Usual disclaimers apply.

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Chapter 35

Glaring at Daphne from where she sat Xena wondered when her mother would finally speak. Cyrene had been pacing in front of Xena and Daphne as they sat on the small couch for last few candle drips. Finally stopping her pacing Cyrene sat down on the small coffee table in front of the couch. "What was going on at the practice field?"

"Daphne decided to…" Xena began only to be cut off by Daphne.

"Xena has been nothing but a…" Daphne tried.

"Stop interrupting me." Xena demanded.

"Make me," Daphne dared.

"Why you…"

"Enough!" Cyrene's voice was enough to make Xena and Daphne stop looking at each other and quickly look at Cyrene.

Gulping Xena tried to make herself look smaller on the couch without success. "Sorry Mom," she finally muttered.

"Thank you," Cyrene's blue eyes flashed at her oldest daughter. "You are the oldest, Xena start acting like it. And you," Cyrene turned to glare to the girl she now considered her youngest child. "Stop pushing every button your sister has. You are intentionally trying to get her to react and the only reaction you are going to get is one with my spoon if you don't stop."

Hearing Xena snort Cyrene turned towards her eldest once more, "That goes for you as well, Xena. I am still your mother and you are never too old to have a chat with my spoon."

"Stop that!" Cyrene directed hearing the snort now coming from her youngest.

"Oh, you can't expect me to let that one go. Big bad warrior princess scared of her mommy's wooden spoon. What would the bad guys say if they knew that?" Daphne taunted.

"Well, if they knew Mom, they'd say she swings a really mean spoon." Xena retorted. "I'm sure you'll be feeling it sooner rather than later. After all, you started all this today."

"I started this?" Daphne rolled her eyes and huffed. "In your dreams, Xena. You started this by not leaving me alone."

Xena's retort was cut off by Cyrene, "That's it, you two. I am going to talk and both of you are going to listen." Standing up Cyrene paced for a long quiet moment before sitting down once more. Taking one of Xena's hands and one of Daphne's in her own, she finally started to talk once more. "I know that both of you are hurting. Daphne you are looking for someone to blame about your father's death. It was an accident, Daphne. Xena did the best she could to save him. However, there is only so much that even Xena can do when it comes to injuries.

"And Xena," Cyrene continued, "You are hurting because you did all you could and still couldn't save a good man. You are also hurting because your sister is ignoring you and blaming you for something you couldn't control. I know that makes you crazy, Xena, but you need to respect Daphne and her space.

"And you, Daphne, need to forgive your sister for something that was beyond her control. You are sisters and it's time you begin acting like it."

"I think we were," Xena said quietly.

"What?" Cyrene raised an eyebrow in Xena's direction.

"Well we were fighting," Xena began.

"And mad at each other," Daphne added.

"And you had to break it up," Xena continued.

"Oh and threaten us both," Daphne smirked. "I'd say that's how sisters act."

"Oh yeah, exactly how sisters act," Xena agreed.

Sighing heavily Cyrene released the hands she held and took a deep breath. "This is not a joke, girls. You are now sisters and need to learn to get along."

"She doesn't treat me like a sister," Daphne protested. "Not the way Sam treats Eve or how Zivah and Rory act. She treats me like one of her kids. I don't need another mother, I already have one!" Daphne yelled before bursting into tears and allowing Cyrene to pull her into a hug.

Leaning back on the couch Xena ran her hand over her face, "Why is this so hard?" She asked. "Lyceus and I never had these problems. Even Toris and I didn't have this much trouble."

"Sisters are different," Cyrene replied quietly still holding her youngest daughter in her arms.

"Maybe," Xena finally allowed. "Can I go home now, Mom?"

"I think not," Cyrene pushed a now sniffing Daphne back to look into her face. "We are having dinner here tonight. There is a lot to talk about and no better time than the present." Holding up her hand she shook her head at Xena. "I will send word to Gabrielle and will have some dinner brought over from the kitchens. Now," turning to Daphne Cyrene kissed the girl on the forehead. "Go wash up and then come back. We have a lot to talk about, little girl."

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"So do you think it's safe to go back to the village?" Ephiny asked her wife as they watched their daughters play with Xena and Gabrielle's daughters.

"No way," Eponin replied quickly. "I imagine the queen is still upset and who knows what Cyrene is doing now. I say we enjoy our picnic and stick around here for as long as we are able."

"Sounds good," Ephiny sighed heavily and leaned into her wife as they supported themselves against the large tree overlooking the pond. "You know Xena is never going to live down been dragged through the village by hear ear by Cyrene."

"Nope." Eponin smirked. "I can't wait to tease her about it myself."

"Me either," Ephiny chuckled. "Wonder how fast I can really run?"

"Not fast enough," Eponin replied as they both dissolved into laughter.

Hearing the laughter of Eponin and Ephiny I turned myself in the water to watch them. They were obviously having a good time and it was nice to see them so relaxed. Both were intense women and always seemed to be giving their all to the tribe. It was good that they were now giving to each other. Smiling I turned my attention back to the twins and shook my head as I noticed them trying to dive but only succeeding in throwing themselves on their bellies into the water.

Easily cutting through the water to where they stood on a log I shook my head, "You two want some help?"

Emily nodded, "Please Sam. Evie says she could dive when she was two."

"Eve is telling you tales," I quipped. "She wasn't diving until she was about four or five. You two took to the water so fast though that you're a little bit advanced in water activities."

"You mean we're better than Evie at something?" Zoe asked her eyes growing wide.

"I'm not sure," I hedged. "I just know that you two are natural fish. Now, how about I teach you the right way to enter the water before you break your necks or do permanent damage to your tummies."

"Okay." Came the tandem response and I merely shook my head once more as I began instructing them the way Mama and Mom had taught me so long ago.

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Gabrielle's head shot up from the scroll in front of her when she heard the door open. "Xena?"

"Yeah, it's me." Xena's deep voice was tired and Gabrielle moved from her place at the kitchen table to meet her wife at the door.

Taking Xena's hand in her own Gabrielle led the warrior to the couch. "Grace?" Xena asked.

"Had a bottle of your stored milk but I am sure she'll be happy to see you."

"Yeah," Xena groaned as she sat down and pulled her boots off, "she has her mommy's appetite." As if on cue Grace's cry was heard and Gabrielle moved swiftly to get the youngest member of the family.

"Here you go, Gracie. Mama's milk bar is now open."

"Very funny," Xena replied taking her daughter into her arms. Getting settled on the couch Xena allowed Gabrielle to help as she finally began to feed Grace.

"So tell me what happened with your mother?" Gabrielle asked as she curled into Xena and stroked their daughter's head gently.

"Mother decided to give Daphne and me the lecture of all lectures about what it means to be sisters."

"And?" Gabrielle pressed.

"And I think the only thing that Daphne and I have agreed on is that we're doing a great job at pushing each other's buttons." Xena sighed. "It's so hard to see her as a younger sister, Gabrielle. I see her like I do our girls. But as my mother told me Daphne has a mother, her. What she needs is a big sister."

"Then maybe you need to figure out what it means to be a sister."

"Yeah, maybe." Xena admitted. "That is if she ever stops blaming me for her father's death."

Smiling gently as Xena finished feeding Grace Gabrielle finally spoke, "She's young and in pain. She needs someone to blame and you happen to be her person of choice. You're safe for her Xena. She knows that you won't just disappear, that you are here for the long haul."

Xena gently patted Grace's back as she patted the baby's back. Finally hearing the burp Xena smiled as she continued the gentle patting. "I hope that you're right, Gabrielle." Xena's voice was soft. "Otherwise Daphne and I may end up trying to kill each other."

"I'm not worried," Gabrielle replied. "I'm sure Cyrene will stop both of you before too much damage is inflicted."

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Well- here is the next chapter… All I can say is thanks for being patient. Thanks for all the PMs as well as favorites and follows.