"I don’t know. I never thought about THAT. How would I know?"

"You could let Xena stab you with her sword."

"Don’t think that’ll ever happen," Xena said, biting into a crisp, tart, red apple.

"How about just a little cut? If it hurts or she bleeds then we’ll know. I can always heal her up."

"You cut her," Xena said, tossing Aphrodite her breast dagger, with bits of orange pulp clinging to it.

"I can’t. I’m the Goddess of Love. That definitely would NOT be an Act of Love!"

"What if I try to cut myself?" Gabrielle asked.

"That should work. A cut is a cut, I suppose."

Taking the razor sharp knife from Aphrodite, Gabrielle laid the dagger on the palm of her hand.

"I wouldn’t do it there," Xena advised. "If Aphrodite doesn’t heal it up, you’ll be using only one hand for a couple of months."

Nodding her head, Gabrielle moved the knife to her forearm, halfway between her wrist and elbow. Then suddenly she drew the edge hard across her skin. The knife sliced to the bone and then out, but there was no cut and no blood and no pain. Smiling up at them both, Gabrielle said with relief, "Well, I guess that answers that."

"Not quite," said another voice. Looking around the three of them saw Ares had appeared. "Just because you can’t be injured doesn’t mean you can’t die."

"Ever the optimist. That’s my brother," Aphrodite said.

"Better to know now, than to find out when it’s too late."

"So just what do you propose we do? Actually kill her? Or try to?"

"How about None of the Above," Gabrielle answered them. "I think I’ll just take my chances, just like I always have. I know if it comes down to it, Xena will always be there for me."

"Damn straight," Was Xena’s only comment as she tossed a couple grapes into the air, catching them in her mouth.

"I guess we should go, but before we do," Gabrielle continued. "Do either of you know anyone, or any god, or sorcerer, who can tell me exactly what I am?"

"Sorry, Honey," Aphrodite said, shaking her head sadly. "I really don’t. Ares?" As she looked over at him.

"Nope. Zeus might have known something, but Hercules took care of that.  I still can’t believe he killed our father just to save Xena’s baby."

"Don’t start up with that again," warned Xena, turning up a silver goblet of the sweet wine.

"I think it’s time we left," Gabrielle said, not wanting things to get ugly. "Thanks for trying anyway, Aphrodite. It was really good to see you again."

"Yeah, and thanks for the great food," Xena added, cutting off a chunk of the cheese, for later.

"You’re both welcome. And Gabrielle, anytime you want to hang out you know how to get in touch with me. Anytime. Oh, and thanks for tidying up the place for me. Now I have to go and undo a few little problems my dear brother created."

The two goddesses embraced once again, and then Aphrodite flashed out.

"I’ll be going, too. Can’t let her ruin all my good work," Ares said. "I assume you know the way out," he said to Gabrielle, and he also flashed out.

"Well, I’m ready if you are," Xena said, picking up a loaf of bread to go with the cheese.

Gabrielle looked around once more and sighed, wondering what it would be like to live as a goddess on Mt. Olympus, and almost wishing….

Almost.