Usual disclaimers apply.
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Chapter 33
A month had passed since Grace's birth and though Eve had finally come to accept her newest sister, Zoe and Emily were rather upset about being displaced as the youngest. We had reached the full moon and today was going to be Grace's official welcome into the tribe. We had continued the tradition of using water, and I wondered if Grace's initiation into the tribe would be uneventful like the twins' had been or would be more like mine and Eve's.
"Are you ready?" Mama's voice called from the living area. "It's almost time for the ceremony."
Taking one last look in the mirror, I adjusted my ceremonial leathers, shorts still included under the skirt, and headed to the other room. "I'm ready. How is it going with Eve and the twins?"
"Eve you have to wear all of your clothes!" Mom's voice echoed from the bedroom and I chuckled.
"I guess that answers the question," I quipped. "I'll go wrangle Eve into her leathers, Mama."
"Thank you," Mama sighed heavily. "I swear this one eats as much as the twins combined. I'm nothing more than a milk bar."
"I bet Mom likes the size of your milk bar," I teased as Grace contentedly nursed.
"Sam," Mama's tone was low and I just shrugged.
"Coming Mom," I hollered running into Eve's room as quickly as I could. "Seriously, little bit, panties only?"
"It's hot outside," Eve protested.
Looking at Mom I grinned. "Are the twins ready?"
"Almost," she held up Eve's skirt and top. "Can you get her into this? Use superglue if you have to."
"Sure," I took the clothing and giggled. "Go help Zoe and Emily. I'll get little bit dressed."
Holding up the clothes I approached Eve and then sat on her bed. "If you get dressed and keep your clothes on all day I'll see if I can get the moms to let us spend the night at your treehouse next week."
"Just us?"
"Just us," I confirmed. "Well, and Nasa. You know how he hates to be left out."
Blue eyes looked up at me and Eve finally sighed heavily, "Alright, I'll do it. I expect to have a lot of fun with you though!"
"Have you ever not have fun with me, little bit?" I asked helping Eve into her ceremonial leathers.
"Not really," she admitted. "And you have to let Yaya bring cake or nutbread."
"Done," I agreed. "Now let's go see if Grace is done eating so we can get going. I'm looking forward to this."
"Think any gods will show up?" Eve asked.
"Who knows? But if they do at least it won't be dull."
"True," Eve agreed. "I wish I remembered my ceremony."
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Kassandra had welcomed Grace into the tribe and Mom moved in for her part. As she recited the words I felt the familiar tingle and found we were surrounded by three gods on the dais. The Amazons assembled murmured a bit, but didn't show much other emotion. After all, gods popped in and out of the village at random, what were a few more in one place.
Mom looked at our new guests and finished her part of the ceremony. Holding Grace gently Mama looked at the assembled goddess and raised an eyebrow. "Ladies," she said dryly. "What can we do for you?"
Auntie's laugh rang like a bell over the village. "You are still my favorite warrior babe," she teased. "I came to give the newest member of my family a gift." Holding out her hand a pink box materialized. "Open this back at the hut. The instructions are inside. Now I think Arte has something to say." Moving aside Auntie allowed Artemis to approach.
The redheaded goddess smiled down at Grace and ran her finger gently down my sister's cheek. "Though not my chosen you will be important to this tribe, to my family. I give you my promise that I will protect you as I do your sisters, but in case I am not around…" Artemis trailed off and waved her hand.
Looking next to Mama on the ground I heard Eve mutter damn and I grinned. "Her own mini sized bow and arrows. Nice."
"Why didn't I get those?" Eve whispered to me. Shrugging I didn't answer when Mom glared at us.
Artemis then moved aside and Hestia stepped forward. Taking Grace from Mama the goddess kissed her temple and then turned toward the gathered crowd. Humming a gentle tune, Grace finally closed her eyes in sleep. Only then did Hestia speak. "They say that the name is the first gift parents give a child. This child's name has been chosen well, honoring the Seer's gift as to what the path this child will follow. Grace Cyrene, daughter of Xena and Gabrielle, know that though your path has been foretold you will have the will to make it your own." Kissing Grace once more Hestia handed her back to Mama.
"Did you give her to us?" Mom asked quietly.
"I did," Hestia smiled at Grace and then nodded to both of my parents. "Someone told me it was time." Winking at me Hestia then waved to Eve before disappearing without any fanfare leaving Artemis and Aphrodite alone with us on the dais.
"Sam?" Mama's deep voice made Yaya chuckle and nudge me in the shoulder.
Holding up my hands I gave her a grin. "What? How was I to know she'd take my musings seriously?"
Auntie's laugh rang out again and Artemis turned to the crowd, "Amazons rejoice for another member of the royal house has been added to our midst."
The crowd cheered and it was testament to how noisy our household could be when Grace didn't so much as move in her slumber.
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"Whatcha doing?" Rory asked as she flopped down on the bed next to me.
"Telling Tabitha about Grace's ceremony. I try to write her once a month."
"Do you wish she'd have stayed here?" Rory asked.
"Sometimes, but she's happy staying with Toris. Tabitha missed her brother and when he decided to go to Amphipolis it was a win-win all around. Toris got two helpers at the inn and they got to keep part of their family."
"I guess. I just know that I'm happy to have a family here. So much better than the one I had in the future."
"Yeah, your future mom wasn't much was she?"
"She tried," Rory shrugged. "Glad I had you and your folks though. Do you remember my eighth birthday party?"
"Oh yeah," I laughed. "My moms invited everyone out to our place and we had all those fun games."
"Games based on ancient Greece," Rory giggled. "Pin the tail on centaur, the minotaur maze, oh and my favorite, chariot races."
"Yeah, I'm still not sure how she convinced Argo to pull that wagon and run so fast. It's not like she liked pulling items."
"I can only imagine," Rory slowly sat up and crossed her legs like a pretzel. "Do you ever wish you could go back, Sam?"
Mirroring Rory's position I nodded, "Yeah. It was so safe there compared to here. I wouldn't trade Yaya or my sisters for anything, but sometimes I would really like to just be able to have my biggest worry be whether or not I'd be allowed to get my driver's license."
"Can you imagine Xena and Gabrielle teaching you to drive?" Rory began to laugh in full. "I'd pay to see that."
Shoving Rory, I laughed as well. "I'd pay to see them teach you to drive too, Rhys," I teased.
"Oh Sam, can you imagine your moms teaching us to drive? Or our first dates? The prom?" Rory shook her head and then began to giggle again. "Your first arrest?"
"Shut up!" Shoving her hard she fell from the bed with a thud causing us both to convulse in laughter.
Picking herself up from the floor, Rory shook her head at me before flopping back on the bed and changing the subject. "So where is Grace going to live when she outgrows your moms' room?"
"I'm not sure. Eve is not willing to share her room. I refuse to share with Eve, and the twins' room is packed. I think we may add on or build a new place."
"A new place?"
"Yeah," I shrugged. "I heard the moms talking and they were talking about how much they missed our future house. They're thinking of introducing a real house with a second floor to the Amazon Nation."
"And this place?"
"I'm thinking you and your family should take it if we do move," I smiled at Rory.
"I'm all for that," Rory grinned. "I'd love to not have to share with Addy."
"Isn't Zivah moving out soon?"
"Nope." Rory sighed heavily. "She has decided that she's going to stay with us a few a more years. Although I think it was more of the moms' decision."
"How come?"
"They found out Zivah has been seeing a new boy from the centaur village."
"A centaur?"
Rory shook her head. "No, after talking with Xenon about that she decided that she didn't want to take on the challenge of a centaur –at least not yet." Smirking at my look Rory continued. "It's some kid named Andros. He's a few years older than her and she's in definite like."
Sniggering I ignored the look Rory gave me, "So has the family met Andy yet?"
"Andy? I like it, and are you kidding? Every time Mom heads to visit Xenon, Zivah makes sure he's nowhere to be found."
"Maybe we can go meet him," I suggested. "After all, today is going to be rather long with no school."
"And Daria out training so you can't make out," Rory teased.
"Hush you," I laughed. "But yeah." I blushed slightly. Come on, Rory, Haven and Mavri could use some exercise and I think that heading to visit Xenon is the perfect plan today."
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"Oh the gods!" Backing out of the cave I shoved Rory hard. "Why am I always the one to see things nobody should see?"
"Aren't Andy and Zivah in there?" Rory asked ducking past me. "Oh the gods!" she bellowed. "I shouldn't have to see that!" Running past me from the cave she sat down and put her head in her hands. "Mind bleach, mind bleach. Oh where is a sharp stick when you need it?"
"Let's go meet them at the cave," I muttered turning on Rory. "What could go wrong?" Not finding Zivah and Andy at the centaur village we did as Xenon suggested and headed out to the cave he'd told me about so long ago. Reaching the caves I knew that the tracks belonged to Zivah and I had called out and entered the cave without thinking.
"You can come in now," Zivah's voice called out from the depths of the cave.
"No way!" I shouted. "I don't care if you are both dressed now, I am not coming in there until we've sanitized it with industrial strength cleaner.
"Bleach," Rory added. "Lots and lots of bleach."
Hearing twin sighs from the inside of the cave Zivah and Andy finally showed themselves. Zivah's hair was half out of her braid and Andy's tunic was on backwards. Smirking at the fact that they probably weren't any more okay with this than we were I finally smiled at them.
"So this is Andy. Nice to meet you," I shook my head as he extended his arm in greeting. "No offence but I'm pretty sure I know where that's been and I don't want any part of it."
"Shoot me now," Rory groaned falling back on the ground. "My sister is not only having sex, but she likes to be on top."
"I'm past the age of consent," Zivah growled.
"I know that," Rory stood up and moved to her sister, "but have you thought about the consequences. It's not like you're using birth control!"
"Birth control?" Andy asked quietly.
"Yeah, so you can't knock her up!" Rory nearly bellowed.
"Knock her up?" Andy looked totally lost.
"Make Zivah pregnant," I translated. "Unless you have some ancient form of a condom Zivah and you could be parents from doing that."
Rolling her eyes at me and Rory Zivah went into the cave and came out with a small bag. "Aunt Xena gave me these. She said to use them and explained how."
Taking the bag I opened it and began to laugh. Passing it to Rory I watched as she looked inside. "Are those what I think they are?" she asked me.
"I think so," I took the bag and passed it bag to Zivah. "Mama's version of a condom. I don't even want to know how she managed to make them. And I thank the gods that I will never need to use them." Still laughing I watched as Andy stared at Rory and me as we both laughed so hard tears streaked down our cheeks.
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Zivah was riding behind me on Mavri and so far the ride had been silent. We had stayed and shared some snacks with Zivah and Andy talking and getting to know him before heading back to the village. He had taken our interruption in stride and I could easily see why Zivah was smitten with the curly red-haired blue eyed boy. He had even taken his new nickname with ease and just laughed the first time we called him that.
"Do your moms know about Andy?" I finally asked.
"Yes," Zivah's voice was defeated. "But they don't know that we're sleeping together."
"You'd be grounded until you were a full warrior," Rory commented. "And Mama would probably try and chop off his man bits."
Zivah groaned, "You are not telling them, Rory. So help me, I will hurt you."
"I don't plan on telling them," Rory sniggered. "This is too good and I'm keeping it to myself."
"What do you mean?" Zivah asked.
"Blackmail, dear sister. I may need a favor someday and if the moms don't find out about this by then, I'll call in my marker." Laughing evilly Rory finally stopped at Zivah's expression. "Sorry, I forgot my mad scientist laugh is lost on you."
"Mad scientist?"
"Never mind," I interjected. "Stuff from the future." Waiting a few moments I stopped Mavri and posed my question. "So what's it like?" I finally asked.
"What?"
"Sex Zivah," I deadpanned. "What's it like?"
"Pretty damn great," Zivah finally replied. "And that's all you're getting from me."
"You're no fun," I protested. "I'm almost at the age of consent you know."
"I know," Zivah smirked. "And from my explorations, sex with a guy has advantages," she paused and spoke as I started Mavri at a slow walk again. "But sex with a woman can be fun too."
"Damn it Zivah," Rory yelled. "Therapy until I'm eighty, Sam," she called to me as I began to laugh once more.
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Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.
RL has been interfering a lot lately, but hopefully I will be able to update sooner.
Thanks again for all the PMs and follows.