FADE IN

The dining room of a busy inn. Xena is seated at a table, a plate of food in front of her. Across the table from her stands a man--thirty-ish and obviously a warrior from the way he stands with his feet wide apart and his hand resting on the hilt of the sword hanging from his hip. At the next table a child can be seen fidgeting while her parents look on in disapproval. Mechanically, Xena glances at them then up at the warrior.

XENA:
     Thanks for the offer but I think I'll pass.

ANDRASH:
     Too bad. We could use someone like you.

XENA:
     Thanks for the compliment but--

Gabrielle descends the staircase into the dining room. She has a sleepy, slightly tousled look. She stops at the foot of the stairs and scans the room, looking for Xena.

ANDRASH:
     Don't be so quick to decide. At least think about it.

XENA (nods dismissively):
     Right. I will. (she glances at Gabrielle) Now get lost.

Gabrielle spots Xena and smiles, coming over to the table.

XENA:
     Morning.

GABRIELLE:
     What happened to you last night? Haimon and I thought you were right behind us when we came in for dinner but when we turned around you were gone.

XENA (shrugs):
     I figured that three's a crowd.

Gabrielle takes a seat across from Xena. She sniffs and glances down at Xena's plate.

GABRIELLE:
     What's for breakfast? It smells delicious.

Xena offers her plate to Gabrielle.

XENA:
     Here. Help yourself.

GABRIELLE (smiles indulgently):
     I can order for myself, Xena.

Xena places her plate in front of Gabrielle.

XENA:
     Go ahead. I'm not very hungry. Besides (she grins teasingly) I'm guessing you worked up a pretty good appetite last night.

Gabrielle laughs uncomfortably and looks around. She notices Haimon coming down the stairs, yawning and stretching. She waves at him and he grins, coming over to the table.

Xena rolls her eyes and looks over at the little girl at the next table, still fidgeting and now playing with her food.

Haimon comes up behind Gabrielle and lays his hands on her shoulders. She smiles and squeezes his hand.

HAIMON:
     Morning. (he leans down and nuzzles her neck, then takes a seat.) Good morning, Xena. What happened to you last--?

XENA:
     Business. I had some business to take care of.

HAIMON:
     Too bad. (He reaches over and takes a piece of fruit from Gabrielle's plate. Xena frowns in annoyance.) We were looking forward to you joining us for dinner.

He draws his arm around Gabrielle's shoulders. They all sit in uncomfortable silence a moment and Xena looks away. The little girl at the next table fiddles with the cup on her table as the girl's mother looks on in disapproval.

MOTHER:
     Leah! Stop that and drink your cider!

Gabrielle clears her throat and shifts slightly to gently move out of Haimon's reach.

GABRIELLE:
     Haimon and I have been talking.

XENA:
     Really? What about?

HAIMON:
     Well, you know I spent some time with Darion before meeting up with you in Thebes. He's fine--happy to have his sister back. But...I don't know...there's something about Lykia that I can't--

The warrior approaches their table again.

ANDRASH:
     I've got to be heading out. Think about my offer, Xena. Someone like you would be a great asset to our cause.

XENA (grimaces):
     Thanks but I'll pass.

ANDRASH (shrugs):
     Too bad. But if you change your mind you can always--

Xena nods dismissively.

XENA:
     Right. I'll find you.

Gabrielle watches as the warrior walks out.

GABRIELLE:
     What was that all about? Another bounty hunter looking to make you a partner?

Xena clears her throat uncomfortably.

XENA:
     Not exactly...he's more of a recruiter.

GABRIELLE:
     For what?

XENA (frowns):
     He's been traveling all through Macedonia and Thrace raising an army.

HAIMON:
     Against Rome?

XENA:
     Not against Rome. Against Nero.

Xena and Gabrielle glance at one another meaningfully.

HAIMON:
     Well what are we waiting for? It's about time someone took that bastard out.

XENA:
     It's not up to us--

HAIMON:
     Who says it's not? From everything I've heard Nero isn't fit to rule.

Gabrielle gives Xena an almost apologetic look then turns to Haimon.

GABRIELLE:
     Haimon, it isn't as simple as that.

He shakes his head.

HAIMON:
     Maybe not for you--but it is that simple for me.

GABRIELLE:
     You were just wounded. You should be taking it easy for awhile.

HAIMON:
     I think I'm pretty fully recovered, don't you?

Gabrielle blushes and Haimon smiles, placing his hand over hers and squeezing it affectionately.

GABRIELLE:
     Haimon, I'm serious. (she glances uncomfortably at Xena.) And there are things...things that you just don't understand about--

HAIMON:
     I understand that Nero needs to be stopped. That's all I need to know! And I'm going after him in the morning--with or without you.

Haimon gets up and Gabrielle watches him walk out. She turns and stares at Xena expectantly.

Xena looks away, again absently watching the family at the next table.

XENA:
     I'll understand if you want to go with him...

Gabrielle smiles and reaches out, squeezing Xena's hand.

GABRIELLE:
     Where you go, I go. Don't you know that by now?

Xena smiles tenderly and squeezes Gabrielle's hand in return. They sit in warm, companionable silence a moment until it's broken by the sound of a loud clang from the next table. The little girl has spilled her cider all over the table. The mother leaps to her feet, taking the little girls arm.

MOTHER:
     Leah! I told you to stop fidgeting. Now look what you've done! You're going to march right over to that serving girl, young lady, and ask her for some rags so that you can mop this up. You're going to learn that you have to clean up your messes.

CUT TO

Xena who flinches at hearing these words as we:

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER