A couple of hours later in an operating room, a surgical team operates on a sedated Kira. "Blood pressure and heart rate are stable." says a nurse.

"Good." says the doctor.

He glances at the anesthesiologist, who says, "She's doing great."

The surgeon takes the scalpel and starts to make an incision to a small part of the liver while a nurse cleans the area with the gauge. "This patient's liver is amazing!!" the surgeon says as he selects a portion of the right lobe of Kira's liver and, with the scalpel, starts removing the part from the other half.

After he has carefully separated the part selected, he removes it with a pair of clamps. Her liver automatically starts to regenerate itself. He gently puts it in a dry iced container, and a nurse rushes into a connecting room where another surgical team is waiting with a sedated Maria. The nurse handed the container to another nurse, who brings it to the operating table.

The surgeon tending to Maria looks at everyone and says, "Let's begin." A few hours later,

"Heart rate stable, blood pressure 145 over 90." a nurse says.

Another nurse suctions blood from the open incision as the surgeon has removed the damaged liver and is connecting the donated liver to the blood vessels and bile ducts. Suddenly Maria's blood pressure spikes then drop as she flatlines.

"We need a d-fib stat!" The doctor yells.

Outside the waiting room Xena, Gabrielle, Detectives McBain, and Shaw wait with anticipation. The surgeon that was tending to Kira walks out of the ER, and everyone stands up.

The doctor looks at Xena and says, "Your aunt is in recovery and is doing great."

Xena gets a look of relief on her face as Gabrielle hugs her. "Your aunt is a very healthy woman." the surgeon says.

"When can I see her?" Xena asks.

"Well, she's still sedated right now, but she's in her room." says the surgeon. "You can go visit right now, but only for a short time."

"How's Cortez doing?" McBain asks.

"Right now I don't have that information." the surgeon says. "She still is in surgery. I will have a nurse come out as soon as one is available to give an update." The surgeon leaves.

"She's going to pull through this." Shaw says worried, "She did two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan when she was in the Army. She battled in some major  wars. She's a fighter; she has to survive this."

Gabrielle puts her hand on Shaw's shoulder. "She sounds like a brave woman." Gabrielle says.

Shaw looks at her, smiles, and says, "In my eyes, she's a hero."

"If anything happens to her, Aunt Kira will be heartbroken." Xena says with a worried look on her face. "I'm going to go check on Aunt Kira quickly; I'll be right back."

Xena starts to leave, but then a nurse walks out and asks, "Are you all with Police Chief Cortez?"

"Yes! How is she?" McBain asks.

"She flatlined once." the nurse says. Everyone gets a worried looks on their faces.  "But we were able to bring her back." says the nurse. "Right now, she is stable, the surgeon has transplanted the donor's liver and is finishing up the surgery." The nurse looks at Xena and says, "Your aunt is a hero; if we couldn't find a match by tomorrow, Police Chief Cortez may not have lived."

Everyone gets a sigh of relief on their faces. Gabrielle hugs Xena, and they smile at each other. Shaw takes a deep breath and sits back down. McBain smiles and  then says, "I have to call the station and let the captain know her status!"

Xena looks at Gabrielle and says, "Come on, let's go see Aunt Kira."

———

At Ares castle, Athena walks around, looking at the statues of her fallen siblings. She stops at the statue of her father, Zeus and says, "We were once a mighty force father. I am supposed to be the Goddess of Wisdom, but Ares has put me in a situation where I shouldn't trust him. I feel as though I have failed your honor and myself."

"No you haven't." says a voice behind Athena. She turns around and suddenly Aphrodite appears. "Hi, sis!" Aphrodite says smiling at her, and they share a warm hug.

Athena smiles at her and says, "Aphrodite! You survived the twilight!"

"What would the world be without love." Aphrodite says.

"Boring!" Athena says.

"Athena, I know Ares is blackmailing you." Aphrodite says with a worried look on her face. "I saw the whole conversation; that's how I found out you were alive again."

"When Ares brought me back, I was so grateful. I thought it was right after the twilight when Xena killed me." Athena said. "When Ares explained that we were millennials into the future, that Xena and Gabrielle were reborn again and he wanted revenge for the twilight, I was on board with the whole idea. But now, I feel as though he's hiding something."

Aphrodite looks unamused at Athena and says, "He's always hiding something. He's never changed." Athena starts to pace back and forth. "So he told you about Xena and Gabrielle?" Aphrodite asks. "What was his version, and I'll tell you the truth."

"He said you had a big part in resurrecting them." Athena said. "He said it was to get back at him."

Aphrodite laughs, gives Athena a strange look then says, "He really said that! Ok, let me tell you the truth!! And it has nothing to do with him!" Twenty minutes later, Aphrodite finishes telling Athena the truth about Xena and Gabrielle.

"Wow, very interesting," Athena says.

"After the twilight, they saved my ass from a few situations. I owed it to them." Aphrodite says.

Athena gives Aphrodite a sly smirk and says, "Gabrielle still has a special place in your heart, doesn't she."

"I will always care about her." Aphrodite says. "It was her dying wish to be reunited with Xena again. I only granted her wish."

"Very noble of you Aphrodite." Athena says. "It makes me hate Xena just a little less."

"Listen, I know Xena isn't your biggest fan right now.." Aphrodite says.

"She killed me!" Athena says. "What do you expect!"

"It was to save and protect her daughter." Aphrodite says seriously.

"Who was the downfall of us!" Athena yells. "I can't believe you are taking Gabrielle's side, yet again!"

"My side is about love Athena!" Aphrodite says seriously. "Haven't you ever loved someone so much that you would protect them at any cost!" Aphrodite looks deep into Athena's eyes, and the memory of Ilainus comes to her. A tear starts to run down Athena's face. "Ilainus was not only your favorite warrior; she was your lover, your soulmate." Aphrodites says as a look of sorrow comes across Athena's face. "I'm sorry I struck a nerve, and I am thrilled that you are back, but I will tell you this Athena." Aphrodite says seriously, "The only reason Ares probably brought you back to life was because Xena rejected him yet again and Ares is pissed off about it." Aphrodite puts her hands on Athena's arms, looks at Athena and says, "You can believe me or not, but you are the Goddess of Wisdom. Look into your soul and realize that Ares is only using you to get back at Xena. I have to go, but I will be here to help you with Ares."

Athena giggles a bit and says, "Are you going to sprinkle love dust on him!"

Aphrodite chuckles and says, "No, a year ago, I kicked his ass to help Xena and Gabrielle. Let's just say I'm not his favorite anymore."

Athena gets a shocked look on her face. "You have changed." Athena says.

"I had too." Aphrodite says. "Trust yourself, Athena." Aphrodite disappears, and Athena looks seriously at Ares throne room and walks away.
————

At the Covington household, Allyson and Racheal walk into the living room and sit on the couch, "Mom, I have to tell you something." Racheal says.

"What is it, sweetie." Allyson says seriously, "Don't ever be afraid to tell me anything. I want you to be able to come to me at any time if you ever need to talk."

"When Gabrielle was Abigail, I always knew she was gay. I figured it out when she'd never go on second dates with the guys you set her up with." Racheal says. "Then, when she had the accident, and we first met Xena, when she was Jessie, I could sence the love that they shared with each other. It's the real deal, mom."

Allyson smiles at Racheal and says, "Thank you for telling me this. After the talk that I had with Aphrodite, it doesn't bother me about Gabrielle and Xena."

"You're ok with them?" Racheal says surprised.

"Yeah!" Allyson says, smiling, "I'm more than ok with it." Racheal smiles at Allyson. "In life, you may have grown up believing in one thing and one thing only just because either that's all you knew or society around you wants you to believe in what they want you to believe. Then, something happens to where you have your eyes open, and reality sets in. You can choose to harden yourself and ignore the truth, or open up your heart and embrace it."

Suddenly the front door is heard being opened then slammed. Mark walks into the living room with an angry look on his face.

"Is everything ok Mark?" Allyson asks.

"I may have lost a huge contract because of Abigail!" Mark says bitterly, "They were supposed to contact me this morning with their answer, but they haven't yet! Then it gets better! I went to talk to our pastor, but he wasn't in. And as I was walking out of the church, a few people were talking about Abigail and the footage on tv!! She has embarrassed us! We, we are outcasts!!"

"Mark, you need to take a breath and calm down!" Allyson says. "Gabrielle isn't to blame for what is going on."

Mark gives her a shocked look and says, "What did you call her!!"

"I called her Gabrielle!" Allyson says seriously. "I was visited by Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love! And she showed me who our daughter was, then and now!"

"False Idol!!!!" Mark yells. He walks to the fireplace then looks at Allyson and Racheal and yells, "Her name is Abigail!! And she's never allowed in this house ever again!! Ever!"

"She is our daughter Mark, and this is her home!" Allyson yells

"I will not allow that dyke and her lover to set foot in our home! Not now or ever!" Mark screams.

Out of anger, Allyson and Racheal stand up. And Allyson walks over to Mark and slaps him across the face. Marks gets a shocked look on his face as Allyson screams, "How dare you! How dare you deny my daughter, our daughter like that!"

"What the fuck, dad!" Racheal yells in anger.

"Are you so into what this town thinks of us and your outrageous ego that you would put yourself over our daughter!" Allyson yells. "I don't even know you anymore!!" Allyson turns to Racheal and says, "Go pack a couple of bags, Racheal! We are going to drive to Grapevine and stay with my parents for a while!" Racheal walks out of the room.

Allyson looks at Mark and angrily says, "I may not be a Covington by blood, but I gave birth to two amazing Covington's! I think you need to get your priorities in check, Mark! Yes, I called her Gabrielle, that's who she was and is now! I was shown who she was in her past life and who she is now! And I will never, ever deny her!! And, I don't care who she loves! I will never, ever stand by and watch you or anyone else deny her!" Mark gets a worried look on his face as Allyson says, "Until then, Racheal and I don't want to be around you!" Allyson storms out of the room, leaving a shocked Mark standing there all alone in his bitterness.