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 12

It had been a week since the mock battle and I hadn't been the only one to suffer a grounding. All five of us had been grounded and given extra chores to do around the house as well as the village. I was currently working with my junior staff warriors as Zivah and Daria helped me with crowd control.

My classes had started to grow, and my moms and I decided that the older children would now help the younger children with the moves, much in the same way Mama's classes in the dojo had worked. It was going well, and the older girls' skills were growing as they helped the younger girls. Daria and Zivah had told me that they actually enjoyed working with the little girls and I was relieved that my classes had been allowed to continue, though one of our mothers had to be present during the lessons.

Calling out the moves, I corrected students as we practiced, and finally moved them into the ready position. Sizing up their opponents, they began to spar and my friends and I moved through the group, correcting moves as needed and praising those who were doing well. Finally ending class, I sat on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief. As much fun as I was having, it was hard work, and Daria and Zivah soon joined me. Hearing footsteps, I looked up to see Ephiny sit down with us.

"Nice job, girls," she smiled at us. "I can't believe you have six and seven year olds doing that swipe maneuver already."

"You should see Eve," Zivah interrupted.

"Eve?"

I nodded, "She's my youngest junior staff warrior to date. I'm just not allowed to teach her with the others, she's still too little and might get hurt."

Shaking her head, Ephiny's curls bounced, "I should have known Xena and Gabrielle's child would be taking to the weapons with gusto."

An idea suddenly came to me and I looked at our regent, "Aunt Ephiny?"

"Yes?"

"How exactly are junior warriors moved to receive their full warrior status?"

"You know that, Sam," she looked at me strangely. "We have a competition for them when we feel they are ready. Each girl must pass a series of tests in order to receive their warrior status within the tribe. The older you get, the harder the challenges and the more feathers you can earn."

Leaning over to kiss her on the cheek, I chuckled at her surprise. "Thanks a bunch." Standing I grabbed my staff and addressed her once more. "I'm going to join Mama and Mom in the dining hall, I have to tell them something right away." Turning, I took off at a fast run, hoping my idea would be good enough to work.

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It was my turn to pace as my moms, Kassandra, Artemis, and Aphrodite digested my idea. "Well? What do you think?" I finally asked after far too much quiet.

Standing, Artemis came to me and gently kissed my forehead. "I think you will make a wonderful leader someday, Samina. I am sure this idea will bear fruit. You have my blessing to hold such a competition on Amazon lands." Smiling once more, she left as quickly as she had arrived.

Taking Artemis's empty chair, I crossed my arms over my chest as everyone else remained silent. "Oh, you know I love a good competition," Aphrodite finally spoke. "I can't wait to watch it and it will give me a chance to try out a few new outfits."

Standing, she bent down and hugged me before looking at my moms, "You all work out the details and just let me know when to show up. I'm off to be worshiped in one of my temples." Disappearing with her usual flair, I giggled as the scent of roses stayed in the room for a while.

"Well, what do you think?" I asked once more.

"You have done well, child of the gods," Kassandra reached out and grasped my hand. "Never would I have thought of such a thing, but I am sure your mothers will be instrumental in bringing such a competition to the gods."

"I really like the idea," Mama said quietly. "Good job, little one."

Smiling, I waited for Mom's reaction. "Oh, I can't wait to figure out what type of tests we can throw at these gods," Mom finally spoke smiling at me, her nose in its typical scrunch.

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Sitting at the kitchen table, I shifted again and found myself chewing on the tip of my quill. Sighing, I put it down and groaned. "This is impossible," I groused.

"Keep trying." Yaya came up to me and placed a kiss to the top of my head. "Gabrielle said that you are not move until you finish the paper she asked you to write."

Groaning again, I felt a small tap to my leg. "Mean Mommy?"

"Yup, mean Mommy, Evie." Picking her up, I grinned. "Are you looking forward to your birthday party?"

"Cake?"

"Yes, little bit, there will be cake."

"Yummy," Eve grinned at me and slid off my lap. "Yaya, cake on birfday!" she announced happily as Yaya finished cutting up a few raw vegetables for an afternoon snack.

Eve was down for her nap and I had eaten a few of the raw vegetables in front of me. Finally picking up my quill again, I dipped it in the inkwell and began to write. Mom had asked for a full parchment on unsanctioned battles and the repercussions of such activities. I finally finished her paper and having another idea, summoned my pen and journal from my locket. Putting my quill and parchment on the other side of the table, I picked up my pen and began to write once more.

"So?" I was impatient once more and Mom was taking her sweet time reading both items that I had written.

"Very nice paper, Sammy." Mom smiled at me. "As for the other, you have some great ideas for the rules and layout of the games in a few years. I just think that Xena and I need to think about it as well before we inform the gods that you will be making no decisions for a long time."

"Okay," I sighed and then brightened again. "So, what are we doing for Eve's birthday?"

"You'll see," Mom replied cryptically. "Just be ready to have fun."

"Did you bake her cake yet?"

"It's cooling in the kitchen." Mom watched as finally sat down on the couch. "Sammy, what's wrong?"

"I don't know," shrugging my shoulders I looked up at her. "I just have a bad feeling about things, and I don't like it."

"Don't borrow trouble, Sammy."

Looking into Mom's eyes, I smiled, "I'll try not to, it's just hard not to wonder what's going to pop up around the corner."

"I know," Mom winked at me Eve came toddling from her room.

"How did you get out here, Evie?" Mom asked.

"Jump!" Eve exclaimed happily. "Jump like Mama," she then ran to the couch and climbed up before jumping down, bending at the knees as we had all seen Mama do a thousand times.

"I'm surprised she never did it sooner," I commented as Eve went back to our room and returned with her stuffed camel.

"Me too, actually."

Hearing the door, Mom smiled at Mama. "Eve, tell your Mama how you got out of your bed today," Mom instructed.

"Jump like Mama," Eve happily demonstrated from the couch again and Mama shook her head.

"Oh really?"

Nodding her head, Eve ran into the bedroom again and then returned and tugged on Mama's hand. "Come see Eve," she demanded as Mama finally gave in and headed to the room.

"Up, Mama," Eve demanded again and Mama grinned and put Eve into her crib.

"Okay, show us, Evie." Mama's eyebrow raised as Eve giggled and pulled herself up to stand on the thin railing of the crib. I held my breath as she shoved off and landed, bending her knees.

"Jump like Mama!" Eve exclaimed before running in circles doing her own version of Mama's war cry.

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Feeling my eyelid being opened, I slowly opened it and stifled a giggle. Eve was intently looking at me and then turning to her camel to talk before gently trying to open my eye again.

Giving in to mischief, I opened both eyes and sat up. "Boo, little bit!"

Jumping, Eve glared at me before smiling, "My Sam, up! Birfday."

"Yup, it's your birthday, little bit, let's go wake Mama and Mommy up, okay?"

Nodding, Eve held onto my hand as we entered our mothers' bedroom. Seeing that Mama was awake, but Mom was still asleep, I motioned for Mama to play opossum while Eve sneaked into the room and onto the bed. Leaning over Mom, I nodded and she yelled, "Birfday, up!"

Laughing, Mama sat up and grabbed her now youngest daughter, "Well, little miss, I guess you did a nice job, didn't you?"

Looking at Mom, who merely rolled over, Eve frowned, "Mommy, up?"

"Well, sometimes Mommy needs a little more encouragement, Evie," Mama grinned and leaned over. "Care for an early morning bath in the pond, my bard?"

Shooting straight up, Mom slowly opened her eyes, "I'm up, I'm up, no need for threats." Yawning, she grinned at Eve and me. "Up early aren't you?"

"Birfday, Mommy," Eve announced.

"It's your birthday?" Mom teased.

Nodding her head quite hard, Eve kneeled on the bed and took Mom's face in her small hands. "Cake on birfday, Mommy," she announced seriously causing Mama to pick her up and tickle her.

"Cake on birthdays? I don't know, Evie, are you sure about that?" Mama teased.

"Sam say, cake on birfday!" Eve glared at Mama and Mom chuckled.

"She is so your daughter, Xena."

"That she is," Mama nodded. "Alright then, time for cake!" she announced heading from the bedroom followed quickly by Mom.

Reaching the kitchen, I noticed a frosted cake already sitting on the middle of the table. "Mom?"

Giving me a sideways hug, Mom watched as Mama put Eve in her high chair. "Cake for breakfast is a birthday tradition in this family, is it not?"

Turning, I almost knocked her over with the force of my hug. "It sure is, how silly of me to forget." Wiping a lone tear from my cheek, I sat down and joined my mothers in our version of Happy Birthday before tucking into another wonderful birthday cake.