Subject: New Beginnings (A Maggie & Twin Story) Part 5
From: SamPast@aol.com
Date: 99-05-19 21:17:19 EDT

This is one part of a long story, with many spankings (M/f, F/f, and some M/F). It starts shortly after the end of _Change of Scenery_ and involves the same characters. It was written with a co-author, who has not made her name public.

This story contains spanking of (fictional) children . If this is not your thing, then don't read it.

This story is a work of fiction. Do not copy or distribute this story without written permission from SamPast.

This story is distributed in multiple parts. See part 1 for complete disclaimers and warnings..

Send any comments to SamPast@aol.com

Jennifer woke up about an hour after her spanking. She changed and went to find the rest of the family. She found Robin and her dad in the den.

"Where's Mommy and Maggie?" Jenn asked.

Charlie said, "Hi, honey. Did you have a nice nap?" He took Jenn in his arms and cuddled her. Jennifer felt so loved. "Mommy went to rent some videos, and Maggie is still resting." He looked at his watch. "We'll get her up in a few minutes."

Robin said, "Maggie has been pretty sad, Daddy. She isn't herself."

Jenn agreed, "Yeah, I don't know how to cheer her up. She was sooo excited about the wedding. Do you think she just misses her mom and Uncle Bob too much?"

Charlie replied, "Well, that sure is a part of it."

"Well, she will see them tomorrow and feel better, right Daddy?" Robin asked.

"Right, Robin. I think she sure will feel better when she sees them," Charlie answered.

When Lisa got home with the video, the girls went in to wake Maggie. She was down in the dumps, but agreed to watch the movie. Lisa had gotten "The Parent Trap" with Haley Mills. Jenn and Robin insisted that it was a very funny movie.

Charlie watched, too, but kept looking at his watch. He had forgotten to ask Bob what time he was planning to get in. After the movie was over, the girls were deciding what to do next, when the doorbell rang. Charlie nonchalantly asked Maggie to go get it.

Puzzled she said, "Sure, Uncle Charlie," and ran to open the door. Seeing Heather and Bob there, she screamed and threw herself into her mom's arms.

"Ohhhh Mommy, I missed you soooo much!"

"Ohhh me too, baby, me too," Heather cried.

"What about me?" Bob asked, teasing her.

Maggie clung to Heather, and seemed shy about going to Bob. She finally let him pick her up and hug her, but Bob sensed something was wrong. He looked over his shoulder at Charlie, who mouthed that he would tell him later. Bob hugged her tight.

"Well, how would you like to go home?" Bob asked.

"I'll go pack, Daddy," Maggie cried, jumping down from his arms.

Charlie said, "Robin, Jenn, why don't you help Maggie?"

"Sure, Daddy," Robin said.

"Okay," said Jenn. The twins ran off to help Maggie pack.

The adults waited until the girls had left the room. Then the four of them sat at the kitchen table.

Bob said, "Okay, Charlie, what's up?"

Charlie took a deep breath. He knew this would be hard to say. "Well, Maggie is worried that you are not her real dad, Bob."

"Why does she think that?" Bob asked, confused.

"Well, she wants to use your last name, and can't because you haven't officially adopted her," Charlie stated.

"Wow, when did all that come up?" Heather asked.

"This afternoon but I think it has been on her mind for awhile. Actually, it came up after she received another spanking," Charlie declared.

Bob rubbed his face with his hand. "Again? What happened now?" he asked.

Lisa jumped into the conversation. "Well, I hate to say it. But she ran off again without permission, in the mall."

"The mall? Oh, that's bad!" Heather observed.

"Hmm," Charlie said. "You know, I hate to say this, Heather, but she really came back a changed little girl after staying with your mother. I don't want to be critical, but when I got there, she looked as if she hadn't had a bath in a week. Also, she was out in the neighborhood and your mom had no clue where, she wasn't packed and she started sassing me as soon as I got there."

"THAT is not the new Maggie; that sounds like the old one," Heather declared.

"And, she has had bad dreams, and is turning inward. I think she is feeling pretty insecure about all of this," Lisa added.

"It did happen rather quickly," Charlie said.

"Well, once we get settled into our own home, and a routine, maybe that will help," Bob pondered.

"Well, that and a good dose of discipline, too," Charlie stated.

"Yes, I am sure that will be needed as well," Bob agreed.

Heather spoke up. "Thank you both for keeping her this weekend."

Charlie said, "Well we love having her with us."

"Yes, but we prefer it when she behaves," Lisa chuckled.

They all laughed at that one.

Just then, Maggie ran out of the twins' room with her suitcase all packed.

"Okay, Magpie, ready to roll?" Bob asked.

"Sure, Daddy," Maggie agreed.

Heather said, "Okay, then say thank you to your aunt and uncle and goodbye to your cousins."

Running up to Charlie, she gave him a big hug and kiss, and did the same to Lisa. Then the girls all hugged and jumped up and down, and promised to call soon.

"We don't live in Australia," Bob joked. They all laughed, and the twins waved to Maggie from the window.

Charlie and Lisa sunk into the couch. "Okay, now maybe things can get back to normal around here," Lisa said.

Charlie looked around and said, "What's normal?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the car, Maggie started asking about one hundred questions without waiting for anyone to have time to answer her. Laughing, they asked her to settle down and take one at a time. Before they knew it they were home. Laughing, Maggie watched as Bob carried Heather over the threshold. Then Bob went back, caught Maggie up, and did the same to her.

Maggie walked around and saw everything as if for the first time. Bob and Heather watched her, waiting for some reaction.

"I really love this place," she said. "Can I go down and say hi to Mrs. Warner?"

Heather replied, "Sure hon, I'll start to unpack."

"And while you're doing that, I'm going to run to the grocery store and get some stuff. Need or want anything special?" Bob asked.

Heather beamed. She had found the best husband: one who didn't mind doing the grocery shopping.

She turned to Maggie who hadn't left yet, and said, "Be back in a half hour, okay?"

"Okay, Mom," Maggie said before she ran off.

Heather turned to Bob. He was sitting at the kitchen table writing out a grocery list. "Hon, do you think she is okay?"

Bob answered, "Truthfully, I don't know, hon. I sense her holding back, and I have the feeling we are going to have our hands full with her."

Sighing, Heather said, "I think you are right."

After forty five minutes, and still no Maggie, Heather decided to call Mrs. Warner. She figured the old woman and Maggie had started playing checkers and lost track of time.

Mrs. Warner was glad to hear from Heather. "So you came back a day early? Did you wear out the bed in the Bahamas?" the older woman chuckled.

Heather blushed and responded, "No, Mrs. Warner, we came back to be with Maggie before school starts."

"That's nice," Mrs. Warner said. "She's such a cute little girl. A real spitfire, though. She likes to have her own way."

"That's my Maggie!" Heather exclaimed. "Speaking of the little devil, could you do me a favor and send her up? I haven't really seen her, and wanted to spend some time alone with her while Bob is out shopping."

Mrs. Warner gasped. "What do you mean, send her up? Isn't she up there? She left here about fifteen minutes ago."

"Are you sure?" Heather inquired. "Because she's not here."

"Oh, my goodness," Mrs. Warner exclaimed. "Where could she be?"

"I don't know," Heather declared, "but I'm going to find out."

Heather shook her head as she slipped on her sneakers. "Where could that child be?" she asked herself.

She headed out front and looked up and down the street. No Maggie. Thankfully, they didn't live on a busy street, so she didn't start to really worry yet. Heather decided to check the backyard. She hoped Maggie hadn't wandered off into the woods.

Heather was grateful that she didn't need to look much farther. There Maggie was, in the backyard, picking flowers!

"Margaret Anne! What do you think you're doing?" Heather shouted.

Maggie jumped three feet at the sound of her mother yelling. And at the sound of her full name; she knew that was bad news.

"What? Mommy, you scared me!" Maggie cried.

Heather took a deep breath. "Maggie, what do you think you're doing?" she repeated.

Innocently, Maggie turned toward Heather and said, "I'm picking flowers, Mommy." Then more nastily, "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Don't be fresh!" Heather warned. "You know what I meant."

"Sorry!" Maggie replied. "I was just picking some flowers, Mommy!" She began to cry. "I thought they would look nice in a vase on the table."

Maggie dropped the flowers and turned to run away.

Heather approached her. "No, don't go running away. Remember, we promised each other we wouldn't do that anymore. Come on now, pick up your flowers and let's go inside so we can talk."

Heather waited for Maggie to collect her flowers. She stopped by Mrs. Warner's door to let her know she had found Maggie in the backyard.

Maggie followed her mom into the apartment. She watched as Heather poured water from the sink into a vase that they had gotten as a wedding present. Heather slipped Maggie's flowers into the vase and set it on the kitchen table.

"You were right, sweetheart, that does look nice," Heather remarked. She noticed that Maggie was extremely quiet. "Don't you think so?"

Maggie nodded. "Mommy, why'd you get so mad at me? I thought you'd like that I was picking you flowers!"

Heather sighed. "Think about it, honey. Why would I get mad? Where did I think you were?"

A lightbulb went off over Maggie's head. "At Mrs. Warner's!"

"That's right. And you were told to come back in half an hour. When you didn't, I called her, and she said you had left. Neither of us knew where you were," Heather explained.

"Oh, I did it again. I'm sorry, Mommy," Maggie cried.

"Tell me what you did again, sweetheart?" Heather asked.

Maggie thought. She wanted to use Aunt Lisa and Uncle Charlie's exact words. "I wan-wandered off, and I didn't tell anyone where I was."

"That's right, Maggs. And I was so worried about you. I thought something might have happened to you. I didn't know if you went outside and a bad person stole you, or if you went into the woods, and got lost! I just didn't know. Do you understand how dangerous that is?" Heather asked.

"Yes, Mommy, I'm so sorry. I'll try harder. Really, I will. Please don't spank me!" Maggie cried, and clutched her bottom. Her poor rear had been spanked so many times that weekend, including that very day, that she didn't think she could get through yet another one.

"Why don't you come sit next to me on the couch and we'll talk?" Heather inquired.

Maggie looked at her mom. "Come on," Heather patted the couch next to her, "come sit down. No one's being spanked right now. Come here, please."

Slowly, Maggie went over and sat down next to Heather.

"Okay, now why don't you tell me what's been going on with you this week?" Heather asked.

"I-I-I don't know," Maggie said quietly.

"Come on now. You know, that is not an acceptable answer. Tell me what's been going on with you. Did something happen at Grandma's to make you start acting up, Maggie?" Heather asked, knowingly.

"What makes you say that?" Maggie asked. Heather didn't answer. "Mommy, I know Grandma loves me and I love her, but I felt like she didn't even care about me!" Maggie wailed.

"What do you mean, sweetie?" Heather asked.

"Well, she didn't even tell me when to put on my pajamas or when to go to bed. I could have stayed up `til midnight, and she didn't say a word. It made me feel like she didn't care, and . . ."

Maggie stopped. Heather said, "Go on, honey."

Maggie continued, "Well, she didn't get up in the morning and make me breakfast. She didn't really talk to me or ask me questions, the way you do, Mommy. Grandma didn't tell me what to do or when to be home or even check on me. I felt, I don't know, it just didn't seem right."

"Oh, honey, I don't know what to tell you about Grandma. I guess it's been a long time since I was a little girl. Maybe she doesn't remember what it's like taking care of a little girl," Heather suggested.

Heather didn't really know why she was making excuses for her mother. She should have told Maggie that it wasn't right. She guessed she didn't because she didn't want Maggie to think ill or less of her grandmother.

"But Mommy, I lived with her all my life, until a few months ago. She never did any of those things. It's only since we moved out and you started doing those things, that they felt right!" Maggie insisted.

"I know, sweetie, you're definitely right! Come here!" Heather said, nestling Maggie close to her. "I don't know what to tell you about why Grandma is like that."

Heather held Maggie for several minutes. Then she pushed her away gently and said, "But young lady, that doesn't explain your behavior since you got back from Grandma's. Aunt Lisa and Uncle Charlie said they had to punish you several times this weekend, including this very afternoon?" Heather raised her eyebrows at Maggie.

"Yes, Mommy. I don't know why, I'm sorrrrrrry!" Maggie cried.

Heather frowned. "You do know why, and I want to know, too."

Maggie thought. She put into words what she had only guessed at. "I, I, I guess I went back to doing what I used to do, Mommy."

"Yes, I guess you are right. What do you think we should do about it, young lady?" Heather asked.

"I'm not sure, Mommy. Are you going to tell Daddy I wandered off today?" Maggie asked.

"Maggie, Daddy and I do not keep secrets from each other. Why wouldn't you want me to tell him?" Heather asked.

"He'll be mad. Maybe he won't love me anymore, because I've been so bad," Maggie said quietly.

"Oh, honey, you don't think Daddy would stop loving you just because you misbehaved, do you? Oh, sweetie, no! That would never happen. Daddy loves you very much, sweetheart!" Heather expressed. She held Maggie and tried to reassure her.

Maggie decided to tell her mom what she had told Uncle Charlie. "Mommy, even though I call him Daddy, he isn't my real daddy, is he?"

"What do you mean, REAL daddy? Of course he's your real daddy. We got married, and now Bob is your daddy," Heather reasoned.

"But he isn't. He isn't, really. We don't have the same last name. You and I don't even have the same last name anymore! I feel like I'm alone!" Maggie cried.

Just then, Bob walked into the apartment with his arms full of groceries. He put the bags down on the kitchen counter and looked over at Heather and Maggie. He noticed Maggie was crying and Heather wore a serious expression on her face.

"Hey, what's going on here? Everything all right?" he asked worriedly.

~~

Heather looked at Bob with a worried look on her face, not sure what to say that wouldn't hurt his feelings.

"Well, hon, Maggie is feeling awkward about some things," Heather said gently.

Bob walked over to the couch, and sat down next to his girls. "Sweetie," he said to Maggie, "can you tell me what's wrong?"

Maggie just buried her head deeper into Heather's shoulders and sobbed harder.

"May I tell Daddy, Maggs?" Heather asked her daughter. Maggie nodded her head yes. Heather looked between her daughter and her husband, and said, "Bob, Maggie feels different and alone, now that you and I have the same last name, and hers is different. I think it goes deeper than that, but of course, Maggie is having trouble articulating it to us. Is that about right, sweetheart?"

Maggie was still sobbing, and was starting to have problems breathing. She was so upset. Bob lifted her out of Heather's arms, and into his lap and cradled her and rubbed her back until he heard her breathing start to even out, not saying a word.

When he felt she could hear him, he asked her to look up at him. When she wouldn't, he put his finger under her chin to force her to.

"Magpie, I know that everything has happened in a hurry, and that even though you wanted and wished for your mom and I to get married, it has still been a transition for you. Right?" Maggie nodded up at her daddy.

Bob continued, "Nobody expects you to be perfect, hon, and we will all have some adjusting to do, but we have to trust one another, and know that we all care and love each other, okay?" Maggie still couldn't speak but nodded again.

"I am your daddy, for real. And tomorrow, we will all go to the court house and get the paperwork we need to make it official. Okay?"

Maggie spoke for the first time. "What does that mean, Daddy?"

"Well, that means that a judge will say that you are officially, legally, and for all time, my little girl. And then, the judge will legally change your last name to Clemente. Will that help you feel better?" Bob asked her, smiling.

In answer, Maggie just threw her arms around her daddy's neck and hugged him hard. They all sat like that for a few minutes, and then Bob sat her down on his lap again.

He spoke, "Now, young lady, we still have some other things to talk about. I do not feel we need to discuss anything that happened while your mom and I were gone. From this moment on, it is a clean slate. But, there are going to be rules around here that I expect you to follow, okay?" "Yes Sir," Maggie said.

"And, I want you to help make them!" Bob announced.

"What?" Maggie asked. "What do you mean?"

Bob looked at Heather and then back at Maggie. He explained, "I mean, that I want them to be fair, and if you feel they are not, then I want you to tell us. If you agree to them, then I expect you to follow them, and if you do not, then you know what the consequence will be. Right young lady?" "Ummm, yes sir."

"Okay, let's start with rule number one. You will ALWAYS ask for permission to go someplace, and let us know where you are. Agreed?" Bob paused to wait for Maggie's answer.

"Yes Sir," she repeated. Maggie then sneaked a look at her mom, wondering if she would say anything about the flowers, but Heather winked at her, and Maggie let our her breath.

Bob continued, "Secondly, you will talk to all adults respectfully, no sassing. Okay?" "Yes Sir."

"Third, you will have chores to do around the house. Homework will be done immediately after school. And bedtime will be 8 pm..."

Maggie interrupted, "Ummm, Daddy?" "Yes, Magpie?"

"Can bedtime be 8:30 pm? If I am in bed by 8, then can it be reading time? Maybe you or Mommy can read me a story?" Maggie asked tentatively.

Bob pursed his lips as if to think. He turned to his wife. "Heather, is that okay with you?" he asked her.

Heather nodded. "Yes, Bob, I think that is fair," she answered.

Bob smiled. "Okay, Magpie, agreed. 8:30 it is. BUT, if you whine at either of us, then the next night you lose a half hour, agreed?"

Maggie smiled, too. "Yes, Sir."

Bob commented, "We will assume that whining is a sign you are NOT getting enough sleep, and will push your bedtime earlier for each incidence. Is that understood?"

Sighing, Maggie said, "Yes, sir."

"Okay, those are the basics. We will reconvene a family meeting when we need to. Okay troops?" Bob asked authoritatively.

Both Heather and Maggie said, "YES, SIR" in unison, and then laughed.

Bob reached over and started to tickle Maggie, and before they knew it, all three of them were tangled on the floor. Suddenly, Bob remembered the ice cream that was probably melting on the counter, and asked for everyone to help put the groceries away.

That night, Bob asked Maggie to start getting ready for bed at 7 pm. It had been a long and emotional day.

"Not yet, Daddy, I want to see one more show," Maggie cried.

"Margaret Anne!" Bob declared.

Hearing that tone, Maggie's eyes widened, and she knew he meant business. Giggling she told him, "Well, I HAD to try, Daddy."

"Oh you did, did you, you little imp," Bob uttered.

Grabbing her up, he swatted her lightly on her bottom, and sent her on her way to her bath. Tucking her in at 8, Bob asked what story she would like to read. Maggie picked out Misty of Chicoteaque.

"Daddy?" Maggie asked. She loved having someone to call Daddy.

Bob smiled. He was still getting used to hearing that on a daily basis. "Yes sweetie?"

"Do you think some day we could visit Chicoteaque? I would love to see those ponies," Maggie stated.

Bob said, "Well hon, I think that is do-able. We will plan it for this summer or maybe even spring break if we can. Okay?"

"Wow, Daddy, you are the best!" Maggie squealed.

Heather came in, and they snuggled Maggie in the middle between them. When Bob was done with a few chapters of the book, Heather read a few, and then they hugged and tucked Maggie in for the night promptly at 8:30. After fluffing her pillows, and tucking in her blankets, they both kissed her a final time and left the room, leaving a night light on, in case she had to get up.

Walking back into the living room, they sunk into the couch.

Heater sighed. "What do you think, hon?" Heather asked Bob.

"I think that little girl needs us to be consistent, loving, and assure her that we will do as we say we will, either for discipline, or for promised treats. So, we need to make sure we MEAN whatever we say. AND, we have to make sure she doesn't divide and conquer," Bob added knowingly.

"How did you get to be sooo wise, Sir?" Heather asked. After all, Heather reflected to herself, Bob had only been a daddy for a few weeks. He made parenting sound so easy.

"Ohhh, not sure, sweetie. I think it is just common sense, and having two loving parents myself, who taught me a lot of this when I wasn't looking," Bob responded.

"Well, I think you are gonna be one terrific daddy. In fact, you already are! And know what?" said Heather.

"What hon?" Bob asked.

"I love you, sweetheart!" Heather expressed.

Bob smiled, "I love you, too." Then, with a wink, Bob asked her, "Gee, are you tired, dear?"

"Ohhh," exaggerating a yawn, Heather replied, "I think I am."

Giggling, Bob chased Heather to the bedroom, turned, and locked the door.