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.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA* **
Placing the blanket on the ground under my favorite tree by the pond, I watched as Eve fed Mavri the apple we'd brought for him. Nasa had been taken from the carry bag he'd ridden in and was happily chasing nothing in the tall grass.
Sitting on the blanket, I waited as Eve finally turned her attention to me. Grabbing her staff, she walked to me and placed it down before climbing into my lap. "Camel?"
Opening my satchel, I retrieved the bag Mama had packed for her and found her camel, handing it to her with a smile. "Here you go, little bit. Your camel. Did he like riding on Mavri?"
Even nodded and hugged the toy close, "Uh-huh. Was fun, go fast."
"Well, we didn't go too fast." I amended as Eve crawled off my lap and stood up. "Mom wouldn't like it if I rode really fast with you when we're alone."
Frowning, Eve glared at me. "Mean Mommy."
"Mom is mean? Why is that, Evie?" I asked as my sister continued to glare at me.
"Damn babies," Eve huffed before dropping her camel and running after Nasa.
"Play wif Eve, Damn Nasa."
"It's not Damn Nasa, Evie. It's just Nasa." I yelled running after her as she and Nasa began a game of puppy and toddler tag.
"My Sam get fish?" Eve asked dropping to the blanket after an impromptu staff lesson.
"Not today, little bit. The water is too cold." I explained as I pulled our lunch out of the satchel and set it up on the blanket.
"Eve want fish," she growled, though she reached for a piece of bread and began to put it in her mouth.
"Well, we'll just have to make do with what we have her, Eve." I smiled at her as she watched me place the plates on the blanket. "And if you eat your lunch, we can have some of the cake Yaya sent with me."
"Cake? We have cake?" she asked walking over to look in my satchel.
"Yes, we have cake, but I'm not getting it out until you eat some other food."
Narrowing her eyes at me I couldn't help but laugh at seeing Eve's resemblance to Mama. "Oh, little bit. I do love you," I said hugging her close. "Now, how about some of this leftover stew that Yaya gave me?"
"Yaya stew?"
"Yep."
"Yummy, eat now. Then cake," Eve demanded sitting down next to me and waiting until I put the stew down in front of her.
Handing Eve her spoon, I made sure most of the food was going into her mouth as I put down a small bowl for Nasa and watched as he attacked his lunch with gusto as well.
Suddenly feeling the familiar tingle, I froze. Grabbing my staff, I pulled Eve into me and waited. Not seeing anything, I listened closely and realized it was too quiet around us. There were no birds, no rustling of the leaves, not even the scurry of animals. Wondering what was going on now, I chose to ignore the feeling and eat.
"My Sam?" Eve looked at me and crawled into my lap. "Damn," she whispered as the tingling grew bolder, yet no gods materialized.
Having had enough, I finally yelled out for the only god I trusted. "Auntie! Auntie, a little help here!"
Smelling the roses, I watched as bright flash of pink light the area in front of us. "What can I do for my two favorite Amazons today?" Aphrodite asked.
"Auntie, what's going on?" I asked quietly, moving to stand and holding Eve in my arms.
"What do you..." trailing off, her eyes narrowed and she put her arms around Eve and me, kissing my mark. "Stay close to me, my warrior bard. We might have to make a quick exit."
"But Mavri and Nasa..."
"I won't forget your family, sweetie pie. Now, let's get to the bottom of this, shall we? Call them out, Sam."
Starting as she called me by my name, a rare occurrence, I nodded. "Whoever is there, show yourselves!"
Burying her head in my neck, Eve put her fingers in her mouth. "Damn," she whispered again.
"I know, little bit. Don't worry, we'll be safe. Auntie's here."
"Want Mama." Eve's whisper in my ear caused me to hold her tighter.
"Show yourselves you gods be damned cowards before I decide to start throwing fireballs!"
The area around the pond was suddenly full of flashes of light and I watched as over two dozen lesser gods materialized in front of me. "Give me one good reason I shouldn't blow you up right now for breaking the treaty."
"We do not break the treaty, child of the gods," a blonde challenged as she moved from the group.
"Nike," I acknowledged her with a wave of my hand causing her to fly backwards into a tree. "Auntie, I think we need Mama."
"I think you're right," Auntie snapped her fingers and Mama suddenly appeared next to me.
"Mama!" Eve lunged for her and only Mama's quick reflexes made it possible for her to catch the jumping child.
"What in Tartarus is going on here, Sam?"
"How dare you, child!" Nike approached me again and I once more raised my hand.
"Look, bitch," I seethed. "You've already broken the treaty set forth for you and signed by the Fates. I will blow your ass up if you take another step towards my sister."
Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I relaxed. "It's okay, little one. I'm here now." Mama's deep voice was calm and I nodded. "Aphrodite, take Eve and the animals back to the village. Make sure my mother is with Eve and the twins and then send Gabrielle here."
"Anything for you, my warrior babe," Auntie answered taking a now crying Eve from Mama's reluctant arms. They disappeared in a flash of pink and I noticed that no scent of roses followed this time.
"Mama?"
"Follow my lead, little one." Moving off the blanket, she walked to the edge of the pond, keeping it between us and the gods. "What do you want?"
"We want the young one to choose Athena's replacement," Nike spoke again. "Now."
"And I want you to talk a long walk off a short mountain," I muttered. "Looks like we're both going to be disappointed."
"Xena?" Mom's voice was worried as she joined us, her sais drawn and fury on her face. "You'd better have a damn good reason for coming onto Amazon lands uninvited."
"Artemis gave us her blessing on this meeting," Nike tried.
"You lie," Mom spoke. "Artemis would never do that and I don't think she's going to be very happy that you're telling us she's alright with you ambushing two children."
"That child threw me into a tree," Nike protested.
"You're lucky she didn't blow you up," Mama's voice was dry. "I don't have the problem she does with killing. Give me a reason." The challenge was thrown and Nike took a smart step backwards.
"We only wish to know who shall succeed Athena on Olympus," Nike replied.
"Not you," I smiled at her.
"You little," she took a step towards me and I acted on instinct, once more throwing her backwards.
Hearing a low chuckle, Mama put her arm around my shoulder, "Sam will not decide the successor to Olympus until her sixteenth birthday has passed."
"That's five years away!" Nike was shaking her head and the other gods were grumbling.
"Glad you can count," Mom spoke this time. "If any of you bother either of my daughters before that time, we will consider the treaty null and void."
"If any of you bother ANYONE in my family," Mama added. "And I mean ANYONE, I will make sure you all die a very painful death."
"You will also be disqualified from being considered Athena's successor. Any questions?" I asked with a smirk.
"We shall see you in five years' time, child of the gods. Do not forget."
"Oh, I look forward to it, Nike," I replied as they finally disappeared as quickly as they had materialized.
Falling into Mama's open arms, I relished the feel of Mom's hands rubbing my back. "I was so scared," I admitted. Pulling back, I looked up into worried azure pools. "I think Evie felt them too, Mama."
"What?" Moving to the blanket, Mama sat down as Mom and I followed her. Pulling me into her lap, I took my usual spot, with Mom sitting next to her and my feet in Mom's lap.
"Eve kept saying damn, and she wanted you. She was scared too." Feeling the kiss to the top of my head, I tried to relax as Mama began to hum and rock me as we were all lost in our own thoughts.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA* **
We had returned from our adventure near the pond almost two candle marks ago and Mom was once again eating one of her in between meal snacks. Yaya tended to cook when stressed and we had come home to find rapidly cooling nutbread as well as a large pot of soup awaiting us.
I was snuggled into Mama on the couch and Yaya kept looking at Auntie. "Are you sure you don't want anything, Aphrodite?"
"Oh, I'm sure, my warrior babe's mommy. I enjoy pizza and even pancakes every so often, but that other mortal food just isn't my thing."
Smirking, I watched as Yaya's eyebrow rose and she sighed as Auntie watched Mom. Turning to Mama, she finally spoke. "So, we're agreed? I go back to Olympus, give everyone your message, fill Artie in on the wayward lesser Olympians, and wait and see what Ares decides to do."
"That about covers it," Mama replied.
Moving to Mom, Auntie waved her hand and I giggled as Mom grinned taking the chocolate bar without complaint. "Enjoy it sweet pea," Auntie then came to me and gave me a gentle kiss.
"Later my warrior bard," she whispered before disappearing in a shower of falling petals, the scent of roses once more following her.
"I just don't get it," I said moving to the floor to play with Nasa. "They knew coming at me and Evie like that would violate the treaty, but they did it anyway."
"I have a feeling Nike encouraged them," Mama watched as Mom finished her second bowl of soup. "Did you see them all wait for her to speak or act?"
"You're sure she was the leader?" Mom asked around a mouthful of bread.
"I'm sure."
"Good, now I know who to blame when I tell Artemis what happened."
"I think Artemis already knows."
"What do you mean, Sammy?"
I pointed as a silver light appeared near Yaya followed by the goddess. We didn't have to wait long for her to speak, "Are you all alright?"
"We are," Mama answered. "How did you know to come?"
"Aphrodite told me that you wished to see me after she informed me of what happened by the pond today."
"How is Nike?" Mom asked.
"Nike?" Artemis moved closer to Mom and stopped looking at my mothers with a question on her face.
"Nike was behind the ambush today, Artemis," Mom answered as Yaya finally allowed Mom to have a piece of nutbread.
Narrowing her eyes, Artemis turned to Mom, "I am sorry, Gabrielle. I never saw this coming. Appearing on Amazon land like that, I can't believe they would dare such a thing."
"Nike said that they had your blessing," I added.
"I see," moving to Eve, Artemis ran her fingers through the dark hair before smiling at me. "You did well, child of the gods. Be assured that Nike will be dealt with severely," she said disappearing as quickly as she had come.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA* **
"Is everything set for tonight?" Telema asked as she joined our group around the smaller bonfire.
"Yup," I grinned. "Project Scarecrow is ready to go."
"Think we'll get away with it?" Daria asked.
"With Xena on our side, how could we not get away with it?" Zivah grinned as Mama slowly came to the circle.
Putting on a familiar stern look, she made sure others were watching, "No trouble tonight, girls. Am I understood?"
A chorus of affirmative answers greeted the question and Mama winked at us before turning and heading for Mom. "What was that all about?" Chryssa asked me.
"Appeasing the queen," I giggled. "Had to make it look like she was warning us off things, Mom is already getting suspicious."
"How is she suspicious?" Chryssa spoke again. "I mean nothing has pointed to Xena or you for that matter."
"Easy," I smirked. "She's heard enough stories about Mama growing up from Cyrene to know that Mama loves to pull pranks. Not to mention that sometimes I think she knows Mama better than Mama knows herself."
"Your parents are weird, Sam." Zivah said watching as they kissed briefly. "Cool, but weird."
"Don't I know it?" I laughed.
"Sam?"
Turning I saw a younger girl brave my circle of friends. "Hi Chloe, what do you need?"
"Can you tell us a story?" the girl asked.
"Sure," noticing the group behind her, I chuckled. "Go get the rest of the junior staff warriors and I'll tell a fun story before you all get sent to bed for the night."
"Thanks, Sam." Running to her friends, they returned a few moments later and sat in front of me, legs crossed.
Noticing my friends and some of the older girls getting ready to listen as well, I smiled and began my story. "I sing a song of a brother and sister and a fall harvest festival they would not soon forget."
Hearing claps and remaining laughter, I looked up and caught Yaya's eyes. They were twinkling and she was still giggling at the story I'd told of Mama and Toris when they were younger.
"You mean that sister really managed to put mud and feathers on her brother?" Chloe asked.
"She did, and boy was he mad about it," I added as Mama moved to the group of listeners and put her arm around Yaya before kissing her cheek.
"Alright, young ones, time for you to go home and go to bed." A chorus of groans met the Amazon's words but the girls stood and moved off giggling and talking.
"Okay, Sam," Telema moved in as did most of the group. "Time for you to tell that other story, you know, the one you were telling us about."
"Are you sure?" I asked playing along to set up the story.
"Just tell it already," Eponin's voice moved over the crowd. "Let's see if you can tell us another one as good as the Headless Amazon story."
Taking a long drink of the apple juice offered to me, I nodded. "Okay, but then, I get to eat."
"Just like her mother," I heard as everyone laughed and Mom joined Mama and Yaya sitting on a log near me.
I waited until the crowd had settled and moved to a tree stump so they could all see me a bit better. Taking a big breath I looked around the group and began. "Once, many years ago, there was a small village that discovered such things as walking scarecrows truly existed."
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA* **
The almost full moon gave off just enough light as we sat up the last scarecrow. This one had been the hardest of all to move through the trees in pieces since the regent's hut was near the center of the village. Making sure it was set up outside of Ephiny's window, we placed the burned out gourd square on its shoulders.
Moving to the trees again, Daria, Zivah, Chryssa, and I watched as Telema used one of our new skills to get rid of any tracks or trace that we had been there. Waiting for her, we finally moved to the practice field.
Dropping out of the tree, we waved our goodbyes in silence before heading home. Knowing we'd have to have good alibis, we'd all made a big production of going to bed, making sure to be tucked in by our folks that night. Slipping back through my window, I got ready for bed once more and made sure nothing seemed amiss.
I knew that I would be blamed for the prank and prayed that Mama and Mom would forgive me for what I was about to do. Moving from my room, I headed to the kitchen and woke Nasa as he slept on the rug. "Go get Mama," I instructed as he yapped and happily obeyed.
Running back to my room, I had just feigned sleep when I heard the yap, the Gaelic swear, the first twin cry followed by the second twin, and finally, "Samina Ephiny Bardos!"
Smiling, I tousled my hair and waited for a second summons before moving to my parents' room. "You bellowed?" I yawned.
"Get this dog out of here, and if I can't get these babies back to sleep, it's your hide in the morning," Mom hissed.
"Sorry," shrugging I picked up Nasa and headed back to my room.
"My Sam?" Eve appeared in front of me and I shook my head.
"Come on, little bit, you can sleep with me tonight."
Hugging her camel to her she took my hand and easily followed me back to my room where I first gave Nasa a treat of venison jerky for being such a wonderful helper.
I had just put Eve in my bed and was getting ready to climb in myself when I heard the heavy footsteps. "Mama?"
"Little one," her tone was conversational and I felt her hand on my backside before I could move.
"What was that for?" I asked rubbing out the sting.
"A perfect distraction," Mama whispered. "Now, go to sleep."
Smiling at her I nodded. "Okay, I'll just be sleeping with Eve, right here, all night."
"Glad to hear it," Mama answered as Mom's voice could be heard over the crying of the twins yelling for her.
"Night, Mama," I giggled.
"Goodnight, little one," she replied moving from the room as quickly as she could as the babies' screams echoed through our small hut.
Crawling into bed I snuggled next to Eve. "Night, little bit," I yawned.
"Mama bam Sam?"
"Yep, she sure did," I replied.
"Mean Mama."
"Nah, wonderful Mama," I replied as I slowly began to drift to sleep.