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.

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

Chapter 1

Xena linked her fingers with her wife's and brought them to her lips. Kissing Gabrielle's hand gently, the woman sighed. "Can you believe that Sam is fifteen tomorrow?"

"No, the gods Xena, where has the last five years gone?" Gabrielle brought the intertwined hands to her lips and mirrored her wife's actions on Xena's hand.

"Well, we've been busy." Xena smirked, "Between keeping Trouble from destroying the village, Zoe and Emily coming into their own, and Sam's teenage years we're lucky nobody has been killed."

"True," Gabrielle chuckled. "Though having Rhys here has helped. Sam calmed down so much after she and Rory were able to develop that friendship here."

"Yeah, though I still wonder how Rhys suddenly turned into Rory." Xena put her arm around Gabrielle as the woman turned over and snuggled into her.

"Obviously one of the gods did it." Gabrielle found her usual spot on her wife. "And so far, it's been harmless, so I guess we just keep watching Rory and hope that it stays harmless."

"No, Zoe! Give it back!" The early morning quiet was disrupted by Eve's yell. "Damn! Would you let go?"

"Mine, Twubble."

"It's mine, now let go!"

"Emmy, help sissy!"

A thud, another curse, a barking dog, and Sam poking her head into her parents' room followed. "You might want to stop this," Sam grinned at her parents. "But put some clothes on first, nobody needs to see that much of you. I'll keep the natives from killing each other until you're ready."

"Eve, knock it off!" Sam's voice joined the din. "By the gods, Emily and Zoe, stop punching her and just let go of the damn book."

"Why do we have four children, Xena?" Gabrielle sighed as she moved from her comfortable position and slipped into a long sleep shift before watching Xena do the same.

"Because we have yet to be blessed with daughter number five," Xena deadpanned as a few more curses in various languages joined the commotion from the other room and Sam's voice directing everyone to separate corners was heard above the screaming of the younger girls.

"Who do you want this time?" Xena asked as she opened her door.

"I'll take the twins, you get Eve."

"Okay, but next time, Trouble is yours and I get the girls."'

"Deal. Oh, and Xena," Gabrielle looked up at her wife.

"Yes?"

"You had better explain to your daughter again that swearing in other languages is still swearing."

"I'll try."

"Oh, you'll do more than try, warrior or you and I are going to be having a discussion about your choice of words around our daughters. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly," Xena ducked her head and finally moved into the living area where one loud whistle stopped the chaos long enough for her and Gabrielle to attend to their youngest children.

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

I held Eve's hand as we walked towards the kindergarten. Mom and Mama had decided to start the school when Eve was almost four deciding that it would be best to keep Eve's age mates confined until they were about seven to a separate building. Not that I could blame them. After all, Eve did have a penchant for stirring up a bit of trouble now and again.

Hearing muttering under my sister's breath I stopped and kneeled in front of her, "What's wrong, little bit?"

"Mama told me to stop cursing in Gaelic, English, and Chinese. She said it's still cursing and I shouldn't do it."

I held my smirk and nodded. "Well, you know, Mama is trying to keep herself out of trouble with Mom," I whispered.

"She is?" Blue eyes so similar to mine looked at me in amazement. "How do you know?"

"Bionic hearing," I chuckled as Eve nodded seriously.

"You wouldn't want to get Mama into trouble would you?"

"It's not like Mama can really get into trouble," Eve scuffed her boot on the ground.

"Well, she can if she's naughty enough." I stood up and took Eve's hand again. "Did I ever tell you the story about how Mama got spanked by Yaya when she and I played a prank on Uncle Toris?"

"Mama got spanked?" Eve stopped walking and looked up at me in amazement.

I nodded. "She did, and if you ever tell anyone this story I will get you," I informed her seriously.

"I won't tell," Eve crossed her heart and put up her hand. "Amazon scout's honor."

"Well then," I studied my sister and began to walk again. "It all happened…."

Reaching the school I bent and hugged Eve, "Have a good day, little bit and try to stay out of trouble."

"Thanks for the story, Sam." Eve smiled at me and ran towards her friends. "Addy, Mavis wait until you hear what you can do with feathers and mud…."

Shaking my head I decided that I had heard nothing and began to jog to make it to my first class of the day. I arrived at the practice grounds with a few minutes to spare and was immediately punched on the shoulder by Rory. "Took you long enough," she hissed. "Danica is acting like a real bitch today. I can't wait to see Aunt Xena take her down a few notches."

Looking across the field at the mousy brown girl I narrowed my eyes as she glared at me. "Why is it there's always someone who wants to challenge me?"

Before Rory could answer Mama jogged onto the field and stopped in the center of the group. Pulling her sword she began our lesson with no words. I was the only junior warrior still standing as Mama had managed to take all of my classmates out with her skills. The only reason that I was still able to defend myself was because of her private tutoring and Artemis' private lessons in defense that began the year I turned thirteen. Combine that with Aunt Eponin and Aunt Ephiny's instructions along with Mom's voice in my head and I was lucky I didn't have split personality disorder on the combat field.

Feeling her sword land hard on my backside for the second time I tried to flip out of the way but slipped and landed on my back. Mama's sword at my throat was not unexpected and I gave her a cocky smirk. "I yield, oh great warrior princess."

"About damned time," she muttered helping me up.

"Alright, ladies. What did you learn today?"

"That you move pretty good for an old lady," Rory joked as Mama cuffed her on the back of the head.

"Other than that?" Mama questioned.

"That we're leaving ourselves open when we spar," I finally had caught my breath and decided to speak up. "I left a gaping hole that was easy for you to get through at least twice because I wasn't defending my body at the correct angle."

"Very good, Sam. What else?" Mama began to pace in front of us and the others finally began to speak as Mama then began to demonstrate once more making sure that we all followed her lead.

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

"So, ready for your birthday?" Rory asked as we headed to the dining hall.

I shrugged, "I guess. I mean last year was pretty uneventful if you don't count a naked Eve running through Yaya's kitchen trying to get the cake early."

Rory chuckled, "Yeah, that was total Trouble.'

"I still can't believe I've been here five years already," I admitted. "I can still remember leaving home and then ending up in Egypt. It seems so strange that my life is here now."

"You think that's weird," Rory shoved me with her shoulder. "Try being a boy in the future and a girl here. Now, that is weird!"

We laughed for a bit and continued speaking in English as we entered the dining hall. Looking at each other we high fived, "Yes, Yaya made spaghetti," I commented.

"I love Cyrene," Rory smirked at me as she grabbed a plate from the line. "She had totally adapted some of the best recipes to this time. Though I would love to have a chocolate bar.

"Shall we spend some time with Auntie this weekend?"

Rory looked at me and nodded, "I think a visit to the spa is well worth it if we get some chocolate and pizza out of the suffering we will have to endure." Laughing again we took our plates and headed to some friends who were motioning us towards them.

Sitting down, Rory and I were quiet as we began to eat since there was an obvious conversation going on already. "No way, I'm telling you that Ares could totally take her."

My ears perked up at that and I put my fork down, "What are you talking about Ananda?"

"We were just wondering who would win in a fight between Ares and Xena."

"Oh," I shrugged. "Usually it's a draw. Though she does enjoy drawing blood on him now."

Seeing the gaping mouths around me I shrugged, "What? It's not like Xena's never fought him before. I mean she even managed to hold her own when the Furies were making her crazy."

I returned to my food and then stopped again as I heard my name called. "Yeah?"

"What's he like?"

"Who?"

"Ares." Ananda's eyes were full of curiosity and I noticed the quiet around us.

"I don't know," I shrugged. "He's like himself. I mean he's full of himself, over confident, and can't be trusted. Oh, and he's got the hots for Xena, but everyone knows that."

"He likes Xena?" a voice asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, but she usually punches him in the nose and that cools him off for a while."

"I don't know, Sam," Ananda spoke again. "He might like that."

We all erupted into laughter and then turned talk to our impending tests with Mama and what we should expect.

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

"Pst. Pst."

Opening one eye I slowly sat up and groaned. "Auntie, what are you doing?"

"Giving my favorite little warrior bard her first birthday present," Aphrodite sat on the bed next to me and held out her palm. A small pink box wrapped with a white ribbon materialized and I took it from her.

"What is this?"

"Open it and find out," she looked so excited that I shook the sleep from my head and opened the box.

"Oh, Auntie," I held up the pen etched with a quill and sword. "How?"

"I have my ways," she replied as I gave her a bone crushing hug.

"It's beautiful and it's perfect. Closing my eyes I watched as it left my hands and Auntie clapped her hands.

"I just love that you still use your locket."

"Of course I do," I grinned at her. "It's one of the best gifts I've ever been given. And I've never taken it off, just like you instructed."

"Good girl." Auntie turned serious for a moment. "Remember, my little warrior bard. That locket is never to be removed."

"I know, Auntie and I promise."

A smile graced her face and she pulled me into a hug this time. "Tell your mommies that you and Rory are spending the weekend with me at the spa. I feel in the need for some time with you and your bestie."

"Okay, Auntie. Thanks for the gift."

"Toodles," Auntie disappeared just as my door opened and Eve came barreling into my room.

"Get up, Sam. It's time for cake."

"I want to sleep in," I laid back down and Eve kneeled on the bed next to me and stared down at me.

"If you don't get up I'm going to yell really loud in Gaelic and tell Mom you told me to do it."

I opened one eye and glared at my little sister. "You do that, little bit, and I will make sure Yaya knows exactly how those cookies were liberated from her kitchen."

"Enjoy sleeping in," Eve gave me a small smile and then huffed as she slid off the bed and into the other room.

"Sam's sleeping in, so everyone be quiet!" Eve announced as she left my room.

"I want cake!" Emily's voice responded.

"Me too," Zoe agreed.

"Well, we have to wait, Sam is still sleeping," Eve bossed.

"But you promised!"

Sighing, I slid out of bed and padded my way to the other room. "Mama! Mom!" I yelled as loud as I could upon seeing each twin covered in cake and Eve with a knife in her hands getting ready to cut it.

Running to the table I took the knife from Eve and glared at her, "What in the hell are you doing?"

"Cutting the cake," she put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at me. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Getting ready for me to kick your…"

"Samina!" Mom's voice stopped our arguing as Mama pulled each twin away from the cake with one swat. "You are fifteen, she is five, stop arguing with her."

"They ruined my cake!" Looking at the table I almost cried when I saw the now partially eaten cake. The twins had taken large handfuls from the sides and top and Eve had done that as well before grabbing the knife and managing to cut a huge chunk from it.

"Damn it, Eve!" My temper had gotten the better of me. "Why couldn't you just keep them in their room instead of promising them cake before I woke up?"

Eve's lip began to tremble and she sniffed, "But we always have cake for breakfast, Sam. It's our tatidition."

"Tradition," I corrected stressing the r. "And yeah, looks like I don't get to have my tradition this year. You and the brats got your cakes, but I don't get mine."

"Sam, enough." Mama moved to me and put her hands on my shoulders. "I know that you're upset, but we can still salvage the cake."

"I don't want to salvage the cake," I protested. "I want it back the way it was."

Mama gave me a hug and I was thankful that I had never reached her full height. I was now taller than Mom, but still shorter than Mama by a couple of inches and figured I wouldn't grow much more. "We'll fix it."

I shook my head and pulled away from her, "You can't promise me anymore, Mama," I said sadly before walking to my room and slamming my door as hard as I could.

Hearing a handful of swats and Eve yelling damn, I knew that she had also been taken to task, but that didn't help my mood. The cake had looked wonderful when Mom brought it from the kitchens the night before and I slid down my door and pulled my knees to my chest before putting my head in my knees. As much as I loved my little sisters, I hated them at times and I wondered if I would get in trouble if I called on a god to help me get my cake.

Feeling a tingle I looked up just in time to see Hestia materialize. "Hi, Aunt Hestia."

"Oh, my child," she held out her hand and I took it and was amazed at her strength as she pulled me up.

"I see that my little imp has been up to some of her tricks," she smiled at me and led me to the bed.

"Yes," I sighed. "Just once I'd like for Eve to have another sister to focus on. I mean the twins have each other and I have her, but she doesn't have a sister to look up to her."

"You feel it's important for her to have this?"

I was quiet as I thought and then turned to the goddess and nodded, "I do. I'm ten years older than little bit and she needs someone closer to her age. Somebody she can truly grow up with and enjoy the way I've enjoyed her."

"Do you think your mothers would want another child?"

I laughed out loud and shrugged, "It doesn't really matter," I looked at her confusion and explained. "Kassandra has seen another little girl, one that is a mix of both of them. I think they would be surprised and delighted to have another daughter. Besides Mama's not getting any younger."

"Xena?"

I nodded, "I know they figure that Mom will carry the next baby, but I hope that it's Mama who gets to carry the next child."

"Why is that, Sam?"

"Because she was so young and viewed her pregnancy with Solan as almost a weakness. Not to mention, she couldn't raise him. She was being chased by the gods for a good majority of her pregnancy with Eve, I think she should be able to enjoy a normal pregnancy with no excitement other than delivery."

Hestia nodded and hugged me, "Perhaps you are right. Now, how about it I help your mothers fix your cake?"

"Really?"

"Really. I think birthday traditions should be honored, especially those involving Gabrielle's vanilla nut cake."

"Thanks, Aunt Hestia."

She stood and pulled me to my feet once more, "You are welcome, my child." A kiss to my forehead completed her wishes and we walked slowly into the living area so that she could work some of her magic to make my birthday truly memorable.