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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"Thanks for coming so quickly, Xena."
"No problem, Krissa. So what has Trouble done now?" Xena asked the kindergarten school teacher who had summoned her.
Running her hand through her brown locks the teacher shook her head and her dark eyes looked up at Xena shyly. "It wasn't Eve this time, Xena. Well, at least not completely, Emily and Zoe were involved in this one."
"They're not even three yet," Xena protested.
"Well, they had help," the woman finally admitted.
"What kind of help?" Xena ran her hand down her face almost afraid of the answer.
"Well, Eve, Addy, and Mavis are currently missing," the woman finally admitted. "So we all figure they were the masterminds and your daughters just got everyone else to follow along with the plan while the older kids stayed out of obvious involvement."
"What happened?" Xena asked trying to remain calm as she listened.
Xena swallowed hard and shook her head before closing her eyes and opening them once more to level a stare at the younger woman. "Let me see if I have this right," Xena's voice was even. "My youngest children managed to convince the other girls to help them pluck a few chickens. They then managed to get one of the child minders into a mud hole before attacking her with the feathers."
Krissa nodded.
"And mind you, before that, they had stripped completely before doing this and had covered themselves in berry juice."
"Yes," the woman finally squeaked.
"And now, the three instigators of this activity, as it were, are missing."
"They are."
Xena sighed heavily. "I presume Ephiny and Edison are on the way?"
"Yes, Xena."
The warrior nodded once more. "Where are my hellions and the rest of the class?"
"Being bathed." Krissa blushed. "They had mud in places…well, they needed cleaned up."
"I imagine that they did," Xena agreed. "So who did they cover in mud and feathers?"
The woman's answer was interrupted by a tone that made Xena start, "Xena, what in Hades were you doing telling Eve that story about what you and Sam did to Toris in Amphipolis?"
"Mom?" Xena turned and took a step back when she saw the look in her mother's eyes. "I swear, I didn't tell Trouble the story. Besides Emily and Zoe did this."
"With Eve's help. As well as Addy and Mavis," Cyrene stated.
"How do you know?"
"Because I found those three trying to take not only all of the cookies from my kitchen but the large spice cake I'd made for desert tonight."
"Where are they?" Xena asked quietly.
"Standing in the corners of my kitchen with Shay watching over them." Cyrene's eyes narrowed. "Now, I suggest you come and get them as soon as you are finished here. You and I have a few things to discuss, young lady."
Turning on her heel, Cyrene stormed out as Xena gulped. "Damn."
"No offence Xena, but your mother is scarier than you are," Krissa said quietly.
"I know." Xena sighed again. "I'll have Cora and Helen come collect the twins and take them home. I am sorry about this."
Krissa shrugged, "At least there was no goat involved."
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***
Entering the kitchen Xena tried to avert her eyes as her mother turned and glared at her. Seeing Eve sitting alone at the table Xena arched an eyebrow, "Where are Addy and Mavis?"
"I had Shay walk them home after we had a discussion about stealing from my kitchen," Cyrene stated as Eve sniffled.
Giving a slight nod at Xena's unspoken question the older woman couldn't help but smile as her daughter crossed the room quickly and opened her arms.
Eve jumped into them and began to cry freely on her mother's shoulder, "Yaya spanked us with her spoon," Eve sniffed. "She said we were naughty."
"She did?" Xena asked quietly.
"Uh-huh," Eve pulled back and looked at her mother. "But we were just hungry."
Holding her smile Xena pressed her daughter's head back to her shoulder and kissed the top of the girl's head. "You know how your yaya is about her kitchen, Eve. And it's never okay to take anything without asking first. I'm sure Yaya would have shared her cookies or cake with you if you had asked."
"But we couldn't ask," Eve protested.
Sitting down, Xena placed the girl on her lap. "Why not?"
"Because we were gathering supplies," Eve whispered.
"Supplies?" Xena's eyebrow raised once more.
Eve nodded, "We needed them so we wouldn't get hungry when we were hiding out."
"Hiding out? What do you mean by that, Eve?"
"Well," Eve looked at her mother and then to her grandmother before sighing in defeat. "I figured you wouldn't be too happy about the twins covering Rosie in mud and feathers."
"You're right, I'm not happy about that. But why would that mean you had to hide out? You didn't cover her in those things."
"Well, I was just teaching the twins stuff," Eve began.
"What do you mean?" Xena looked at her mother for help but only received a shrug in return.
"You know, I was practicing, like Sam said I should."
"What did Sam tell you, Eve?"
"She said the new baby needed to learn stuff from me so I was practicing with the twins. I told them that story Sam told me about when you and Sam played that joke on Uncle Toris."
"Go on," Xena encouraged.
"Well, I thought I should start teaching them how to do stuff."
"So you've said," Xena commented as her mother chuckled.
"I showed them how to make a mud hole and how to pluck chickens for their feathers. Oh and I teached them that you had to be naked before you played in mud otherwise Mommy gets really mad about your clothes."
Cyrene's laughter couldn't be contained at the last comment and Xena glared at her mother.
"Don't you look at me that way, young lady," Cyrene admonished. "This one is all you at that age."
Xena nodded and sighed at Eve's confused look, "Sorry, Mom."
"Oh, little one," Cyrene moved across the kitchen and kissed the top of her daughter's head. "I wouldn't have had things any other way. You did keep me on my toes."
Giving her mother a crooked smile Xena finally stood carrying Eve in her arms. "If you'll excuse us, Eve and I need to go and talk about this some more."
Cyrene nodded and motioned her daughter to bend down. Waiting until the woman did so, Cyrene rubbed Eve's back as she whispered in Xena's ear, "I gave them each five light swats with the spoon."
Nodding in understanding Xena rose again. "We'll see you later."
"You will," Cyrene confirmed. "Goodbye, Eve."
Receiving a half-hearted wave from her granddaughter Cyrene laughed again glad for the forces that graced her only daughter with a child so much like Xena had been as a child.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***
Xena sat on the coffee table her three daughters lined up on the couch in front of her.
"Okay girls, we need to talk," she finally began wishing once more that her wife was here with her.
"Talk about what, Mama?" Zoe asked her big blue eyes looking up at her mother.
"About what happened at school today, Zoe."
At the words Zoe grinned. "We had fun, Mama!" she announced excitedly.
"Yeah, Emily's blonde curls bobbed up and down. We played in the mud, trew fevvers, and gots to be naked." She grinned happily and Xena groaned.
"Yeah, Mama, Twuble teached us lots today. She's the best big sissy." Zoe added before surprising her older sister with a hug leaning across her twin's lap in order to do so.
Eve's face lit up as she looked at her sisters, "You think I'm a good big sister?"
The twins nodded. "What about Sam?" Eve pressed.
Zoe and Emily looked at each other and shook their heads, "You better. Sam never teached us about mud and fevvers!" Zoe chortled.
Grinning proudly Eve's smile faltered slightly at the sight of her mother's narrowed eyes looking in her direction. Recovering quickly she smiled broadly once more, "Did you hear that, Mama? I teached Emily and Zoe a lot of stuff today."
Xena sighed, "Yes you did, Eve. You taught your sisters a lot of things today. However," Xena stopped as Eve groaned.
"Is there something you'd like to say, Eve?"
"It's just that Sam says however is just another way to say but, and when you say but there's nothing good about it and mine is usually on fire after you or Mommy say it."
Rubbing her hand down her face Xena changed tactics, "Eve, I know you wanted to teach your sisters something and I think that's great. However, next time you need to check with me first. Especially if mud or feathers are involved."
"Why, Mama?" Zoe asked.
"To make sure you do it right," Xena said simply. "I mean, I am the expert on that trick and how do you know you did it the right way unless I can check it out."
The twins nodded but Eve frowned, "I'm five, Mama, not three."
Xena leaned forward and looked her middle daughter in the eyes, "Then let me say this another way, Eve Anastasia. If you ever pull another stunt like that and involve your sisters you, me, and my hand will be having a long talk. Do you understand?"
Eyes opening wide Eve nodded. "Yes, Mama. I understand."
"Good," Xena smirked and then moved to kiss each daughter on the forehead. "Time for bed, you monsters."
"But, Mama," Eve began to protest but stopped at the look her mother was giving her. "I guess we'll go to bed now."
"Good choice, Trouble." Xena smiled and stood. "Let's go, girls. Time for bed. Mama is tired."
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***
"For the love of the gods would you at least do that right?" Zivah stomped towards Rory and I stood up to watch what would happen.
They had been at each other for the last two days and I wondered how much longer Eponin was going to let it progress before she did something about their behavior and attitudes towards each other.
"I am doing it just fine, miss high and mighty," Rory responded moving away from the fire pit.
"You are not putting the twigs the right way to make the fire last most of the night," Zivah protested moving closer.
"I'm doing it just how Aunt Xena taught me. Unless you're saying that Aunt Xena does it wrong," Rory snipped.
Taking a deep breath Zivah narrowed her eyes at her sister, "No, I am not saying that Aunt Xena does it wrong. I'm saying that YOU are doing it wrong."
Hearing a growl I waited for it and wasn't surprised to find Rory on top of Zivah after she'd tackled her to the ground ready to throw the first punch.
Grinning as they started to fight I jumped as an unexpected swat met my bottom. "What was that for?" I pouted as Mom came into view.
She pointed at Rory and Zivah, "Why are you letting them do that?"
I shrugged. "Well, it's not like Aunt Eponin seems to mind," I began. "She said, and I quote, "Sisters fight, let them work it out themselves. So I'm letting them work it out themselves."
Staring at Aunt Eponin I chuckled as she finally shrugged her shoulders and held up her hands to mom in a placating manner. "Fine, fine, I have it."
Pulling her daughters apart Eponin landed a half dozen swats on each of their backsides before pointing towards two trees. "Face those trees until I tell you otherwise," she directed.
Groaning Rory moved to do as she was told while Zivah merely stared at her mother. "Zivah, go stare at the tree."
"Don't you think I'm too old for that punishment?" Zivah demanded.
"No, I don't. Now move."
"NO, I'm not a baby anymore. I refuse to stare at some dumb tree," Zivah protested and I cringed as Eponin turned Zivah sideways and lit her tail on fire before leading her to a close tree.
"Do not move, Zivah," Eponin directed before making Zivah face the tree much to Rory's delight.
I was sitting in a large tree watching as Mom worked with Zivah and Rory at the same time on the set up of our campfire. Mom gently pointed out to Zivah that Rory had been doing things the right way, but because she was left handed it didn't look the same from where Zivah had been standing the previous evening.
I tried not to feel jealous as they laughed about something and even though I didn't really enjoy cooking lessons I had been slightly disappointed that I hadn't even been asked to help with the meals.
I thought that Mom and I would be able to spend some time reconnecting without the distractions of my siblings but it seemed as if I'd acquired two more sisters. As much as I loved Zivah and Rory, I really didn't feel like competing with them for Mom on this trip.
"What are you doing up here?" Eponin's voice came from above and I looked up slightly.
"Watching, you?"
"Just finished a perimeter walk with Solari," Eponin turned her eyes towards the campfire. "We managed to bag a few rabbits tonight. She's dressing them before bringing them into camp."
I nodded.
"Any other reason you're in the tree?"
"Since when do you do the sensitive chats?"
"Since I became a mother to three daughters," Eponin smirked at me. "I'm a regular peace maker now."
"Sure you are," I teased. Hearing Solari before I saw her I trained my eyes in that direction and followed her into camp.
"You know, it's scary at times how much you are like Xena," Eponin commented. "She would have done the same thing you just did with Solari. I never even heard her."
"It's the bionic hearing," I whispered.
"Sam, why don't you just tell your mom that you want to spend more time with her?"
I finally looked Eponin in the eyes, "I shouldn't have to," I grimaced as I heard Mom joking with the girls and made to get out of the tree.
"Sam?"
"I miss Mama, Aunt Eponin." Looking at her once more I shrugged, "I need to use the bushes." I stated before flipping from the tree and moving to be alone.
We were two days from the Amazon village we were going to visit when I began to get an uneasy feeling. Moving Mavri to be even with Mom I spoke to her without prompting for the first time in three days.
"We need to be on the look out," I stated simply. "Something doesn't feel right."
Mom nodded, "I know, Sammy. I feel it too."
"Glad we're on the same page." Dropping Mavri back I once more took my usual position near the end of our party. I heard Mom sigh but didn't' really care. It's not like she needed me, not with Zivah and Rory hanging on the queen's every word.
Wondering what Eponin was doing when she approached Mom I chose not to listen and instead focused my senses around us. I felt like we were being followed but hadn't seen any outward signs of it. Yet the forest surrounding us was too quiet. I hadn't heard a bird or the scurry of an animal in far too long.
Deciding just to wait and see I began to sing songs in my head as I watched Eponin finally reach Mom.
"Gabrielle."
"Eponin," Gabrielle turned and smiled at her friend. "What can I do for you?"
Sighing Eponin looked at her queen. "Look, you know I don't do sensitive chats much better than any other warrior including the one you left at home. So here's what's up. You need to spend more time with your kid."
Green eyes looked at the weapons master pulled her horse up short, "What do you mean, Ep?"
"Damn it all to Hades," Eponin muttered. "Look, you're being an idiot about Sam. She misses you and has been spending more time in the trees watching you with my two kids than she has speaking to any of us. I'm surprised you haven't noticed."
"I have noticed, Ep." Gabrielle began to move her horse again. "I was hoping she'd come to me on her own."
"Gods, for someone so smart, you sure can be dumb. She's a teenager, Gabrielle. She's not going to come to you when others are around. You should know that."
"Yeah, she has too much of Xena in her to show any weakness," Gabrielle commented.
"And too much of you to be anything but stubborn about it." Eponin quipped before pulling back and bringing up the rear of the traveling party once more.
Shaking my head as Eponin winked at me when she finally resumed her place behind me I finally heard something. Hurrying Mavri to point near Solari I held up my fist and was relieved when everyone stopped.
Looking at Mom I nodded towards her left and then forward. She sighed and pulled her sais from her boots. Seeing this Solari and Eponin pulled their swords as I made sure I was ready with my staff.
Fighting from horseback wasn't ideal but I'd heard a foot snap a twig, not a horse so I hoped we would have the advantage. Tired of the games I finally overstepped my bounds when I channeled my warrior mother.
"Show yourselves, you cowards!" I yelled.
Hearing groans I looked behind me, "What?" I shrugged. "I'm tired of waiting.
"We will be having a serious talk about your lack of patience, Samina." Mom hissed as we finally came face to face with the people who had been following us for the last candlemark.
"Seriously?" I looked at the rag tag bunch in front of us. "You do realize that you're outmatched right? I mean I could take all of you without breaking a sweat."
"Sam," Mom's voice warned. "Stop taunting them."
"But look at them," I protested. "I mean they don't know how to hold a sword properly and do you see how that one is standing? Eve could take him out with that stance."
Hearing a snort behind me I turned slightly to find Eponin trying not to laugh. "She is so her mothers' daughter." Eponin said as Solari nodded.
"Enough, Samina." Mom looked at the band in front of us once more. "What is it you want?"
A young man stepped forward. "We only want to know if you could tell us the way to Logari."
"Logari?"
The young man nodded, "We have heard there is work there for fisherman and sailors."
"And you are sailors and fisherman?"
"We are," I watched the young man shift nervously. "Or rather, we wish to be. There is not much use for farmers when the crop has been destroyed by warlords."
Gabrielle nodded, "Where did you live?"
"Near Proto."
"Well, what is your name?" Mom asked.
"I am Philipas and these are my friends, Tobias, Leo, and Max."
"I am Gabrielle, this is Sam, Eponin, Solari, Zivah, and Rory."
The young men nodded at us and I saw Mom eyeing them closely. "Why don't you travel with us for the rest of today? We are on our way to a sister tribe east of Amphipolis."
"A sister tribe?" Phlipas asked.
Mom smiled and nodded as she dismounted. "Let's talk as we walk. By the way, I'd put the weapons away unless you're prepared to use them. We could have hurt you."
"We figured three women and three girls couldn't do much to hurt us," Tobias spoke.
"Unless they're trained Amazons dufus," I muttered causing Eponin to laugh outright this time.
Seeing the glare from Mom as she hit the ground I shrugged, "What? It's true. They didn't see our weapons?"
"We saw the weapons but thought perhaps they were for show," Leo volunteered. "After all, you are just a child. What could you do to us even if we aren't trained?"
"Kick your scrawny ass." My eyes narrowed and I heard Zivah and Rory sigh behind me.
"Sign your own death warrant why don't you, Sam?" Rory whispered in English
"What in the hell are you talking about?"
"Look at your mom," Rory nodded and I finally took stock of Mom's posture.
"Shit, I'm dead."
"Oh yeah," Zivah began to laugh now and I ignored her. Looking at Mom I shrugged, "Sorry?"
"You will be," she whispered before leading our group out again, this time on foot.
We had stopped early to make camp and my uneasy feelings had only grown. I had overheard Mom tell Solari and Eponin not to address her as anything other than Gabrielle so I had told Rory and Zivah earlier not to tease me with Princess and only to call Mom Aunt Gabrielle. I knew if Mom didn't trust them than I shouldn't either.
I had finally gotten the horses settled for the evening when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Get your staff, young lady."
I sighed and grabbed my staff following Mom to the edge of camp. Seeing that she wasn't messing around I braced myself and the first strike came without warning. Mom was starting hard and it was all I could do to hold my own with her.
"What's going on?" Tobias moved to watch Sam and Gabrielle spar.
"Aunt Gabrielle is giving Sam a sparring lesson," Zivah replied eyeing the young man warily.
"Why?"
"It's what they do," Rory answered as she sat on the ground and watched. "Oh, that is going to leave a hell of a bruise." She winced as Gabrielle's staff cause Sam to stumble when it hit her on the back of the leg.
"But that's going to make riding awful," Zivah jumped when Gabrielle's staff hit Sam's backside causing her to go into a forward roll or be knocked off her feet.
"I still don't get it," Tobias commented ducking his own head when Sam and Gabrielle engaged in a rather hard flurry of blows with their staffs.
"It's an Amazon thing," Rory said dryly. "We like to beat each other's ass to make a point."
Zivah nodded, "It's true, Rory and I try to kill each other on a regular basis even though we're sisters. A total Amazon thing. Remember that."
Rory winked at her sister, "And remember, if we beat the crap out of each other and we're family imagine what we'd do to someone who isn't family that totally pissed us off."
"Get up, Samina!" Gabrielle's voice stopped the conversation and Eponin shook her head as Sam slowly stood and once more began sparring with her mother. Gabrielle was spending time with her daughter but this wasn't quite what the weapons master had in mind when she broached the subject earlier.
***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***
"Let me help you with that," Mom's voice was soft as she took the bandages and salve from my hands.
"Thanks."
Applying some salve to the cut above my eye I winced and she shook her head, "You really didn't have to try and get up that last time you know."
"Of course I did," I quipped. "I couldn't let you think I was too easy to take down."
Shaking her head she continued to patch me up and look at my various bruises. "You were out of control, Sammy. There's being confident and being a total brat."
"I know," I sighed. "I am sorry, I guess things were bugging me and I let my mouth get carried away."
"Oh?"
"I just thought we'd spend more time on this trip is all, but it's like any other Amazon road trip. Dull and long with me being nothing more than a non-feathered kid."
"Sammy," Mom tried.
"No, Mom, I get it, I do. You needed to make peace with Rory and Zivah, it's part of who you are and you can't show favorites. But damn it, I'm your kid and you've spent more time with them in the last five days than you and I have spent together in the last month."
Putting her hand on my cheek Mom looked at me before placing a kiss to my forehead, "I see you have my gift of exaggeration, but I get your point, Sammy. I am sorry and I'll do better."
I nodded at her and groaned, "I'd smile right now but I think it would hurt too much."
Laughing at this she helped me up, "Come on, kiddo, let's go make sure Zivah and Rory aren't killing each other while Eponin and Solari don't burn the stew."
"Mom?"
Turning she looked at me again, "Yes?"
"I don't trust our guests," I said quietly in English.
"Neither do I, Sammy," she replied in kind.
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I know this one is a bit long, I hope nobody minded. I just couldn't find a good place to cut it.
Also, thanks once more to all those who are now following this, or have added it to their favorites list. It's so nice to see my story well received.
More Sam coming soon.