"An accident, huh mi niño?" Eleazar asked with a raised eyebrow.

The little boy nodded his head.

"How did my vase get broken and hidden under my chair cushion, on accident, hijo?" Eleazar asked calmly.

Carlisle knew he was going to be in big trouble and it made him want to cry, at the same time he didn't want to lie to Eleazar. He knew lying was even more naughty then breaking the vase and hiding it, and he didn't want to be that naughty even if he thought he might get away with it. He ducked his head against Eleazar's neck hiding his face in the crook there. "I breaked it, but in axdent." He said in a small voice.

"How?" Eleazar pushed a bit, rubbing the child's back in comfort, realizing that listing his sins was very frightening for him. He could practically feel the fear pouring off the tiny one he held and it broke his heart. He could never recall ever being so frightened to tell his parents of any of his naughtiness. Sure he had not been fond of it or the subsequent trips over his padre's knees, but he had never been fearful.

"I… I frowed a book." He raised his head long enough to point over at the broken table the vase used to rest on before diving back into his hiding spot.

Eleazar carried Carlisle over to the table and spotted the nick in its surface. Running his hand over it, the Spaniard sighed. "You had yourself a bit of a temper huh, hijo?"

Carlisle sniffled and nodded and Eleazar could feel the splash of tears against his neck. He hated having to do it, but he knew he had to be firm with Carlisle. Tantrums of any kind could not be allowed lest they get out of hand. It was easy for a vampire to lose control in the fit of temper and it was even worse for the child vampire, thus the reason they were disposed of. While Carlisle could clearly learn from his mistakes and be controlled as the Immortal Children couldn't, a tantrum skill could not be tolerated. It posed too much of a risk, and Eleazar would not allow harm to befall his little friend. His safety relied on keeping him under control so they would not call attention to themselves. With an inward groan, the man shook his head.

"That was naughty, Carlisle," he scolded gently as he walked him over to the corner nearest by the fire. He may have had to punish the boy, but he could at least offer him the comfort of the nearby warmth to take away some of the sting.

Carlisle started crying harder and it was almost impossible for Eleazar to put him down in the corner, but somehow he managed. "You stay right here muchachito until I call you out of there."

The soft sobbing was killing Eleazar inside, but he quickly turned from the boy and headed back to his chair. Cleaning out the shards of glass and disposing of them, he sat down to wait out the time out.

Carlisle tried to be a good boy in the corner, but he was scared and upset that he had been naughty. He wasn't sure if Ele would make good on his threat to warm the seat of his pants, and then there was the burning in his throat that made everything seem worse. It had started to tickle and sting that afternoon as he play by the fire waiting for his friend to return, but he had ignored it. He had only just fed on a pig the morning before. There was no way he could be thirsty again so soon, and so thirsty at that, but now the sting was turning to an awful burning. He didn't know how, but he was he was so very thirsty.

"E-El-zar?" Carlisle sniffled.

"Quiet in the time out, Carlisle," the Spaniard scolded.

"El-zar, firsty," he whimpered pleadingly.

Eleazar knew he had just fed the boy the morning before, and though his eyes had seemed dark when he had looked into them, Eleazar had assumed then as he did now that had just been because he had been very upset. Now he was certain that Carlisle was trying to get himself out of the boring corner. Eleazar had experience with this. He had often taken care of his younger brothers and sisters and was very familiar with the way they would use any ploy to get out of a well-earned chastisement.

"Hush, little one, time out is nearly over. No more prolonging it with your chatter," Eleazar scolded mildly.

Carlisle deflated in the corner. Eleazar didn't believe him or maybe… maybe he was supposed to go to bed thirsty as part of his punishment. He'd been sent to bed with an empty stomach enough to know that being naughty and having a tantrum was the fastest way to an awful night with a rumbling tummy, or in this case, a burning throat.

Eleazar gave him a few more minutes before calling him out into his open arms.

Carlisle turned from the corner and looked warily at his friend.

"Come here, chiquito, and get your hug," Eleazar beckoned.

A hug sounded really good and maybe that meant he was no longer in trouble; maybe Eleazar would get him a drink in the morning. Yeah, Carlisle could be really good and he wouldn't ask again until then. Carlisle tripped over his own two feet in his haste to get into his friend's open and forgiving arms.

Eleazar scooped him up and cuddled him close, letting the little boy cry the last of his upset out against his chest as he rocked him gently from side to side.

Carlisle was nearly dead to the world when there was a knock on Eleazar's door.

"Carlisle," he roused the boy. "Go and hide in my bed chambers, and do not make a sound." He ordered the boy, who nodded and scurried off to the other room.

Eleazar went and answered the door and frowned at the sight of Felix.

"The brothers want you right away Eleazar," the vampire told him, causing the Spaniard to sigh.

"Yes, of course they do. I will be there in a moment," he told him. Felix nodded before heading back down the hallway confident that Eleazar would be with him momentarily.

Eleazar made his way back into his bed chambers and looked at the little boy who sat in the middle of the huge bed that seemed to swallow him whole.

"I have to go for a little while, but I think it is time for you to be in bed," he told Carlisle, who did in fact look very tired. "Come, little one, let us get you undressed."

Carlisle was very pliant while Eleazar got him out of his play cloths and into a sleep shirt before tucking him under the plush covers.

Eleazar smiled at him. "You be my good boy and sleep. I will be back just as soon as I can. Do not leave these rooms no matter what."

Carlisle yawned and snuggled down in the warmth of the bed; as unneeded as it was, it was still comforting. "I be good boy," he said sleepily.

"You are always a good boy, Carlisle. Good night," Eleazar said fondly, kissing his head before leaving the bedroom.

"Ni ni, El-zar," Carlisle called after him before rolling over and closing his eyes.

Eleazar smiled as he left the rooms and headed off to do the brothers' bidding.

Despite the burning in his throat, Carlisle fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion and managed to sleep for a few hours before the pain woke him, and he whimpered.

He looked around the dark room and realized it was far from morning, but his throat burned so bad and Eleazar was still not back. Even if he would dare to ask for a drink before sunrise, there was no one to ask.

His little body trembled and soft sobs bubbled from his chest. The burn rocketed up another notch as he caught the smell of the human servants milling about outside the room. His nose twitched and his mouth flooding with venom. He stuffed a tiny fist in his mouth and bit down on it. He was NOT going to go after a human. He could never be that thirsty.

He rolled over onto his tummy and stuffed his face in the pillow and sobbed. Every instinct that he had was telling him to hunt, bite, drink. Even if he could stomach the idea of feeding on a human, Eleazar had said no and he didn't want to disappoint him again. Besides, he wasn't supposed to leave the room and to do so would not only be breaking his punishment, but a rule as well.

He could take his punishment even if it hurt really bad. He had been naughty, he deserved this, and maybe in the morning Eleazar would get him something to drink and hug him again and it would all be okay. Carlisle held onto that thought tightly as he tried to push his thirst away.

The poor boy tossed and turned and sobbed quietly, gnawing on his little hands in an effort to fight against his growing thirst. He didn't know how much time had passed, but all he wanted was Eleazar. Maybe he would hug him through the last of his punishment and it wouldn't seem so bad. He could deal with the thirst if Eleazar would hold him.

When Eleazar reentered his rooms he was assaulted by the smell of venom tears and the sound of distraught sobbing. He quickly made his way back to the bed chambers and over to the little lump hiding under the blanket.

"Carlisle, chiquito, what is the matter?" Eleazar asked concerned as he sat down on the side of the bed and tried to unearth the tiniest vampire from the blankets.

"Sorry. I so sorry." Carlisle sniffled and did his best to reign in the sobs. He took in a few deep breaths and got his tears under control for a moment, but it only lasted a moment before he broke down again.

"Why are you sorry?" Eleazar asked, confused.

"I be quiet," Carlisle sobbed, and placed a fist back in his mouth, biting down hard.

"Oh no, Carlisle, I am not unhappy with you for your tears. I am concerned with their cause." Eleazar reached out and gently pulled the tiny paw from between sharp teeth, concerned that the boy was hurting himself, and scooped Carlisle up, which was all the child really wanted. He wrapped his little arms around the Spaniard's neck and held on tight, but he wanted to bite. His instincts strong, he brought a fist to his mouth again and gnawed on it.

"No Carlisle, do not harm yourself," Eleazar scolded gently while trying to get the fist from his mouth again. He was very concerned.

"Need to," Carlisle told him, a desperate note to his voice.

"Why do you need to?" Eleazar asked him while trying to understand what was going on here.

"Need to bite, El-zar. Need to." He sniffled in distress.

Eleazar could remember the thirst of his new born days and that over powering NEED to bite and feed. This concerned him greatly since it was usually then that the thirst would overpower him and the nearest human would become his meal.

"Carlisle, I need you to calm down and speak to me. What is wrong?" Eleazar held him just as tightly as he seem to need to be held.

"Sorry, El-zar, sorry. Firsty, so firsty. I tried. It hurts. Froat hurts bad." Carlisle hid himself against Eleazar's chest and sobbed his heart out.

"Santa Maria…," Eleazar exclaimed realizing what was going on. He couldn't believe the little boy had managed to keep himself from going into a feeding frenzy. "Carlisle, it is I who is so sorry." He remembered the child telling him he was thirsty and thinking he was just trying to get out of the corner. He felt awful.

"Why E-El-zar s-sorry? Carlisle bad, not El-zar," Carlisle sniffled, a little ball of misery in the older vampire's arms.

"I am afraid Eleazar was very naughty indeed. He did not listen when you told him what you needed." Eleazar stroked his little cheek. "Do you think you can hold on just a little while longer while I go find you something? You did such a good job, and I am very proud of you."

"El-zar proud?" Carlisle looked at him with wide black eyes.

"Very proud. There are full grown vampires that do not handle their thirst as well as you have." He kissed the little golden head.

Carlisle felt a warmth spread in his chest at the praise.

"Let me go and get you something to drink." Eleazar went to put the child back down in the bed.

"Not morning yet," Carlisle said in confusion.

"No, it is not," Eleazar agreed, confused by the child's words.

"Carlisle bad. No drink till morning," Carlisle said in a small voice.

Everything sort of snapped into place then for the older vampire as he looked at his little charge with wide eyes. Carlisle thought he was still being punished. Eleazar felt sick.

"Oh no, no, no, no, little one. You were not being punished like this. I did not know you were so thirsty. I would never ever make you go thirsty as punishment," Eleazar assured him, his heart hurting that he had made him think he had.

"I-I telled you, El-zar. Carlisle sayed firsty," the child told him while rubbing at his wet eyes.

"Yes, you did and I did a very bad job of listening. I promise I will never ignore you telling me you are thirsty again. Now I will go and get you a rabbit. That will make you feel much better. I will be quick," Eleazar said. He was worried the boy's self-control would not last much longer and he didn't want him to go through the trauma of attacking a human. Should that happen, he knew his friend would never forgive himself.

He quickly snuck out into the night air and hunted down the meager meal. He snapped its neck before sneaking it back into his chambers. He reentered the bedroom where Carlisle sat on the bed seemingly much calmer. His thirst was still bad, but just knowing relief was coming made it easier to bare.

Eleazar handed over the rabbit and the child quickly stuck his teeth into it while making little growling noises as he fed. When he finished, he handed the dead animal back over to the older vampire who disposed of it out a window before sitting back on the bed and holding his arms out for his little friend.

Carlisle eagerly scurried into the arms and let out a big yawn.

"Can you forgive your old friend?" Eleazar asked the little boy while peering into his eyes and noting in relief their golden color. He would have to keep a better eye on that from now on. "I did not mean to hurt you so." He felt so awful about what had happened. He knew what it was to be thirsty, but to think you had to remain that way and suffer through it as punishment, and to be so little and helpless to it... It broke the Spaniard's heart.

"I forgib you," Carlisle said. Snuggling in against him, he leaned up a bit and kissed Eleazar on the cheek before nuzzling in against his chest.

"You are better than I deserve, mi amigo," Eleazar told him as he held him tight. "Now rest my tired little one."

Carlisle didn't have to be told twice. Sated, sleepy, and comfy in the safety of his friend's arms, the littlest vampire finally drifted off into a restful state.