Usual disclaimers apply.

***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***

Chapter 31

"This is ridiculous!" I stood at my full height and glared at my blonde mother. "I am not going to put the pinch on you any more than I would put it on Mama."

"You will." Her tone was calm and I took an uneasy breath.

"No," I shook my head and felt the tears come unbidden to my eyes. Wondering why I was so emotional, I shook it from my thoughts. "I won't do it. I won't do something that might actually kill you or permanently hurt you if I get it wrong. No."

"Now, Samina."

I slowly shook my head, but held my ground. "No, Mom, I won't. Please stop asking it of me. I don't care what the repercussions are of disobeying you, but I am not putting the pinch on anyone that I love, ever."

"Why not?" Mom's question caught me off guards and I slowly looked into her eyes.

"What?"

"Why won't you put the pinch on me? Why wouldn't you put it on your mama?"

"Because I could kill you." I took a deep breath. "Or injure you horribly. I can't take that chance."

"Then why was it okay to put it on the man in the forest?"

"He was a bastard that deserved it." My answer came without thought and I saw the flash in her eyes. Stepping back I wondered if I could make a clean getaway.

"So because of what he did to your sister you felt that he deserved to die?"

"I felt he needed a lesson on not trespassing on Amazon lands and injuring a small child."

"Who made you his judge and jury?"

"Amazon law." Mom's hands went to her hips at that and I took another step back from her. Taking in my surroundings I knew that I could jump the fence in the practice arena and make a break for the woods before she could catch me. I just wasn't sure if I would want to return home if I did that.

"Amazon law?" Mom asked. "Explain."

"I'm the princess. The queen wasn't there and I was acting in her stead."

"And you thought that I'd order him to be killed?" Mom demanded advancing on me faster than I thought possible.

"I thought you'd want him to pay for what he did to your daughter!" I shouted. "Or was I wrong?"

"Do not yell at me, Samina." Mom's voice was tight and she looked skyward for a moment. Taking a deep breath she looked up at me and spoke very calmly once more. "You know that I would never order him to be killed in that manner. You had defeated him and didn't need to kill him in self-defense. Your blood innocence was taken from you much too young and I will never forgive myself for not being able to prevent that. But damn it, Samina, you will not take a life for revenge! You are not going to open yourself to that pain and hurt. And you sure as hell aren't going to open yourself to Ares if I have anything to do with it!"

"He can't have me," I whispered. "Auntie said I was her chosen and off limits."

"Being Aphrodite's chosen can only do so much, Samina. If you choose to follow Ares, being her chosen only means that love and war walk hand and hand in a way that was never meant."

I digested Mom's words and slumped to the ground. Folding my legs in front of me I finally pulled my knees up and rested my head on them. Mom sat in front of me and mirrored my position. "What are you thinking, Sammy?"

"That I want to be someplace that isn't so hard," I answered honestly. "I want to be worrying about getting my driver's license, or getting asked to homecoming. I want to be able to drive you and Mama crazy with my choice of music and wonder what colleges I'll be applying to." I wiped a lone tear from my cheek. "I didn't ask for this, Mommy. I don't want it. But I have it, don't I? I'm the savior here. I've saved Eve and the gods. I'm the future savior of the Amazon nation. I've killed, almost been killed, and have changed in so many ways since coming here I sometimes don't recognize myself."

"Sammy," Mom tried but I cut her off by holding up my hand.

"No Mom. It's true and you and Mama know that I'm capable of being something akin to the Destroyer of Nations. I know that. I also know that I always have the voice in my head telling me there's another way. That peace is always available to those that seek it. That voice is you and it never goes away. It's just that sometimes I don't listen to it or my emotions allow me to act before my brain can catch up."

Mom took my hands in hers and squeezed them gently, "Look at me, Sammy."

Looking up I found nothing but love in her eyes along with a slight smile. "I know that you have a lot on your shoulders; some things that no kid your age should have on their shoulders. However you can't let the future or what might be dictate your life, Sammy. You need to learn to balance being this amazing kid who is coming into her own with what you may be in the future. Your mama and I are here to help you with that, Samina. And if we have to kick your ass from here to Chin and back on a regular basis to do so, then we will."

I gave Mom a half smile. "Thanks." Sighing I squeezed her hands. "I do understand what you were trying to teach me today…" I trailed off as an eyebrow rose. Shrugging I smiled again. "Well it's not like I don't have your temper," I teased. "I don't like being called on bad choices I guess."

"Nobody does, Sammy." Mom pulled me into a tight hug and kissed my temple. "I love you, Samina Ephiny Bardos, and nothing you could ever do will change the way I feel about you. However, you are going to learn to think before acting if it kills us all." She pulled back and winked at me.

I nodded in understanding. "Well at least we'll die together," I quipped jerking back when her hand swatted my thigh. "Hey, what did I do?"

"A mother's prerogative to swat her kid," Mom teased. "Come on, Sammy. It's time for you and me to spar."

"Still have more to teach me?" I asked standing up with her.

"Always," Mom smiled at me and I returned the smile before getting into the ready position with my staff. I knew I was in for one hell of a tail whipping, but figured I was due. After all, even an Amazon princess has a lot to learn before she's queen.

***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***

Three days after my sparring match with mom and I was still feeling the after effects. Sliding into my seat for lunch in the kitchen I smiled up at Yaya. "Not going to join your friends today?"

I shook my head. "I just want to be alone." Accepting the plate of food from Shay I thanked her and quietly began to eat.

"Sam what's going on with you?" Yaya sat down next to me with a mug of hot tea between her hands.

"What do you mean?" I asked using a large piece of bread to sop up the gravy from my stew.

"Ever since the encounter in the woods with that man," Yaya took a large sip of tea. "You're different, Sam. What happened that day?"

"My moms didn't tell you?" I looked up in confusion as frowned when Yaya shook her head.

"I only know that Daria and a group of Amazons came back with the man that hurt Eve. There was a brief trial…" she trailed off and I nodded.

"I let myself get lost in bloodlust that day when I was fighting him, Yaya. I put the pinch on him, and if Daria hadn't been there I would have let him die." I waited for Yaya to speak and was surprised when she didn't. Looking up from my plate I glanced at her and frowned again. "Yaya?"

"Why, Sam?"

"I lost control. I wanted him to pay for what he'd done to Eve." I shoved another piece of bread into my mouth. "I won't be using the pinch again for a very long time," I finally admitted. "I refused to try it on Mom and Mama, and I don't think Ares is going to be volunteering for the treatment anytime again soon."

"You put the pinch on Ares?"

"Yeah, after I refused to try it on Mama." I took a large gulp of my apple juice and then got up to refill my plate. "I mean as if I'd ever do that to a pregnant woman."

"Xena asked you to do the pinch on her?"

I nodded as I began eating again. "I told her no way. That's when she called Ares out and had me do it on him."

"And?" Yaya demanded.

I shrugged. "It worked. I did it right, released Ares, and he left in a huff. Same old stuff."

"So what's happened since then?" Yaya pressed.

"Mom and I had a long talk about things. Mama and I had a long talk about things. Mom and Mama double teamed me and we talked some more. I was then put in my place repeatedly until their points were made." I finished up my second plate of stew and my drink. "Lunch was wonderful, Yaya. I'd better get going though. I promised little bit that I'd stop by before afternoon training to see her reading progress at school."

"Sam," Yaya stood and put her hands on my shoulders. "I am so proud of the woman you are becoming. I love you, little one."

"I love you too, Yaya." I leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek before heading to see Eve.

***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***

Gabrielle heard the determined footsteps behind her and turned just in time to be turned back around by a firm grip on her elbow. "Mom?"

"Where is Xena?" Was the only greeting Gabrielle received and she wondered what they had done to upset Cyrene.

"At our hut. I was just heading to join her. Why?"

"I need to have a talk with you girls," Cyrene began to walk at a quick pace again being sure not to release her grip on Gabrielle's elbow.

Reaching the hut Cyrene allowed Gabrielle to lead the way inside. "Xena!"

Hearing her mother's voice, Xena left the safety of her bedroom and slowly made her way into the living area. "Mom?"

"Sit down, Xena." Cyrene pointed to the couch at the empty place next to Gabrielle.

Lowering herself to the couch Xena felt Gabrielle's hand reach for hers as soon as she was situated. "What's going on?" the warrior asked.

Cyrene paced for a few moments and then sat on the coffee table in front of Xena and Gabrielle. "Were you planning on telling me about Sam and the fact that she put that pinch on the man from the woods? Or how about the fact that you tried to get her to do it on you, Xena? As well as you, Gabrielle?"

The bard and warrior looked at each other and back to Cyrene. "It's been handled, Mom," Xena tried.

"Oh I know that," Cyrene snipped. "Sam mentioned it all to me in passing over lunch. I think she figured I already knew about it. So tell me why I didn't know about it."

"We didn't want to upset you," Gabrielle spoke this time, and then held up her hand. "But I see that we upset you anyway. Next time we'll make sure that you're in the loop."

"In the loop?"

"A saying from the future," Xena sighed. "It means that next time we'll make sure that you know what's going on."

"There had better never be a next time, young lady!" Cyrene glared at her daughters. "I never want to hear about you or Gabrielle offering yourself up for anything that dangerous again –especially when you expect your fifteen year old daughter to do it. How do you think that made Sam feel?"

"She had to know how to do it right," the rest of Xena's reply was cut off by Cyrene.

"You expected her to do the pinch on her pregnant mother? What were you thinking, Xena? If anything had gone wrong that girl would have blamed herself for the rest of her life. Don't you think she has enough on her shoulders without worrying about whether or not she would harm her mothers, or unborn sister?"

Gabrielle and Xena looked at each other and back to Cyrene. "I guess we didn't think of it that way." Gabrielle finally admitted. "We should have, but we didn't."

"Damn right you should have. I should take both of you over my knee for what you put that little girl through," Cyrene held her smile at the look on Xena and Gabrielle's faces. "You two are lucky," she continued. "This time. But there had never be a next time. Do you girls understand me?"

"Yes Mom," Xena and Gabrielle replied in unison.

"Good." Standing Cyrene kissed both women on the top of the head. "I love you both, but sometimes you need to think before you ask Sam to do things. Just because she's an amazing warrior already doesn't mean she's ready to have the responsibilities of one."

***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***

Another month had passed and Mama was now eight months into her pregnancy. According to the calendar I'd been keeping it was June and my newest and hopefully last sister would be born in early July. I had woken up early that morning and had spent time with Emily and Zoe. I realized that I didn't do nearly as much with them as I did with Eve and though they had each other I figured that they could use some bonding time with me as well.

We'd spent time with them on Haven, riding around the paddock and I couldn't believe that they, too, had a natural seat for riding. Mama's riding genes must have been rather dominant for all of us to be so good on horses. The twins also seemed to have an innate ability to be comfortable around the large animals. They were never afraid and seemed to anticipate the next move or turn Haven would take before it happened to adjust their seat. Shaking the thoughts of my little sisters from my head, I headed towards the pond knowing that it would still be quiet. I had packed a towel that Auntie had given me in my locket and decided that an early morning swim would be just the thing to stave off the heat that I knew would be coming later in the day.

I was half-way to the pond when I stopped and smiled. Daria soon dropped out of nearby tree and walked up to me. "Morning," she smiled at me and planted a gentle kiss on my lips. Feeling my face blush, I returned the kiss and slipped my hand into hers.

"I take it you're on your way to the pond?" Daria asked.

"I take it you're going to go with me?" I countered.

"Of course," Daria squeezed my hand. "So what's on your mind?"

"The new baby will be here soon," I began.

"Yeah? It's not like there haven't been new babies in your house before."

"This one is different," I finally said quietly. "First we don't know who gave her to us and with my parents' history I'm a little worried. I know that it's bothering them too." I sighed deeply as we stopped walking. Pulling Daria down next to me as I leaned against my favorite tree I put my head on her shoulder. "I overheard Mama and Mom talking the other night. They're worried about this baby. Even though Kassandra has said she'll be a blessing, they're afraid of the past."

"How so?"

"Have you ever heard of Dahok?" I whispered.

"No."

I told Daria the story quietly and when I was finished she put her arms around me and held me tightly. "I'm sure this baby will be fine. After all Artemis and Auntie seem to think it's fine. They'd sense if she was going to be evil wouldn't they?"

I nodded. "I think so. Still…" I trailed off. "I'm going to be sixteen soon, Daria."

"I know." Daria smirked at me. "The age of consent."

Shoving her away with another blush I allowed her to pull me close again a few moments later. "Turning sixteen means more than just that."

"I know," Daria interrupted. "There's this stuff with choosing the god to replace Athena, the gods be damned council meetings you'll have to attend, and the fact that you're going to have to start warrior training with a huge ass ceremony."

"There will not be any huge ass ceremony if I have anything to do with it," I grumped. "Stupid Amazon rules. I've been researched that and it seems that the tradition only started because one queen had twin girls and they wanted to rule in tandem so they had a huge ass ceremony to celebrate having two regents and for them to show off their skills of being equal."

"And since you don't have a twin…" Daria chuckled. "You are going to give the elders conniptions."

"If I have to," I shrugged. "I don't have Mom's way with words and Mama's warrior attitude for nothing."

Daria laughed in full at that and hugged me once more. "I'll help you through this, Sam. All of it." She turned to look at me fully. "I know that we're young, but I'm in this for the long haul. I may only be eighteen seasons, but I know we're going to be just like your moms. Kids, gods, Amazon nation, and all."

Leaning forward I initiated a kiss before pulling back once more. "Thank you," I whispered. "Who would ever think that we'd be here after the way we met?"

Daria stood at this and pulled me to my feet. "Tell me about it. I was already wounded and you knock me on my ass."

"You deserved it," I teased. "And cleaning those fish with my dagger…" I chuckled when Daria stuck her tongue out at me.

"I still say it did a fine job," she bantered back as we quickly stripped and ran into the pond still holding hands.

***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***BARD***XENA***

Thanks once more for all the follows, PM, and favorites.

Hope you've enjoyed.