"By the Gods, those ladies really know how to party," stated Gabrielle, and she meant it, although "morning after head" was making her wish that they hadn't been quite that proficient.

"You said it," Xena concurred. She held her liquor better than the Bard, but there were still a few parts of last night that were a little hazy for her. "Did you and I really…"

"Hey Xena, look over there!" Gabrielle pointed out hurriedly. She remembered nothing beyond a certain point of the previous evening and didn't feel like advertising that fact. "He's cute, too. What, do they grow them on trees around here?"

"I'm sure we could ask Hortense and Mommy Dearest if we run into them again," Xena responded wryly.

Gabrielle became thoughtful. "Look Xena, I think maybe you and I have something to prove to each other. I mean, all this competition between us only hurts our friendship in the long run. I think we should take this opportunity to lessen it by trying to find out which of us he likes better without turning it into a competition."

"You're kidding, right?" Xena asked dubiously. Sometimes Gabrielle wandered off blithely where angels feared to tread.

"I'm serious," the Bard insisted stubbornly. "You're more important to me than any guy, and I want to prove that to you. So I promise, if he picks you I won't get in the way."

"Gabrielle, I'll do you one better. He's yours."

"Are you trying to compete with me at being noncompetitive?" she demanded, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Two could play at that game…

"No, I'm serious. He's all yours."

Gabrielle let it go as Adonis finally wandered over.

"Good morning ladies," he began with a charming expression on his handsome face.

"Whatever," Xena told him bluntly. "Three's a crowd. See you later, Gabrielle."

"What?! You're not going to fight over me?" he demanded incredulously. After the scenes he had witnessed on the day before it seemed amazing that Xena was giving up so easily.

"Nope," Xena said with a disinterested shrug.

"Damn!" he swore and then morphed into a familiar shape.

"Ares!" exclaimed Gabrielle. That was the last thing she had expected.

Ares ignored the irritating blond and glared at the warrior princess. "You sure know how to take the fun out of everything!"

"Everything where you're concerned," Xena drawled in amusement. Ares should have known better. She always seemed to know when he was around, no matter what shape he was wearing.

Ares snorted and flashed out of sight, muttering under his breath in disappointment.

"Hey!" Gabrielle said in protest. Xena turned to meet her angry stare. "You just tried to fix me up with Ares!"

"Relax, Gabrielle. I knew he wouldn't go for it," Xena informed her. "You're not his type."

"Not his type!" she all but shouted indignantly. Then she strangled off any further protest. She was never going to look at another man again, at least while Xena was around. Between Xena and the perverse half of humankind she'd be driven insane.

Xena watched the Bard stalk off in a snit. She hoped it wouldn't be too long before her friend forgave her- she hated eating her own cooking. At least Gabrielle wouldn't be wasting her talent writing any more mushy love stories in the near future. Xena greatly preferred her partner's action packed tales of adventure. Not that she'd let Gabrielle know that she secretly read them all. Where would be the fun in that? she thought to herself gleefully and followed the Bard down the long and winding road to their next adventure.

Doubleheader

"What's this?" Xena asked the bartender as he delivered a pair of drinks to her and her partner. "We didn't order these."

"Compliments of Harmodius over there," the barman informed her with a leer, pointing at a good looking man at the end of the bar.

"He's cute," Gabrielle said appreciatively as she raised her drink.

"A very nice package," Xena cautious agreed. "But don't tell me you've forgotten Lothario already?"

"Come on, Xena, that was one time. We don't know that this Harmodius is a pervert, too. Maybe he's just interested in one of us and sent us both drinks to be polite.

"Maybe," Xena said dubiously. Thanks to warrior princess' much more extensive experience with men she was no longer that naïve, but if letting him try to pick them up before she shot him down made Gabrielle happy she could live with it. And if his line wasn't too bad maybe she'd let him live with it, too.

Harmodius lifted a graceful hand in query. Gabrielle smiled invitingly in response, though not too much so. She hadn't forgotten Lothario at all (the swine!), she just preferred not to prejudge someone, especially someone as friendly and good looking as their new acquaintance. But just in case she surreptitiously checked to make sure her staff was within easy reach.

His moves matched his pretty face. "Good evening, ladies. My name is Harmodius. I hope you'll forgive my presumption and that you're enjoying your drinks."

"Yes, thank you. Would you like to join us? My name is Gabrielle and this is Xena."

"A pleasure to meet you Gabrielle, Xena," he said with a princely bow to each. "I've heard a lot about the two of you. I'd love a chance to get to know you better. What do you say to a double date?"

"You have a friend?" said Gabrielle with a delighted smile. This was getting better and better. It seemed as if their rotten luck with men in Mytilene had just changed.

"A very good friend, Aristogeiton. Over there," he directed as another really hot guy returned from the men's room.

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged looks. Now this was more like it! Finally, someone for both of them at the same time. No need to argue, or feel jealous, or negative feelings of any sort. Just a nice, friendly evening in the pleasant company of two good looking guys.

Xena turned back to Harmodius. "We're in."

"Great!" Harmodius enthused and then waved his friend over.

"Which one do you want?" Gabrielle whispered in Xena's ear.

"Let's just let them sort it out, okay?" Xena suggested sotto voce. The last thing she needed was another catfight over a couple of guys they would never see after tonight anyway. If the two guys couldn't peaceably settle it amongst themselves the night would be ending really early. Oh well, there was always the Meow Mix.

Gabrielle agreed. She would prove that she was less competitive than the warrior princess if it killed her, not that it would in this case. However this came out she would be ahead. Both guys were extremely easy on the eyes, so being cooperative would be her pleasure.

Aristogeiton padded over like a sexy panther.

"What do we have here?" he asked Harmodius.

"You were right. They are Xena and Gabrielle."

"Told you so," Aristogeiton told him with a bit of a smirk.

"That's nice," Harmodius said with a playful shove. But the women were relieved to see neither were interested in taking it further. Some guys thought that women were impressed by fisticuffs, especially when the punches were over them, but not these women. With all the violence in their everyday lives it was something that turned Xena and Gabrielle completely off.

"I've asked these two beautiful ladies if they'd like to join us for a double date," Harmodius told his friend urbanely.

"Perfect," he said with a pearly smile. "Shall we go? I know a place that's much more exciting than this."

"I think we're moving a little fast here…" Gabrielle started a bit nervously.

"Really, you'll love it," he assured her. "It's called Butch's Place"

"Oh…" Gabrielle laughed, embarrassed. She had thought he'd been suggesting that they go back to the guys' home for… private entertainment. Maybe that was a possibility when the night was over, but she wasn't interested in starting there. "Sounds like a plan."

"Great. Come on, honey," Harmodius said and then took Aristogeiton's hand into his own. The two smiled beatifically at each other, the very picture of young love.

"You're going to love Butch's Place. They're accepting of every kind of couple there."

Xena and Gabrielle just looked at each other. Foiled by Love again!

Then Xena sighed. She held her hand out to Gabrielle. "Let's go, honey."

Dedicated to Anna George

N.B Harmodius and Aristogeiton, the two young

lovers from Athens are two of the most famous heroes

of that ancient city. The two killed the tyrant ruling the

city, allowing Athens to become the democracy that

so many nations have used as a political model in the

centuries since then.