Title: Family Life: An Even Dozen

Archive: Permission Granted

Rated: PG…some bad language…nothing serious

Author: Wolf Pyre

Feedback: wolf_pyre@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: Not mine…just borrowing them

Pairing: None

Status: WIP

Status: I would like to keep the AU closed for now.

Warning: This has only been checked with Spell check and Grammar check through Word. All mistakes are mine.

Warning: This story contains reference to spanking children as discipline. If that's not something you like to read please do not continue.

Note: This is the next part of my story Family Life.

This is an AU story set in the years after the series ended. I often wondered what happened to the seven. I wanted some of the characters closer in age to my OC's, so the timeline for this story will not follow the timeline from the series. Don't worry…it will still make sense! The list of characters, other that the seven, are below:


This story will mostly revolve around the children and how the seven deal with their antics and adventures. If this is not something you would enjoy, please do not continue to read.

Family Life 2: An Even Dozen

By WolfPyre

"Stage is here," Buck said as it rolled past the saloon. Mary, Alyssa, Emily, Inez, Maria, and Rain turned and walked toward the stage.

"I never thought this day would come" Mary said.

"Yeah, I know. I never thought we'd get a new school teacher after the way the last one run off" Rain replied.

"Would you have stayed?" Aylssa asked. "I mean, after all the pranks our children pulled on her, the last one probably was the proverbial `straw that broke the camels back'"

"I would say so. If I was the one who was locked in the school house all night with that bunch of mice the children put in there I'd have run too." Inez chimed in.

"After the way our men responded I don't think they'll be trying something like that again. I know Jesse didn't sit comfortably for a few days." Emily said.

"Neither did Billy, Jake or Riley. You know, this year may be worse." Mary agreed.

"What do you mean by that?" Alyssa asked.

"Think about it. Last year there were only 8 of them. This year Logan, Kiley, Abby, and Josh all turned 6. So now there will be 12 of them to contend with." Mary answered.

"Oh Lord, I never thought of that. Now I really feel bad for the new teacher." Inez said with a laugh.

"That's why I thought inviting the new school teacher to our picnic tomorrow would be a good idea. She will get a chance to meet the majority of her students." Maria said.

"It will also give the men a chance to sit ALL the kids down and go over what is and isn't proper behavior in the classroom." Emily added.

"More like it will give them a chance to scare the children into behaving. I know Nathan told Jacey that the punishment would be worse this year if she acted up." Rain injected.

All the women laughed. They reached the stage and waited for the new schoolteacher to get off.

When Gabrielle Strong stepped out of the stage, she immediately noticed the group of women. "Hello," Gabrielle said. "I am Gabrielle Strong, the new school teacher. I assume one of you is Mary Larabee."

Mary stepped forward. "Yes, I'm Mary Larabee" she said as she shook her hand. Mary introduced the others. The driver put all of Gabrielle's things on the ground and left. Inez spied Buck and Ezra standing outside the saloon.

"Buck, Ezra, help Miss Strong with her things."

Buck looked at Ezra. "Man, I knew I should have stayed inside. Com'on," He said as he hit Ezra on the shoulder. "Inez looks like she's getting a little impatient."

"Inez, honey. We'd be glad to help out." Buck said with a forced smile as he grabbed a couple bags and headed off towards the boarding house. Ezra rolled his eyes.

"Ma'am, unlike my associate, I was raised a gentleman. Ezra Standish at your service. I am pleased to make your acquaintance." He gently shook Gabrielle's hand, picked up the rest of her things and followed Buck. The women couldn't help but laugh at their antics.

"Miss Strong" Mary started.

"Please, call me Gabby." She interrupted.

"Gabby," Mary started again. "We are having a picnic tomorrow at the ranch. We'd like to invite you. It would give you a chance to meet the family…I mean, after all, the children fill about half of your class."

Gabrielle blanched. "Half?"

"Half." Emily answered with a smile.

"It's not as overwhelming as it sounds" Alyssa said. "Once you meet them you'll see it really isn't that bad. Please say you'll come."

Gabrielle stared at the women. She was taken aback by their friendliness and willingness to see she settled in as painless as possible. She could see the strength and acceptance in these women. She had a feeling she was going to get along just fine with them.

"Sure, I'd love to come. What time should I be there?"

They established a time, gave her directions, and bid her goodbye. "We'll see you tomorrow."

+ + + + +

The children were running around playing when they heard a distinct whistle.

"Oh man," Jared said. "That's Uncle Chris's `come here now or else" whistle."

"Well then we better go." Connor replied.

The children ran to where their father's were standing. Naturally, Chris took charge.

"All right, everyone sit down."

Jake turned to Jesse and said under his breath "Uh oh. Here comes the `appropriate school behavior' speech."

"Did you have something to say, Jacob?"

Jacob started. He didn't think he said it that loud. "Uh not really pa…I just said I couldn't wait to meet the new teech"

His father gave him a glare that let him know he wasn't fooled, and then continued. "In a few minutes, your new schoolteacher will be here. I want you all to be on your best behavior, today and in school. There will NOT be a repeat of last year. Do you all understand?"

An array of "Yes Sir" was heard, knowing that Chris spoke for all their fathers.

"Good, because this is the only warning you will get. If you get into any trouble you will be punished, no warnings, no second chances. Is that clear?"

Again he heard a chorus of "Yes, Sir."

"Okay, you can go." He dismissed them. "Remember, you have been warned." He added.

Vin laughed and turned to Chris. "Didn't hear a word ya said."

"I know."

+ + + + +

Gabrielle pulled up to the house. The children saw her and drifted towards their parents. //Wow, look at them all. Well, this is what you wanted Gabby//she said to herself. Mary saw her and waved her over.

"Gabby, so glad you could make it. Please, let me introduce you to everyone."

Mary gestured to Chris. "This is my husband Chris and our children, Billy, Jacob and Riley."

"Over here is Emily's husband Vin and their children Jessica…"

"Jesse," the little girls voice cut in indignantly. "My name is Je…" Vin cleared his throat. Jesse looked up. "Ummm…sorry."

"As I was saying Jesse and Logan."

"You have already met Alyssa's husband Ezra. These are their children Connor and Jared.
Inez's husband Buck and their children Adam and Kiley are next to them."

"Josiah, Maria's husband, it standing with their daughter Abby, by the food table. The young couple next to them is JD and Casey Dunne and their little girl, Haley. The lap Haley is sitting in belongs to Nettie Wells, Casey's aunt. Haley is the only one out of the bunch that wont be in school…you get her next year." Mary said with a laugh.

"The tour concluded with the Jackson's. This is Rain's husband Nathan, our resident doctor, and their children Jacey and Joshua."

"Pleased to meet you all. I'll do my best to remember all that." She said with a smile.

"Ma'am, don't worry about that. Buck here still gets confused." JD said humorously.

"Just keep it up boy! One of these days…"

Nettie cut off Buck's threat. "Lunch is ready, come and get it."

"We continue this later." Buck said as he kicked JD in the rear.

Everyone sat down, bowls were passed and plates were loaded.

"Vin Tanner, don't you even think about passing those peas without putting any on your plate" Nettie said.

"Nettie, I's all grow'd up now, don't need no damn motherin'. `Sides you're not my ma"

"I'm the closest thing you've got to a mother. Now put some of those peas on your plate"

"Aw, Nettie…" Vin whined. He heard everyone snicker.

"Don't you `Aw Nettie' me young man. And don't let me hear that language again or I'll tan you hide. "

"Yeah Vin, you don't want to miss your greens…you need them to grow big and strong." Chris teased.

"The same goes for you Chris. Peas." Nettie said sternly as she looked the both of them. She pointed to the bowl. "Now."

Chris dropped his eyes. "Yes, Ma'am." He replied as he dished out a helping on their plates.

The table erupted into laughter. "You know Nettie, you are the only one who can make Chris do something he doesn't want to do." Mary stated with a laugh.

"It's a gift, my dear. A gift." Nettie said with a smile.

+ + + + +

Chris was headed down for breakfast when he heard whispers and snickering coming from Riley's room. He looked in and saw his children huddled up looking at something. //Oh, no. Not this year//Chris said to himself.

"What are you doing?" Chris asked in a deceptively calm voice. Jake's head snapped up.

"Oh, Pa. You scared us." The kids closed rank, shielding what was behind them. " Don't you know you can scare a body to death doing something like that? Good thing I'm still young…"

"Jake, enough. Answer the question."

"What question was that?"

Chris was losing his patience. "Jacob!"

"All right, all right. Sheese…ummm, we were just checking to see if we had all our school supplies."

Chris saw Billy and Riley nod in agreement. They were not fooling him. "Checking your school supplies? Well you better let me see them too, just in case you're missing some."

"Uh, that's not necessary pa. We have everything." Riley answered.

Chris stared at his children. They all dropped their eyes. //Gotcha.//

Billy took a chance and glanced up. He saw the clouds rolling in and new they better fess up or the storm was going to hit. Literally. He stepped aside. "Here pa. This is what we were looking at."

Chris walked over to the bed and saw an array of items. There was tacks, a small tube of glue, marbles, fake snake, a box with ants in it…you name they had it.

"Hand them over." Chris demanded. The children gathered everything up put them in their father's outstretched hands. "Now, I am only going to say this once." He eyed the children. "No pranks. No fighting. You will behave yourselves." He turned to Jake. "Especially you Jacob."

"Me?" Jake said innocently.

"Yes you. You will control that temper of yours … and you will leave the Peterson boy alone this year. He's younger and smaller than you and I don't want you bullying him.. You will behave. You go to school to learn, not fight and cause trouble. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

"That goes for you two also." He said to Billy and Riley.

"Yes, Sir"

"Yes, Sir"

"Go on, breakfast is ready." The kids made a mad dash to the kitchen.

++++++

"I can't believe pa fell for that." Billy said.

"Why? As Uncle Ezra would say , it was ingenous."

"That ingenious, you idiot. And I have to say it was. I just glad he didn't see us go into the barn and get the stuff we were really going to use."

"Yeah. We would be in big trouble."

"You guys, were going to be in big trouble once the pranks are played. He'll know it was us." Riley said.

"How? He thinks we gave him everything."

"I don't know. He'll know it was us somehow, though. He always does."

"Well, it's too late now. We better hurry or were gonna be late." Billy said.

Jesse and Logan met up with them a couple minutes later. "Did you bring the prank stuff?" She asked.

"Of course." Jake produced it with a flourish.

"So Uncle Chris fall for it?"

"Yep. Did Uncle Vin catch you?"

"Uh huh. Took all my stuff too, just like you said. I hid the real stuff in a hollow log though."

"Well, lets hope the rest managed to do the same." Billy said.

The met up with the others at the schoolyard. "Did it work?" Jake asked.

Everyone nodded. They knew what he was talking about. "Great!"

"So what are we going to do first?" Adam asked.

"Is Miss Strong here yet?"

"Nope."

"Good." Jake said and disappeared into the classroom.

+ + + + +

"Good Morning class, my name is Miss Strong. I am you're new teacher." Gabby looked around the room and tried to make eye contact with each child as she was taught. "To begin, I'd like to have everyone stand up and tell me their name so I can write it down in my lesson book." She pointed to the first child in the row. "We'll start with you."

Each child stood and gave the requested information. "Thank you class. Now I would like to give you each a test. This test is to determine what grade you belong in. You will have 1 hour to complete it." She handed the tests out. "You may begin."

Gabby went back to her desk and started to put her things away. The middle drawer was stuck so she put her hand in it to try to see what was holding it up. When she pulled her hand back out it was covered in ink.

"Okay, who did this?" She asked the class sternly while wiping the ink off with a handkerchief.

The children all looked up and started laughing. "Class, settle down!" She yelled. "I ask again. Who did this?"

Nothing.

"Okay, since the person who did it wont confess, then you all will be punished. Everyone will remain after school for ½ hour."

A chorus of "no fairs" and "it wasn't me" echoed through the room. "Now, get back to your tests."

She sat down in her chair, only to jump up with a scream. "Aaaiiieee" She pulled the small nails out her backside and swept up the surviving ones left.

"That's it! I want to know who did this, and I want to know now!" The children all stopped laughing and stared at their teacher. //Boy is she mad// Kiley thought to herself.

"Well?" Gabby asked again. She was met with silence.

"They you will all remain after class until your parents realize your not home and come get you."

The cousins (after all they were family) all looked at each other. They knew if their fathers had to come get them on the 1st day of school they were going to be in BIG trouble. They were unsure what to do. The decision was taken out of their hands when they heard "I know who did it Miss Strong".

The kids looked up and saw Tommy Peterson addressing the teacher.

"It was Jake Larabee. I saw him come into the schoolhouse before you got here. He did the same thing last year."

Jake was ready to explode. If Jesse didn't have her hand on his shoulder to hold him down, he would have launched himself at Tommy kicked the crap out of him.

"Jacob, is that true? Did you play these pranks?"

Jake wasn't sure if he should try to lie. He knew if he denied it, all of them would be punished. If he confessed, he would probably the only one to get spanked. The rest of them would probably be let off with a lecture. Unless they found we lied to them this morning when we told them they had all our `prank stuff'.

"Jacob, I asked you as question?"

Jake decided to confess and give his cousins a chance to keep out of trouble. "Yes, Ma'am. It was only a joke." he said lamely.

"Are there anymore?"

"No, ma'am."

"Good. You will remain after class until your father comes to get you. We are going to discuss your behavior. I will not tolerate it."

"Yes, Ma'am." Jake replied dejectedly. //I am in so much trouble//.

"Now, everyone get back to your tests."

Jake stared at Tommy. //Just you wait, I'm going to get you for this// he said to himself.

+++++

"Okay, class. You are dismissed for the day."

The children happily filed out of the room, grateful to be able to get outside. Jake managed to escape undetected and made a beeline for Tommy Peterson. He had almost reached him when he felt someone grab his arms. He turned. Billy had his one arm, Jesse had the other.

"Jake, don't do this. You are already in enough trouble." Billy said.

"Hell, if I'm going to get punished, then I might as make the best of it. I mean pa's already gonna tan my hide. Might as well kick Tommy's ass and kill two birds with one stone." Jake broke their hold and continued toward Tommy.