Usual disclaimers apply.

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Chapter 27

Narrowing my eyes at my opponent, I held my body ready and nodded to Eponin. Seeing my opponent do the same I decided to really enjoy defeating the girl across from me. "I'm going to enjoy this," I finally spoke as we circled.

"So am I," Daphne smiled at me. "I am so going to kick your ass, Sam."

"In your dreams," I replied before easily blocking the first strike from her.

Our fighting began in earnest a few moments later and we blocked and counter blocked for what seemed forever. Finally seizing a moment I was able to get a first strike on her, drawing blood when I punched her nose. Seeing Daphne's eyes narrow more our moves became faster and I was about to do a flip when I felt a kick to my stomach. Using the momentum from the kick and the anger that accompanied it I flipped backwards and returned to our sparring with a vengeance. She may have some raw talent hidden inside of her somewhere, but I wasn't about to allow this girl to think she could ever best me. After all, I was Xena's daughter, not her, and she needed to remember that.

Allowing the anger to come to the forefront I began to attack in full as Daphne did the same. My anger was allowing me to become more focused and I realized that Daphne was becoming angry as well. Continuing the sparring, I used my focus to upset Daphne more. Her sparring had become sloppy and I used that to my advantage. I was about to deliver what I hoped was the final kick when Daphne exploded. I suddenly realized that what was making her sloppy was anger. The same anger that fueled me and focused me, made her sloppy, and careless.

I easily sidestepped as she rushed me and I managed to give a kick to her backside as she passed. The momentum caused her to fall but rather than doing a roll as she had earlier in the round she landed face first. Getting up she came at me again and I merely shook my head and grinned. I was ready to stop this and grabbed her arm as she passed. Spinning her around I let her go and watched as she hit the fence of the sparring arena.

Eponin moved towards Daphne and finally managed to get her semi-coherent again. Standing Eponin looked at me and shook her head. "This wasn't supposed to be a real fight, Samina."

"Oh this wasn't a real fight, Weapon's Master," I replied wiping the blood from my lip. She still wouldn't be standing if it had been a real fight."

The audience around us was dead silent at my retort and I wasn't surprised when Eponin issued the order to meet her later at the weapons hut. Feeling a familiar tingle, I pulled my sword and yelled in English, "Go get Mama and Mom, Rory!" Knowing she was the fasted runner among those assembled I was grateful when Eponin didn't ask any questions as the figure materialized fully in front of us.

"What do you want, Ares?" I asked.

"I want to see who made me feel all warm and tingly just now. So much anger, and it's all focused on you, my little warrior."

"That would be me," Daphne came towards me glaring. "I'm not done, Sam."

"Yes, you are," Mama's deep voice joined us and she slowly entered the arena.

"I can take her, Xena," Daphne protested.

"Such fire, Xena," Ares grinned at Mama. "Reminds me of someone else I used to know."

"She's off limits, Ares." Mama went toe to toe with him and he backed up slightly, still smirking.

"Really? And who are you to tell me that? After all, she's not your daughter."

The punch caused Ares to groan and I snorted, "Still hurt when she does that?" I asked.

"Yes," he pinched his nose and took the rag Mama handed him without ceremony. Continuing to pinch his nose he looked at me again before turning to Daphne. "I'll be back to talk to you," he quipped before disappearing in a flash of blue.

"Great, just what we need," Mama mumbled as Mom finally joined us.

"Xena?" she asked.

"I'll explain on the way to the healer's hut," Mama moved towards me and I looked up into her eyes and held her gaze. "Go with Eponin and then go straight home and to your room when she is done talking with you."

"Why?" I challenged.

"Do you want to do this here and now, Samina?" she asked me.

Never lowering my eyes, I glared at her, "Fine. But you'd better remind that one," I glared at Daphne and switched to English. "That she's not you, and that Ares doesn't play nice."

Turning on my heel I tried to move towards Eponin only to feel myself pulled back by my collar. "We will talk later, little one," Mama hissed. "And I suggest you no longer have this attitude when we do." Letting go of me I gave no outer sign of having heard her and finally moved towards Eponin.

"I am ready to talk with you, Weapon's Master."

"Follow me, Samina."

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I was lying on my stomach on my bed listening to my music player. Eponin had indeed talked with me and then had given me two stripes with a stripped arrow shaft. It wasn't the worse punishment I'd ever received but it hadn't helped the anger I still felt towards Daphne.

"Sam!" Sighing heavily I took out my ear buds and willed my music player into my locket.

"Hey little bit. What are you doing home already?"

"Are you kidding?" Eve crawled up on the bed and lay next to me. "The word is all over the village that you not only kicked Daphne's ass, but that you stared down Mama, and were rude to Aunt Eponin."

Her voice was a little too happy for my liking and I groaned. Slowly sitting up, I winced slightly and leaned back against my wall before motioning my sister to sit on my lap. "Listen to me, little bit," I began. "I did do all that today, but that isn't something to be proud of."

Eve looked up and me and frowned, "Why not? Daphne wasn't as good as you and you beat her."

"I know." I was silent for a while and finally addressed my little sister. "Staring Mama down and disrespecting Eponin are not something to be proud of, Eve. I allowed my anger to control me and that's not okay. We're princesses in this tribe, little bit, and we have to show others how to act. The way I acted today when I did those things isn't something I would want others to do because it's not the Amazon way."

"But sometimes you have to stand up for yourself like that, right?" Eve asked.

"Sometimes you do," I confirmed. "But I wasn't standing up for myself with Mama and Eponin, little bit. I was throwing my version of a temper tantrum."

"Why Sam?" Eve tucked her head on my shoulder and relaxed into me.

"Because I was angry," I answered simply.

"Angry about what?"

"Big girl things," I smiled at Eve's frown.

"I hate when you tell me that," Eve huffed.

"I know, but it's true." I sighed.

"You still kicked Daphne's ass," Eve grinned.

"I did," I smiled at her this time. "And don't let the moms hear you saying ass again."

"Yeah, yeah," Eve waved her hand in annoyance. "I know burning tail feathers."

Chuckling I pulled Eve in for a hug, "Don't tell anyone, but you're my favorite sister, little bit."

"I know." She smirked at my look and then turned to hug me. "I love you, Sam." She whispered in my ear before climbing off my lap and running from the room and out of the hut.

I was just getting ready to lie down again when I heard footsteps move from my window. A few moments later Mom was on the bed with me and I was curled into her as much as I was able as she sat next to me on the bed. The tears came unbidden and she merely held me while I cried. The tears finally stopped and I gladly accepted the cloth Mom handed me. "I miss Kleenex," I sniffed.

"So do I," Mom kissed the top of my head and I shuddered.

"I'm sorry about today, Mom," I took a deep breath. "But I'm not sorry about sparring with Daphne. She acts like she's so special because Mama was in her body once. She's constantly bragging about it, and telling stories, it's annoying…"

"And it hurts you to share your mama that way," Mom said quietly.

"She's my mother, not Daphne's." I buried my face in Mom's neck again.

"I know."

"Then tell me why you're here right now and not Mama."

"Your mama was helping get Daphne patched up at the healer's hut and then decided to take her back to Cyrene's to explain what happened."

The tears came again unasked for and surprised even me, "Why does Daphne get extra attention like that from Mama?" I sniffed. "Eponin could have told Yaya what happened. There was no need for Mama to get involved."

"Sammy," Mom tried.

"No," I shook my head hard. "Daphne isn't her daughter. She's just some kid…."

"Some kid that is now like my sister," Mama's voice came from behind me and I snuggled into Mom deeper.

"Sam?" I felt Mama's hand on my back and the tears began once more. "Why are you so jealous of Daphne?"

I felt her sit on the bed next to Mom and my tears finally stopped again. "Maybe because this is the first time you've paid me any attention in three days," I finally answered. "You're always with her. Always making sure she's adjusting, making sure she's doing her school work, making sure she's not being too much for Yaya to handle." I finally moved my head and turned a bit to look at her, "How about the only time you know I'm around is when I'm in trouble?"

Turning again I leaned back into Mom and held her tightly. "I wish we could go home."

"You are home, Sammy."

"I haven't truly been home since the year I turned ten," I took a deep breath. "I know you and Mama always say that your home is in your heart when you are with those you love," I looked up into watery green eyes. "And that might be true for you. When you're talking about the type of connection the two of you have, but it's not true for me. I miss us terribly." I admitted. "I wouldn't trade Eve, or the twins, or this new baby for anything. But I miss us."

"Oh Sammy," Mom sighed and I felt a kiss to the top of my head again.

"Sam," Mama's voice caused me to move and face her once more.

"No Mama, it's true, and you know it. Nothing you can do or say is going to change anything and it's obvious that nothing is going to change despite your good intentions or Mom's. It will never be like it was ever again and I am allowed to mourn that."

"Sam…"

"Eponin already gave me two stripes with a stripped arrow shaft," I continued. "I'll accept any punishment you deem necessary, but know that it's not going to change how I feel about anything."

Mama's reply was interrupted by a knock on the door of the hut and I relaxed a bit as Mama moved to answer it. I was not yet ready to move from the safety of Mom's arms and sighed heavily when I heard familiar footsteps coming to my room.

"I would have time alone with the child," Kassandra's voice was like steel and I finally released Mom.

"I'm okay, Mommy," I whispered in her ear before allowing her to stand.

Running her hand down my face she pulled me to her and kissed my forehead, "We'll talk later, Sammy."

Merely nodding I waited until Kassandra made herself comfortable in the rocking chair. "You and I need to talk, Samina."

"About?"

"You know the answer to that, my child," she stared at me hard. "Why so hard on your warrior mother?"

"I expect more from her," I said quietly. "She's my mama, Kassandra. She was the one I turned to so many times for everything. We are so much alike and I used to get such comfort from that." I smiled at my memories and then wiped the stray tear from my cheek. "We used to have time together every day, certain things she only did with me. It's bad enough that I have to share her with my sisters here, and the nation. Now I have to share her with some bitchy Xena wannabe. It's too much and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of only being remembered when I'm in trouble. She has promised me so many things and I've let myself hope…" I trailed off. "I don't know how much longer I can do this, Kassandra. It hurts too much."

"And?"

"And I wish Daphne had never come here."

"Is Daphne the true problem?"

I shrugged, "Things were better until she showed up, or rather they were going to be. I finally felt like I had my mama back, my Xena from my childhood."

"You are still a child," Kassandra gave me a small smile.

"Well then from my time before I came here," I shrugged once more. "I hadn't felt that close to her in so long and it felt so good. Then we run into Daphne and her hopeless father and my world is once more turned on its ass and there's nothing I can do about it. Worse than that, I'm just supposed to accept it, just like when the Fates sent me here in the first place."

"You are so young, my child," Kassandra moved forward and beckoned me to do the same. Taking my hands into hers she looked deeply into my eyes, "You must not only make peace with your warrior mother, but with the new child as well."

"Why?"

"Cyrene has already taken Daphne into her heart, Samina." Kassandra ran her hand down my cheek. "It will not be long before she wishes to make it official."

"And Daphne's father will allow this?"

Kassandra's eyes fell and I sighed. "I may not like her, but I don't wish that upon her either. Is there nothing we can do to help?"

Kassandra shook her head, "It is already in motion, my child. We cannot change his fate."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Kassandra took my hands again. "She will need her new family, Samina. Her new mother, her older sister, and you."

"She hates me as much as I hate her," I protested.

"Neither of you hate the other," Kassandra looked into my eyes again. "You are jealous of one another, Samina. That is very different from hate, but you know that."

"What do you expect of me, Kassandra?"

A weathered hand held my chin tightly, "I expect you to be your mothers' daughter."

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