Warning: no spanking, just references
"I had a wonderful time, mon cheri," Nicole whispered to Klaus coming back into the mansion.
"Let's do it again soon. You know. You really do not have to work. We can hire a cook," Klaus said opening the door for her.
"Mon dieu, master, what would I do all day? You know I would criticize anyone else's cooking. And the boys finding started eating my bouillabaisse," Nicole laughed happily.
"You are the master of my stomach and heart. We would all be bereft without you and your cooking. It is an art. Now, I suppose, I should check on those little rebels. Elijah sounded strained on the phone. I can always tell when he is lying to me," Klaus said looking around the kitchen. He stopped though and pulled Nicole back into his arms for one more kiss.
Kol watched in the kitchen in his pajamas, looking ruffled.
"Long night, brother?" Klaus said breaking away from Nicole.
"You could say that, Nik. Your sons beat the shite out of each other and trashed that room again. Rebekah had to flip the bunk beds over. Yeah, things got a wee bit mad, but I'm sure you can sort it out today," Kol smirked to Klaus. He said hello to Nicole causally and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Bloody hell, I warned them that I would whale the tar out of them of they fought again. Where's Elijah?" Klaus asked rubbing his temple.
"I don't know. I heard a bunch of wailing and sobbing so he did some thrashing himself. I like those lads, but seeing that room, they deserved a bit more than a tongue lashing," Kol said walking out to the patio with his coffee.
"Thanks for the advice," Klaus muttered under his breath. He headed upstairs to investigate and put his bag away.
He popped his head in the boys' room only to find Tyler sprawled out and sleeping. Things looked okay, except for the lamp was gone and a chair was in pieces. Klaus noticed that Elijah's door was open. He poked his head in to see two more sleeping boys in Elijah's bed. They were covered with a light sheet. He peeled it back to see a slight redness on both of their backsides. He fought the temptation to give them both a mighty smack to wake them up. Instead, he gently pulled up the sheet and quietly left the room.
Elijah was walking down the hallway. Klaus closed the door and motioned for Elijah to follow him to his room.
"I knew you were lying to me on the phone," Klaus said quietly.
"Niklaus, I did not lie. You asked if things were fine, I said they were. Matthew and Jeremy got into a row. It got physical. I brought them in my room and took care of it. See? Fine," Elijah explained.
"Was Tyler involved?" Klaus wondered.
"From my understanding, he was a bit, but then tried to stop it. I told the boys they would have to tell you exactly what happened," Elijah went on.
"I warned them that I would paddle them for a week the next time they fought. I guess that wasn't a big enough deterrent. Well, thank you for being here. I'm sorry for questioning you. I know they were in good hands," Klaus admitted.
"Yes, and these hands took that very paddle to them and gave them a few whacks with my paint stick for good measure. It was Matt's first real punishment and he was struggling to stay still and listen," Elijah shared.
"Ah, his first time? That child must have raised himself. I'll let them sleep in and then talk to them. Where did you sleep?" Klaus said confused.
"Finn's room. He must have been sleeping on the floor in there. I should probably drive up and check on him soon. Maybe I'll take Rebekah? It might be too overwhelming to him if we all go," Elijah suggested.
"Sounds good. By the way, it went tres bien with Nicole last night," Klaus grinned. "It must have been my old paranoid self coming through. I almost feel like she might want to get married."
"That's terrific news, Niklaus. You deserve to be happy. I know they are a handful, but seeing you with children makes me feel like you should have more. There are ways now brother, you two could adopt or something of that sort," Elijah shared.
"Thank you, brother. That means a lot. You may be getting ahead of yourself," Klaus said sincerely.
"Dad? You're back?" Tyler said at the doorway rubbing his eyes.
"I'll leave you two to talk," Elijah said excusing himself.
"Hello, son. Rough night, eh? Do you want to talk about it now? Are you okay?" Klaus said with concern in his eyes.
"It was awful, but I feel like you should hear it from Jeremy and Matt, you know?" Tyler said not wanting to take sides or get overly involved.
"So you didn't have a part in it?" Klaus asked.
"I did a little. I didn't get in trouble last night, but I can't say that I'm totally innocent either," Tyler said looking down.
"What do you mean? It's okay, you can tell me. I won't get mad," Klaus said carefully.
Tyler thought, yeah, right, I've heard that before. But it would all come out anyway.
"Jeremy started teasing Matt and at first I joined in. Then, when I could tell Matt was getting really mad, I tried to stop them. It was too late," Tyler admitted.
"Tyler, you cannot control anyone's behavior but your own. It took me many centuries to learn that and I still need reminders. Please don't blame yourself, okay?" Klaus said lifting his chin up to have the boy look at him.
Tyler nodded.
"Do you think it would help if the three of you had your own space for a while? I know it is fun for you to share a bedroom, but perhaps a little break will help? We can talk about it later," Klaus suggested.
"Okay...And thanks, Dad," Tyler said sincerely.
Klaus smiled and put his hand on Tyler's shoulder. Sometimes it felt good to be able to help. But he still had two more sons to deal with.
Kol was fuming. Nicole went overnight with his brother and seemed to have a great time. He was anxious to talk to her but it was almost impossible during the day. Klaus had extra sound proofing put in the walls for privacy. However, any of the Originals could hear if they tried, from any of the open areas. Whispering to her in the kitchen was dangerous, but he had to try. Since her room was the only spelled area that was 100% safe, they had to speak in there.
"Nicole, could you show me that lamp you were talking about the other day. Darling, you have such good taste, I'll love to buy one," Kol said pointing in the direction of her bedroom.
"Oui, Mister Kol, just allow me to stir this sauce," Nicole said, not happy to be interrupted.
When they were finally in her room with the door shut, he said, "What the bloody hell happened last night?"
"He asked me to go and I said I would. What was I supposed to say? He's my boss and my lover? Did you make any progress on your research?" Nicole said turning the tables on his argument.
Kol frowned, "Not really. Those tunnels are long and run under the entire town. No one really has a map or knows the entrance anymore. When my family lived here a thousand years ago, we would hide in them every full moon. We marked the ceiling of the entrance with a wolf symbol. Someone in Mystic Falls has to know something."
"Tyler was talking about a dream he had about a wolf cave with a similar marking. I wonder if...he said something about his family's old property. It's a stretch but the coven grows impatient, they want the power your brother possesses. For what, I fear I don't know," Nicole sighed.
"I need to get to New Orleans soon. I'm going to press Nik and see if he knows anything about the Fauline cottage and my witch friends. Without that stake, my brother will rip your whole coven apart without a thought," Kol confided.
"Sure, you exaggerate. He's so gentle and sweet with the boys and me. Even with your sister. I supposed he did rip the head off of Elijah's witch, but that was to help moi. I just can't see him hurting people," Nicole mused.
"Nicole, my Father razed half of Europe searching for us. My family is dangerous. We cannot die, yet we deal out death with the flick of the wrist. I love you, but I am starting to fear for your safety. This is a dangerous game and Nik doesn't like to lose. None of us do," Kol said solemnly.
"Cher, this is no game. If we don't capture your brother, the coven will still try to use you or your siblings for the sacrifice. Witches of this type will also kill. The leader Lydia even sacrificed her own family for the dark power..." Nicole trembled.
"We better go before we get caught talking. Let me talk to my brother and see what I can find out," Kol said vamping away.
Nicole realized that he hadn't even kissed her or touched her that whole conversation. Was she siding with the wrong brother? When the coven anchored her, they also gained the ability to track her. Just like the fly in the spider's web, she was trapped.
Klaus found Matt and Jeremy talking outside sitting on a trampoline. He forced himself not to use his supernatural senses to eavesdrop.
"Dad!" Jeremy said as Matt gave him a croaked grin.
"Hi lads, let me see the damage," Klaus said checking their faces. Jeremy had a bruise on his check and a black eye.
They filled him in quickly on everything, including Jeremy's comment and how Matt had to be dragged off Jeremy.
"Sorry, Dad. It was a stupid thing to do," Matt said earnestly.
"Yeah, Uncle Elijah tore us new ones last night. My ass, I mean, my butt still hurts a little," Jeremy admitted hoping to prove that they didn't need more correction.
"Good. You know we are going to 'talk' about this more tomorrow night, right? Well, my talking will be the paddle, but I think you get the point," Klaus chucked.
"Dad, it's not funny. That thing stings like a freakin' bees nest," Jeremy whined.
"Would you rather me tan your misbehaving hide with the hairbrush? That can be arranged," Klaus threatened.
"No, sorry. That is 100 times worse," Jeremy explained to Matt.
Matt paused, "Are we going to really get spanked tomorrow and then the next night?"
"Well, that is what I promised boys who fight. But how about this? Tomorrow, you are both going to bed with warm backsides. But the next spanking could be traded for another punishment," Klaus announced.
"And that punishment would be?" Jeremy wondered. Almost anything sounded better than another session of getting his ass beat.
"The three of you will stay in separate bedrooms for the reminder of the summer," Klaus finished. "Talk to Tyler and let me know before the appointed night. I think a break may be good, but I don't want to force you."
Matt clarified, "So we're getting whupped tomorrow no matter what, but the next one can be cancelled if we split into separate rooms for the entire summer?"
"Indeed. Remember Finn's room is available now. Oh, here comes Tyler, I'll see you at dinner," Klaus said tousling their hair and patting Tyler on the back.
"So you dudes are sitting, that's good," Tyler joked.
"Not comfortably, man. My ass still feels like hot and itchy. Uncle Elijah really has a solid swing," Matt confided.
"I know. I wonder if he ever played baseball. Anyway, what did Dad say?" Tyler asked.
Jeremy blanched, "It's rough. We're getting our butts blistered tomorrow again, but if we want to skip another spanking...we can, if we split into separate rooms for the rest of the summer."
"Whoa! That's harsh. I mean it's not my ass on the line so you guys decide. I have to say that dad was pretty clear about the consequences of fighting. I guess it maybe didn't mean as much to you Matt since you never got paddled, but it was the first thing I thought of when you started wailing on Jeremy's face," Tyler quipped. Matt's hands went unconsciously to his backside to give it a quick rub.
"If I knew then what I know now...believe me, I would have put my hands in my pocket. By the way, we're sorry for kinda dragging you into this. I know your forehead got cut," Matt said.
Jeremy added, "Yeah, Matt and I talked and it won't happen again. I guess I'm a slow learner because nothing is worth getting paddled like that by Uncle Elijah. We even got extra swats with this paint stick thing on the thighs. But I'll take another spanking from Dad if we can all stay together."
Matt nodded, "Me, too. At first I thought it was more embarrassing than anything, but then I thought it was never going to end. The stung did fade pretty fast though."
Tyler said, "That's not the way it is with the belt or switch so be glad you're only getting paddled."
"Good to know. I mean it's weird to get beat like this, but no one ever really cared what I did before, so it's nice to know that someone cares how we act and turn out. So we're sticking together? We can tell Dad our decision at dinner," Matt added.
"Hey, little brother, how are you? Didn't want to join Rebekah and Elijah visiting Finn? Come to watch me paint?" Klaus asked, welcoming Kol into his art studio.
"Sure, Nik. You know I'd rather do just about anything other than visit that tattletale. Anyway, I like that landscape. It reminds me of Peru. It that a serpent? Doesn't that represent the world of the dead. Nik, are you still trying to break the sun and moon curse?" Kol asked casually.
Klaus put his paint brush down.
"No, brother, I have put all that aside. I know we are still not completely safe from Mikael, but creating an army of hybrids no longer seems like our best option. You know, everything I have done is to keep us safe. At least that's what I tell myself during the dark hours of the night," Klaus say dully.
"I haven't made it easy for you, mate. If I could go back in time, I would have accepted our limitations sooner, the blood lust. Being cut off from magic has never stopped haunting me, but I could have handled it better," Kol admitted.
"We all could have done things better. Is something on your mind, Kol? You can tell me?" Klaus said picking up his brush again and filling in the body of the serpent in the grass.
"I guess since I've been out of the coffin again, I feel...guilt about a lot of things. You know, how I acted before and people I hurt," Kol admitted, finding this harder to do than he anticipated.
"Kol, we all have regrets," Klaus replied, now adding a puma to his painting to represent the living.
"Aye, but I can't stop thinking of Mary Alice Clair and Astrid being trapped in that cottage. It's my fault. I wish I could help them," Kol blurted helplessly
"Brother, you know that we cannot get involved in witch business. I tried a few decades ago to look into it. The New Orleans covens are now united in using it as a jail for their wayward witches. All nine covens in the area have decreed that once a witch is put there, she is as good as dead. I'm sorry," Klaus said looking at Kol with regret.
"Do you have any names of the leaders? Maybe I could try to ask again? Who is the regent now?"
"The last I heard it was Josephine LaRue. She rose from the Garden District coven a few years ago. Although she loves music, this particular witch detests vampires. She's a tough one, eyes like ice. You must stay away from her brother. Although a hex from her won't kill us, I suffered for decades from the hunter's curse. I beg you, forget your friends," Klaus said sadly.
"What if I brought Nicole with me to negotiate? Then, they wouldn't know we were involved," Kol suggested. He thought if he could get away with Nicole, they could work out a better plan.
"Madame LaRue is also a seer. She would know. Kol, I must forbid you from going to New Orleans. Do you understand me?" Klaus said standing.
"Nik, I hate when you treat me like I'm a kid. I can go where I want," Kol said stomping his foot unconsciously.
Klaus grinned a little sitting his brother proclaim he was an adult while pouting like a toddler.
"Kol, that was the last place Mikael found us. He has spies and lookouts all over the city. I met with LaRue outside of the city under heavy cloaking. I promise you that if you disobey me on this, you will regret it," Klaus warned.
"Fine, dagger me again. I guess that would give you one less 'child' to deal with," Kol fumed.
"Oh, if I have to deal with this, it won't be with the dagger. Perhaps it's been far too long since I corrected your rebellious nature, little brother," Klaus said grabbing his arm.
"Elijah won't let you! I didn't do anything," Kol whined, covering his backside.
"I hope you don't, Kol, because if you risk your own safety or this family's for your lost friends, you will be sorry," Klaus growled tightening his grip.
"Sorry, Nik. I just want to make things right," Kol sniffed.
"I know. Come here," Klaus said pulling him into a tight hug. This time he didn't let him go for a long while.
Later than night after the boys told Klaus they wanted to keep sharing a room for the summer, Nicole slipped into Klaus' bedroom.
His eyes glowed yellow for a moment as he tore off her silk robe and negligee. She realized that she did love the hybrid. He may be a beast, but he was also a man. Kol was sweet to her, but nothing but a little boy.
After Klaus ravished her, she turned to him.
"Cher? I love you so much," she whispered.
"I know. I love you, too. Marry me," Klaus said he eyes glowing in the darkness of the room.
"I must talk to you before. You are not going to like it," Nicole said shivering.
Klaus got one of his robes and covered her.
"It's alright. I knew something was going on. It has to do with Kol, yes?" Klaus said putting on pants.
"Oui, like I said you are not going to like it," Nicole repeated.
Nicole told him the truth about everything.
"A seer told me that this would happen. I didn't want to believe it. She said that I would be betrayed before I could find peace," Klaus said.
"Forgive me, I hadn't met you before we hatched this plan," Nicole admitted.
"I know. You did the right thing and I have already forgiven you everything. It's that brother of mine who need worry," Kol seethed.
"You're not going to kill him!" Nicole begged.
"Cheri, we cannot die. But he may wish he was dead in a few minutes," Klaus said vamping to Kol's room.
He found the room empty with nothing except a note saying:
Nik,
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur.
Forgive me.
Always and Forever,
Kol
Nicole came in behind him, "The Latin? What does it mean?"
"It's Ennius, and means, 'One's friends are known in the hour of need.'"
"I think he went to New Orleans to rescue his friends. Qui totum vult totum perdit," Klaus said crumpling the paper.
"What does that mean?" Nicole said throwing her hands up.
"'He who wants everything loses everything,'" Klaus said going to call Elijah.