For a few weeks, things were as quiet as they could be with three hormonal teenage boys. Matt half-heartedly tried to leave a few times, but there was always another outings, activity, or game to play.
Elijah finally came back from getting Finn settled. It was a long three weeks living with him. Few words were spoken between the two, but at long last, the silence grew into a companionable quiet. They sat for hours fishing on the lake, never seeing another soul. One thing that made Finn happy was a shaggy stray dog he adopted. He named it Sage after mumbling something about a woman he once knew. Finn only drank animal blood and ate the meat he caught and killed. He set up traps and skinned his kills. By the time Elijah left, Finn was sewing his own clothes out of leather. Elijah tried to show him how to use the phone and made it clear that they would visit him again soon. He was fairly sure that Finn would never call and not sure Finn would care if they visited him or not. Elijah's only solace was that their eldest brother was no longer in that box. If they would have tried harder, things could have been different. But wasn't that the way with everything, Elijah mused as he arrived at the gate.
There was a large sign which spelled out "White Pine Manse." He smiled thinking that must be Rebekah's influence. She always insisted on naming their houses when they settled down. Sadly, with Mikael so often on their trail, they would have to leave quickly and flee only having to start over again. He pushed those thoughts aside as he heard Jeremy yell, "It's Uncle Elijah!"
"Hi boys, how is everyone doing?" Elijah smiled patting them on the shoulders. Rebekah squealed and jumped into his arms.
"Welcome, brother, once again you have taken one for the family. How is our eldest brother faring?" Klaus' deep voice boomed out.
"Well. He seems happy and he even has a dog now. We should go back and visit him in a few weeks," Elijah suggested.
'
"Sure, he can serve us grilled dog and call us abominations! Sounds delightful!" Kol quipped.
"There's Kol," Elijah smiled, "I missed you little Brother." Elijah clasped his arms and pulled him in for an embrace.
Kol grew serious for a second, "I missed you, too, Elijah." He returned the hug for a moment before pulling back.
Rebekah's eyes misted for a second. She wasn't sure when the last time things seemed this good between them all.
Clapping her hands, she announced, "Come now, Nicole has made boeuf bourguignon."
"Boof what?" Tyler asked making a face as Jeremy laughed at him.
"That would be beef stew," Elijah smiled putting his arm around Jeremy. He asked him how his art work was going.
"Matt, glad to see you stayed," Elijah said politely.
"Yes, sir, it's been pretty awesome. I think I mostly managed to keep the other two out of trouble, too," Matt replied. Elijah noticed that Matt seemed to keep starting at Rebekah. She smiled back at the blond teen a few times.
"Now, that is impressive," Elijah said, sitting down at the head of the dining room table. Klaus sat on the other end.
He was glad to be home.
After dinner, Klaus and Elijah retired to the study to have a drink and catch up.
"So were things really as good as they seemed?" Elijah inquired.
Klaus laughed, "I have to admit that things were good. Kol has been better behaved than ever. Rebekah seems to be the object of affection of young Matt. Jeremy and Tyler have been lively, but have only broken three major appliances and one toilet, oh, make that two. Nicole got the flu and everyone pitched in to help. I only had to thrash one of them the whole time you were gone."
"Shall I guess? Our lovely sister with the razor sharp tongue? No? Our brother who would argue the sky was green and the grass red just to annoy you? No, really?" Elijah was perplexed.
"Matt," Klaus admitted.
"What did that sweet boy do?" Elijah said horrified.
"He kept calling me sir and trying to pay me for his room and board. I told him if he did it one more time, he was getting a good hiding. In his defense, I don't think he knew what that was," Klaus laughed.
"Please tell me you are joking," Elijah implored.
"Yes, I gave him a few light swats in jest. It broke the tension and now he feels more like part of the family. Which maybe isn't a great thing because he is completely smitten with Rebekah," Klaus sighed.
"And Kol is really good? That's unlike him. I'm surprised he's not jealous of the attention you are giving the boys," Elijah went on.
"He's actually become one of them. Playing video games, sports, he and Rebekah even decided they would attend high school in the fall," Klaus added.
"Really? Now my head is spinning. Our forever teens, eternally moody. I think it would be good for them. I wonder if half of their behavior issues came from boredom. We were always so distracted keeping them safe physically, that we ignored their other needs, I suppose," Elijah mused.
"I vowed not to make those same mistakes. I have been keeping them all busy, but I have missed your assistance, brother. And your good counsel," Klaus state simply.
"Yet something troubles you? Tell me, Niklaus. Don't make me beat it out of you, like when we children," Elijah said downing his drink and refilling both of their cups.
"Salud!" Klaus said, staring deep into his glass.
"Salud! Niklaus, I will not ask you again," Elijah said plainly.
Klaus took a breath and said, "It's Nicole. I think there is someone else. I don't know."
"Why do you say that?" Elijah pressed carefully.
"I can't really say, but things have been different between us," Klaus said drinking again.
"Brother, did you not say she had been sick?" Elijah wondered.
"Yes, Elijah, but how many witches come down with colds? Do you ever remember Mother sick a single time. With their knowledge of herbs and concoctions, they heal quickly," Klaus said getting up.
"You care for this woman?" Elijah said suddenly. Klaus had many lovers, but rarely cared deeply for any one woman.
"Yes, I found her maybe 15-20 years ago in France, when you were trying to lure Mikael to Africa. I saved her from her coven and things went from there. I installed her in one of the properties in Europe, then the Bahamas. I would go to see her from time to time. When I found Jeremy, I took him to that house on the water. Nicole was so helpful that I invited her here," Klaus recalled.
"It has been long since I've seen you worried about a woman. Have you talked to her about this?" Elijah offered.
"No, I'm been busy with Rebekah and the boys. I just thought Nicole could step up and be a..." Klaus drifted off, feeling silly.
"A mother to them? That is a noble thought. I know it may not work out, but I am proud of how you have stepped up for this family. Talk to her, brother, you may be surprised," Elijah said finishing his drink and patting Klaus on the shoulder.
"Maybe I'll see if she wants to go out tonight. Perhaps we'll get a hotel room and take a night off? Would you mind holding down the fort?" Klaus asked.
"No problem at all. I'm sure it will be a quiet night," Elijah smiled.
When Elijah came back into his quarters, his senses picked up on another creature nearby.
"Kol, I know you are there. Come out," Elijah said flatly, taking off his jacket.
"You always catch me, Elijah. So is old Finn settled there for good? I can't say I'm disappointed," Kol said plopping down into a settee near the window.
"I believe so. He barely spoke the whole time I was there. He is not the judgmental, bore we remember him to be," Elijah shared taking off his shoes.
"Oh, I remember him tied to Mother's skirts. Always telling on me for my spells and pranks. Every whipping I ever got from Mother was because of him," Kol sneered.
"Oh, your pranks and spells had nothing to do with it, hmm? He got me in trouble, too. In truth, we probably deserved it. But even as children, there was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. Sometimes I used to even wish it was him who..." Elijah stopped and rubbed his temples.
"Died? Instead of Henrik? Me, too, brother. Henrik was one of us, on our side. You know, I was thinking of those tunnels the other day. They probably run under Mystic Falls, don't they?" Kol asked.
"The tunnels where we used to hide from the wolves? I believe so. But it's been hundreds of years. Who knows what is there now? Why do you ask? Kol, you're not up to something are you?" Elijah asked patiently.
Kol paused a moment. For a split second, he wanted to confess everything to Elijah. He always knew what to do. But this time, Kol was in love and wanted revenge. Nicole thought that her coven could hide Klaus in those tunnels to get him to their compound. They didn't know how to get in. But did he really want to betray his own blood like this? Nik had been kind to him this last month. He liked the boys more than he thought he would. He had fun with them. He loved Nicole, or he loved her body and the things she could do. She grew more and more frightened of her coven. Kol needed the white oak dagger spelled with dark magic so it would subdue Nik, then her coven would use him as a source of power. Kol either had to take off to New Orleans to free Mary Alice and Astrid from the cottage or tell Elijah everything now.
Kol nodded and looked at Elijah sadly. Elijah would know what to do.
"I didn't mean for it to happen but-" Kol started.
They both heard a tremendous crash.
"What the hell was that?" Kol said jumping up.
"I don't know," Elijah said vamping toward the sound. It was coming from the boys bedroom. They heard Rebekah yell, "Stop!"
The scene inside the room was chaos.
The triple bunk bed was flipped over and Matt was on top of Jeremy pounding his fist into his face. Rebekah was helping up Tyler, who had blood running down his face.
"What is the meaning of this?" Elijah demanded. Kol vamped over and pulled Matt off of Jeremy.
"Stop, mate. Bloody hell, you're gonna knock him out," Kol yelled at Matt who was breathing heavily and furious.
The room was trashed and broken glass was everywhere.
"Kol, would you take Matt to the kitchen and get him some ice for that hand, please? Rebekah, the medical kit is in the bathroom, if you please," Elijah said calmly assessing the situation.
"Jeremy, let's get you up and out of here," Elijah said walking him out of the room. "Tyler, can you walk?"
"Yes, I'm coming, " Tyler said holding a rag to his head where it was bleeding.
Elijah lead them into his quarters and sat Jeremy down on the settee.
"Here, Elijah," Rebekah said giving him the first aid kit.
She turned to Tyler, "What happened? It was like World War 3 in there."
Jeremy and Tyler both started talking at once.
"One at a time," Elijah scolded.
Tyler started, "I'm sorry. We were just joking."
"About what, young man?" Elijah asked firmly. "I want the truth."
Jeremy glanced guiltily at Rebekah.
Elijah went on, "You can tell me now or you can tell me bend over the bed with your trousers down."
Tyler, still holding his head, said, "Uncle Elijah, he just teased Matt about staring at Rebekah. He didn't mean anything."
"Thank you, Tyler. I'll like to hear from Jeremy please," Elijah said pointedly.
"Why is he "uncle" and I'm just Rebekah? That doesn't seem right," Rebekah scoffed.
Jeremy's face colored, "Well, that's what made Matt so mad, I said if he..."
"What? Spit it out, Jeremy!" Rebekah yelled.
"Rebekah, be a dear and take Tyler to the bathroom to wash that cut. Then, perhaps you can set that room to rights," Elijah said realizing why Jeremy was hesitating.
"Fine. But I want to hear the whole story later," Rebekah scoffed, leading Jeremy out carefully to the hallway bathroom.
"They're gone. Go on," Elijah said quietly.
"I said that it would be like he was 'fucking his aunt' if they did it," Jeremy started crying.
"Oh Jeremy, I don't even know what to say right now," Elijah said truthfully.
Kol came to the door, dragging Matt.
"Where's Nik? Matt keeps trying to punch me and take off. Elijah, I'm not a babysitter," Kol fumed.
"He's out overnight with Nicole. I'm going to deal with this," Elijah said with authority.
"Overnight, really?" Kol said in surprise.
"You can go help Rebekah fix up the bedroom or go to bed. Thank you, Kol," Elijah said dismissing him.
"Night. Good luck, blokes. You're gonna need it," Kol smirked, pushing Matt in and shutting the door.
Matt had an ice pack and glared at Jeremy.
Elijah got up and put his arms on Matt's biceps gripping him.
"I know you are upset. You have every right to be, but you don't put your hands on Jeremy because he said something you didn't like. You should have walked away and gotten an adult. I think Jeremy has something to say," Elijah said motioning to Jeremy to go on and letting go of Matt.
"Matt, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. We were joking, but it was stupid. Don't be mad. You and Tyler are my best friends now, my...brothers," Jeremy said his voice unsteady with emotion.
Matt's face was stone.
"Matthew, do you accept Jeremy's apology? Do you want to say anything?" Elijah said to the angry boy.
"It's not true. I don't want to..." Matt started.
"I know, man. We were joking. Please, don't be mad," Jeremy pleaded.
"Matt, we're in enough trouble, you remember what dad said would happen the next time we broke something or were fighting."
Matt nodded glumly.
"What did he say? Boys, tell me know, if I have to call...Things will go much more poorly for you," Elijah promised.
"He said that we'll get spanked every other night for a week," Matt admitted.
"Well, seeing the state of that room and the ferocity of this fight, I think that will be well-deserved. Jeremy, go down to the kitchen and get the paddleball paddle from the drawer. I want to talk to Matt a minute," Elijah said.
Jeremy paled and trudged out of the room.
"Matthew, tell me what's really happening please. Come sit down," Elijah said, sitting and patting the bed.
Matt put his ice bag down and put his hands in his face and started sobbing. Elijah put his arm around him and pulled him close.
"I don't like Rebekah like that. I mean, I like her, but she..." Matt cried against Elijah's shoulder.
"She what?" he prompted.
"She reminds me of my sister Vicky. She died. That's it and they were saying I wanted to, you know. But it's not true. I just miss my sister," Matt said wiping his face with his arm.
Elijah held him until he stopped crying.
"Matt, you will always miss your sister. But I promise you that time will heal some of these wounds. You won't forget it, but it will be better. We're here to help. Okay?" Elijah whispered. His supernatural hearing picked up Jeremy's footsteps.
"Now, I want you to apologize to Jeremy for hitting him. You could have really hurt him. If you want to share the rest, that's up to you," Elijah said, getting up to get a wash cloth.
"Come in, Jeremy," Elijah called. Jeremy stepped sheepishly holding the round wooden paddle that was about to meet his backside. He handed it to Elijah.
"Jeremy, I do accept your apology. I'm sorry that I hit you and trashed the room. We can talk about it more later, okay?" Matt said his face still blotchy and streaked with tears.
Jeremy looked at Elijah and when he nodded, he hugged Matt hard. Matt had to struggle to keep his composure.
Elijah gave them a moment and then hefted the paddle Jeremy fetched from the kitchen drawer. He would have preferred to thrash them leaning over the bed with his trusty paint stick stashed in his closet. He moved it from time to time because he knew Rebekah was still searching for it.
"Okay, boys, I think it is time for those spankings you were promised. Your father is out, so I'll take care of this first one," Elijah said in a business-like manner.
"Do you think we'll really get it every other day, Uncle Elijah?" Jeremy worried.
"Who do you think thought of such a dastardly idea? I know that you two will be very well-behaved for the foreseeable future. Your sore bottoms will guarantee that. Now Jeremy, since you started this nonsense, you can be...last. You can stand in the that corner and think about what you have coming. Matthew, come," Elijah said indicating the bed.
"Okay. I never really got spanked like this before. I'm not sure what to do," Matt said shyly, his neck flushing.
"It is fine, there is a first time for everything. It will be over soon. Bend over, please. You can leave your shorts on for now," Elijah said.
His bed was high and Matt's backside was perfectly positioned. Elijah handed him a throw pillow from the couch to hold onto.
"Now, expect both of you to keep still and not reach back. Every time I have to remind you of that, I'm going to give you an extra swat with my paint stick," Elijah threatened.
"Yes, sir," Matt said quietly, praying he could keep still. He didn't know what a paint stick was, but it sounded bad.
Elijah picked up the paddle and brought it down on the center of Matt's backside hard. Matt was wearing basketball shorts and felt the impact after he heard a dull thud.
Whap.
"Brothers fight, that is normal. I am proud of the way you both took responsibility and made up," Elijah said swatting the blond football player harder. The paddle was light enough to provide a sting, but no real damage.
Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack.
Matt hugged the pillow harder as his shorts covered seat began to heat up.
Swat. Swat. Swat. Crack! Crack!
"Okay, I think those pants need to come down. Stand up," Elijah said sternly.
Matt pushed himself up and fought to keep his hands away from his behind.
Elijah gripped his shorts and pulled them down to his ankles. Matt regretted not wearing underwear, but figured it wouldn't make much of a difference.
"Over again," Elijah said, sitting down and bracing the boy with his arm. Elijah rested the wooden paddle on Matt's bare backside for a moment before raising it higher and bringing it down with a thwack.
Smack!
Matt flinched and started to push himself up.
"That's one extra. Stay down," Elijah warned.
"It hurts," Matt groaned.
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Elijah bounced the paddle in a random pattern so Matt couldn't anticipate the next swat.
"The next time you want to hit someone, think of me spanking your behind right now," Elijah lectured.
He brought the paddle down with a crack on Matt's sit spots five times each. Matt threw his hands back while trying to stand.
"That's three more with the stick, young man!"
Elijah swatted lower on Matt's thighs until he brought his hands back up.
"I'm sorry. *smack* I won't *smack* hit anyone *smack* again!" Matt gasped out, gripping the pillow tightly.
Elijah smacked the paddle down five more times on Matt's now red bottom.
"Now, stay there and I'm getting the paint paddle," Elijah cautioned, grabbing it from his hiding spot.
Matt was crying and one hand was again covering his backside.
"I guess you want to make that five," Elijah sighed.
He put his hand on Matt's back and brought the heavy stick down across the top of Matt's thighs firmly.
"Ouch...I'm sorry. I am really sorry, Uncle, no more," Elijah heard the weeping boy moan.
Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!
Elijah whacked the stick against Matt's upper thighs and then dropped it. He helped Matt step out of his shorts and led him to the corner.
"All done. You're a good boy. Now, you're going to do stand in the corner with your hands on your head," Elijah said.
Elijah was spent. So much for a quiet night. He sat on the bed and called over Jeremy. He held Jeremy in front of him and said, "I'm very disappointed in what you said to Matt. That was very crude, but you owned up to it. Now, you will pay for it and it will be done with, but I'm going to be a little harder on you. These pants need to come down."
Jeremy's face colored as he had nothing on beneath his sleep pants. Elijah didn't seem to notice, but ordered him to step out of them.
"Over my knees," Elijah said moving back so that Jeremy's weight was resting on the bed.
"Why do I have to go over your knee? That's not fair," Jeremy whined.
"You acted more childishly and I will treat you so. Now hush before I skip your warm up and give you some extra spanks with the stick," Elijah said seriously.
Elijah brought the flat of his hand down hard all over Jeremy's behind.
Spank. Spank. Spank. Spank. Spank. Spank.
Jeremy was taken aback by the strong swats and started kicking wildly. Elijah said nothing and just pulled Jeremy in tighter to his body. He spanked him until his backside turned a bright pink and the boy was trying to lift himself up.
"I know it smarts, but you are being punished for hurting someone with your words. You are better than that," Elijah lectured smacking his sit spots hard back and forth.
"Arggh," Jeremy wailed.
After a few more cracks with his hand, Elijah picked up the paddle.
He rested the cool wood on Jeremy's aching backside for a moment so the boy could catch his breath and settle down.
"This is going to hurt, you can kick but don't try to push up or I guarantee you will be sitting on a pillow for breakfast, young man," Elijah promised swatting down firmly.
Jeremy started crying and begging for the paddling to end. Elijah ignored him and aimed for the center of his backside. Then, he aimed lower to make sure that he was making his point.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Jeremy gripped his pillow for dear life. The paddle was stinging his entire backside and upper thighs. He wasn't sure if it was because he hadn't been spanked in a while or Elijah was irritated with him, but the spanking seemed to be lighting his rear on fire in a way he hadn't experienced before.
"Please, Uncle Elijah, don't spank me anymore! *Whack* I'm sorry. I promised," Jeremy sobbed out kicking and trying to rock out of the way. Jeremy then lost control and tried to push up and off Elijah lap. Elijah gripped the kicking boy more tightly and swatted him harder.
Elijah continued the paddling until Jeremy's backside looked red and sore. He wanted to ask Jeremy how he would felt if someone spoke about his sister than way, but Elijah didn't want to reopen that wound for Matthew.
"It's too hard," Jeremy continue to wail, not realizing that Elijah had stopped and put the paddle down.
"I think I owe you one lick with the stick," Elijah remember, helping Jeremy stand. He was vigorously rubbing his behind.
"Stop that, that's two more!" Elijah cautioned. Jeremy stomped and seemed to scowl at him.
"That's four. Bend over," Elijah said grabbing his upper arm and swatting his thighs four times. They were not hard whacks, but Jeremy howled as if he was branded with a hot poker.
"Okay, okay, you are fine," Elijah pulled Jeremy down to his lap and let his sore rear hang between his legs. He rocked him a minute and then called over Tyler. Neither boy seemed to remember that their backsides were still bare. Elijah situated Jeremy face down on his stomach and Matt on the other side of the bed. Jeremy was still crying a bit and Matt seemed spent.
"Did your behinds cool down yet? If not, you may rub," he granted with a smile. Both sets of hands flew and started rubbing behind them although it didn't seem to help much. Both backsides looked well-spanked.
"I love you, boys. I know that hurt, but I think you both deserved it. You probably both owe Tyler an apology also. I know he just injured trying to stop you and was quite upset. I expect you two to admit everything to your father when he gets back
Elijah sat on the settee. He figured he would stay with them until they fell asleep and then go sleep in Finn's room. After they were both asleep, Elijah hid the stick in his bathroom cabinet and took the paddle ball paddle back to the kitchen.
Kol was sitting at the counter drinking a blood bag. His eyes widened at the sight of the paddle and smiled, "It's nice not to be the one in trouble for once. I could hear them wailing and carrying on from here."
Elijah smiled back and said, "Let's keep it that way. My arm is worn out from those two. Now, did you want to talk about something?"
Kol shook his head and watched Elijah put the round wooden implement back in the drawer. He had lost his resolve. Semper Veritas.
Truth comes at a price.