Usual Disclaimers Apply.

Chapter 65

"Come on, Artemis, is this really necessary?" Gabrielle asked from her spot in the room.

"Gabrielle what is the one thing I asked of you?" Artemis' voice was low and stern as she walked slowly toward the queen.

"To not speak?"

"Exactly." Taking the shorter woman by the upper arm, Artemis removed her from the corner slightly and delivered one mighty swat to Gabrielle's backside causing the woman to end up on her toes letting out a rather loud yell.

"Son of a Bacchae!"

Turning the blonde back to the corner Artemis gave a small grin. "No more talking or trying to turn around, Gabrielle. You are in that corner for a reason. I need a time out. Do you understand?"

Deciding not to take any chances Gabrielle nodded and rubbed her now throbbing bottom. Artemis didn't show it, but the woman had one hell of a right hand.

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

"Auntie, I have a favor to ask." I was in my closet leaning on some very comfortable pillows taking a break from rereading one of my favorite books from the future. Smelling the roses, I smiled as Aphrodite materialized across from me bringing her own pillows dressed in what could only be described as her take on a summer short pajama set. Pink, of course.

"How may I be of help, my little warrior bard?" She asked producing a nail file from thin air and attacking her already perfect nails.

"When Mom gets back from her meeting with Artemis will you please soundproof their room? I don't think any of us need to know what took place with Artemis and I can handle the little kids for tonight."

Aphrodite's laugh echoed in the closet. "Oh, Sam, I will do you one better. Not only will I soundproof your mommies' bedroom, but I will make sure all the little ones are down for the night. Come morning, things will go back to normal. You are correct, Artie was none too happy with that slap my sweet pea gave her."

I nodded and put my book down, sighing. "Mama and I figured Mom would be hearing about it from Artemis. I just don't want to know the type of discussion she is having with Artemis about it. I might lead this nation one day, but I don't need to know how she chooses to impart wisdom upon my mother."

Being drawn into Aphrodite for a hug, I relaxed and leaned against her as a bowl of popcorn appeared in front of us. "What do you say to a night like we used to have, my little warrior bard?"

"Auntie?"

"Tv, popcorn, late bedtime?"

"I'd love it." I finally allowed. "But we don't have a Tv here."

"Samina!" Mama's voice bellowed up the stairs. "Get yourself down here now!"

"Auntie, what did you do?" I asked only to find myself in the living area of our house moments later with the stupidest grin on my face as I took note of the object on the wall. "No way!"

"Yes, way!"

"Aphrodite?" Mama questioned.

"Yes, my warrior mommy?"

"Are you responsible for this?" She pointed to the Tv now hanging on the wall.

"Duh, who else?" Snapping her fingers, the floor was suddenly full of sleeping bags and pillows and the furniture was suddenly decked out with blankets and pillows as well. Bowls of popcorn and chips surrounded us as well as glasses of juice. And with a last snap all of my sisters were in the room, properly attired in pajamas as were Mama and me.

Sitting on the couch, I grabbed a bowl of popcorn and a glass of juice and sat down while Aphrodite and Mama got Eve and the twins ready. Finally picking up Grace, Auntie sat in the overstuffed recliner with her and took a small bowl of finger food snacks and a sippy cup, yes, a sippy cup, of juice and sat with her before snapping her fingers for Grace's favorite blanket to join them.

"Not that I'm not impressed, Aphrodite, Mama intoned, but how are you going to make the Tv work? It's not as if we have cable."

"You doubt Auntie, Mama?" I asked before turning to my beloved goddess mother, "Though she does make a valid point."

The full bellied laugh made us all smile and Auntie shook her head. "You have something better than cable. "You have me!" Snapping her fingers once more, the Tv came to life and I shook my head at her choice of movies. "Again, Auntie!" Emily hugged Nasa and then looked at her twin. "We're all Ohana, right?"

"Right!" Zoe agreed. "All of us."

"Sam?"

"Yes, little bit?" I hugged Eve as she moved from her spot snuggled next to Mama to my lap. "Are all the Amazons our Ohana too? I know that Auntie Dite, and Aunt Hessie, and Auto, and your Ares and….."

"Stop, little bit," I interrupted her before she listed everyone of importance in our lives." Looking at Mama over Eve's head I received a small nod and then scooted down to the floor tugging Eve with me so the twins could get closer to me as well. Auntie even turned a now sleeping Grace towards me.

"Our Ohana is this family for sure. Our moms and us. All us sisters. It's also anyone we consider and aunt or uncle or anyone important to our family. It's also the Amazons. This tribe is our Ohana."

"What about other tribes?" Eve asked.

"Yes, some other tribes can be considered our allies, our Ohana." I replied. "Remember when we found Tabitha? The tribe that helped us then became our allies. They are now our Ohana."

"And the village where Auto lives with the centaurs and Zivah's boyfriend?"

"Zivah's boyfriend?" Mama interjected. "Do Ephiny and Eponin know about this?"

"You can relax, warrior babe." Auntie waved her free hand. "I've been keeping my eye on them and I promise you no babies until they're ready. Besides that baby preventer for the guys you came up with is great. I'm going to install a dispenser in all of my temples for those."

Mama merely nodded and looked at me. "You and I will talk later."

"What's a baby preventer?" Eve asked looking at Mama.

"Never you mind." Mama answered. "At least until you're sixteen."

Shrugging her shoulders, Eve looked at Zoe who was poking her, "Trouble, what about uncle Auto's village, are they Ohana?"

"Sam?" Eve looked to me once more.

"Yes, Auto's village is Ohana." I answered. "We trade with them. They help us and we help them. Some of their girls come to school here and some of our boys are being raised there. It helps all of us."

"Sam?" Emily moved onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her waist. "Are all of our animals Ohana too?"

"Yes." Mama's deep voice answered before I could. "Nasa, Argo, Mavri," she stopped. "Every animal we have in this village is Ohana that is why we treat our animals well and with respect and love."

"Even the goats?" Emily asked.

"Especially the goats." Mama deadpanned as I snorted.

"The goats are great fun." Eve agreed. "They love to play hide and seek."

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

Artemis was seated on a straight-backed chair in her temple as Gabrielle stood in front of her. "So, Gabrielle, why are we in this position right now?"

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it has something to do with me overreacting and slapping you."

"And you would be correct. Tell me, what ever possessed you to do that?"

"I'm honestly not sure." Gabrielle sighed. "I just reacted when I heard that you'd taken Sam to task for her barroom fighting. I just saw my hand flying and the next thing I knew I had slapped you and I was wondering if I was about to die; again."

Stopping the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth Artemis nodded her head. "I wondered what had happened as well. I know that you tend to act first and then think about the repercussions of your actions."

"I think about my actions." Gabrielle protested.

"The Titans."

"I was young, and it was exciting to have that type of power." Gabrielle admitted.

"Buying the breast dagger and getting kidnapped by the cult of Morpheus."

"They were crazy."

"Putting yourself in the middle of a war?"

"I had to help!"

Artemis stood and held Gabrielle's chin in her hand. "And that is one of the reasons you make a wonderful queen, Gabrielle." Holding Gabrielle's eyes with her own, Artemis smiled softly. "And that is why I am going to give you this reminder to think before acting. Slapping me was not only overreacting, it was a sign of disrespect and distrust to your goddess."

Finally feeling her chin being released Gabrielle's eyes fell to the floor. "I do apologize, Artemis. I never meant it like that. In fact, I didn't think about it at all. I just reacted." Shifting from foot to foot as Artemis sat back down on the chair Gabrielle looked at her and sighed. "Which is what this is all about in the first place, huh?"

"It is." Patting her lap, the goddess noticed how Gabrielle sighed again. "Over you go, Gabrielle."

"But I mean…" feeling her wrist being grabbed Gabrielle suddenly found herself face down over Artemis' lap, her skirt lifted, and her undergarment lowered in what seemed less than thirty seconds.

"Is this really necessary?" Gabrielle asked.

Her answer was a flurry of swats on her exposed bottom that had her squirming and yelping rather quickly. "It is, Gabrielle." Artemis replied focusing on the discipline at hand. Deciding that her favorite queen needed a sound reminder of thinking before acting Artemis slowed her hand but kept the firmness of her hand. Finally changing the cadence to a little faster rhythm Artemis also made her hand firmer causing Gabrielle to try and get away from the punishment she was now feeling on her bottom.

"Artemis, please, I get it!" Struggling to get off the goddess' lap, Gabrielle found herself not being able to move as the goddess held her still. "I'll think, I promise, I'll think!"

"I know you will, but you still need a bit of a reminder, Gabrielle." The goddess replied. Stopping for a moment Artemis took in the state of the queen. The blonde was crying freely, and her bottom was a light red, but the goddess knew that she still needed to drive the point home. Steeling herself she laid her hand on Gabrielle's backside and then brought her hand down again, the crack echoing throughout the temple.

"Shit!" Was the only word to escape Gabrielle's mouth before a second crack followed and a third? Losing count quickly Gabrielle felt her backside catch fire as Artemis continued the lesson and she finally fell limp over the goddess' lap hoping that she'd be able to sit by the time Sam was joined.

Feeling a constant pressure to her sore bottom, Gabrielle finally realized that Artemis had transported them home and she was now on Xena's lap. "Gabrielle, look at me."

Sniffling, the queen looked at the goddess and waited. "Our slate is clean. I know that you learned what was needed. You are still my favorite queen." Artemis kissed the woman's forehead gently and nodded to Xena before disappearing in a flash of silver.

The scent of roses filled the room and Aphrodite stood before them. "Oh, my sweet pea, you poor thing." The goddess of love kissed the top of Gabrielle's head and then allowed her the comfort of her wife's arms though she was now dressed in the most comfortable pair of pajamas she'd ever worn.

"Just so you know, your bedroom is now soundproofed thanks to Sam requesting it. The kids are all down for the night and I promise that they will not need either of you. If, on the off chance, they do, then Sam or I will look after them. Take care of my sweet pea, warrior babe. Artemis has a hand of steel."

Watching the goddess disappear, Xena was quiet, content to hold her still crying wife in her arms. Finally breaking the silence, she grabbed a small rag off the side table by the chair and wiped Gabrielle's face. "You okay?" Xena asked quietly.

"I will be." Tucking into Xena again, Gabrielle shuddered and was glad for the blanket her wife tucked around her. "Remind me never to slap Artemis again."

"Never thought you'd slap her in the first place."

"I acted before I thought." Gabrielle admitted.

"You tend to do that." Xena agreed.

"Artemis doesn't want me doing that anymore."

"Is that the reason she gave you for the spanking?" Xena asked.

"That and slapping her is never a good idea." Gabrielle replied quietly. "Aphrodite is right you know."

"About what?" Xena's blue eyes studied her bard closely.

Gabrielle shifted on Xena's lap. "Artemis does have a hand of steel."

Chuckling Xena stood up. "Let's get you into bed and I'll check out the damage. Then we can see if you're up to any food before bedtime."

"Bedtime? Xena it's not that late is it?" Gabrielle protested.

"Late enough that after the movie I put Trouble and the twins down. Grace has been put down too. In fact, Aphrodite handled her bedtime routine."

"Did you say movie?" Gabrielle asked as Xena placed her on the bed and moved her pajamas to inspect the damage from the goddess.

"Well, you are red, and I imagine you'll be tender for a few days. Not sure if you'll bruise." Putting Gabrielle's pajamas right again, Xena helped her get comfortable in the bed. "Yes, I said movie. Sometimes with Aphrodite it's easier to not ask. We now have a Tv and a promise of a weekly movie night with her."

"And which movie did I miss tonight?" Gabrielle asked almost fearing the answer.

"Well, don't be surprised if the girls tell you what Ohana means. Now, about that snack."

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

Putting my journal into my locket I smiled at Auntie. "Mom home?"

Auntie nodded at me before pulling me into a hug as she sat on the edge of my bed. Kissing my forehead, she smiled at me. "She is home and safe and your Mama is taking good care of her."

I nodded in understanding. "I'm glad to know she's home. That's all I need to know. Thanks for the movie tonight. It was great." I looked at her and smiled. "What made you pick that movie?"

Moving to sit next to me properly on the bed Auntie had me scoot over and I leaned into her shoulder. "Easy. I was with my family and I wanted to remind all of you that family is important. Everyone needs to grow up knowing that and the grown ups need to be reminded of it. The Amazons need to be reminded of it too, Sam."

"I'm glad you're my family, Auntie."

"And I am glad you're mine, my little warrior bard."

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

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