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 5
"So, how did the talk with our eldest go?" Gabrielle snuggled into Xena's side as her wife pulled the covers over them even more.
"I hate having those types of conversations with Sam," Xena finally answered rubbing Gabrielle's back.
"You went through with spanking her then?"
"A dozen swats with a leftover piece of leather from some tack I was fixing," Xena sighed. "I couldn't give her any more than that. I know she understood what she'd done wrong and she was more upset about disappointing me than anything."
"Cried before you touched her, didn't she?" Gabrielle asked knowingly.
"Yeah," Xena continued to rub Gabrielle's back gently. Leaning into the pillows on their bed even more Xena was quiet and then spoke once more. "She's growing up, Gabrielle. I'm not sure I like it, either."
"I know." Gabrielle's fingers had been lightly drawing circles on Xena's stomach as the women spoke. "I still can't believe she's already fifteen. Eve is going to be six before we know it, the twins are growing by leaps and bounds, and pretty soon we'll be welcoming a new addition to this family.
"It seems like things were in flux for so long, Xena and now," Gabrielle looked up at her wife and smiled gently. "Now, it seems life is passing far too quickly."
"Don't I know it?" Xena agreed. "Do you know that Sam and Daria have moved beyond just kissing?"
"What do you mean?" Gabrielle demanded tensing a bit.
"They've worked their way up to heavy making out," the warrior sighed. "One minute I see her as this far too grown up teenager and the next minute she's in my lap wanting me to sing to her."
"It's hard growing up," Gabrielle replied. "For the child and the parents."
"I'll say," Xena agreed. "When should we talk to Sam about Daria?"
"The birds and the bees talk?" Gabrielle teased. "Haven't we done that already?"
"Well, we have, but I think we need to add a refresher course and go into a bit more detail than we've given her before."
"Yeah," Xena sighed heavily. "I know she has Aphrodite to talk to, but it is our job as her moms. Not that I want to talk about it right away, I just think the time is getting close."
"So do I," Gabrielle traced patterns on Xena's growing belly. "Let's just play it by ear for now. I think we'll know when it's time."
Leaning her head down, Xena gently kissed her wife. "Sounds like a plan to me, my bard."
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"Sam could I talk to you please?" Mom's voice interrupted my reading and I looked up slowly.
"Can I finish this chapter?" I asked holding up the book. "I just started it and you were right, I love it."
Mom chuckled and took it from my hands, "I loved Dr. Angelou's works. I'm glad to share this one with you at least." Handing me the book back Mom pointed to my locket and I sighed.
"Okay, but it was just getting good," I teased allowing the book to go back into my locket.
Sitting on the coffee table in front of me Mom looked at me with a smile. "How would you like to go on a trip with me?"
"A trip? What kind of trip?" I asked.
"The kind where we try to build bridges and establish trade with outside villages while we also visit another Amazon tribe and try to build a relationship with them."
"Is Mama coming?"
Mom shook her head, "She's going to stay here. Though she won't admit it, she's more tired than usual and she'll need to keep an eye on the twins and Eve."
"Oh yeah, that will do wonders for her tiredness," I laughed.
Mom laughed too and shrugged, "She says that she'll be fine and looks forward to spending time with your sisters. Besides, I'd like to spend some time with my oldest without any distractions."
"No distractions?" I smirked. "On the road with Amazons trying to build relationships, no distractions at all."
"Oh hush, you." Mom slapped my knee gently. Moving forward she kissed me on the forehead. "We leave in two days."
"Wait, who all is going with us?"
"Not many actually. Eponin, Solari, Rory, Zivah, and you."
"Really? That's it? And why isn't Daria going if Rory and Zivah are?" I asked.
Mom chuckled and rubbed my hand, "Zivah is going to learn more about herbs and healing. She'll help me if anything comes up on the road. I have had years to learn from your mother, you know. Rory is to keep you out of trouble when you feel bored, and Daria managed to severly sprain her wrist and ankle today during one of her tree walking classes."
"Really?" I was surprised by that since Daria was one of the best tree walkers we had. "How did she manage that, she's great at tree walking."
"It seems she was trying to drop to the ground and rather than doing the normal way she tried this very complicated flip maneuver and landed wrong." Mom chided gently.
"Damn, I told her to make sure to start on the right foot." I muttered quietly jumping when my thigh was slapped. "Hey, what's that for?"
"Language, Sammy, and for encouraging your friends a bit too much." Mom answered with a smirk.
Grinning at her I shook my head, "I'm going to go check on Daria and tell her the news. Is that okay with you?"
Mom nodded, "Have fun and don't stay too long, Sammy."
"I won't." I stood and headed towards the door. "I promised little bit I'd take her riding today. There is no way I'll not make it since I'm going to be gone for a while."
Mom smiled at me once more as I grabbed my staff from its usual corner by the door and made my way outside.
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"Knock, knock." I announced as I entered Daria's hut and headed towards her room. Her mother had told me ages ago that I was welcome to just walk in without knocking since I was practically a member of the family and though I usually did knock I figured Daria would appreciate it if she didn't have to try and get up to let me in.
"Sam!" Daria's face widened into a grin when she saw me enter the room.
"Hey you." I greeted bending down to kiss her before sitting on the bed next to her gently. "What's this I hear about you not taking off on your right foot?"
Holding up her right hand and pointing to her left ankle Daria groaned, "You were so right. Only on the right. How could I forget?"
"Well, you were in a tree, and I wasn't there to guide you." I teased.
"Yeah, yeah." Daria smirked and pulled me closer to her for another kiss. "So, I'm going to be laid up for a few days. Care to spend them with me?"
I nodded, "As much as I'm able."
"What does that mean?" Daria frowned. "I thought you'd jump at the chance to spend time with your poor wounded girlfriend."
"Oh, I am." I agreed. "However, I'll be heading out with Mom in a couple days on a trip."
Daria sank back into her pillows. "You mean the whole, let's go make friends mission?"
I nodded, "How did you know?"
"I was supposed to go with you. Your mom asked me about a week ago."
Moving I sat next to Daria properly and put my head on her shoulder, "I'm sorry you got hurt. It would have been fun having you along."
"Yeah, so tell me who else is going so I can sit here and wallow in my self-pity."
"Eponin, Solari, Zivah, Rory, and me."
"Kill me now." Daria deadpanned.
"Nah," I moved closer to her and turned my body a bit. "If you were dead then we couldn't have fun by doing this…" I trailed off as my hands wrapped around her neck and brought her in for another kiss.
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"Sam?" Eve was sitting in front of me on the saddle and turned to look at me as she spoke.
"Yes, little bit?"
"Why doesn't Mama play with me anymore?" Her eyes were sad and I cringed.
"She's just feeling tired, Evie. Having a baby grow inside of you makes you tired.
"Oh." Eve turned around and watched the scenery go by for a few moments.
"Will she play again once the baby comes?"
"Yeah," I sighed. "She will." I clucked my tongue and Mavri sped up a bit as we came to a clearing. Slowing back down to a walk I stopped took the trail to my right and decided we needed to visit the pond.
"Eve, I've seen Mama playing with you. Why are you asking about her not playing?"
Eve sighed dramatically, "She plays boring stuff now. She won't do flips with me on her back anymore and forget her fancy sword moves."
"Ah," I suddenly understood. "She can't, Eve. The baby is starting to get bigger and she wants to keep it safe."
"But you said she did a whole bunch of those things when she was having me. She even fought Draco when they had the band battle!"
I sighed wishing I'd never told Eve the story that Mom had told me the summer I had chicken pox. She'd even gotten Mama to act out parts of her musical battle with Draco and I had been a bit mortified, yet impressed that my mother had been rapping two thousand years before it's time.
"I know it's hard, little bit, just remember you and Mama will be playing again in no time."
"Yeah, right." Eve huffed. "I'm five, not stupid. I remember how the twins took all of Mom's time after they were born. The new baby will be the same way. Mama won't be able to do anything fun with me until she get older and it takes forever for babies to get older!"
Finally reaching the pond I stopped Mavri and helped Eve to dismount before sliding off Mavri myself. "Maybe," I finally conceded as Eve picked up some loose rocks around the pond and began to throw them into the pond. "Just remember that you're going to be the older sister to this new baby and she's not going to have anyone else to show her the ropes like you can."
"What do you mean?" Eve's eyebrow raised and I held in my chuckle at how much she looked like Mama in that moment.
Kneeling I put my hands on her shoulders, "I mean the twins have each other and I have you. This baby is going to need a sister to look out for her, too. That's going to have to be you because I'm getting too old."
Eve narrowed her eyes at me as she thought about what I was saying, "Is this some kind of trick so I won't be so mad about the new baby?"
Laughing I shook my head, "No, little bit. I promise you, it's no trick. You are going to have to look out for this baby the same way I look out for you."
Eve suddenly smiled and then threw her arms around me, "So that means I can teach her stuff?""
Pushing her back I nodded slowly, "Of course."
"Can I practice teaching the twins stuff too? That way I can teach her the best stuff I know."
Seeing the twinkle in her eye I decided to ignore it and merely nodded, "Sure, little bit. I think that's a good idea. Now, how about we spend some time playing before we have to head home?"
Eve nodded and then hit my shoulder, "Tag, you're it, Sam!" She chortled as she ran off giggling waiting for me to give chase.
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"I wanna go too!" Eve's yell and stomp of foot echoed across the early morning mist in the village.
Mom bent down and looked into Eve's angry eyes. She was beginning to tear up and Mom gave her a hug. "You can't come this time, Evie. It's too dangerous for you to be on the road with us this time. Besides, I need you to stay here and help your mama with your sisters."
"I don't want to help with them," Eve stomped her foot again. "I want to come with Sam. The twins are just babies and they bug me."
Mom looked up at Mama and Mama held in her chuckle, "We've been over this, Trouble," Mama began bending down and picking up my sister. "You are staying here with me and that's final."
"This sucks." She pouted. Turning her eyes to me she finally allowed a few tears to fall. "Please, Sam. Let me come with you. I want to go with you."
Sliding off Mavri's back I headed to her and took her hand once Mama let her down. Leading my little sister to the large oak in the distance I sat on the ground and pulled her onto my lap.
"I know you want to come along, little bit," I began as she buried her face in my neck. "I wish that you could, but you are still too little and I don't want anything to happen to you on the road."
"But we go see Uncle Toris on the road," she protested glaring at me as she sniffed.
"I know, but that's different. That's going to visit family, not other Amazon villages that might not want to be friends. Please, Eve, help Mama out since I can't do that right now."
"What do you mean?" Eve sat back and stared at me hard.
"I mean I really need you to help out with the twins and maybe teach them some stuff that you know. How else are they going to learn anything important?"
Eve sighed and sniffed once more, "I guess I can do that."
I smiled at her and kissed the top of her head. "Good, besides Mama is really going to need your help with Mom gone."
"Okay," Eve finally got off my lap and turned to me once more. Putting her hands on her hips I had to bite back my laugh as a mini version of Mom stared at me. "But you owe me big for this, Sam. I want to learn something really cool when you get back."
"You have a deal, little bit." I agreed pulling her into a hug and then standing. "Come on, let's go finish our good byes and then you can help Mama take the twins to school.
"Damn," Eve muttered as Emily and Zoe began to pout and whimper as Mom mounted her horse while waiting for me.
Getting on Mavri I smiled at Zivah and Rory as Addy clung to Ephiny with her own tears at seeing both of her sisters and her mother leaving for the next while.
Getting nods from those who had come to see us off I couldn't stop the low chuckle as Eve grabbed Zoe as she tried to run after us. "No, Zoe, come on, let's go to school."
"I want Mom," Zoe finally yelled behind us.
"You owe me, Sam!" Eve yelled once more across the compound causing the Eponin, Solari, and Mom to laugh.
"Come on, Zoe. I'll tell you a great story." I finally heard Eve say as she began to drag Zoe towards school followed by Mama holding a crying Emily.
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We had made good time on our first day of travel and had finally made camp for the night. Surprisingly we weren't camped in a cave and I made sure to tease Mom about that fact.
Zivah was more than happy to help Mom with dinner and for that the rest of us were grateful. I could cook on the road if forced, but preferred not to do it if I didn't have to. I was enjoying relaxing on my bedroll as I watched Rory practice her knife throwing skills at a nearby tree.
"Damn it," Rory picked her knife up from the ground and turned to me. "What's the secret of hitting the tree?"
"Having better aim than you do," Zivah replied before I could.
"Just because the great Nebula taught you how to do it doesn't mean you have to be snarky about my skills." Rory volleyed back.
"What skills?" Zivah smirked at Rory. "You've only hit the tree three times of the last twelve. If we were under attack I'd rather have Trouble on my side."
"At least I don't run away from fights," Rory snipped.
"What the hell does that mean?" Zivah was on her feet heading towards Rory when Eponin grabbed her.
"Calm down, Zivah." She directed.
"Come on, Mama. She's insulting me."
"You started it," Rory huffed.
"Whiner."
"Girls, enough!" Eponin ran her hand down her face. "Unless both of you want to sleep on your stomachs tonight you will stop fighting."
Eponin glared at them and Zivah finally nodded, "Yes, Mama."
"Rory?" Eponin prodded.
"Fine," she huffed.
"Zivah, come and help me with dinner." Mom called and I raised my eyebrow at Rory as she sat on her bedroll which had been laid on next to mine.
"Issues with your sister?" I teased.
"The gods, how do you do it, Sam? I mean, going from an only child to middle child sucks."
"Try going from only child to oldest." I deadpanned.
"Yeah, sucks to be you." Rory teased. "I miss the quiet sometimes, you know?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I still miss my closet."
"You and that damn closet," Rory laughed. "Remember that year we were seven and decided to live in there when I was staying over that week? We moved all of your clothes into the bedroom and pulled the mattress off the bed and into the closet."
I began to laugh at the memory. "Oh yeah, I thought Mom was going to implode when she found the cans of leftover paint we were trying to open to make it more…what did we tell her?"
"You wanted to make it homier," Mom interjected with a chuckle.
"Yeah. Gods I miss that closet. I could have put a lock on the inside and hidden from my sisters in it." I quipped.
Rory shook her head, "Right, with your luck, Trouble would be an expert lock picker or something."
"Probably," I looked towards the fire and saw Zivah glaring at Rory. "You know, little bit, she has many skills."
"Oh yeah," Rory agreed. "Like terrorizing goats and running naked through the village."
"Girls, dinner." Mom effectively cut off our conversation before we could go any further.