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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I had been awake since dawn and had done a quick perimeter sweep before heading back to camp after my morning routine. I stoked the fire and put the previous night's stew on to reheat. The addition of the men to our group had made the leftovers sparse, but with what bread we had, it would be enough until we made a village.

I had spoken to Mom last night and she remembered a village about half a day's ride from where we camped and I couldn't say that I wouldn't be happy to be rid of our company. I didn't trust them and as I tended the fire and made sure our breakfast wasn't going to burn I finally heard others stirring.

Moving back from the fire I smiled as Eponin and Solari finally sat up and stared at me, "Morning, Junior." Eponin quipped.

"Junior?" I asked.

"Yeah, up early, bet you've already done a perimeter check, and already have food going for us. Xena and Gabrielle combination; Junior."

Solari laughed at my expression and stood up ruffling my hair as she walked past me towards the bushes. "Make sure the stew doesn't burn, Junior." She teased.

"Yeah, yeah," I huffed as Eponin followed her. I raised my hand in acknowledgement of their intention to do a fast perimeter sweep and then returned my focus to the stew before low whispers caught my attention.

"Are you sure it's her?" Leo's voice was soft and I focused hard glad when I could finally pick up what was being said.

"Yes, it's her. Look, all we have to do is get her away from them and take her back to her uncle. He told us he'd pay us well to bring Zivah to him."

"I don't know Raheem," the voice stopped.

"I told you not to call me that here! Here, my name is Tobias."

"I forgot," a sigh followed. "Look, it shouldn't be too hard getting Zivah away. We wait until we're close to the village and a distraction. Her uncle is staying at the inn and is ready to leave at any time."

"I don't know. I don't think it will be as easy as we think."

"Just wait for my signal." Raheem's voice was confident and I wanted nothing more than to punch the smugness out of him. Instead I sat up and announced that breakfast was ready.

I moved to wake Mom up and whispered to her that I need to speak with her alone as soon as possible. She nodded her understanding before whining about being woken up at such an early hour.

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I had managed to pull Mom away from the group before we got started and filled her in on what I'd heard. She in turn had let Solari and Eponin know and we had all been keeping Zivah in our sight since there had been no time to tell her or Rory yet.

Unfortunately, Eponin made the mistake of calling me Junior as we headed out and I was now being called that by both Zivah and Rory. Mom just chuckled about it and it was all I could do not to kill anyone. I focused instead on the traitors in our midst and what I could do to them if given the chance.

We were almost to the village and I pulled Mavri to a stop. Looking at Mom she nodded slightly and I grinned at her, "Zivah, Rory, come on, I need to stretch my legs and could use some help."

"You need help stretching your legs before we get the village?" Zivah asked.

I nodded and dismounted Mavri, "Yup. Come on, I have something to tell you." I informed the both in English smiling like crazy.

Catching on, they smiled back and dismounted their horses with a sigh before following me into the nearby woods. Listening behind me I heard Mom begin to tell our traveling companions one of her many stories as we disappeared for a few moments.

"What's up?" Rory asked as I finally stopped our fast march.

"Two of those men with us are here to take Zivah to her uncle."

Zivah started and looked at me with wide eyes, "What are you talking about?"

"Tobias' real name is Raheem. I heard him and Leo talking about taking you to your uncle, apparently he's staying in the village."

Her face clouding Zivah pulled her knife from the small of her back and threw it past me almost not looking. Hearing it hit the tree Zivah was aiming at I looked at her and grinned, "Feel better now?"

Storming to the tree, Zivah pulled the knife from it put it back in the small of her back. "I do. And I'm ready, what's the plan?"

"I never thought you'd ask," I smirked before informing Zivah and Rory of the plan to make sure her uncle would never bother her again.

Heading back into camp I smiled at Mom and waited for directions. "Okay, girls, it's time to get going."

We nodded and mounted our horses. Falling into the line we traveled silently until we reached the edge of the village. Entering the village we followed Mom until she stopped in front of what seemed to be a nice inn. "We stay here tonight."

"Will they have the room?" I asked.

"They will for us," she smiled. Turning to our traveling companions Mom smiled. "Do you want me to get a room for you as well?"

Looking at each other, Tobias and Leo shook their heads while Max and Philipas nodded. "We would be grateful for the help," Max spoke up. "We don't have many dinars but a room sounds great."

"Tobias, Leo, are you sure you don't want a room?" Mom asked.

"We're sure," Leo nodded. "I think we'll stay for a meal and rest a bit in the barn with the horses before going on our way."

Gabrielle nodded in understanding. "Alright, I'll be right out then." Motioning for Solari to follow her Gabrielle disappeared inside the inn only to re-emerge a few moments later followed by a smiling couple.

"Where is she?" The man asked in a baby voice. Walking over to our group he stopped and scanned us closely. Putting his hands on my cheeks he finally squeezed them. "Oh you have to be the one, you looks so much like your mommeee-ow!"

I had removed his hand with my own and bent it at an awkward angle causing him to kneel on the ground. Looking up from his spot at Mom he grinned. "A little help here, Gabby."

Mom chuckled. "Sam, let him go."

"Who is this?" I asked.

"This, Junior is Joxer," Eponin answered for Mom.

"Junior?" He looked at me strangely, "I thought you said her name was Sam."

"It is Sam," I informed him finally getting a good look at the man and the woman who had walked out with him. "So you're Joxer, that means you must be… by the gods, you look just like,"

"Xena, yah." The woman spoke and pulled me into an awkward hug. "I know, but seeing as I'm older I say she looks like me."

I laughed. "I like you, Meg. Him, I'm not so sure about." I nodded towards Joxer who was still rubbing his hand.

"Hey!" He looked at me with hurt eyes. "I'm a likeable guy, tell her Gabby."

Mom rolled her eyes and looked at me pointedly. "I know, Joxer." I finally relented. "I'm just teasing. I know you're a good guy, I've heard Mom's stories."

Joxer's chest puffed up with pride, "Really, Gabby has told you stories about me?"

I nodded, "She has."

"Which ones?"

"I would love to talk to you about this, Joxer, but we need to get the horses settled. Could we do that first? I'm sure we can talk later over dinner."

"Yeah, Joxer, give the kid some room to breathe." Meg spoke up. "Come on, let's go make sure that the rooms are ready to go and we'll spread the word that Gabrielle is here. Might bring in a few wanting to hear stories. That is, if you're up for it." Meg looked at Mom.

"When isn't she up for telling a story?" Eponin quipped.

Rory giggled and ducked behind her horse as I grinned at Mom's face, "Come on, let's go put the horses up. I'm starved and I hear that Meg is a great cook."

"I dabble." Meg affirmed.

Putting her hand out Meg grabbed Joxer and pulled him with her as she headed inside. "We'll get the food ready for ya and then we can catch up. I've heard some crazy stuff lately."

"And coming from Meg, that's saying a lot," Joxer added as the woman pulled him yet again and disappeared inside the inn.

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I was on my third helping of stew as I listened to Mom tell her story. Everyone had eaten and Meg was right about the inn being packed. Word of Mom had spread and Meg and Joxer were making some good coin in drinks that evening.

I sat with my back to the wall and braced my boot covered foot on the table watching the crowd around me. Max and Philipas had already retired to their room for the evening while Leo and Tobias, or rather, Raheem were sitting near the bar throwing glances at our table every so often.

I had enjoyed getting to know Meg and Joxer and there was a part of Meg that reminded me of Mama's joking side. I was still amazed at the resemblance and when she told the story of throwing her shamrock I about died laughing. She had taken no offence and had even given me the recipe for the stew I was eating. It was wonderful and I couldn't wait to pass the recipe on to Yaya for her to make.

Slowly placing my foot on the floor I reached for my staff and nudged Zivah with my foot as I nodded towards the door. Eyes opening wide she readied herself before alerting Rory to the presence of the man who had just entered.

"Sam?"

Eponin's voice was quiet and I merely nodded to the door, "The bastard." I said quietly.

Eponin turned to Mom and shook her head to see Mom had already moved from the stage in the front of the room and was making her way towards the bar never stopping her story but rather using the space of the tavern as her stage.

"Girls go upstairs," Eponin directed.

"Right." None of us moved and Eponin knew trying to make us would only draw unwanted attention.

"They take after their mothers," Solari quipped rising with her empty mug and walking towards the bar as if only trying to obtain another drink.

My eyes noticed Meg and Joxer disappear into the back room and I wondered what instructions Mom had given them to keep them out of the way. I knew, from her stories, that Joxer meant well but had a hard time actually implementing his good intentions without huge problems.

Shaking the thoughts from my head I turned my attention once more to the men at the table. Mom was now next to it and began to wrap up her story. Zivah's uncle was wearing a long blue tunic with loose fitting pants and I noticed at least one knife outline at his hip. He had a saber on the other hip and I wondered if he truly knew how to use them.

He was glaring at Mom and I smirked thinking about how he would feel after she showed him her sais. Hearing the claps I focused on Mom once more and waited.

Zivah and Rory were getting antsy and I stiffened when Raheem pointed to our table and Zivah's uncle nodded and rose. He headed towards us with a purpose and stopped in front of Zivah. "Zivah."

"Ahmed." Zivah stood and we followed suit. "What brings you to Greece?"

"You." The man smiled but his eyes showed no warmth. "I am merely collecting my runaway niece from those who took her from our lands."

"I am no longer your niece," Zivah's voice was strong. "And no one took me from our lands. I chose to come here and become part of my family. In fact," Zivah nodded at Eponin. "I would like you to meet my mother, Eponin."

"Your mother is Sara."

"My mothers are Eponin and Ephiny. And this is my sister, Rory." Zivah countered. "As well as my cousin, Sam and my aunt, Gabrielle." She finished her introductions.

"And the other woman that was with you?"

"Solari. A member of my tribe."

"Your tribe is mine."

"My tribe is the Telaquire Amazon Nation, Ahmed. You have no standing here."

"You will come with me," the man tried to take Zivah's arm and she moved away from him.

"You will not touch my daughter," Eponin growled moving to place Zivah behind her. "Go back to where you came from and leave us alone."

"I will not leave without my niece."

"You have no niece," Eponin assumed her full height and stared at the man intently. "Leave now, before you get hurt."

"You threaten me, woman?"

Seeing the look on Eponin's face Gabrielle stepped forward. "Please leave, Ahmed. You will not find what you want here. The girl you are looking for no longer exists."

The man raised his hand and pointed at Zivah, "The child I seek is right there."

Zivah shook her head and stepped forward a bit, "No, she isn't. I am Zivah, daughter of Ephiny and Eponin, granddaughter of Harmony and Lilith. I am a member of the Telaquire Amazon nation and you are of no consequence to me, Ahmed."

The man's hand shot out and slapped Zivah before she could stop it. Her next reaction surprised everyone. Amhed was on his knees with Zivah behind him holding her knife to his throat. "You will never touch me again or I will kill you."

Zivah then moved around her uncle before punching him. "Get out of here, Ahmed and take your lackeys with you." Zivah pointed to Raheem and Leo.

Finally standing the man backed up a bit before gingerly touching his eye. "This isn't over, Zivah. You will be coming back with me."

"Over your dead body." Zivah responded watching as Ahmed exited the bar followed closely by Leo and Raheem.

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Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. More to come soon.

Thanks again to all reading.