FADE IN: INT. FRONT HALL - EVENING Xena is looking at various weapons along the walls as Gabrielle inspects art hung there as well. It’s clear that they’re waiting to hear the king’s response. GABRIELLE Kinda eclectic, isn’t he?
	XENA Most definitely. These look more like an art collection than a weapons display. PALAEMON (from the end of the hall) That’s because they are. They both turn and smile when he approaches them with a huge smile and arms wide open. He hugs them both with one arm. PALAEMON (cont’d) It is so good to see you again. He pulls back and whistles low and appreciatively. PALAEMON (cont’d) I see that time hasn’t had the same effect on you that it has on we mere mortals. XENA Time in deep freeze doesn’t make us immortal. Just well preserved.
	PALAEMON I guess it doesn’t matter how it happened. What matters is it happened. Come! Where are my manners? Let me get you some food and wine! He gestures down the hall and they take a few steps ahead of him. Xena leans toward Gabrielle and whispers. XENA Does he seem just a bit too happy to see us? GABRIELLE He is acting a little odd. PALAEMON Vidalus will be thrilled to see you. GABRIELLE You’re still together? PALAEMON Why wouldn’t we be? GABRIELLE Well, I um... I.... XENA We weren’t sure you would make good traveling companions when we last saw you. You had quite a chip on your shoulder. PALAEMON I suppose I did, but he became a good friend. After a while I couldn’t really think of life without him. XENA It’s good to see you’ve gotten rid of the chip. PALAEMON I did. Because of you and the things I learned from my friend.
	Xena and Gabrielle just smile knowingly as they follow him. DISSOLVE TO: INT. DINING ROOM - EVENING Xena and Gabrielle sit with Palaemon at a large table. Dinner is complete and now they are sipping from golden goblets. XENA So where is Vidalus? PALAEMON Well, I’m afraid that we have a situation here that has him a bit upset.  I had hoped he would come down to dinner, but, well Vidalus can be so emotional I’m sure he didn’t want you to see him like that. GABRIELLE What’s the problem? Xena notices that Palaemon seems to try and hide a smile as he prepares his answer, almost as if he is pleased and they’ve been caught in some trap. PALAEMON My son is getting married. XENA How is that a problem?
	Palaemon knows that the jig is up; Xena knows something is going on. He decides to be straight with them. PALAEMON My son, Valius was the product of a short and very intense time with a young Amazon. GABRIELLE Well, that explains that. PALAEMON Excuse me? XENA We heard that your kingdom was here and that there was some connection to the Amazons. That’s why we came. To see you and find out if there was some sort of problem since they’ve all disappeared. PALAEMON My problem isn’t because they’re gone. He sighs and shakes his head. PALAEMON (cont’d) It is sort of because they’re gone. GABRIELLE Start from the top. PALAEMON Val is marrying Alicia. King Dameus is expecting to meet his mother and me. XENA But she’s not around. PALAEMON Right and never has been. The whole reason Val is even here is because I had the unfortunate luck to be held hostage by the Amazon’s during a mating ritual. XENA I see. So they used you as a stud service? PALAEMON And when Val was born his mother returned him to me. So I guess since I got my son out of it, it wasn’t that unfortunate. Anyhow, Rhea.... GABRIELLE Rhea! PALAEMON Yeah, did you know her? GABRIELLE Yes, she was part of a tribe we once lent a hand. PALAEMON She was a sweet girl, but Val was not welcome in the tribe so she brought him to me and I never saw her again. Vidalus is the closest thing to a mother Val has ever had. XENA But he’s not the one you want to present to Dameus? PALAEMON Right. GABRIELLE And Vidalus isn’t taking it well?
	PALAEMON Right again. DISSOLVE TO: INT. BEDCHAMBER - NIGHT Xena is washing up in a basin as Gabrielle sits in front of the fire staring at the flames. She joins Gabrielle on the floor. XENA Dinar for your thoughts.
	GABRIELLE I’m not sure they’re worth that much. XENA Care to share? Gabrielle leans back into Xena’s arms, resting her head on her shoulder, but continuing to stare at the flames. GABRIELLE Does it seem to you that we keep finding ourselves involved in the lives of Amazon progeny? Xena chuckles and kisses Gabrielle’s temple. XENA They do seem to pop up in the strangest places. GABRIELLE How long do you think it’s going to take Palaemon to get up the courage to ask us for help? XENA If we sneak out before breakfast, he won’t have a chance. Gabrielle chuckles and seems to sink further into Xena’s embrace. GABRIELLE That quickly? XENA I’ll bet my saddle on it. GABRIELLE Are we going to? XENA Do you want to? GABRIELLE Yes and no. XENA That was decisive. GABRIELLE Well, on one hand I want to help anyone of Amazon blood, but on the other hand, I must admit I’m not wild about getting involved in something that has Vidalus so upset. I dunno, it just seems wrong for Palaemon to be trying to deny his place in Val’s life. XENA Ah yes, but Dameus has a large army he’s not afraid to use. So if something goes wrong here, it could be the end of this kingdom. No wedding, no Vidalus, no nothing. GABRIELLE You’re not playing fair. You’re making it impossible for me to justify making Palaemon get himself out of this mess. XENA Shall we wait until morning and see if he even asks? GABRIELLE Sure. I guess it’s not our problem unless we make it our problem huh? XENA Exactly, and in the meantime, we can enjoy that big soft bed. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. GARDENS - MORNING Gabrielle is walking through the palace gardens. In the distance Xena can be seen doing a series of sword drills. Gabrielle has a scroll tucked under her arm and is apparently looking for a place to sit and write. As she comes to a bench she finds Vidalus seated and looking miserable. GABRIELLE Morning. He looks up at her and gestures aimlessly. GABRIELLE (cont’d) May I join you?
	VIDALUS Of course. She takes a seat and there is an uneasy silence between them for a moment. VIDALUS (cont’d) I’m sorry I didn’t join you for dinner last night. I was rather out of sorts. GABRIELLE I understand. Palaemon kind  of explained what was going on. VIDALUS I’m not speaking to him at the moment. GABRIELLE I can understand that. VIDALUS After all these years! After everything we’ve gone through together, he has the nerve to treat me like this during one of the most important times in Val’s life. GABRIELLE I don’t think he wants to exclude you. VIDALUS Of course he does. How can he think of bringing some woman in here to pose as Val’s mother and not think he’s excluding me? GABRIELLE Good point. Gabrielle looks over at Xena and considers her next words carefully. GABRIELLE You know, Xena and I had a daughter together. VIDALUS You did? GABRIELLE Yup, a beautiful little girl named Eve. And there were times when Xena was pregnant that I felt excluded. We weren’t sure for a long time exactly how she got pregnant and I think I held that against her. I knew she hadn’t been unfaithful to me, but somewhere in the back of my mind there was this nagging little voice, ya know? VIDALUS I can imagine. GABRIELLE But as the baby grew and Xena began to glow with the pregnancy somehow I came to realize that she was changing both physically and mentally and that it was a good thing. I put up with morning sickness and mood swings and.... Gods the cravings that woman had would make a cannibal sick. Gabrielle notices that a short smile flicker’s across his face so she presses on. GABRIELLE (cont’d) So suddenly we had this precious little girl with us.
	VIDALUS I remember the day Val was brought to us. I fell in love the second I laid eyes on him. GABRIELLE Same with Eve and me. VIDALUS I helped raise him the best way I knew how.  Pal and Val... the two most important men in my life. I did my best and now.... He stops and his head drops. GABRIELLE Xena and I didn’t get to raise Eve. She grew up without us and when we found her she had become Livia, the Bitch of Rome. VIDALUS Oh Gods! How did that happen? GABRIELLE It’s a long and unimportant story, but what I’m trying to say is that you have been an important part of Val’s life, all his life. He is who he is today because you were there to help him. No matter what happens, Val will always carry a part of you with him. VIDALUS And I’m being silly? Gabrielle bumps shoulders with him and takes his hand. GABRIELLE No, I don’t think you’re being silly, but maybe Xena and I could help. VIDALUS Would you do that for us? GABRIELLE To help keep your family together, yes. VIDALUS Where is Eve now? GABRIELLE She’s dead. VIDALUS I’m sorry. GABRIELLE So am I.
	CUT TO: EXT. GARDEN - MORNING Gabrielle wanders over to Xena who is wiping her face with a cloth before wiping down her blade with it. GABRIELLE I did a very silly thing. XENA I know. GABRIELLE Now, I know your hearing is good, but I was WAY over there. She gestures to the other side of the garden. Xena smiles and sheaths her sword. Taking Gabrielle’s hand they begin a slow stroll through the gardens. XENA I knew the second you sat down on that bench we were going to be involved. You don’t like to see people hurting and it’s damn clear that Vidalus is hurting. And we sort of owe him. Xena stops and turns Gabrielle so they’re facing each other. She gently cups her cheek.
	XENA (cont’d) He did save my sight. Gave me the ability to see the beautiful things in my life. Leaning in before Gabrielle can reply, Xena kisses her very tenderly, but with passion and playfulness as she nips her bottom lip before pulling away. XENA (cont’d) Now the question is, which one of us is going to be Val’s mother? GABRIELLE I think you should do it. You look more Palaemon’s type. XENA I think Vidalus is Palaemon’s type. GABRIELLE You know... I’m not sure. I mean I can’t tell.... Gabrielle begins to walk through the garden with Xena behind her. XENA We still need to decide. I’ll flip you for it.
	GABRIELLE You do mean with a coin right? FADE OUT. END OF ACT TWO