This story will contain the following: two women as life partners and mothers, spankings to minor children, and anyone else whom the author deems needs it.

The rights of Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrene, Argo, etc. belong to REN pics and whomever else makes a profit from using them. I own nothing.

All that said, enjoy.

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Chapter 2

I was in the barn helping Mama brush the horses out when footsteps caused me to turn from Mavri. "Hi Papa," I tried.

"Sam," he nodded to me and moved closer. "That's a nice animal."

"Yeah, he was a gift on my third birthday."

"A bit of an extravagant gift don't you think, Xena?"

"He was just a colt then," Mama's eyes never left Argo. "She couldn't ride him until the year she turned six and no, I think he was a perfect gift."

"I suppose you would," Papa's voice was low. "So, were you planning on ever telling Hecuba and me about your joining?"

"We're telling you now," Mama answered finally turning from Argo. "I'm sorry you weren't told sooner, but like we told you, we weren't able to leave the village until recently."

"I still can't believe my daughter leads that tribe of, of..."

"Of what Papa?" My eyes flashed. "We're Amazons," I said quietly. "We aren't evil, we just enjoy thinking for ourselves."

"Samina," Mama's tone caused me to start.

"He started it," I muttered.

"Apologize," Mama directed.

Looking up into blue eyes, I finally turned to my grandfather, "I apologize for my rudeness, Papa."

Nodding, he looked at us both before heading towards the door of the barn. "We've sent word to Lila, she and Lector will be here before dinner."

"We'll be in shortly," Mama replied watching as he turned and left the barn.

Still hurt, I rounded on Mama, "Why did you bring us here?" I demanded. "He obviously is only putting up with you because of Mom and I can tell he doesn't much like me or Amazons. Why are we here?"

"Because you have a right to know Gabrielle's side of the family," Mama hugged me. "And because your mom loves them and misses them."

Moving me to arm's length, Mama looked at me hard, "I want you to show them the respect they deserve Samina."

"I'll try, Mama," I finally acquiesced. "But if they say anything to hurt Mom all bets are off."

"If they hurt your mom, I'll take care of it, Samina."

Sighing, I nodded and hugged her once again, "I got it, Mama. I guess we should get inside and help Mom from suffering the wrath of Hecuba and Herodotus."

"Oh yeah, that big plate of nutbread she was offered must be akin to torture for her," Mama teased.

Putting away the grooming supplies I held Mama's hand as we walked back to the house, "It's not as good as Mom's nutbread, but it wasn't bad."

"Uh huh," Mama looked at me once more as we reached the front door. "Be good, Sam," she directed.

"I'll try," I grinned at her and opened the door, "but no promises, I am my mothers' daughter after all."

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I was helping Amma with dinner while Mom and Mama visited with Lila and her new husband in the other room. I had just finished carving the roasted chickens and plating them when I felt a hand on my arm.

"You have much skill with the knife," Amma said.

"Thanks, I get lots of practice. So, where do you want the chicken?"

"Please go place it on the table and then you can come help me take the rest of the meal to the table."

"Sure thing Amma," I quickly walked into the other room and placed the chicken on the already set table. Saying nothing, I listened as Lila and Mom reminisced while Mama entertained Eve and shared uneasy glances with my grandfather.

Sighing, I moved back to the kitchen and helped take the remaining items to the table. Moving to the group, I smiled. "Amma says to tell you dinner is ready."

"Wonderful," Mom smiled. "It smells great and I am starving."

"When aren't you starving, Gabrielle?" Lila asked.

"Hey, I'm not hungry all the time," Mom protested.

"Yeah, like when you're asleep," Mama teased.

"Xena!" Mom lightly slapped Mama on the arm and took one of Eve's extended hands so she could walk between them to the table.

Sitting down, I noticed that Lector had yet to say much and wondered if it was because Mom and Lila talked so much or if he was just shy. Smiling at Eve as she shoved a piece of chicken in her mouth, I saw Amma grin.

"Do you like the food, Eve?" she asked.

Eve nodded and shoved another piece in, "Yummy, Amma," she confirmed around her bite.

"Just like her mother," Mama commented making sure the mashed potatoes went in Eve's mouth rather than on her.

"So Sam," Lila finally turned her attention to me. "How old are you again?"

"Eleven," I responded quietly.

"And what do you like to do for fun? What things are you interested in?"

"I enjoy writing and telling stories," I began. "I also like to practice with my staff and go riding. School is okay too, I guess, I actually enjoy philosophy and history."

"You're allowed to study those things in school?" Lector finally spoke.

"Of course," I eyed him curiously. "Philosophy and history are among the first things taught to Amazon children."

"You're an Amazon?"

I looked around the table and wondered why no one had filled the poor man in, "I'm an Amazon princess," I confirmed. "Mom is the queen."

Seeing his eyes narrow, I was surprised when Lila spoke, "She is also my sister Lector."

He nodded and looked at me once more, "So what else is taught to Amazon children?" he asked curtly.

"Literature, weaponry, fighting, and hunting skills. I will also learn about Amazon politics, the laws of our tribe, and anything else that will be needed in order to allow me to one day lead the nation."

"How is it you are their queen, Gabrielle?" Lector asked as he took another bite of food.

Smiling, Mom looked at her father before continuing, "I'll tell you the entire story after dinner Lector."

"I'd like that," he said quietly.

Finishing up the last bite of nutbread on my plate I smiled at Amma, "That was great."

Beaming, she noticed the empty platters, "I still don't know where you and Gabrielle put it all."

"What can I say? I am my mother's daughter," I quipped.

"I still say that's unnatural," Lector's voice was soft, but I still heard him.

"What's that supposed to mean, Lector?" I demanded.

"Sam, he is your uncle," Mom's tone was warning and I frowned.

"He says I'm unnatural, I want to know what he means by that," I glared at him. "Well, uncle?" My tone was anything but respectful and I was shocked when Papa's hand slapped my own in warning.

"Enough Sam," he growled.

"What gives you the right to do that?" I demanded standing up.

"I am your grandfather and you will not disrespect your uncle," he answered.

"But it's okay for him to disrespect me and my family?" I demanded.

"Samina," this time it was Mama who spoke, but I ignored her.

"No, I want to know why he can say we're unnatural and that's perfectly fine, but I can't ask him his reasons behind it."

"I am the adult," Lector spoke again.

"You're a jackass!" I countered never expecting the hard swat to my bottom that Amma delivered.

Rounding on her, I was stopped as Eve screamed and moved from Mom's lap before Mom could stop her. Toddling to Amma, she quietly bit down on the woman's leg as hard as she could before releasing her when Amma screamed.

"No bam Sam!" Eve declared as Mama scooped Eve up in one arm and grabbed me with her free hand.

"If you'll excuse us, I'll be having a discussion with these two in the barn," Mama's voice was deadly and I glared at everyone including Mom.

"I'll take care of Mom's bite and then head out for my own discussion with our daughters." Mom's green eyes bored into me and finally dropped my gaze as I was pulled from the house and outside.

Mama had dragged me into the barn and I glared at her as she sat Eve on a bale of hay instructing her not to move. Rounding on me, her eyes blazed as she sat on another bale and pulled me between her knees for the second time that day.

"Why Sam?"

"Because he's a jackass," I answered. "He thinks women and girls aren't good for anything other than making babies and he hates how I was given to you. He thinks you and Mom are unnatural because you are married to each other." I had started to cry during my rant and was surprised to find myself pulled onto Mama's lap.

"Little one, you know we're going to encounter that everywhere."

"But not from family," I sniffed. "It's not supposed to be from family. Yaya never acted like that, ever. Even Toris wasn't that much of a jerk about things."

"That may be, but no matter what, they deserve your respect."

"Why?" I was still crying, but smiled slightly when Eve finally crawled off her hay bale to join us.

Sliding down next to Mama, Eve took my place on her lap, and I simply laid my head on her shoulder, content with her arm around me as my tears finally stopped. Mama was quiet and I finally understood why when Mom entered the barn a few moments later.

Handing Eve to Mom, Mama pulled me back onto her lap and I was glad that I was still small enough to do this with her. "So, how much trouble are we in?" I finally asked.

"Oh Sammy," Mom spoke first. "I can understand your anger, in fact I let my family have a piece of my mind after you came out here. However, that doesn't excuse the fact that you were rude and downright disrespectful to Lector."

"But..."

"No Samina," Mama's deep voice took over. "Your mom is right. No matter what, Lector is your elder. Whether or not you agree with him, you will treat any adult with respect. I'm not asking you to lay down and let people misuse you, but calling him a jackass, speaking to him like that, it's not acceptable Sam."

"Then what should I have done?"

"Say nothing," Mom looked over at me, "I know it's hard Sammy, but sometimes saying nothing is your most powerful weapon."

"And if that doesn't work you let your mom and me handle it," Mama added.

"I'll try," I finally agreed.

"Good," Mom smiled at me and then turned her attention to Eve. "As for you my daughter, there is to be no more biting. That was very naughty Eve, you hurt Amma."

"Amma no bam my Sam," Eve protested.

"It's okay to be angry, Eve," Mama looked into the face staring up at her, "but it is never okay to bite or hurt somebody like that. No more or you will get the spanking."

"Mean Mommy, mean Mama, mean Amma," Eve huffed causing me to chuckle as she crossed her little arms over her chest and glared at our moms.

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Entering my grandparent's house once more, I dropped Mama's hand and entered in full. Standing straight, I moved to Lector and stopped. He was sitting next to Papa and glared at me as I approached.

Taking a deep breath, my voice was steady, "I apologize for calling you a jackass and speaking to you in that manner. It won't happen again," eyes narrowing, I turned on my heel and back to my mothers.

Taking Eve by the hand in the still quiet room, Mom moved her to Amma. "Eve, don't you have something to say to Amma?"

"No! Amma mean," Eve protested.

Kneeling in front of my sister, Mom looked at her steadily, "Eve, you need to apologize for biting Amma."

"Say sorry?"

"That's right, you need to say you're sorry. Biting hurts and you can't do that again," Mom confirmed.

Looking up into Amma's face, Eve held onto Mom's hand, "Sorry Amma," she whispered.

"Thank you, Eve," Amma replied.

Letting go of Mom's hand, Eve ran back to Mama, "Up Mama," she demanded. Once in the safety of Mama's arms, Eve looked back to Amma, "No bam my Sam!" she declared once more as Mom shook her head and I grinned from ear to ear.

"So Gabrielle, are you going to tell us the story of how you became the Amazon queen?" Lila's voice prodded. "I mean, we knew about you being an Amazon, but you never told us about being their queen."

"I said I would, didn't I?" Mom agreed. Waiting for us all to settle in, she stood in front of us, "It all began when I found the perfect walking stick..."

"So you came to lead the Amazons because of one act?" Lector asked.

"Because Terrais gave me her right of caste and because I chose to accept the mask when Melosa died," Mom said slowly.

"Do you like it?" Amma's voice was quiet. "You are a leader of an entire tribe Gabrielle, isn't that a bit responsibility?"

"Of course it is," Mom moved to sit next to her mother, "but I do alright and I don't do it alone. My regent, Ephiny, helps me a lot as does Xena. I also have a group of council elders that like to give me their thoughts, a wonderful weapons master, and an older woman named Kassandra that always helps me see things clearly."

"Don't you worry about your children growing up with warriors?" Papa's voice broke the silence now.

"No, Dad," Mom's voice was quiet and she moved to sit by Mama, who held a now sleeping Eve on her lap. "Eve will learn the path of peace despite growing up with the Amazons, her path will vary from mine and Xena's in so many ways," she broke off and stroked my cheek. "And my beautiful Samina, she will one day make a wonderful leader, who will use her words to make her as powerful as any warrior yielding a weapon. As for these two," Mom rubbed her belly. "I don't know yet, what is planned for them, but I know they will be fine growing up in the Amazon village where they will be encouraged to do anything they want to do."

I smiled and nodded, "They'll learn to live in a society based on women's strengths, not their weaknesses."

"But women are weaker," Lector looked confused.

"Weaker how?" I looked at him hard, "Women can do anything men can do. We may do it differently, but it doesn't make us any less of a person."

"I think there are some things that men need to control," Lector tried once more.

"Women don't need to be controlled Lector," I said softly. "You're young, I hope one day you trust your wife enough to know that she would choose to follow you." I watched the room around. "Wouldn't you rather have someone follow you because of trust than fear?"

Feeling a heavy hand on my shoulder, I looked up to see Mama's eyes smile at me. Nodding slightly, she squeezed my shoulder, and then stood.

"I think I need to get this little girl to bed."

"I think that's a good idea," Mom stood as well. "It's been a long day for us all. If you'll excuse us, we're all going to turn in." Holding her hand down to me, Mom waited until I took it and then led me from the still quiet room towards the bedroom she and Lila had shared as children.

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