both.

"He scared us half to death and still was acting idiotically."

"That's no reason to kill him. Now leave him alone." Said Khlara.

"We have to get going." Said Xena and she walked back to camp. Gabrielle followed not knowing what to do. Khlara looked at Joxer and walked the rest of the way to him. She hugged him and then looked within his eyes. She kissed him tenderly on the lips and went to camp.

 

Xena and Gabrielle were both on Argo. Khlara had offered for Joxer to ride but he declined. They trudged through the horrible storm.

"Khlara! Why don't you stop the storm?!" yelled Gabrielle.

"I don't have power over it! Only Zeus does for this one!" yelled back Khlara. Khlara turned around and saw Joxer was running to catch up. Khlara turned Grapes around and headed towards Joxer. "Hop on!" she said. Joxer did as he was told and hopped on. Grapes ran towards Argo to catch up.

"It's a good thing you aren't wearing all that silly armor. Who knows what could've happened." Said Khlara trying to put a smile on her face. Xena was still mad at her and Khlara couldn't take it.

"Xena! I'm sorry! You know why I did that!" Yelled Khlara.

"I'm sorry too!" said Xena. The storm let up and the sun came out. Grapes caught up to Argo finally.

 

After hours of trudging through the mud they came upon Draco's camp. They slowly walked in. Most of the men were asleep. Xena and Khlara made their way towards Draco's tent as Gabrielle and Joxer went the other way and started taking out some of the men. Draco awoke to the sound of Xena's voice asking, "Did you have a good night's sleep?"

"Why Xena! Yes I did." Said Draco happy to wake up to see the warrior princess's face. He looked over to see Khlara and looked at her necklace.

"Hello weather goddess." Not so amused she was here.

"It's Amazon." Said Khlara. Just then they heard some commotion outside. Gabrielle and Joxer had woken up one of the best soldiers Draco had.

"Xena!" yelled Gabrielle.

"Khlara." Whispered Joxer. Xena and Khlara ran out. All of the soldiers were up now and ready to fight.

"Give us the gem and the arrow!" yelled Khlara at Draco who was all ready out of his tent.

"No." He said. Khlara walked over to him and looked him straight in the eye.

"Give us the gem and the arrow now!" whispered Khlara with and angry force.

"Attack!" yelled Draco while drawing his sword. After a while Draco had his archers brought out. Khlara knew that it would be all most an unfair fight. If the archers shot at Xena or Khlara they would know what to do but if they shot at Gabrielle or Joxer death would surely come.

Without warning an arrow came shooting at Khlara. Joxer saw this and ran. When just a few inches away from Khlara, Joxer pushed her out of the way. Khlara regained her balance and look to see Joxer on the ground. His arms were out and his eyes were closed. Then she looked to see where the arrow had gotten him. There was an arrow through his heart.

"NO!" screamed Khlara. Tears formed in her eyes. She looked at Draco who was laughing. Khlara brought her arrow towards her bow and whispered, "For you, my love." And shot it. It went to Draco's heart and he fell. Then the clouds began to blacken and lighting and thunder sounded. The lighting struck a tree and a great voice called from the sky. "You have angered the weather goddess. Run if you want to live!" All the soldiers stopped what they were doing and ran away. Khlara fell to her knees. Doing such great stunts as that one tired her out quickly. Xena and Gabrielle ran over. A light rain began to come down. "He's dead." She whispered. "The arrow was ment for me. Callisto was right. Love does destroy." Said Khlara. Athena, Artemis, and Aphrodite all appeared and walked over to their sister. They hugged their little step-sister. Then Iris flew down.

"Hades has sent a message. " she unraveled the scroll and started reading it.

 

I want to inform you that the one you call Joxer, is not dead. Nor is he alive. He is in a state where only if he is taken care of will he live. If he comes here I will properly send him back.

 

 

Hades

A gust of wind blew and put Joxer onto Grapes. "Then we will help him in what ever way possible." Said Khlara and they ran off. Everyone followed.

 

Joxer laid quietly on the bed. "What do we do?" asked Khlara. "We need to get the arrow out." Said Xena. Khlara tried getting the arrow out but it wouldn't budge. Everyone tried but no such luck.

"I don't think we'll be able to do anything until that arrow comes out." Said Athena.

"We'll do what we can." Said Khlara destined to make him live again.

"Gabrielle, go get some water. Xena build a fire. Artemis and Aphrodite you may leave. Khlara we need soap and rags."

Everyone went to do there assign jobs. When everyone was gone except Athena who was cleaning up the room a bit, Khlara walked over to Joxer and kissed her fingers. She placed them on his lips. Tears fell down her eyes. She felt a current of warm air stream across her fingers. She placed her hand on his forehead. "Athena he's running a fever and breathing!" said Khlara excited he was breathing. She ran out the door to get the rags, some cold water, and the soap. Athena walked over to him and brushed his hair back.

"You do amaze us." She said.

 

The fever still ran as Khlara wiped his forehead with the cold rag. "Please don't die." She whispered. Xena and Gabrielle had gone to Athens to buy some food. Khlara didn't have much for being a goddess.

"We'll make sure he won't." Said Athena putting her hands on Khlara's shoulder. "Try the arrow again." Said Athena. Khlara tried but it still wouldn't budge.

"How can he breath with this arrow?" asked Khlara.

"I don't know." Said Athena. Khlara stopped wiping his forehead and relaxed in her chair.

"You've had a long night. Rest a while." Said Athena fixing Khlara's long hair back into braids. Khlara kissed her fingers and placed them on Joxer's lips just as Xena and Gabrielle walked in. She gasped and dropped her hand.

"He's stopped breathing." Khlara told everyone.

 

Joxer looked around the strange room when mystically Hades appeared.

"To your left, the Elysian Fields. Your right, Tarturus. The front, Judgment. In back, Earth. Now turn around Joxer and go home."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"It's not your time. You're young. You still have the rest of your life. Now go." Said Hades and he left the same way he came in. Joxer turned around and went home.

 

Khlara sat crying. "Why did he have to die?" she asked between sobs. No one answered. A few tears came down Xena's and Gabrielle's cheeks. Sure he was annoying and everything but the last couple of years he had been really nice and had turned into something more than a hated jerk. He became a friend.

Then they heard a slight whisper. "Khlara." Khlara got up and walked over to Joxer. His eyes were closed yet he whispered again, "Khlara." Khlara grabbed the arrow and pulled it out. "Are you all right?" Khlara asked.

"My chest hurts." Whispered Joxer.

"The chest plate!" remember Khlara.

"Do you want it off?" asked Khlara.

"It would help." Khlara undid Joxer's shirt. There it was perfectly on his chest. There was a large hole where the arrow had percied it. Khlara removed the chest plate and a smaller hole sat where his heart was. The arrow hadn't gone all the way through but it had gone enough to make it bleed a little. Khlara cleaned and dressed the wound. There was also a large bump on his head where he had fallen.

 

A few days later when Joxer was better, Xena and Gabrielle decided to leave.

"Good-bye Xena." Said Khlara hugging her. "Visit soon. You are always welcomed here."

"Thanks." Said Xena. Gabrielle hugged Khlara and whispered "Good-bye."

"Good-bye Gabrielle." Said Khlara. Joxer looked at Xena and Gabrielle with his sad puppy look.

"Good-bye Joxer." Said both women and started walking away.

"Khlara?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for saving me."

"It was nothing."

"Khlara?"

"Hmm?" Joxer put his arms around her, dipped her and they passionaly kissed.

"Xena. What do you think will happen to Khlara and Joxer while we're gone?" asked Gabrielle. Xena looked back and said, "I think there's your answer." Said Xena pointing at the two. Gabrielle turned around and looked at them.

"Bye!" yelled Gabrielle. They just waved as they kept kissing.