FADE IN

Gabrielle enters a tavern. After a quick survey of the place, she takes a seat in a corner, facing the door. A serving girl approaches.

SERVING GIRL:
     What can I get for you?

GABRIELLE:
     Actually, I'm meeting a friend here. She's tall, dark hair, blue eyes, dressed in leather and swings a mean sword?

SERVING GIRL (shrugs):
     Haven't seen anyone like that. Can I get you anything while you wait?

GABRIELLE (sighs):
          Why not? I might be here a while. I'll have wine.

The serving girl moves off towards the bar. Gabrielle's gaze moves lightly over the place. After a moment, a small commotion can be heard. A few tables away, a burly man in his mid 40's and obviously drunk pulls the serving girl onto his lap.

DRUNK:
     Hey, where you off to so fast, girlie?

SERVING GIRL:
     Oh gods, Cletus not now! I've got work to do.

CLETUS (laughs):
     That's right. And I'm just tryin' to put you to work.

SERVING GIRL (struggling):
     Cletus, please let me go!

He laughs and tightens his hold on her.

CLETUS:
     What for? I'm just trying to be friendly is all.

Gabrielle approaches the table, leveling a hard gaze on Cletus.

GABRIELLE:
     I think the young lady has all the friends she needs. Why don't you let her go?

He looks her up and down blearily.

DRUNK:
     And who's gonna make me? You?

GABRIELLE (unblinkingly):
     If I have to. But I don't think it's going to come to that. Do you?

He looks her up and down and recognition dawns. He staggers to his feet and the serving girl slides off of his lap. She quickly runs off. The difference in the sizes between Gabrielle and him is striking. She comes up no higher than his shoulder.

DRUNK:
     Hey--I know you. You're that little Xena sidekick, aren't you? I bet you're not so tough without your friend.

Gabrielle flexes her fingers.

GABRIELLE:
     Do you really want to find out?

XENA:
     I'm afraid the lady is spoken for...unless of course you'd like to go outside and discuss it with me.

Xena grins and the drunk sways, blearily attempting to assess her. Finally good sense prevails and he holds up his hands.

DRUNK:
     Just a mis-understanding. I'm just trying to be friendly is all.

XENA:
     Well, I think your wit and charm were lost on that girl. Maybe you should move on.

She gives him a menacing look and the drunk staggers off. Xena joins Gabrielle at her table.

GABRIELLE:
     I was handling that.

XENA:
     How? You looked like you were about to wipe the floor with him.

GABRIELLE:
     So? Weren't you going to do the same thing?

XENA:
     Threats are one thing. But I wasn't about to beat up on a defenseless drunk. I didn't think that you would either. I remember the days when you would have handled a guy like that with words alone. That was always your greatest weapon, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     I'm not a kid any more, Xena. People change.

XENA:
     I guess they do... (she is silent a moment, obviously trying to think of something to say) So...Darion is settled in okay with Lila?

Gabrielle nods and frowns.

GABRIELLE:
     I hate leaving him. I know he understands that we have a job to do but...

XENA (smiles understandingly):
     I would have understood if you wanted to stay behind with him. I could have handled Akelos.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     You know, sometimes it feels so strange going home... (she looks around the room) Where's Haimon?

XENA:
     We finally caught up with Akelos's army. Haimon stayed behind to find out where they're headed next.

GABRIELLE:
     Are you sure you should have left him alone out there? Maybe we--

XENA:
     Haimon can take care of himself. Besides, we're trying to keep a low profile. If Akelos caught wind that the Warrior Princess and the Battling Bard were hot on his trail he might scatter his men and lay low until he lost us. Once Haimon discovers which way Akelos is headed, he'll catch up with us.

GABRIELLE:
     If he's not back by tomorrow night, I'm going after him.

Xena realizes Gabrielle is in an irritable mood and merely nods.

XENA:
     Okay. (she thinks a moment then speaks hesitantly) So...you and Haimon...it seems that ever since the Orb of Mimir episode you two have been--

GABRIELLE:
     Everything's fine.

XENA:
     Okay...

A wizened old gypsy woman approaches the table.

MAGDA:
     How are you ladies tonight? I am Magda, soothsayer, palm reader and caster of spells. Care to have your fortunes told?

GABRIELLE:
     Thanks, but I--

XENA:
     Sure, why not? It might be fun. (Gabrielle glares and Xena shrugs) Hey, there was a time you really went in for this sort of thing.

GABRIELLE (sighs):
     Okay. Maybe she can tell us which way Akelos is headed.

She offers her palm to Magda and the old woman bends over, reading it.

MAGDA:
     You've traveled a very long distance, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE:
     Actually, I was raised not too far from here. (she looks at the woman curiously) How did you know my name was Gabrielle?

Magda merely smiles and bends over her palm again.

MAGDA:
     Yes...a very long distance. Over land, sea and...time. You yourself have made the greatest journey of all. (she studies her palm again) I see a child--

XENA (quickly):
     Darion.

GABRIELLE:
     That's right. Darion. He's my son.

MAGDA:
     I see a daughter...

Gabrielle stands abruptly, pulling her hand away.

GABRIELLE:
     This is stupid. Forget it!

She turns and marches towards the door.

A man seated at a table in the far corner can be seen furtively watching Gabrielle. She exits the inn and he frowns and shakes his head, obviously worried. He takes a long drink from his mug, draining it and wipes his hand across his mouth.

Back to Xena. She gives Magda a sheepish look.

XENA:
     I'm sorry. She's not usually like this. She's just been so tense lately.

MAGDA:
     Change is hard to accept sometimes.

XENA:
     I suppose it is. (she produces a coin from a leather pouch, laying it on the table) Thank you.

She exits the tavern and pauses outside, looking around for Gabrielle. She hears an altercation around the corner of the building.

CUT TO

The alley where we see the back of a man.

MICAH:
     Hey! Where are you running off to so fast, little one?

We hear Gabrielle's voice but she is blocked from view by Micah's bulk.

GABRIELLE'S VOICE:
     I'm meeting my best friend. She's six feet tall and fights like a harpy in a really bad mood so you'd better watch it.

MICAH (laughs):
     A woman! That'll be the day when Micah of Crete can't take a woman.

GABRIELLE'S VOICE :
     Well, did I mention that my friend was Xena?

MICAH:
     Xena?

GABRIELLE'S VOICE :
     That's right--Xena the Warrior Princess. And you'd better back off or else!

MICAH:
     Or else what?

A hand reaches out and taps Micah on the shoulder.

XENA:
     Or else this.

Xena punches him in the face. Micah lands unconscious in the dirt. Xena grins down at him.

GABRIELLE:
     Xena! Thank the gods! I know you've told me a thousand times before "words before weapons" but he really didn't seem like the talking type. You've got to teach me how to throw a punch like that.

Xena looks up and gapes. Gabrielle stands before her, but it is an eighteen year old Gabrielle, complete with long hair, long peasant skirt and light blue blouse. This is the Gabrielle Xena first met all those years ago.

XENA:
     Gabrielle?

FADE OUT

END OF TEASER

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